A Tragic Shift a Single Year Has Made in America
Twelve months back, the environment was entirely separate. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective Americans could admit America's serious imperfections – its inequities and imbalance – however they still could identify it as America. A democratic nation. A place where legal governance held significance. A state headed by a respectable and decent leader, notwithstanding his elderly years and increasing frailty.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we live in. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are rounded up and pushed into transport, occasionally denied due process. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque ballroom. The president is harassing his political rivals or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are dispatched to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight while it uses what could amount to almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are handled as nobility.
“America, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, more quickly than I believed likely, it transpired in America.”
Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it occurred.
However, we know that Trump was properly voted in. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and following the warnings linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – enough Americans selected him over the other candidate.
As terrifying as the present situation may be, it's more frightening to recognize that we are just three-quarters of a year into this administration. How will an additional three years of this downfall find us? And if that timeframe becomes something even longer, because there is nobody to stop this leader from determining that another term is essential, possibly for defense purposes?
Certainly, there is still hope. There will be legislative votes next year that could bring a different political equilibrium, if Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. We have government representatives who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, for example lawmakers currently initiating an inquiry into the attempted fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in 2028 could start the path to recovery exactly as last year’s election set us on this unfortunate course.
There are numerous residents marching in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.
Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, just as it did following the Red Scare in that decade or amid the sixties activism or during the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.
The author states he knows the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening at present. As support, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the largely united refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they report only authorized information.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists inactive before specific greed becomes so noxious, an specific act so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that the giant is forced but to awaken.”
It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll be validated.
Meanwhile, the big questions remain: can America regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its standing globally and its commitment to the rule of law?
Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My pessimistic brain suggests that the latter is true; that everything might be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we must try, in whatever ways possible.
In my case, working in journalism analysis, that’s about urging journalists to live up, more thoroughly, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it could mean engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.
Not even one year prior, we existed in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or in several years? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is to strive to not give up.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The interaction I encounter with students with young journalists, who are both idealistic and realistic, {always