One year ago, the environment was entirely different. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective Americans could acknowledge the country's deep flaws – its injustices and imbalance – yet they still could perceive it as America. A democracy. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A country guided by a dignified and upright official, notwithstanding his older age and growing weakness.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the land we inhabit. People suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are detained and forced into vans, sometimes denied due process. The East Wing of the White House – is being destroyed to build a lavish dance hall. Donald Trump is targeting his opponents or alleged foes and demanding the justice department surrender a massive sum of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are deployed to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has practically rid itself of regular press examination as it spends possibly reaching close to a trillion USD in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are handled as members of the royal family.
“America, just months before its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the limit toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, commented recently. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”
Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we have become, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.
Nevertheless, we understand that Trump was legitimately chosen. Even after his profoundly alarming initial presidency and despite the alerts associated with the knowledge of Project 2025 – even after the president personally declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – enough Americans selected him over Kamala Harris.
As terrifying as the present situation are, it's more daunting to realize that we have only been nine months into this administration. What will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And if that period becomes something even longer, as there is nobody to limit this leader from determining that additional tenure is required, possibly for national security reasons?
Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There will be legislative votes next year that could create a new governmental control, should Democrats recapture the Senate or House of parliament. There are public servants who are striving to exert some accountability, like Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation into the attempted cash appropriation from the justice department.
And a leadership election three years from now could start us down the road to recovery just as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.
There exist countless citizens protesting in the streets across municipalities, like they performed in the past days during anti-authority protests.
A former official, stated lately that “the slumbering force of America is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare during the fifties or amid the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
The author states he recognizes the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening at present. For proof, he references the recent massive protests, the widespread, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the almost universal defiance by media to sign government requirements they solely cover authorized information.
“The dormant force consistently stays dormant till some venality grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of the common good, certain violence so disruptive, that it has no choice except to rise.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may be validated.
In the meantime, the big questions persist: can America regain its footing? Can it reclaim its position globally and its devotion to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is true; that everything might be gone. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we must try, through all methods we can.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that means pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it may be participating in political races, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.
Under twelve months back, we existed in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The reality is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.
What Offers Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I experience in the classroom with new media professionals, that are simultaneously idealistic and practical, {always
