Twelve months back, the environment was utterly different. Before the national election, thoughtful Americans could recognize America's serious imperfections – its inequities and inequality – however they could still see it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where legal governance meant something. A state led by a respectable and ethical official, notwithstanding his older age and increasing frailty.
Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens hardly identify the country we reside in. Persons suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and shoved into vehicles, at times denied due process. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being torn down for an obscene event space. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or alleged foes and requesting legal authorities hand over a massive sum of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, renamed the Department of War, has effectively freed itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Institutions, attorney offices, journalism organizations are yielding under the president’s threats, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink into authoritarianism and extremism,” a noted author, commented recently. “Finally, swifter than I imagined possible, it did happen here.”
Each day begins with fresh terrors. It is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and how quickly it has happened.
However, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and even after the alerts linked to the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – despite the president personally stated openly he intended to be a dictator solely at the start – sufficient voters chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.
Frightening as the current reality may be, it’s even scarier to understand that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this administration. Where will three more years of this deterioration position us? And suppose that period transforms into an prolonged era, since there is nobody to stop this ruler from deciding that additional tenure is required, possibly for security concerns?
Certainly, all is not lost. There are legislative votes in 2026 that could create a new governmental control, should Democrats recapture the Senate or House of Congress. There are government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, like Democratic congressmen who are launching an investigation concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a national vote in the next cycle could initiate the path to recovery just as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.
There exist millions of Americans protesting in the streets throughout communities, like they performed in the past days during anti-authority protests.
A former official, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is stirring”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in that decade or during anti-war demonstrations or in the Watergate scandal.
In those instances, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
The author states he understands the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he cites the recent massive protests, the widespread, multi-faction opposition regarding a television host's removal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they only publish authorized information.
“The dormant force always remains inactive until some venality becomes so noxious, an specific act so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that he is compelled other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll be validated.
In the meantime, the major inquiries endure: will the nation regain its footing? Can it retrieve its standing internationally and its adherence to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is true; that everything could be gone. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, convinces me that we need to strive, by any means possible.
Personally, as a media critic, that means urging journalists to live up, more thoroughly, to their duty of holding power to account. For some people, it may be participating in election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.
Less than a year ago, we were in a very different place. A year from now? Or after another term? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is to strive to persevere.
What Provides Me Optimism Currently
The engagement I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously visionary and practical, {always
