A Tragic Shift Only 12 Months Has Made in the United States
Twelve months back, the landscape was utterly distinct. Prior to the US presidential election, considerate citizens could acknowledge the country's significant faults – its injustices and imbalance – but they could still identify it as the US. A free society. A place where the rule of law meant something. A country headed by a dignified and decent public servant, notwithstanding his elderly years and increasing frailty.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, many of us scarcely know the country we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are detained and shoved into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the White House – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. The leader is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities hand over a huge total of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are being sent into American cities on false pretexts. The military command, rebranded the War Department, has effectively liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling under the president’s threats, and billionaires are handled as nobility.
“The United States, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the brink into autocracy and totalitarianism,” an American historian, wrote in August. “Ultimately, faster than I believed likely, it occurred here.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. And it is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.
Yet, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Following his highly troubling previous administration and despite the warnings associated with the understanding of the conservative plan – following Trump himself declared plainly he intended to be a dictator solely at the start – a majority of citizens selected him instead of his Democratic opponent.
While alarming as the current reality are, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only nine months into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this deterioration find us? And suppose the three years transforms into a more extended duration, since there is no one to limit this leader from opting that additional tenure is essential, maybe for security concerns?
Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections in 2026 that may establish an alternate governmental control, if Democrats regain one or both houses of parliament. There are public servants who are attempting to impose certain responsibility, like lawmakers who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to cash appropriation from legal authorities.
And a presidential election in the next cycle could start the path to recovery precisely as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.
We see millions of Americans marching in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
A former official, stated lately that “the slumbering force of the US is stirring”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in that decade or during the sixties activism or during the Watergate scandal.
During those times, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.
The author states he understands the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, bipartisan pushback regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to sign military mandates they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant until certain corruption grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful of societal benefit, some brutality so loud, that it is forced except to rise.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may be validated.
At the same time, the major inquiries remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its status in the world and its devotion to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My negative thoughts tells me that the latter is accurate; that everything could be lost. My positive feelings, nevertheless, convinces me that we need to strive, through all methods available.
Personally, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to adhere, more completely, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it may be working on election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect voting rights.
Less than a year ago, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or after another term? The fact is, we don’t know. The only option is try to continue fighting.
What Provides Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I experience during teaching with new media professionals, who are both hopeful and grounded, {always
