The Tragic Shift a Single Year Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the landscape was utterly different. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective Americans could acknowledge America's significant faults – its injustices and disparity – however they continued to identify it as America. A democracy. A place where the rule of law meant something. A nation headed by a dignified and upright public servant, despite his elderly years and growing weakness.
Currently, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the land we reside in. Persons alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and shoved into vehicles, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the White House – is being destroyed for a grotesque event space. The president is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and requesting federal prosecutors surrender a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching close to a trillion USD in public funds. Universities, law firms, journalism organizations are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are regarded as aristocracy.
“America, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the brink into authoritarianism and fascism,” an American historian, stated recently. “In the end, swifter than I imagined possible, it did happen in America.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it unfolded.
Yet, it is known that Trump was legitimately chosen. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and despite the cautions linked to the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – even after Trump himself said publicly he intended to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – sufficient voters elected him over Kamala Harris.
Frightening as the present situation are, it's more frightening to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year under this leadership. What will another 36 months of this decline leave us? And if that period turns into a more extended duration, as there is not anyone to stop this ruler from deciding that a third term is required, possibly for defense purposes?
Admittedly, there is still hope. There will be congressional elections in 2026 that may create a new balance of power, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of the legislature. There exist elected officials who are striving to apply some accountability, for example Democratic congressmen who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to cash appropriation from the justice department.
And a national vote in 2028 could start our journey toward restoration just as last year’s election put us on this disappointing trajectory.
There exist millions of Americans marching in the streets of their cities, like they performed in the past days in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is awakening”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or during the seventies crisis.
On those occasions, the listing ship finally returned to balance.
The author states he knows the signals of that revival and sees it happening now. For proof, he references the widespread marches, the extensive, cross-party resistance against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to agree to government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant till specific greed turns extremely harmful, an specific act so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that he has no choice other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.
Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: will the nation return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its status globally and its adherence to the rule of law?
Or should we recognize that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My pessimistic brain suggests that the second option is true; that all may indeed be finished. My hopeful heart, however, advises me that we need to strive, through all methods available.
In my case, as an observer of the press, that involves urging journalists to commit, more completely, to their mission of holding power to account. For others, it could mean working on political races, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to safeguard voting rights.
Less than a year ago, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is try to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently
The engagement I encounter with students with aspiring reporters, who are both idealistic and practical, {always
