The Devastating Shift Just One Year Has Caused in the US

In late October 2024, the environment was entirely distinct. Prior to the national election, reflective citizens could admit the nation's serious imperfections – its injustices and inequality – however they still could perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where legal governance carried weight. A country led by a honorable and upright public servant, despite his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we inhabit. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and forced into vans, occasionally refused legal rights. The East Wing of the White House – is being torn down for a grotesque dance hall. The president is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and requesting the justice department transfer an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are being sent across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically liberated itself of regular press examination as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, wrote this past summer. “Ultimately, faster than I believed likely, it occurred in America.”

Each day begins to new horrors. And it's challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined we have become, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

Yet, we understand that the president was duly elected. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and despite the alerts that came with the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself declared plainly he intended to be a dictator just on day one – enough Americans elected him instead of Kamala Harris.

Frightening as the present situation may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we’re only nine months into this administration. How will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And if the three years becomes a more extended duration, since there is nobody to limit this president from determining that another term is necessary, maybe for defense purposes?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There will be congressional elections the coming year which might create a new political equilibrium, if Democrats recapture the Senate or House of Congress. We have government representatives who are trying to apply a degree of oversight, for example representatives currently launching an investigation concerning the try to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could start our journey toward restoration just as the previous vote placed us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents protesting in urban areas throughout communities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of America is stirring”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or during anti-war demonstrations or in the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

He claims he understands the signals of that awakening and notices it unfolding currently. As support, he references the widespread marches, the extensive, cross-party resistance to a personality's dismissal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to sign the defense department’s demands they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, some action so contemptuous toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that the giant has no choice but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the big questions remain: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it reclaim its standing internationally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways available.

Personally, working in journalism analysis, that means urging journalists to adhere, more completely, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it may be working on election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The truth is, we don’t know. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The interaction I experience during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously hopeful and practical, {always