A Tragic Transformation a Single Year Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the environment was completely different. Before the US presidential election, reflective Americans could admit the nation's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – yet they continued to see it as the United States. A free society. A land where the rule of law meant something. A state guided by a dignified and decent official, notwithstanding his older age and increasing frailty.
Currently, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we live in. Persons believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and forced into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the White House – is being destroyed to build a lavish dance hall. The president is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Uniformed troops are dispatched across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has – in effect – freed itself of regular press examination while it uses potentially totaling nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Institutions, law firms, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and billionaires are regarded as aristocracy.
“The US, just months before its 250-year mark as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the edge toward dictatorship and fascism,” a noted author, commented in August. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it did happen here.”
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.
Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing first term and even after the alerts linked to the awareness of the conservative plan – despite the president personally declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – a majority of citizens elected him instead of Kamala Harris.
While alarming as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to realize that we’re only several months into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this decline leave us? And if that period turns into a more extended duration, as there is no one to limit this president from deciding that another term is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?
Granted, there is still hope. We will have legislative votes the coming year that could bring a different governmental control, should Democrats regain either chamber of the legislature. There are government representatives who are striving to impose certain responsibility, for example representatives who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote three years from now could start the path toward restoration just as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.
There exist millions of Americans marching in urban areas across municipalities, similar to recent in the past days during anti-authority protests.
A former official, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is awakening”, just as it did post-McCarthyism during the fifties or during the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the listing ship eventually was righted.
The author states he recognizes the indicators of that revival and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he references the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition against a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal defiance by media to agree to the defense department’s demands they only publish authorized information.
“The dormant force consistently stays asleep before certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so disrespectful toward public welfare, certain violence so disruptive, that it has no choice other than to stir.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may turn out correct.
In the meantime, the major inquiries remain: can America regain its footing? Can it retrieve its standing in the world and its devotion to the rule of law?
Or should we recognize that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts tells me that the final scenario is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we must try, through all methods possible.
For me, as a media critic, that means urging journalists to live up, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve engaging with congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to defend ballot privileges.
Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. A year from now? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to persevere.
What Provides Me Hope Now
The engagement I have in the classroom with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and grounded, {always
