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Twelve months back, the landscape was entirely different. Prior to the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could admit the nation's serious imperfections – its inequities and inequality – but they continued to see it as the United States. A democracy. A country where constitutional order held significance. A nation guided by a respectable and upright public servant, despite his older age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the land we reside in. Persons believed to be unauthorized foreigners are collected and shoved into vans, at times refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque dance hall. The president is targeting his opponents or perceived antagonists and insisting the justice department hand over a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively liberated itself of regular press examination while it uses possibly reaching nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are yielding under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as members of the royal family.

“America, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” a noted author, wrote this past summer. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it did happen in this country.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it's challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we have become, and the speed at which it has happened.

However, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Even after his highly troubling first term and despite the cautions that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – despite the leader directly stated openly he would act as an autocrat solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him instead of Kamala Harris.

While alarming as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we have only been several months into this administration. Where will another 36 months of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that timeframe turns into a more extended duration, since there is no one to stop this ruler from opting that another term is required, possibly for national security reasons?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have midterm elections in 2026 that may create a new balance of power, if Democrats regain one or both houses of parliament. There are public servants who are striving to impose a degree of oversight, like lawmakers currently initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate the path toward restoration precisely as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.

We see numerous residents marching in the streets of their cities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the nation is awakening”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or amid anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

The author states he recognizes the indicators of that revival and observes it occurring currently. As support, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition to a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to sign government requirements they solely cover approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists inactive till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, some action so contemptuous toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the big questions persist: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its devotion to legal principles?

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

My pessimistic brain suggests that the second option is accurate; that all may indeed be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, advises me that we need to strive, by any means available.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that involves urging journalists to commit, more fully, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it may be participating in political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to protect electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we lived in a very different place. A year from now? Or after another term? The reality is, we cannot predict. All we can do is try to persevere.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The interaction I experience with students with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always