The Tragic Change a Single Year Has Brought in the United States
Twelve months back, the environment was entirely different. Before the US presidential election, reflective Americans could acknowledge the country's significant faults – its inequities and imbalance – yet they could still perceive it as the United States. A democracy. A country where legal governance meant something. A nation led by a respectable and ethical official, even with his older age and growing weakness.
These days, as October 2025 ends, many of us barely recognize the land we reside in. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are detained and shoved into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. The leader is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and insisting legal authorities hand over a huge total of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are deployed to US urban areas on false pretexts. The Pentagon, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends possibly reaching close to a trillion USD in public funds. Universities, legal practices, media outlets are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.
“America, just months before its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink into authoritarianism and extremism,” an American historian, stated recently. “In the end, more quickly than I thought feasible, it did happen here.”
Every morning starts with fresh terrors. And it is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we are, and the speed at which it has happened.
Yet, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and following the alerts linked to the understanding of Project 2025 – following the president personally stated openly he intended to rule as a tyrant just on day one – sufficient voters chose him instead of the other candidate.
While alarming as today's circumstances may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we are just nine months under this leadership. Where will three more years of this deterioration position us? And what if that period turns into an prolonged era, because there is not anyone to stop this ruler from deciding that a third term is essential, perhaps for security concerns?
Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There are midterm elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate governmental control, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of parliament. There exist government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, for example representatives that are launching an investigation into the attempted cash appropriation from legal authorities.
And a national vote three years from now could initiate our journey to healing just as the prior selection put us on this disappointing trajectory.
There exist millions of Americans marching in public spaces throughout communities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or throughout the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
The author states he understands the signals of that revival and notices it unfolding at present. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to agree to military mandates they only publish authorized information.
“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep before specific greed becomes so noxious, a particular deed so disrespectful of the common good, some brutality so loud, that the giant is forced except to rise.”
It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will prove to be right.
At the same time, the major inquiries remain: is the US able to return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its devotion to the rule of law?
Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is accurate; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, advises me that we need to strive, by any means available.
In my case, as a media critic, that means encouraging reporters to live up, more fully, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.
Less than a year ago, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or in several years? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I experience in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are equally idealistic and realistic, {always
