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One year ago, the environment was completely distinct. Ahead of the national election, considerate citizens could admit the nation's deep flaws – its inequities and inequality – yet they could still see it as the US. A free society. A place where legal governance carried weight. A country guided by a respectable and ethical public servant, even with his older age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, many of us scarcely know the country we reside in. People believed to be illegal immigrants are detained and forced into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being torn down for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is harassing his opponents or alleged foes and insisting federal prosecutors hand over an enormous amount of public funds. Uniformed troops are deployed to US urban areas on false pretexts. The Pentagon, rebranded the War Department, has practically rid itself of routine media oversight as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, legal practices, media outlets are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are treated like nobility.

“America, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, commented recently. “Finally, more quickly than I believed likely, it transpired here.”

Each day begins to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone our nation is, and how quickly it unfolded.

However, we know that the leader was properly voted in. Following his highly troubling previous administration and even after the warnings that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – following Trump himself said publicly he would be a dictator just on day one – a majority of citizens chose him rather than the other candidate.

As terrifying as the present situation is, it's more frightening to understand that we’re only several months into this presidential term. Where will an additional three years of this downfall find us? And what if the three years transforms into something even longer, because there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from deciding that additional tenure is necessary, maybe for defense purposes?

Granted, there is still hope. We will have legislative votes next year that may establish an alternate balance of power, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. There are government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, like Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election three years from now could initiate us down the road to recovery just as the prior selection set us on this unfortunate course.

There exist countless citizens protesting in the streets across municipalities, similar to recent last weekend during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is awakening”, just as it did following the Red Scare during the fifties or amid the Vietnam war protests or throughout the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

He claims he knows the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he cites the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the largely united defiance by media to accept the defense department’s demands they report only approved content.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists dormant until specific greed becomes so noxious, a particular deed so disrespectful toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that he has no choice but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may prove to be right.

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it reclaim its standing in the world and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind indicates that the second option is correct; that all may indeed be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about urging journalists to live up, more thoroughly, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to defend voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we existed in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is try to persevere.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The engagement I have during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are both visionary and grounded, {always