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Twelve months back, the environment was entirely distinct. Before the US presidential election, reflective Americans could acknowledge the country's deep flaws – its injustices and imbalance – but they continued to identify it as the US. A free society. A place where legal governance meant something. A state headed by a respectable and ethical public servant, even with his elderly years and declining health.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, many of us barely recognize the country we inhabit. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and shoved into transport, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the White House – is being torn down to build a lavish dance hall. The president is harassing his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department transfer an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are being sent across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, renamed the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Institutions, attorney offices, journalism organizations are submitting under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the brink into authoritarianism and extremism,” a noted author, wrote recently. “Finally, faster than I imagined possible, it did happen here.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. It is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we have become, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

However, we understand that Trump was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and following the warnings that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – following the leader directly declared plainly he intended to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – enough Americans elected him over the other candidate.

Frightening as the current reality may be, it's more frightening to understand that we are just three-quarters of a year under this leadership. Where will an additional three years of this downfall position us? And what if that period transforms into an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to stop this president from deciding that additional tenure is essential, perhaps for defense purposes?

Admittedly, all is not lost. There will be midterm elections the coming year that may create a new balance of power, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of Congress. There exist public servants who are trying to apply certain responsibility, such as lawmakers that are launching an investigation regarding the effort to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a national vote in the next cycle could begin us down the road to recovery just as last year’s election put us on this unfortunate course.

There exist countless citizens marching in public spaces throughout communities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is rising”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in that decade or throughout the Vietnam war protests or during the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he understands the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he points to the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition to a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to agree to the defense department’s demands they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant always remains inactive till specific greed becomes so noxious, an specific act so disrespectful toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that it has no choice except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll be validated.

In the meantime, the big questions remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its position internationally and its devotion to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My cynical mind indicates that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, however, convinces me that we have to attempt, through all methods possible.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about urging journalists to adhere, more thoroughly, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For some people, it could mean engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we existed in an alternate reality. In the future? Or in several years? The fact is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The contact I have during teaching with young journalists, who are equally visionary and realistic, {always