A Devastating Change Just One Year Has Caused in America
Twelve months back, the landscape was completely separate. Ahead of the national election, reflective citizens could admit the country's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – yet they could still see it as America. A free society. A place where the rule of law meant something. A country headed by a dignified and decent public servant, notwithstanding his elderly years and increasing frailty.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the nation we inhabit. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and pushed into transport, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. The president is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has effectively rid itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, news companies are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are handled as aristocracy.
“America, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the edge into authoritarianism and extremism,” an American historian, wrote recently. “Finally, swifter than I imagined possible, it did happen in this country.”
One awakes amid recent atrocities. And it is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined we have become, and how quickly it has happened.
However, we know that Trump was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming first term and despite the cautions that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – following the president personally stated openly he planned to be a dictator just on day one – a majority of citizens selected him over the other candidate.
As terrifying as the present situation are, it's more daunting to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this administration. How will three more years of this downfall position us? And if that timeframe transforms into a more extended duration, since there is not anyone to limit this leader from determining that a third term is necessary, possibly for national security reasons?
Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. There exist public servants who are attempting to exert certain responsibility, such as lawmakers who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to cash appropriation from the justice department.
And a presidential election in 2028 could start our journey to recovery just as last year’s election set us on this regrettable path.
There exist numerous residents demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent in the past days during anti-authority protests.
A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, exactly as before following the Red Scare during the fifties or during anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Nixon controversy.
On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he recognizes the signs of that resurgence and notices it unfolding currently. For proof, he cites the recent massive protests, the broad, bipartisan pushback to a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept the defense department’s demands they only publish authorized information.
“The sleeping giant consistently stays dormant until specific greed turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so contemptuous of the common good, certain violence so disruptive, that it is forced other than to stir.”
It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.
Meanwhile, the major inquiries endure: can America return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its standing in the world and its commitment to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My pessimistic brain indicates that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, though, convinces me that we have to attempt, through all methods available.
Personally, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more thoroughly, to their mission of holding power to account. For some people, it may be participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to safeguard electoral access.
Not even one year prior, we existed in a separate situation. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we don’t know. The only option is try to persevere.
What Offers Me Hope Now
The interaction I have in the classroom with young journalists, who are both visionary and realistic, {always
