🔗 Share this article

One year ago, the environment was completely different. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective residents could acknowledge America's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – but they could still perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where constitutional order carried weight. A nation guided by a respectable and ethical leader, despite his advanced age and growing weakness.

Currently, in late October 2025, countless Americans scarcely know the country we reside in. Individuals alleged as illegal immigrants are collected and forced into vans, at times denied due process. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque ballroom. Donald Trump is persecuting his adversaries or alleged foes and requesting federal prosecutors hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed into American cities under fabricated reasons. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has effectively liberated itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are submitting under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “Ultimately, faster than I thought feasible, it occurred here.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. It is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and how quickly it has happened.

Yet, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and following the cautions linked to the awareness of the conservative plan – despite the president personally said publicly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – enough Americans elected him instead of his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as today's circumstances is, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this administration. Where will three more years of this downfall find us? And what if that period transforms into a more extended duration, because there is nobody to limit this ruler from opting that another term is required, possibly for national security reasons?

Granted, there is still hope. There are midterm elections next year which might bring a different political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of Congress. There are elected officials who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, such as lawmakers that are starting a probe into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election three years from now could begin the path toward restoration just as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.

There are millions of Americans protesting in urban areas of their cities, like they performed in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the slumbering force of America is awakening”, 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 unstable nation finally returned to balance.

The author states he knows the signs of that revival and observes it occurring now. As support, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal defiance by media to sign the defense department’s demands they only publish approved content.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant until specific greed turns extremely harmful, some action so disrespectful toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that he has no choice other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

At the same time, the big questions endure: can America ever recover? Can it reclaim its position globally and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind tells me that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, advises me that we must try, through all methods available.

Personally, working in journalism analysis, that means pushing media professionals to live up, more thoroughly, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it might involve engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we were in a separate situation. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to strive to persevere.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The engagement I encounter in the classroom with new media professionals, who are equally hopeful and realistic, {always