A Tragic Change Only 12 Months Has Brought in the United States

One year ago, the situation was completely distinct. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective citizens could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – but they could still perceive it as America. A democracy. A place where legal governance carried weight. A state guided by a honorable and decent leader, notwithstanding his advanced age and declining health.

These days, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the country we inhabit. People believed to be undocumented migrants are detained and forced into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the White House – is being destroyed for a grotesque event space. The president is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of public funds. Armed military personnel are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The Pentagon, relabeled the Department of War, has practically rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Institutions, legal practices, news companies are yielding from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are handled as members of the royal family.

“The US, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge into autocracy and extremism,” Garrett Graff, stated in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I thought feasible, it occurred in this country.”

One awakes to new horrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it has happened.

However, it is known that Trump was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling previous administration and even after the cautions associated with the knowledge of the conservative plan – despite the president personally said publicly he would act as an autocrat only on the first day – sufficient voters selected him instead of Kamala Harris.

Frightening as today's circumstances is, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been nine months into this administration. What will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And if that timeframe turns into an prolonged era, since there is not anyone to limit this leader from opting that a third term is essential, perhaps for security concerns?

Certainly, there is still hope. There will be midterm elections in 2026 that could bring a different political equilibrium, should Democrats recapture the Senate or House of parliament. There are government representatives who are attempting to exert some accountability, for example representatives that are starting a probe into the attempted fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a presidential election three years from now could begin our journey to recovery exactly as last year’s election put us on this unfortunate course.

There are numerous residents protesting in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or amid the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

Reich says he recognizes the indicators of that resurgence and observes it occurring at present. As support, he references the widespread marches, the broad, bipartisan pushback against a television host's removal and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they only publish authorized information.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays inactive until certain corruption turns extremely harmful, an specific act so offensive toward public welfare, certain violence so noisy, that it is forced except to rise.”

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

At the same time, the crucial issues persist: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its adherence to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we have to attempt, by any means possible.

Personally, as a media critic, that’s about encouraging reporters to live up, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it may be participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend 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. All we can do is try to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I have with students with new media professionals, who are equally visionary and realistic, {always