The Heartbreaking Change Only 12 Months Has Caused in America
Twelve months back, the situation was entirely distinct. Before the US presidential election, considerate residents could acknowledge the country's deep flaws – its inequities and inequality – yet they continued to perceive it as America. A free society. A country where legal governance held significance. A state led by a respectable and ethical leader, despite his older age and increasing frailty.
These days, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the country we inhabit. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are collected and pushed into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the White House – is being torn down to build a lavish event space. Donald Trump is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and demanding legal authorities hand over a massive sum of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, renamed the Defense Ministry, has effectively liberated itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, media outlets are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are treated like nobility.
“The US, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into authoritarianism and extremism,” Garrett Graff, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, faster than I thought feasible, it transpired in America.”
Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and the speed at which it unfolded.
Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the warnings that came with the understanding of the conservative plan – following Trump himself said publicly he would be a dictator only on the first day – sufficient voters elected him over his Democratic opponent.
As terrifying as the current reality may be, it's more frightening to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will three more years of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that period transforms into an prolonged era, as there is nobody to restrain this president from deciding that additional tenure is required, possibly for defense purposes?
Granted, all is not lost. We will have legislative votes in 2026 that could bring a different governmental control, if Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There exist government representatives who are trying to impose a degree of oversight, like representatives who are starting a probe concerning the try to cash appropriation from legal authorities.
And a presidential election in 2028 could begin our journey toward restoration precisely as the prior selection set us on this disappointing trajectory.
We see countless citizens protesting in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
A former official, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the nation is rising”, similar to past following the Red Scare in the 1950s or during the Vietnam war protests or in the Nixon controversy.
On those occasions, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
Reich says he understands the signals of that awakening and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he references the recent massive protests, the widespread, bipartisan pushback regarding a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they report only what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep until some venality turns extremely harmful, some action so disrespectful toward public welfare, specific cruelty so disruptive, that he has no choice except to rise.”
It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may be validated.
Meanwhile, the big questions remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its position globally and its devotion to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts indicates that the latter is correct; that all may indeed be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, convinces me that we must try, in whatever ways available.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that means urging journalists to commit, more fully, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it could mean participating in political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to protect ballot privileges.
Less than a year ago, we were in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The reality is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to attempt to continue fighting.
What Provides Me Hope Now
The contact I encounter in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are equally idealistic and grounded, {always
