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Twelve months back, the situation was entirely different. Before the US presidential election, reflective citizens could acknowledge the country's serious imperfections – its unfairness and imbalance – however they still could perceive it as the US. A free society. A place where constitutional order held significance. A state headed by a respectable and decent leader, despite his advanced age and increasing frailty.

These days, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans scarcely know the land we live in. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and forced into vans, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque event space. The leader is harassing his political rivals or perceived antagonists and requesting federal prosecutors transfer a huge total of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are dispatched across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, renamed the Defense Ministry, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, journalism organizations are yielding under the president’s threats, and billionaires are handled as aristocracy.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the limit into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, stated in August. “Finally, swifter than I imagined possible, it did happen in America.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. It is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined we have become, and how quickly it has happened.

Nevertheless, we know that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the alerts associated with the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – even after Trump himself declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – sufficient voters selected him instead of the other candidate.

While alarming as the current reality may be, it's more frightening to recognize that we are just several months into this presidential term. What will three more years of this deterioration position us? And if that timeframe transforms into an prolonged era, as there is no one to restrain this ruler from opting that additional tenure is necessary, possibly for defense purposes?

Admittedly, all is not lost. There are midterm elections in 2026 that could create a new governmental control, should Democrats retake either chamber of Congress. There exist government representatives who are trying to exert some accountability, like lawmakers that are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in 2028 could begin us down the road toward restoration precisely as the previous vote put us on this unfortunate course.

We see millions of Americans demonstrating in urban areas of their cities, as they did recently in the No Kings rallies.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of America is awakening”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or throughout the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

He claims he knows the indicators of that resurgence and observes it occurring at present. As support, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, cross-party resistance regarding a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous defiance by media to agree to military mandates they report only approved content.

“The sleeping giant always remains asleep before some venality becomes so noxious, a particular deed so offensive toward public welfare, specific cruelty so disruptive, that he has no choice other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll be validated.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: can America ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts suggests that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we must try, through all methods we can.

For me, as an observer of the press, that involves pushing media professionals to commit, more completely, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it might involve working on political races, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we were in a separate situation. A year from now? Or in several years? The reality is, we are uncertain. The only option is try to continue fighting.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I encounter with students with young journalists, that are simultaneously hopeful and realistic, {always