The Tragic Change a Single Year Has Caused in the US
In late October 2024, the landscape was entirely separate. Prior to the American presidential vote, thoughtful citizens could admit America's serious imperfections – its inequities and inequality – but they still could see it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where constitutional order carried weight. A country guided by a dignified and upright leader, even with his advanced age and declining health.
These days, in late October 2025, many of us barely recognize the country we reside in. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and pushed into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being torn down for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is targeting his adversaries or alleged foes and requesting legal authorities surrender a massive sum of public funds. Uniformed troops are dispatched to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Colleges, legal practices, news companies are yielding under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as nobility.
“America, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, wrote this past summer. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it transpired here.”
One awakes to new horrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined our nation is, and the speed at which it has happened.
Nevertheless, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Following his highly troubling initial presidency and following the alerts linked to the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – following Trump himself said publicly he intended to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – a majority of citizens selected him over Kamala Harris.
Frightening as today's circumstances is, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only nine months under this leadership. What will an additional three years of this downfall find us? And what if that period turns into something even longer, as there is nobody to restrain this leader from opting that another term is required, possibly for national security reasons?
Certainly, there is still hope. We will have midterm elections in 2026 that may establish an alternate governmental control, in case Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There are elected officials who are trying to exert some accountability, for example lawmakers who are starting a probe concerning the try to cash appropriation from the justice department.
And a national vote three years from now could begin the path to healing just as the previous vote set us on this unfortunate course.
There exist countless citizens protesting in urban areas throughout communities, as they did last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is stirring”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or during anti-war demonstrations or in the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.
He claims he recognizes the indicators of that revival and observes it occurring now. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, cross-party resistance regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous defiance by media to agree to government requirements they report only what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant before certain corruption turns extremely harmful, an specific act so disrespectful toward public welfare, certain violence so noisy, that the giant is forced but to awaken.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will be validated.
At the same time, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its position in the world and its devotion to the rule of law?
Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts indicates that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we must try, in whatever ways we can.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that involves urging journalists to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it could mean engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to defend voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we lived in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The fact is, we don’t know. The only option is to strive to continue fighting.
What Offers Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I have with students with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and realistic, {always
