The Devastating Shift Just One Year Has Made in the US

One year ago, the situation was completely separate. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could admit America's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – however they still could perceive it as America. A democratic nation. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A nation headed by a honorable and upright official, notwithstanding his elderly years and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans barely recognize the country we reside in. Persons alleged as illegal immigrants are collected and forced into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed to build a lavish dance hall. The leader is targeting his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting federal prosecutors transfer a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.

“America, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the edge toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, wrote this past summer. “In the end, swifter than I thought feasible, it transpired here.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Nevertheless, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the warnings that came with the knowledge of the conservative plan – following the leader directly said publicly he would act as an autocrat only on the first day – a majority of citizens chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as the current reality may be, it's more daunting to understand that we are just three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. Where will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And if that period becomes an prolonged era, as there is no one to restrain this ruler from determining that another term is necessary, perhaps for security concerns?

Granted, all is not lost. There are legislative votes next year that could establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats regain either chamber of parliament. There are elected officials who are striving to apply certain responsibility, like lawmakers who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could initiate us down the road to recovery just as the previous vote placed us on this regrettable path.

There exist countless citizens marching in public spaces of their cities, like they performed in the past days during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is stirring”, just as it did following the Red Scare during the fifties or during anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

He claims he knows the indicators of that awakening and sees it happening now. For proof, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition to a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal rejection by reporters to accept government requirements they solely cover approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists dormant till specific greed grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that it has no choice but to awaken.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues remain: can America ever recover? Can it reclaim its status globally and its devotion to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, though, convinces me that we need to strive, through all methods we can.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to live up, more completely, to their mission of holding power to account. For others, it could mean engaging with congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to defend voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we existed in an alternate reality. In the future? Or three years from now? The reality is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to strive to persevere.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I have during teaching with young journalists, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always