A Tragic Change Only 12 Months Has Made in America

One year ago, the landscape was completely distinct. Prior to the American presidential vote, considerate Americans could recognize the country's significant faults – its injustices and imbalance – yet they still could perceive it as the US. A democratic nation. A country where constitutional order carried weight. A nation guided by a dignified and ethical leader, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.

These days, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the land we inhabit. Individuals alleged as undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his opponents or alleged foes and insisting legal authorities transfer a huge total of public funds. Uniformed troops are being sent into American cities under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, renamed the War Department, has effectively rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to nearly $1tn in public funds. Colleges, attorney offices, news companies are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.

“America, just months before its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the limit into autocracy and extremism,” Garrett Graff, stated in August. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it transpired in this country.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Yet, it is known that Trump was duly elected. Following his highly troubling first term and following the warnings associated with the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – despite the leader directly stated openly he would act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters elected him rather than his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as the current reality is, it's more frightening to understand that we’re only several months into this presidential term. What will three more years of this decline leave us? And suppose that period becomes something even longer, since there is no one to restrain this ruler from determining that another term is required, possibly for national security reasons?

Admittedly, all is not lost. There are legislative votes in 2026 that could create a new political equilibrium, in case Democrats regain either chamber of parliament. There exist government representatives who are striving to impose some accountability, such as Democratic congressmen who are launching an investigation into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a leadership election three years from now could begin us down the road to healing exactly as the prior selection set us on this regrettable path.

We see numerous residents protesting in public spaces across municipalities, as they did last weekend in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or amid the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.

In those instances, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he understands the signs of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, bipartisan pushback against a television host's removal and the largely united defiance by media to accept military mandates they report only approved content.

“The slumbering entity always remains dormant until some venality grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive of societal benefit, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.

At the same time, the major inquiries endure: can America return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its status in the world and its adherence to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is correct; that everything could be lost. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, advises me that we need to strive, by any means possible.

In my case, working in journalism analysis, that involves urging journalists to commit, more fully, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it may be working on election efforts, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to protect voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we existed in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or in several years? The fact is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to attempt to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Hope Now

The interaction I encounter with students with aspiring reporters, who are both idealistic and grounded, {always