The Devastating Change Just One Year Has Brought in the US

Twelve months back, the environment was completely different. Prior to the US presidential election, considerate residents could acknowledge the country's significant faults – its unfairness and disparity – yet they still could perceive it as the US. A democratic nation. A place where legal governance meant something. A state led by a dignified and upright public servant, even with his advanced age and declining health.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we reside in. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are detained and forced into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being torn down for an obscene event space. Donald Trump is targeting his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department hand over an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, rebranded the War Department, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and billionaires are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the limit toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, wrote recently. “In the end, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen in America.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. It is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we have become, and the speed at which it unfolded.

Yet, we know that the leader was duly elected. Following his highly troubling first term and following the cautions associated with the understanding of the conservative plan – even after the president personally said publicly he would rule as a tyrant solely at the start – a majority of citizens selected him rather than the other candidate.

Frightening as the current reality are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we are just nine months into this presidential term. What will an additional three years of this deterioration leave us? And what if that period becomes a more extended duration, because there is no one to stop this president from deciding that additional tenure is required, maybe for national security reasons?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There will be midterm elections in 2026 that may create a new governmental control, should Democrats recapture either chamber of parliament. There are elected officials who are attempting to apply certain responsibility, like representatives who are starting a probe regarding the effort to money grab from the justice department.

And a presidential election three years from now could begin the path toward restoration precisely as the previous vote set us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents marching in urban areas throughout communities, as they did recently at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is awakening”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or during the sixties activism or during the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

The author states he knows the signs of that resurgence and observes it occurring now. For proof, he points to the widespread marches, the extensive, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to agree to the defense department’s demands they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists inactive until specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so disrespectful toward public welfare, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant is compelled except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may prove to be right.

At the same time, the big questions remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My cynical mind tells me that the final scenario is accurate; that everything could be lost. My positive feelings, though, convinces me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways we can.

In my case, working in journalism analysis, that involves encouraging reporters to live up, more thoroughly, to their mission of holding power to account. For different individuals, it might involve engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we existed in a very different place. A year from now? Or three years from now? The fact is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to persevere.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

The engagement I have in the classroom with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and practical, {always