🔗 Share this article

Twelve months back, the situation was completely distinct. Prior to the US presidential election, considerate residents could recognize America's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – yet they continued to see it as America. A democratic nation. A land where constitutional order carried weight. A country led by a respectable and upright leader, even with his older age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens scarcely know the nation we live in. Persons believed to be illegal immigrants are detained and shoved into vehicles, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being torn down for an obscene event space. The president is targeting his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting federal prosecutors transfer a massive sum of public funds. Uniformed troops are being sent into American cities under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, rebranded the War Department, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses what could amount to nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Universities, law firms, news companies are submitting under the president’s threats, and billionaires are handled as aristocracy.

“America, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit into autocracy and totalitarianism,” a noted author, stated this past summer. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it occurred here.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. It is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Yet, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Despite his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the cautions linked to the understanding of Project 2025 – despite the president personally stated openly he would rule as a tyrant only on the first day – sufficient voters chose him over Kamala Harris.

While alarming as today's circumstances are, it's more daunting to realize that we have only been nine months into this administration. What will an additional three years of this downfall leave us? And what if that period transforms into something even longer, as there is not anyone to restrain this leader from opting that a third term is necessary, maybe for national security reasons?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. We will have midterm elections next year which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, should Democrats retake the Senate or House of the legislature. There are elected officials who are attempting to impose a degree of oversight, for example representatives who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to money grab from legal authorities.

And a national vote in the next cycle could initiate the path toward restoration exactly as last year’s election set us on this regrettable path.

We see millions of Americans demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of America is rising”, just as it did post-McCarthyism during the fifties or throughout anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

He claims he knows the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to accept the defense department’s demands they report only what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep before certain corruption becomes so noxious, some action so offensive toward public welfare, specific cruelty so loud, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may be validated.

In the meantime, the major inquiries endure: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its standing in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My negative thoughts suggests that the final scenario is true; that everything could be finished. My hopeful heart, however, convinces me that we must try, through all methods possible.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that involves encouraging reporters to live up, more fully, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For some people, it could mean participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to safeguard voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a separate situation. A year from now? Or three years from now? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to strive to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I experience during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always