The Devastating Shift Just One Year Has Made in the US
One year ago, the landscape was entirely separate. Ahead of the national election, reflective Americans could admit the country's deep flaws – its injustices and imbalance – however they continued to see it as the US. A free society. A land where legal governance meant something. A nation led by a respectable and upright leader, even with his older age and declining health.
Currently, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the nation we inhabit. People alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and forced into vehicles, at times denied due process. The eastern section of the White House – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish dance hall. The president is persecuting his adversaries or alleged foes and requesting the justice department transfer a massive sum of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched into American cities on false pretexts. The Pentagon, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, media outlets are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are regarded as nobility.
“The United States, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the edge toward dictatorship and fascism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “In the end, more quickly than I thought feasible, it transpired in this country.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. And it is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we have become, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.
Yet, we know that the leader was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the alerts linked to the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – following the leader directly said publicly he planned to be a dictator solely at the start – enough Americans selected him rather than Kamala Harris.
While alarming as the present situation is, it’s even scarier to realize that we have only been nine months under this leadership. What will an additional three years of this deterioration find us? And if that period becomes an prolonged era, as there is no one to restrain this ruler from deciding that additional tenure is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?
Granted, there is still hope. There are midterm elections in 2026 that may establish an alternate balance of power, should Democrats regain the Senate or House of Congress. We have public servants who are attempting to apply some accountability, such as representatives who are starting a probe regarding the effort to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote three years from now could initiate our journey toward restoration precisely as last year’s election put us on this unfortunate course.
There are numerous residents protesting in public spaces of their cities, similar to recent in the past days at democracy demonstrations.
Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Watergate scandal.
During those times, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
Reich says he recognizes the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. For proof, he cites the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the largely united defiance by media to agree to government requirements they report only authorized information.
“The dormant force always remains inactive until some venality grows too toxic, an specific act so offensive of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may prove to be right.
At the same time, the major inquiries remain: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its position globally and its devotion to the rule of law?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we must try, through all methods we can.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that means encouraging reporters to commit, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For others, it may be participating in political races, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard electoral access.
Under twelve months back, we were in a separate situation. In the future? Or three years from now? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is to strive to continue fighting.
What Offers Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I have in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are both visionary and realistic, {always
