A Devastating Transformation Just One Year Has Brought in the United States
Twelve months back, the environment was utterly distinct. Ahead of the national election, considerate residents could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and imbalance – however they could still see it as the United States. A free society. A country where legal governance meant something. A country led by a dignified and decent official, even with his advanced age and declining health.
Currently, as October 2025 ends, many of us hardly identify the country we reside in. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are detained and forced into vans, sometimes denied due process. The East Wing of the White House – is being torn down for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and demanding federal prosecutors surrender a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed into American cities with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, relabeled the War Department, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are yielding under the president’s threats, and billionaires are treated like members of the royal family.
“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and extremism,” an American historian, stated this past summer. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it did happen in America.”
One awakes amid recent atrocities. And it is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and the speed at which it has happened.
However, we know that Trump was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and even after the alerts that came with the awareness of the conservative plan – even after the president personally stated openly he would be a dictator solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him instead of the other candidate.
Frightening as the current reality are, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this deterioration find us? And if the three years transforms into something even longer, because there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from opting that additional tenure is required, perhaps for defense purposes?
Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There will be legislative votes the coming year which might create a new governmental control, if Democrats regain the Senate or House of parliament. There exist public servants who are striving to apply some accountability, like Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation into the attempted cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.
And a leadership election in 2028 could begin our journey toward restoration just as the previous vote placed us on this disappointing trajectory.
We see numerous residents protesting in public spaces throughout communities, like they performed recently at democracy demonstrations.
An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare during the fifties or throughout the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Watergate scandal.
During those times, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he knows the indicators of that resurgence and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he cites the recent massive protests, the broad, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the largely united defiance by media to sign government requirements they solely cover approved content.
“The dormant force consistently stays inactive till specific greed grows too toxic, some action so contemptuous toward public welfare, specific cruelty so loud, that it has no choice but to awaken.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will prove to be right.
In the meantime, the major inquiries endure: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its commitment to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My pessimistic brain indicates that the final scenario is true; that everything might be finished. My hopeful heart, however, convinces me that we must try, in whatever ways we can.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about pushing media professionals to adhere, more fully, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve participating in congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to safeguard voting rights.
Not even one year prior, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or after another term? The fact is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.
What Offers Me Encouragement Today
The contact I encounter with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously hopeful and practical, {always