The Heartbreaking Shift Only 12 Months Has Made in America
In late October 2024, the environment was entirely different. Prior to the American presidential vote, thoughtful citizens could recognize America's serious imperfections – its unfairness and inequality – but they continued to see it as America. A free society. A place where legal governance held significance. A nation headed by a respectable and decent public servant, even with his elderly years and increasing frailty.
Currently, in late October 2025, many of us barely recognize the country we inhabit. People suspected of being illegal immigrants are rounded up and pushed into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish event space. The president is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting legal authorities surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Uniformed troops are dispatched across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has effectively liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling nearly $1tn in public funds. Colleges, attorney offices, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.
“The US, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the limit toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “In the end, more quickly than I thought feasible, it occurred in America.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. It is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how severely declined we are, and the speed at which it has happened.
Yet, we understand that Trump was properly voted in. Despite his profoundly alarming previous administration and following the cautions associated with the knowledge of Project 2025 – even after the president personally declared plainly he would be a dictator only on the first day – enough Americans elected him rather than his Democratic opponent.
As terrifying as today's circumstances is, it's more daunting to recognize that we’re only nine months into this administration. What will an additional three years of this decline find us? And suppose that timeframe transforms into something even longer, since there is not anyone to limit this leader from determining that a third term is necessary, maybe for national security reasons?
Admittedly, there is still hope. We will have midterm elections in 2026 that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, should Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. We have public servants who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, for example Democratic congressmen that are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to money grab from the justice department.
And a leadership election in the next cycle could begin us down the road to healing just as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.
We see millions of Americans protesting in the streets throughout communities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.
A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or during the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he understands the indicators of that awakening and sees it happening currently. As support, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the largely united rejection by reporters to agree to government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.
“The sleeping giant always remains dormant till some venality becomes so noxious, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, certain violence so disruptive, that he is compelled but to awaken.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may be validated.
At the same time, the crucial issues persist: can America regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its position globally and its commitment to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts suggests that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we must try, in whatever ways available.
In my case, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to commit, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it may be participating in election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to protect electoral access.
Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The fact is, we don’t know. All we can do is to attempt to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I encounter with students with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and practical, {always
