The Tragic Transformation a Single Year Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the environment was completely distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, reflective residents could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – however they still could see it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where legal governance held significance. A country guided by a respectable and upright official, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.
These days, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens barely recognize the nation we live in. People believed to be illegal immigrants are rounded up and pushed into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the White House – is being torn down for a grotesque ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities hand over a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities on false pretexts. The military command, rebranded the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Colleges, attorney offices, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are handled as aristocracy.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, stated in August. “Finally, swifter than I believed likely, it occurred here.”
Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it's difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we are, and the speed at which it has happened.
However, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his profoundly alarming first term and despite the alerts linked to the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – despite the leader directly said publicly he would act as an autocrat just on day one – a majority of citizens chose him instead of the other candidate.
While alarming as the present situation are, it's more frightening to understand that we are just three-quarters of a year into this administration. What will three more years of this decline leave us? And if the three years turns into a more extended duration, because there is no one to stop this president from opting that additional tenure is required, possibly for national security reasons?
Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections the coming year that could establish an alternate governmental control, in case Democrats retake the Senate or House of Congress. There are public servants who are trying to apply certain responsibility, such as Democratic congressmen currently starting a probe concerning the try to fund seizure from the justice department.
And a national vote in 2028 could initiate us down the road to healing precisely as last year’s election placed us on this regrettable path.
There exist countless citizens demonstrating in the streets across municipalities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is stirring”, just as it did following the Red Scare in that decade or during the Vietnam war protests or in the Nixon controversy.
On those occasions, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he knows the signals of that resurgence and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous defiance by media to sign the defense department’s demands they only publish approved content.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep before certain corruption becomes so noxious, a particular deed so disrespectful toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that it is compelled but to awaken.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may turn out correct.
At the same time, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its devotion to the rule of law?
Or should we recognize that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts indicates that the second option is correct; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, advises me that we need to strive, through all methods we can.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that means urging journalists to adhere, more completely, to their duty of holding power to account. For different individuals, it may be engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to protect electoral access.
Less than a year ago, we existed in a very different place. A year from now? Or after another term? The reality is, we are uncertain. The only option is try to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Hope Now
The engagement I encounter with students with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always
