The Devastating Shift Only 12 Months Has Made in the US
Twelve months back, the situation was entirely different. Before the American presidential vote, thoughtful citizens could admit the country's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – but they could still perceive it as America. A free society. A place where legal governance meant something. A state guided by a dignified and decent official, notwithstanding his older age and increasing frailty.
Currently, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the country we reside in. People believed to be undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into vehicles, occasionally denied due process. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed to build a lavish ballroom. The president is targeting his political rivals or perceived antagonists and insisting the justice department surrender an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are dispatched into American cities with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are treated like nobility.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the edge into authoritarianism and extremism,” an American historian, commented in August. “In the end, faster than I imagined possible, it occurred here.”
One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we have become, and the speed at which it unfolded.
However, we understand that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing first term and following the cautions that came with the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – even after the leader directly stated openly he would be a dictator solely at the start – sufficient voters chose him rather than the other candidate.
As terrifying as the current reality may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we have only been nine months into this administration. What will another 36 months of this decline position us? And suppose the three years transforms into something even longer, since there is no one to restrain this ruler from deciding that additional tenure is required, maybe for defense purposes?
Certainly, there is still hope. There are midterm elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate governmental control, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of the legislature. There are public servants who are attempting to impose certain responsibility, such as lawmakers that are starting a probe regarding the effort to fund seizure from legal authorities.
And a presidential election in 2028 could start the path toward restoration precisely as last year’s election set us on this unfortunate course.
There are millions of Americans demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, as they did recently in the No Kings rallies.
An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is rising”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or during anti-war demonstrations or during the seventies crisis.
On those occasions, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
Reich says he understands the signals of that awakening and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to sign military mandates they only publish authorized information.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep till some venality turns extremely harmful, an specific act so offensive toward public welfare, specific cruelty so loud, that it is forced other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.
Meanwhile, the crucial issues remain: can America regain its footing? Can it reclaim its position globally and its commitment to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is correct; that all may indeed be gone. My hopeful heart, though, convinces me that we must try, by any means we can.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that means encouraging reporters to live up, more fully, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For others, it might involve participating in election efforts, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to safeguard ballot privileges.
Less than a year ago, we existed in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The fact is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is try to not give up.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I encounter in the classroom with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and practical, {always
