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Twelve months back, the situation was entirely different. Before the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could recognize the country's deep flaws – its injustices and imbalance – but they continued to perceive it as the US. A democracy. A country where constitutional order held significance. A country led by a honorable and upright leader, notwithstanding his advanced age and declining health.

These days, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens barely recognize the land we live in. People believed to be undocumented migrants are rounded up and shoved into vehicles, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the White House – is being destroyed to build a lavish dance hall. The leader is harassing his opponents or supposed enemies and demanding federal prosecutors hand over a huge total of public funds. Armed military personnel are being sent to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of potentially totaling close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Institutions, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250^th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” an American historian, commented recently. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it occurred in this country.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it's challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.

Yet, we understand that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his highly troubling initial presidency and following the cautions that came with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – following Trump himself declared plainly he intended to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – sufficient voters selected him over the other candidate.

While alarming as the present situation is, it's more frightening to realize that we’re only several months under this leadership. Where will an additional three years of this downfall position us? And if that period becomes something even longer, since there is nobody to limit this ruler from deciding that another term is essential, maybe for security concerns?

Certainly, all is not lost. We will have legislative votes next year that may bring a different balance of power, should Democrats recapture the Senate or House of Congress. There are elected officials who are striving to apply some accountability, for example lawmakers who are starting a probe concerning the try to money grab from the justice department.

And a leadership election three years from now could begin the path to recovery precisely as last year’s election put us on this unfortunate course.

There exist numerous residents protesting in the streets of their cities, as they did in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the nation is stirring”, just as it did following the Red Scare in that decade or during the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

He claims he knows the signs of that resurgence and observes it occurring currently. For proof, he cites the widespread marches, the broad, multi-faction opposition against a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to sign military mandates they only publish authorized information.

“The dormant force consistently stays dormant before specific greed grows too toxic, some action so offensive of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will be validated.

At the same time, the crucial issues remain: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its standing internationally and its devotion to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts suggests that the latter is correct; that all may indeed be finished. My hopeful heart, however, convinces me that we have to attempt, through all methods available.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to live up, more fully, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For others, it could mean engaging with election efforts, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to defend ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we existed in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The reality is, we don’t know. The only option is try to persevere.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The contact I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and practical, {always