The Tragic Transformation Just One Year Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the situation was completely different. Ahead of the national election, considerate residents could admit the nation's deep flaws – its unfairness and imbalance – however they could still perceive it as the US. A free society. A place where constitutional order carried weight. A nation guided by a respectable and ethical leader, despite his advanced age and growing weakness.
These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we reside in. Individuals believed to be undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into vehicles, occasionally refused legal rights. The eastern section of the White House – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, renamed the Defense Ministry, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are buckling under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as aristocracy.
“The United States, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” a noted author, commented in August. “Finally, more quickly than I believed likely, it did happen in America.”
Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. 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, it is known that Trump was duly elected. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and following the alerts associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself said publicly he intended to act as an autocrat only on the first day – sufficient voters chose him instead of the other candidate.
Frightening as the current reality is, it's more daunting to realize that we are just three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this decline position us? And what if the three years turns into an prolonged era, because there is no one to restrain this leader from deciding that a third term is required, possibly for national security reasons?
Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There will be midterm elections next year that may bring a different balance of power, if Democrats recapture one or both houses of Congress. There exist elected officials who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, like representatives that are initiating an inquiry into the attempted fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a presidential election three years from now could begin our journey to healing precisely as last year’s election put us on this regrettable path.
We see numerous residents marching in the streets of their cities, as they did in the past days at democracy demonstrations.
A former official, stated lately that “the slumbering force of the US is rising”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or throughout anti-war demonstrations or in the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the listing ship finally returned to balance.
Reich says he recognizes the signals of that resurgence and observes it occurring at present. For proof, he points to the widespread marches, the widespread, bipartisan pushback regarding a personality's dismissal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to sign the defense department’s demands they only publish approved content.
“The slumbering entity always remains asleep before specific greed turns extremely harmful, an specific act so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so loud, that it has no choice but to awaken.”
It's a positive outlook, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the major inquiries remain: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status globally and its commitment to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My cynical mind suggests that the latter is true; that everything might be lost. My positive feelings, though, tells me that we have to attempt, by any means possible.
For me, as a media critic, that involves urging journalists to adhere, more fully, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For others, it might involve participating in election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.
Not even one year prior, we existed in a very different place. In the future? Or three years from now? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to attempt to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The interaction I have during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously visionary and practical, {always
