🔗 Share this article

Twelve months back, the environment was entirely separate. Prior to the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could admit America's deep flaws – its inequities and imbalance – but they still could identify it as America. A democratic nation. A country where the rule of law meant something. A country headed by a dignified and upright official, despite his elderly years and declining health.

These days, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens hardly identify the land we reside in. Persons suspected of being undocumented migrants are detained and pushed into transport, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for an obscene dance hall. The president is targeting his adversaries or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities transfer a huge total of public funds. Uniformed troops are deployed to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively rid itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling nearly $1tn in public funds. Institutions, attorney offices, media outlets are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.

“America, just months before its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into autocracy and totalitarianism,” an American historian, wrote this past summer. “Finally, swifter than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it's difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we are, and the speed at which it occurred.

Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Following his deeply disturbing first term and even after the cautions linked to the understanding of Project 2025 – following Trump himself said publicly he planned to act as an autocrat solely at the start – sufficient voters chose him rather than Kamala Harris.

Frightening as the current reality may be, it's more frightening to recognize that we have only been nine months under this leadership. Where will three more years of this deterioration leave us? And what if the three years becomes a more extended duration, since there is no one to stop this leader from deciding that a third term is required, perhaps for defense purposes?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes the coming year that could bring a different political equilibrium, should Democrats retake either chamber of parliament. There exist government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, like representatives currently launching an investigation concerning the try to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could begin us down the road toward restoration exactly as last year’s election placed us on this regrettable path.

We see millions of Americans protesting in urban areas across municipalities, as they did last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, just as it did post-McCarthyism during the fifties or during the sixties activism or during the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

Reich says he understands the signals of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, bipartisan pushback regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to agree to military mandates they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force consistently stays asleep until some venality turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so contemptuous toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that he has no choice except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: will the nation ever recover? Can it reclaim its status globally and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is accurate; that everything might be finished. My optimistic spirit, though, tells me that we need to strive, through all methods possible.

For me, as an observer of the press, that means urging journalists to adhere, more fully, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For others, it might involve participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to attempt to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

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