The Heartbreaking Change a Single Year Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the environment was utterly distinct. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could recognize America's serious imperfections – its injustices and inequality – yet they could still identify it as the US. A free society. A country where legal governance held significance. A state headed by a honorable and upright official, notwithstanding his elderly years and declining health.
Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans barely recognize the country we live in. Individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants are collected and forced into vehicles, at times refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his political rivals or alleged foes and requesting the justice department hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are being sent into American cities on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, rebranded the War Department, has – in effect – rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Colleges, legal practices, journalism organizations are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are handled as nobility.
“The US, just months before its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the edge toward dictatorship and extremism,” Garrett Graff, commented in August. “Finally, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred here.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. It is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and how quickly it unfolded.
However, we know that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing first term and following the alerts linked to the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – following Trump himself stated openly he planned to act as an autocrat only on the first day – a majority of citizens elected him over Kamala Harris.
As terrifying as today's circumstances is, it's more frightening to realize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And what if that period turns into an prolonged era, since there is no one to limit this president from opting that another term is required, possibly for national security reasons?
Certainly, all is not lost. We will have congressional elections next year that may establish an alternate governmental control, if Democrats retake one or both houses of parliament. There exist government representatives who are striving to apply certain responsibility, for example lawmakers who are launching an investigation concerning the try to money grab from the justice department.
And a leadership election in the next cycle could initiate our journey to healing exactly as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.
We see numerous residents protesting in the streets across municipalities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.
An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.
Reich says he understands the signs of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. For proof, he cites the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to agree to government requirements they solely cover approved content.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists inactive till certain corruption grows too toxic, an specific act so disrespectful of societal benefit, certain violence so disruptive, that the giant is compelled except to rise.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll be validated.
Meanwhile, the major inquiries remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its standing in the world and its devotion to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My negative thoughts indicates that the second option is correct; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, however, convinces me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways we can.
In my case, as a media critic, that means encouraging reporters to adhere, more fully, to their mission of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve participating in political races, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to protect voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or after another term? The reality is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.
What Offers Me Encouragement Today
The contact I experience with students with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and realistic, {always
