A Tragic Shift a Single Year Has Made in the United States
One year ago, the environment was entirely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful residents could recognize America's significant faults – its injustices and imbalance – however they still could see it as the United States. A free society. A place where constitutional order meant something. A nation led by a dignified and upright official, notwithstanding his elderly years and increasing frailty.
These days, in late October 2025, numerous citizens hardly identify the nation we reside in. People believed to be illegal immigrants are detained and pushed into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish event space. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and requesting legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are being sent to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, rebranded the War Department, has practically rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Universities, legal practices, news companies are submitting from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are regarded as members of the royal family.
“America, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the edge into autocracy and extremism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Finally, more quickly than I imagined possible, it did happen in this country.”
One awakes amid recent atrocities. And it is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it occurred.
However, it is known that the leader was legitimately chosen. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the warnings associated with the understanding of the conservative plan – even after the president personally stated openly he would rule as a tyrant only on the first day – enough Americans elected him instead of his Democratic opponent.
As terrifying as today's circumstances may be, it's more frightening to realize that we are just several months into this administration. What will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And what if that period transforms into an prolonged era, since there is no one to restrain this president from deciding that additional tenure is necessary, possibly for security concerns?
Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections next year that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, if Democrats recapture the Senate or House of Congress. There are government representatives who are striving to apply some accountability, for example representatives who are starting a probe into the attempted fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a presidential election three years from now could start our journey toward restoration precisely as the previous vote placed us on this disappointing trajectory.
There exist millions of Americans demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or during anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.
The author states he recognizes the signs of that awakening and notices it unfolding at present. As support, he cites the recent massive protests, the broad, cross-party resistance regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they report only what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity consistently stays inactive till certain corruption becomes so noxious, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, some brutality so noisy, that the giant has no choice other than to stir.”
It's a positive outlook, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the big questions endure: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its status globally and its commitment to constitutional order?
Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, nevertheless, tells me that we have to attempt, by any means available.
For me, as an observer of the press, that means pushing media professionals to adhere, more fully, to their duty of holding power to account. For others, it could mean working on election efforts, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.
Not even one year prior, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or after another term? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is try to not give up.
What’s Giving Me Hope Now
The interaction I experience during teaching with young journalists, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always