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Twelve months back, the environment was entirely different. Ahead of the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could admit America's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – yet they still could perceive it as the United States. A democracy. A land where the rule of law held significance. A country guided by a dignified and decent leader, even with his elderly years and increasing frailty.

These days, in late October 2025, many of us scarcely know the country we reside in. People suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into vans, at times denied due process. The East Wing of the White House – is being destroyed for a grotesque ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department transfer an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed into American cities under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses what could amount to close to a trillion USD in public funds. Institutions, law firms, news companies are yielding under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as nobility.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the edge toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, more quickly than I thought feasible, it occurred in America.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. It is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Yet, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Despite his highly troubling first term and following the alerts that came with the understanding of the conservative plan – following the leader directly stated openly he intended to act as an autocrat only on the first day – a majority of citizens selected him rather than the other candidate.

As terrifying as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to understand that we have only been several months into this administration. Where will three more years of this downfall leave us? And if the three years becomes a more extended duration, as there is no one to restrain this president from determining that a third term is required, maybe for security concerns?

Certainly, all is not lost. There will be midterm elections in 2026 that could create a new political equilibrium, should Democrats recapture one or both houses of parliament. There are government representatives who are striving to exert some accountability, such as lawmakers currently launching an investigation concerning the try to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in 2028 could initiate the path toward restoration exactly as the previous vote set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist numerous residents marching in public spaces of their cities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the nation is stirring”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism during the fifties or throughout the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he recognizes the signs of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the broad, bipartisan pushback against a television host's removal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to agree to government requirements they report only approved content.

“The sleeping giant always remains asleep till specific greed grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful of the common good, certain violence so disruptive, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the big questions persist: will the nation ever recover? Can it retrieve its position in the world and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts indicates that the final scenario is accurate; that everything could be gone. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, tells me that we need to strive, by any means possible.

Personally, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to adhere, more completely, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it may be engaging with election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or after another term? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to not give up.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I experience with students with young journalists, who are equally visionary and grounded, {always