The Tragic Transformation a Single Year Has Made in America
One year ago, the environment was utterly different. Before the US presidential election, considerate residents could recognize the country's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – however they continued to perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A country where constitutional order meant something. A nation led by a dignified and decent public servant, even with his advanced age and declining health.
These days, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens hardly identify the nation we live in. People alleged as undocumented migrants are detained and shoved into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the White House – is being destroyed to build a lavish ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and demanding legal authorities surrender a massive sum of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are treated like members of the royal family.
“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the limit into authoritarianism and fascism,” a noted author, commented in August. “Finally, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred here.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost 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 previous administration and even after the cautions linked to the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – even after the president personally stated openly he intended to act as an autocrat solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him instead of his Democratic opponent.
While alarming as today's circumstances may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will three more years of this deterioration find us? And what if that timeframe becomes something even longer, because there is not anyone to stop this president from determining that a third term is essential, perhaps for defense purposes?
Certainly, there is still hope. There will be midterm elections next year that could bring a different balance of power, should Democrats retake either chamber of the legislature. There exist public servants who are trying to exert some accountability, for example representatives who are starting a probe concerning the try to cash appropriation from legal authorities.
And a presidential election three years from now could begin us down the road to healing just as last year’s election set us on this unfortunate course.
There exist millions of Americans protesting in the streets of their cities, like they performed last weekend in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or amid the sixties activism or during the Nixon controversy.
In those instances, the listing ship finally returned to balance.
He claims he understands the signs of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. As support, he cites the widespread marches, the extensive, bipartisan pushback regarding a television host's removal and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign military mandates they only publish approved content.
“The sleeping giant always remains inactive until specific greed grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that it is compelled other than to stir.”
It's a positive outlook, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will be validated.
In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its adherence to legal principles?
Or should we recognize that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My negative thoughts tells me that the final scenario is true; that everything could be lost. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we have to attempt, by any means possible.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that means encouraging reporters to live up, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.
Not even one year prior, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or in several years? The reality is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to persevere.
What Offers Me Hope Now
The engagement I have during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously visionary and practical, {always
