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In late October 2024, the situation was entirely different. Before the American presidential vote, reflective residents could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its inequities and imbalance – but they could still see it as America. A democracy. A land where legal governance meant something. A country headed by a honorable and ethical leader, notwithstanding his older age and declining health.

These days, in late October 2025, many of us scarcely know the nation we inhabit. Persons alleged as illegal immigrants are detained and shoved into transport, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque dance hall. Donald Trump is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities surrender an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are being sent to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, media outlets are buckling from leader's menaces, and billionaires are handled as nobility.

“America, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the limit toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Finally, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

One awakes to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we have become, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

However, we understand that the president was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the warnings associated with the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – even after the leader directly said publicly he intended to rule as a tyrant just on day one – a majority of citizens selected him over the other candidate.

While alarming as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to understand that we have only been three-quarters of a year under this leadership. How will another 36 months of this decline find us? And suppose that timeframe transforms into an prolonged era, since there is not anyone to stop this ruler from opting that a third term is required, perhaps for national security reasons?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. There are midterm elections in 2026 which might create a new political equilibrium, should Democrats retake either chamber of the legislature. There are government representatives who are trying to impose certain responsibility, like lawmakers currently starting a probe into the attempted fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a national vote in the next cycle could start the path to healing exactly as the prior selection placed us on this unfortunate course.

There are millions of Americans marching in public spaces across municipalities, like they performed last weekend in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, stated lately that “the slumbering force of America is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism during the fifties or throughout anti-war demonstrations or during the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

He claims he knows the indicators of that awakening and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he cites the widespread marches, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a broadcaster's firing and the largely united rejection by reporters to agree to the defense department’s demands they report only what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, some action so contemptuous of the common good, some brutality so noisy, that he is forced except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

At the same time, the crucial issues remain: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its status in the world and its commitment to legal principles?

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

My negative thoughts suggests that the final scenario is accurate; that everything might be finished. My hopeful heart, however, advises me that we need to strive, through all methods we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that means urging journalists to commit, more thoroughly, to their duty of holding power to account. For some people, it may be working on political races, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to defend voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The fact is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to persevere.

What Offers Me Hope Now

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