Update Nov. 8, 2025

The current situation in the United States, as of November 2025, is marked by high political volatility, deepening social divides, and increasing instability—raising alarms among analysts regarding the nation’s slide on both the "fascism meter" and the "civilization collapse meter" [1][2][3].

The Political and Social Climate

The 2025 off-year elections were seen as a referendum on President Trump’s second term, with Democrats making some notable gubernatorial gains by running as pragmatic moderates and focusing on issues like affordability and resisting Trump’s agenda [4]. However, the elections also took place amidst what experts called the “highest levels of political violence in the U.S. since the 1970s,” with domestic and foreign actors seeking to disrupt the democratic process through threats, cyberattacks, and acts of targeted violence. High-profile incidents, such as political assassinations and bomb threats at polling sites, have heightened a sense of insecurity and anxiety across the nation [1].

Economically, the country is enduring a prolonged government shutdown, causing disruptions in services, travel, and union pressures, with economic growth forecasts dwindling as savings and consumer confidence decline [5][6]. Despite some resilience in earlier months, the outlook is cautious, with analysts warning of slowdowns and system shocks if political gridlock is not overcome.

Where the U.S. Stands on the Fascism Meter

Prominent watchdog groups and civil society organizations are warning that core American democratic norms are under severe threat. The administration’s efforts to centralize power, restructure federal agencies, restrict protests, target minorities, censor public communication, and punish “noncompliant” states and institutions are being described as a rapid and technocratic advance toward a uniquely American variant of 21st-century fascism [2][7]. Official lists of “illegal” organizations and banned speech, federal interference in university funding, and attempts to sideline the judiciary through delegitimization and personnel changes all point to a systematic dismantling of institutional checks and balances [2]. Notably, over 150 lawsuits have been filed by states, unions, and public interest groups, challenging the administration’s constitutionality, with courts emerging as a key arena of resistance [2].

While a subset of commentators note that the U.S. still retains elements of democracy and therefore does not represent “classic” fascism, multiple democracy monitoring indexes and scholars signal ongoing deterioration. Evaluations by public and political scientists show a continually declining assessment of American democracy, with projections of further decline into 2027 [3][8][9].

Where the U.S. Stands on the Civilization Collapse Meter

Indicators of societal instability have risen sharply:

- Elevated political violence, including assassinations and attacks on critical infrastructure [1]

- Widespread threats against election officials and government workers [1]

- Disruptions caused by a record-length government shutdown, affecting travel, economic stability, and basic services [5][6]

- Erosion of civic trust and soaring pessimism about the country’s trajectory [3][10]

While the economy retains near-term strength, structural weaknesses driven by political dysfunction, polarization, and targeted attacks on civil society are warning signs of potential cascading collapse, should these trends accelerate.

For Americans Who Wish to Flee

- Research destination countries’ current asylum, work, and residency programs for Americans. Several nations in Europe, Latin America, and Oceania continue to offer expedited processes for political dissidents or skilled workers, but application requirements are tightening as global instability rises [2][3].

- Establish digital security as you prepare. Use encrypted communications and minimize personal digital traces, especially if engaged in activism or journalism.

- Update official documents (passports, diplomas, bank records) and make digital and hard copies accessible in case rapid departure is necessary.

- Connect with global networks (NGOs, legal aid organizations, diaspora groups) that can assist with relocation, safe housing, and employment.

- Avoid overt legal violations or conspicuous political activity that could jeopardize the legitimacy of your departure or create risks at the border.

For Americans Who Wish to Stay

- Join or support local mutual aid networks and community resilience groups. These networks can provide security, food, medical access, and rapid response in case of unrest or further government crackdowns.

- Prioritize digital and legal security: know your rights, understand local ordinances, and document incidents as evidence for ongoing or future legal action.

- Become involved in nonviolent resistance: support organizations engaged in litigation, journalism, and advocacy; educate your neighbors on digital safety, rights, and emergency preparedness.

- Cultivate neighborhood alliances to withstand potential supply disruptions or infrastructure failures.

- Monitor court cases and legislative changes, and vote in every local, state, and federal election possible, as legal and political resistance remains critical to preserving freedoms—even as institutional checks weaken [2][3][11].

Both those choosing to leave and those opting to stay should avoid isolation, document abuses and injustices when safe, and remain adaptable to rapidly changing risks and opportunities for collective action [2][1][11].

The future direction of the United States remains fraught and uncertain, with both fascist tendencies and collapse risks intensifying amid active pushback from civil society, the courts, and pockets of state-level democracy. Careful preparation, local solidarity, and engagement with global legal and human rights frameworks are increasingly vital for safeguarding individual and community safety in this volatile epoch [2][3][1].

Citations:

[1] 'Highly volatile' threat landscape for November elections, new ... https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/highly-volatile-threat-landscape-november-elections-new-assessment/story?id=127148686

[2] 'Trump is advancing a 21st-century US variant of fascism, backed by ... https://lens.civicus.org/interview/trump-is-advancing-a-21st-century-us-variant-of-fascism-backed-by-a-white-nationalist-ideology/

[3] U.S. Democracy Rankings Remain Stable But With a Red Flag https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/10/us-democracy-rankings-remain-stable-red-flag

[4] Takeaways from US election night 2025 - Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/us/takeaways-us-election-night-2025-2025-11-05/

[5] Markets and Economic Updates for November 2025: Easing Ahead ... https://www.hancockwhitney.com/insights/markets-and-economic-updates-for-november-2025-easing-ahead-the-fed-inflation-and-whats-next

[6] Government shutdown and Trump administration news | CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-government-shutdown-flight-cancellations-delays-11-07-25

[7] What are the fascist signs in the U.S. right now (2025) - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Kindsouls/posts/what-are-the-fascist-signs-in-the-us-right-now-2025power-is-being-centralized-un/1066941608982936/

[8] 31 Nobel Laureates Warn: The Signs of Fascism are Here | TIME https://time.com/7294056/signs-of-fascism-are-here/

[9] American Fascism https://prospect.org/2025/07/23/2025-07-23-american-fascism/

[10] Nearly 8 In 10 Voters Say The United States Is In A Political Crisis ... https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3932

[11] America Needs a Mass Movement—Now - The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/11/autocracy-resistance-social-movement/684336/

[12] 2025 General Election Guide for This November https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/us/politics/elections-california-new-jersey-nyc.html

[13] Could Democrats win big in November 2025 elections? - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdBKUwFOG94

[14] What this fall's elections can—and can't—teach us about the midterms https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-this-falls-elections-can-and-cant-teach-us-about-the-midterms/

[15] 2025 Ballot Measures to Watch | State Court Report https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/2025-ballot-measures-watch

[16] 2025 United States elections - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_States_elections

[17] US Financial Stability Report; November 2025 | Forex Factory https://www.forexfactory.com/news/1370059-us-financial-stability-report-november-2025

[18] No, Trump is not a fascist. He is a hypercapitalist and just as ... https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/5/4/no-trump-is-not-a-fascist-he-is-a-hypercapitalist-and-just-as-dangerous

[19] 2025 Financial Stability Conference https://www.clevelandfed.org/events/financial-stability-conference/2025/ev-20251120-financial-stability-conference

[20] Fascism shattered Europe a century ago — and historians hear ... https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/09/09/fascism-shattered-europe-a-century-ago-and-historians-hear-echoes-today-in-the-u-s/