A Devastating Transformation Only 12 Months Has Caused in the US

Twelve months back, the landscape was entirely distinct. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective residents could admit America's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – however they continued to identify it as the US. A democracy. A country where constitutional order meant something. A country guided by a honorable and ethical official, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans barely recognize the land we live in. Individuals suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and shoved into vehicles, occasionally refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. The leader is persecuting his opponents or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities transfer a huge total of public funds. Armed military personnel are being sent across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Institutions, attorney offices, media outlets are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are handled as nobility.

“The US, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the brink into autocracy and extremism,” an American historian, wrote this past summer. “In the end, swifter than I imagined possible, it transpired in this country.”

One awakes to new horrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we have become, and how quickly it unfolded.

Yet, we understand that Trump was properly voted in. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the alerts linked to the understanding of Project 2025 – following Trump himself declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat solely at the start – enough Americans selected him over the other candidate.

Frightening as the present situation are, it's more daunting to recognize that we are just nine months under this leadership. Where will an additional three years of this deterioration position us? And suppose the three years turns into an prolonged era, because there is not anyone to limit this president from deciding that a third term is necessary, perhaps for national security reasons?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There will be midterm elections the coming year which might create a new governmental control, if Democrats retake one or both houses of Congress. We have elected officials who are trying to apply a degree of oversight, like lawmakers currently launching an investigation concerning the try to money grab from the justice department.

And a presidential election three years from now could start the path toward restoration just as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.

There are millions of Americans marching in public spaces across municipalities, as they did last weekend during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the nation is awakening”, similar to past post-McCarthyism during the fifties or during the sixties activism or throughout the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

Reich says he understands the signs of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, bipartisan pushback against a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept government requirements they solely cover approved content.

“The dormant force always remains asleep until some venality grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful of societal benefit, certain violence so loud, that it is compelled except to rise.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the major inquiries remain: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status internationally and its adherence to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is true; that everything could be gone. My positive feelings, nevertheless, convinces me that we must try, in whatever ways available.

In my case, working in journalism analysis, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more thoroughly, to their mission of holding power to account. For different individuals, it could mean participating in congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to safeguard voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we were in a separate situation. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is try to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I experience with students with new media professionals, who are equally visionary and grounded, {always