The Devastating Change Just One Year Has Caused in America

Twelve months back, the landscape was completely different. Prior to the national election, considerate residents could acknowledge America's serious imperfections – its unfairness and disparity – however they still could see it as the US. A democratic nation. A country where legal governance carried weight. A country guided by a honorable and upright leader, despite his older age and growing weakness.

Currently, in late October 2025, many of us scarcely know the country we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and forced into transport, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his political rivals or perceived antagonists and requesting federal prosecutors hand over a huge total of public funds. Armed military personnel are being sent to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, renamed the Department of War, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses possibly reaching close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Institutions, attorney offices, news companies are submitting from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as nobility.

“America, just months before its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” Garrett Graff, wrote in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired in this country.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Yet, we understand that the president was legitimately chosen. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and following the alerts linked to the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself stated openly he planned to be a dictator only on the first day – a majority of citizens elected him rather than Kamala Harris.

While alarming as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we are just nine months into this administration. Where will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And if that timeframe transforms into something even longer, since there is no one to limit this ruler from opting that additional tenure is required, perhaps for security concerns?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There are legislative votes next year that may bring a different balance of power, should Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. We have elected officials who are striving to exert some accountability, like Democratic congressmen who are starting a probe into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in 2028 could begin our journey to healing precisely as the prior selection set us on this unfortunate course.

There are countless citizens demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, like they performed recently in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is awakening”, just as it did following the Red Scare in that decade or during anti-war demonstrations or in the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

Reich says he knows the signals of that revival and observes it occurring now. As support, he points to the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a broadcaster's firing and the largely united rejection by reporters to agree to government requirements they report only authorized information.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays asleep till certain corruption grows too toxic, an specific act so disrespectful of societal benefit, certain violence so loud, that he has no choice but to awaken.”

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

Meanwhile, the crucial issues endure: can America regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its status globally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the latter is true; that everything could be finished. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we must try, through all methods available.

For me, as a media critic, that’s about encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to defend ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we existed in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is to strive to not give up.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The contact I experience with students with aspiring reporters, who are equally idealistic and realistic, {always