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Twelve months back, the environment was entirely separate. Prior to the national election, considerate citizens could admit America's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – but they could still see it as the US. A democracy. A country where constitutional order held significance. A state led by a honorable and decent leader, despite his advanced age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, numerous citizens hardly identify the country we reside in. Persons alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and forced into vehicles, occasionally denied due process. The East Wing of the White House – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque dance hall. Donald Trump is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and demanding federal prosecutors transfer a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, relabeled the War Department, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are yielding under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.

“The United States, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” an American historian, commented in August. “In the end, faster than I believed likely, it occurred in America.”

One awakes to new horrors. And it's challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it occurred.

Yet, it is known that the president was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and even after the warnings linked to the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – despite the leader directly said publicly he intended to be a dictator only on the first day – sufficient voters chose him rather than the other candidate.

Frightening as the present situation are, it's more daunting to recognize that we’re only nine months into this presidential term. What will an additional three years of this decline find us? And what if the three years transforms into an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to restrain this leader from deciding that additional tenure is essential, possibly for national security reasons?

Granted, there is still hope. There are midterm elections the coming year which might create a new political equilibrium, should Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. There are public servants who are trying to impose a degree of oversight, like representatives who are starting a probe concerning the try to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could begin our journey to healing just as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.

There exist millions of Americans protesting in the streets throughout communities, as they did in the past days during anti-authority protests.

A former official, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is stirring”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout the Vietnam war protests or in the Nixon controversy.

In those instances, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he recognizes the signs of that resurgence and notices it unfolding at present. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, cross-party resistance against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to sign government requirements they only publish approved content.

“The dormant force always remains inactive until some venality turns extremely harmful, some action so offensive of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that he has no choice but to awaken.”

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

At the same time, the major inquiries persist: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its position internationally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind tells me that the second option is accurate; that everything could be lost. My optimistic spirit, though, convinces me that we need to strive, in whatever ways available.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that involves urging journalists to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it might involve working on congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to attempt to persevere.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The contact I experience with students with young journalists, who are equally idealistic and grounded, {always