The Tragic Change Just One Year Has Caused in the US
One year ago, the situation was entirely separate. Prior to the national election, reflective citizens could recognize the country's serious imperfections – its injustices and inequality – however they still could see it as America. A free society. A place where legal governance meant something. A state led by a respectable and ethical official, even with his older age and growing weakness.
Currently, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the country we live in. People alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and forced into transport, at times denied due process. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being torn down to build a lavish ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – liberated itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of possibly reaching close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Institutions, law firms, media outlets are buckling under the president’s threats, and billionaires are treated like members of the royal family.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the edge into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, wrote in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it did happen in this country.”
Each day begins amid recent atrocities. It is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – just how far gone our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.
Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Following his profoundly alarming first term and even after the alerts associated with the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself declared plainly he would be a dictator just on day one – enough Americans selected him over Kamala Harris.
While alarming as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to understand that we are just several months into this administration. Where will an additional three years of this deterioration position us? And suppose that timeframe becomes an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to stop this leader from deciding that additional tenure is essential, possibly for security concerns?
Admittedly, there is still hope. We will have legislative votes the coming year that could create a new balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of the legislature. We have government representatives who are striving to exert a degree of oversight, such as lawmakers that are starting a probe regarding the effort to fund seizure from the justice department.
And a national vote three years from now could begin the path to healing just as the prior selection placed us on this unfortunate course.
We see countless citizens protesting in public spaces throughout communities, like they performed recently at democracy demonstrations.
A former official, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the nation is rising”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he knows the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. For proof, he cites the recent massive protests, the widespread, bipartisan pushback regarding a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to agree to the defense department’s demands they only publish approved content.
“The dormant force always remains dormant until certain corruption becomes so noxious, a particular deed so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that he is forced but to awaken.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its standing globally and its commitment to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My negative thoughts suggests that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we must try, by any means available.
In my case, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to commit, more completely, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it could mean participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.
Less than a year ago, we were in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is try to not give up.
What Provides Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I encounter in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are equally visionary and practical, {always
