A Heartbreaking Change Only 12 Months Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the environment was entirely separate. Ahead of the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – however they continued to identify it as America. A democracy. A place where legal governance held significance. A state headed by a respectable and decent public servant, even with his advanced age and declining health.
These days, as October 2025 ends, many of us scarcely know the nation we inhabit. People alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and shoved into vehicles, at times denied due process. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. The leader is harassing his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting legal authorities surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, relabeled the Department of War, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses what could amount to nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, attorney offices, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are regarded as members of the royal family.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the edge toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Ultimately, faster than I thought feasible, it occurred in America.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. And it's challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how severely declined we have become, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.
However, we know that the president was duly elected. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the alerts that came with the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite the president personally said publicly he intended to act as an autocrat only on the first day – sufficient voters elected him over Kamala Harris.
As terrifying as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to realize that we are just three-quarters of a year into this administration. How will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And if that period becomes a more extended duration, because there is nobody to stop this leader from determining that another term is essential, perhaps for security concerns?
Certainly, all is not lost. There will be legislative votes next year which might create a new governmental control, should Democrats retake the Senate or House of the legislature. There are elected officials who are striving to apply a degree of oversight, for example Democratic congressmen currently initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in 2028 could start the path to recovery just as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.
We see millions of Americans demonstrating in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is stirring”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Nixon controversy.
On those occasions, the unstable nation eventually was righted.
The author states he understands the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. For proof, he cites the widespread marches, the widespread, cross-party resistance against a television host's removal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep until certain corruption becomes so noxious, a particular deed so disrespectful of the common good, some brutality so loud, that it is forced except to rise.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll be validated.
Meanwhile, the big questions remain: is the US able to ever recover? Can it retrieve its standing internationally and its commitment to the rule of law?
Or must we acknowledge that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is true; that all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we need to strive, in whatever ways we can.
For me, as an observer of the press, that’s about urging journalists to adhere, more completely, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For others, it might involve participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.
Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The reality is, we are uncertain. The only option is try to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently
The contact I experience with students with young journalists, who are equally hopeful and grounded, {always
