The Devastating Shift a Single Year Has Made in the United States
One year ago, the environment was completely different. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective citizens could admit America's significant faults – its inequities and imbalance – but they could still perceive it as the United States. A free society. A land where constitutional order meant something. A nation headed by a dignified and upright leader, despite his advanced age and declining health.
Currently, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the land we reside in. Persons alleged as illegal immigrants are detained and shoved into transport, sometimes refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. The leader is persecuting his adversaries or alleged foes and insisting federal prosecutors hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – freed itself of regular press examination as it spends what could amount to almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Colleges, legal practices, media outlets are submitting from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as aristocracy.
“America, shortly prior to 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. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired in America.”
One awakes to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it unfolded.
However, we know that the leader was properly voted in. Following his deeply disturbing first term and despite the warnings that came with the knowledge of Project 2025 – following the leader directly stated openly he intended to be a dictator just on day one – a majority of citizens elected him instead of his Democratic opponent.
Frightening as today's circumstances may be, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this deterioration leave us? And if that period turns into an prolonged era, because there is nobody to restrain this leader from opting that a third term is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?
Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There will be midterm elections the coming year that could establish an alternate balance of power, if Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. There exist elected officials who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, for example representatives that are initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation from the justice department.
And a leadership election in the next cycle could start the path toward restoration precisely as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.
There are millions of Americans protesting in public spaces of their cities, as they did in the past days in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is awakening”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in that decade or during the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Nixon controversy.
In those instances, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
The author states he recognizes the signals of that revival and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept military mandates they report only approved content.
“The sleeping giant consistently stays dormant until some venality turns extremely harmful, an specific act so contemptuous of societal benefit, some brutality so disruptive, that he has no choice except to rise.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.
At the same time, the crucial issues remain: is the US able to ever recover? Can it retrieve its standing in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My cynical mind suggests that the latter is accurate; that everything might be finished. My hopeful heart, however, tells me that we must try, in whatever ways available.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that’s about pushing media professionals to commit, more fully, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it may be engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to safeguard voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The fact is, we don’t know. All we can do is to attempt to not give up.
What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently
The contact I encounter in the classroom with young journalists, who are equally idealistic and realistic, {always
