🔗 Share this article

One year ago, the situation was entirely separate. Ahead of the national election, thoughtful Americans could admit America's deep flaws – its inequities and disparity – however they could still identify it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where the rule of law held significance. A nation led by a honorable and ethical public servant, notwithstanding his advanced age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the country we inhabit. Individuals alleged as undocumented migrants are detained and shoved into vans, sometimes refused legal rights. The left side of the presidential residence – is being torn down to build a lavish dance hall. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or supposed enemies and requesting federal prosecutors transfer a massive sum of public funds. Armed military personnel are being sent into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has effectively freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are handled as members of the royal family.

“America, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the limit into autocracy and fascism,” an American historian, stated recently. “In the end, more quickly than I thought feasible, it did happen here.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we have become, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Yet, we know that the president was properly voted in. Even after his deeply disturbing first term and despite the cautions associated with the knowledge of the conservative plan – following the leader directly stated openly he planned to be a dictator just on day one – enough Americans chose him over his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as the present situation is, it’s even scarier to realize that we have only been several months under this leadership. Where will three more years of this downfall leave us? And if that timeframe transforms into something even longer, as there is no one to restrain this ruler from opting that a third term is necessary, maybe for security concerns?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There will be legislative votes the coming year which might create a new balance of power, should Democrats retake either chamber of parliament. We have government representatives who are trying to impose certain responsibility, for example Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation concerning the try to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a national vote in the next cycle could begin us down the road to recovery just as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in the streets across municipalities, as they did last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is awakening”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or amid the Vietnam war protests or during the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the listing ship eventually was righted.

The author states he knows the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding currently. As support, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, bipartisan pushback to a television host's removal and the largely united refusal by journalists to sign military mandates they only publish approved content.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists inactive before some venality grows too toxic, some action so offensive toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that it is forced other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

At the same time, the crucial issues persist: will the nation return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its standing in the world and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is true; that everything could be gone. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we must try, through all methods available.

For me, as an observer of the press, that’s about pushing media professionals to adhere, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For others, it might involve working on political races, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to defend voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Hope Now

The contact I experience during teaching with young journalists, that are simultaneously idealistic and practical, {always