The Tragic Shift Just One Year Has Made in the US
In late October 2024, the situation was entirely distinct. Before the American presidential vote, reflective Americans could recognize the nation's significant faults – its unfairness and inequality – however they still could identify it as the US. A democratic nation. A place where legal governance held significance. A state led by a respectable and decent official, despite his elderly years and increasing frailty.
These days, this autumn, many of us scarcely know the nation we live in. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being torn down to build a lavish event space. Donald Trump is persecuting his adversaries or alleged foes and demanding federal prosecutors surrender an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Institutions, law firms, news companies are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are handled as aristocracy.
“The United States, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” a noted author, commented this past summer. “Finally, swifter than I imagined possible, it did happen here.”
One awakes with fresh terrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how deeply lost our nation is, and the speed at which it occurred.
Nevertheless, it is known that Trump was duly elected. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and following the warnings that came with the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself stated openly he would be a dictator just on day one – a majority of citizens chose him over his Democratic opponent.
Frightening as today's circumstances are, it's more daunting to understand that we have only been nine months into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And suppose that timeframe becomes a more extended duration, because there is nobody to restrain this president from deciding that another term is required, possibly for defense purposes?
Certainly, all is not lost. There are midterm elections in 2026 that could establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of parliament. There are public servants who are striving to impose certain responsibility, for example representatives that are starting a probe into the attempted money grab from the justice department.
And a presidential election in the next cycle could begin our journey to healing exactly as last year’s election put us on this disappointing trajectory.
We see numerous residents marching in the streets of their cities, similar to recent last weekend during anti-authority protests.
Robert Reich, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare in the 1950s or during the sixties activism or during the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.
Reich says he understands the indicators of that resurgence and notices it unfolding currently. For proof, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous defiance by media to agree to the defense department’s demands they solely cover authorized information.
“The dormant force always remains inactive till some venality becomes so noxious, a particular deed so contemptuous toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that the giant has no choice except to rise.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may be validated.
At the same time, the big questions endure: is the US able to ever recover? Is it possible to restore its standing in the world and its commitment to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My negative thoughts tells me that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be lost. My hopeful heart, though, tells me that we need to strive, through all methods possible.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about encouraging reporters to live up, more fully, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it could mean engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to protect electoral access.
Less than a year ago, we were in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The fact is, we don’t know. The only option is try to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I experience with students with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously visionary and grounded, {always
