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Twelve months back, the situation was entirely different. Prior to the national election, reflective citizens could admit the country's serious imperfections – its inequities and imbalance – however they continued to see it as America. A free society. A land where constitutional order meant something. A country headed by a dignified and decent official, notwithstanding his advanced age and declining health.

These days, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the land we live in. Persons believed to be undocumented migrants are detained and forced into vehicles, occasionally denied due process. The East Wing of the White House – is being destroyed for a grotesque event space. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department transfer an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has effectively freed itself of regular press examination as it spends what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, media outlets are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like nobility.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the edge toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, wrote in August. “In the end, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we have become, and the speed at which it occurred.

However, it is known that Trump was legitimately chosen. Following his highly troubling previous administration and despite the cautions linked to the knowledge of the conservative plan – following the leader directly stated openly he planned to be a dictator just on day one – sufficient voters elected him rather than Kamala Harris.

Frightening as the present situation is, it's more frightening to understand that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will an additional three years of this decline position us? And if the three years turns into a more extended duration, because there is nobody to stop this ruler from opting that another term is necessary, possibly for national security reasons?

Granted, there is still hope. There will be midterm elections in 2026 that could create a new governmental control, should Democrats regain one or both houses of the legislature. There exist government representatives who are attempting to apply certain responsibility, for example Democratic congressmen that are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election three years from now could begin our journey to recovery precisely as the previous vote placed us on this regrettable path.

We see millions of Americans demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the nation is awakening”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or during anti-war demonstrations or in the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

Reich says he recognizes the signs of that resurgence and observes it occurring currently. As support, he cites the widespread marches, the widespread, bipartisan pushback regarding a television host's removal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to agree to the defense department’s demands they only publish approved content.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists inactive before some venality turns extremely harmful, an specific act so contemptuous toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that the giant is forced other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

At the same time, the major inquiries endure: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its position globally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts tells me that the final scenario is accurate; that everything might be finished. My hopeful heart, however, advises me that we must try, in whatever ways available.

For me, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to commit, more completely, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it may be working on political races, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to safeguard electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or after another term? The reality is, we are uncertain. The only option is try to not give up.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The engagement I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and grounded, {always