A Devastating Shift Just One Year Has Caused in America

In late October 2024, the situation was utterly different. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective residents could admit the country's serious imperfections – its unfairness and disparity – yet they could still perceive it as the US. A free society. A land where constitutional order meant something. A state guided by a honorable and upright public servant, even with his elderly years and increasing frailty.

Currently, in late October 2025, many of us scarcely know the land we reside in. Persons alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and pushed into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. The president is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department surrender a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are being sent into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has effectively liberated itself of regular press examination as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn in public funds. Institutions, attorney offices, news companies are yielding from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as nobility.

“The US, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the limit into authoritarianism and fascism,” an American historian, commented in August. “In the end, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

One awakes amid recent atrocities. It is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – just how far gone we have become, and the speed at which it unfolded.

However, we know that the leader was legitimately chosen. Despite his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the cautions linked to the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – following the president personally said publicly he would rule as a tyrant solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him instead of Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as the current reality is, it's more frightening to recognize that we are just several months into this presidential term. Where will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And what if that period transforms into an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to restrain this president from opting that a third term is essential, possibly for defense purposes?

Granted, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections next year that may bring a different political equilibrium, should Democrats recapture one or both houses of parliament. We have government representatives who are striving to apply a degree of oversight, like lawmakers currently launching an investigation concerning the try to cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a national vote three years from now could begin us down the road to recovery exactly as the previous vote placed us on this unfortunate course.

There are countless citizens demonstrating in public spaces throughout communities, as they did recently at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or amid the sixties activism or throughout the seventies crisis.

During those times, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

The author states he recognizes the signals of that revival and sees it happening currently. As support, he cites the widespread marches, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to sign military mandates they report only what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays dormant before certain corruption grows too toxic, some action so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that he has no choice other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the big questions persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it retrieve its position internationally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind suggests that the latter is accurate; that everything might be finished. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we must try, by any means available.

For me, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more fully, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For others, it could mean participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we were in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or in several years? The truth is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.

What Offers Me Hope Now

The contact I experience in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are both idealistic and realistic, {always