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One year ago, the environment was utterly separate. Ahead of the national election, considerate citizens could acknowledge the country's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – however they continued to see it as the United States. A free society. A place where legal governance carried weight. A nation guided by a dignified and upright public servant, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Currently, in late October 2025, countless Americans scarcely know the country we inhabit. Persons suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and forced into vehicles, sometimes denied due process. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for an obscene event space. The president is persecuting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting federal prosecutors transfer a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Institutions, attorney offices, news companies are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are treated like nobility.

“The United States, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the edge into autocracy and fascism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I thought feasible, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how severely declined our nation is, and the speed at which it occurred.

However, we know that Trump was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and even after the warnings linked to the understanding of the conservative plan – following Trump himself declared plainly he would be a dictator solely at the start – enough Americans chose him over his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as the current reality is, it's more frightening to understand that we’re only nine months into this administration. What will three more years of this deterioration leave us? And what if the three years turns into an prolonged era, since there is nobody to stop this leader from opting that additional tenure is essential, possibly for national security reasons?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There will be midterm elections the coming year which might establish an alternate governmental control, should Democrats retake one or both houses of Congress. There exist elected officials who are striving to exert some accountability, like representatives currently initiating an inquiry concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election three years from now could initiate us down the road to recovery exactly as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are millions of Americans demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, as they did in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or throughout the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

The author states he knows the indicators of that awakening and notices it unfolding at present. As support, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous defiance by media to sign military mandates they report only authorized information.

“The dormant force always remains inactive before some venality grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of societal benefit, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant has no choice other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

In the meantime, the big questions remain: is the US able to return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its standing in the world and its commitment to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts indicates that the second option is correct; that everything could be lost. My positive feelings, though, convinces me that we have to attempt, through all methods available.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that involves urging journalists to adhere, more completely, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For others, it may be engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or three years from now? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is to attempt to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I have during teaching with young journalists, that are simultaneously visionary and practical, {always