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In late October 2024, the landscape was completely different. Ahead of the national election, thoughtful citizens could admit the nation's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – yet they continued to perceive it as the US. A democracy. A country where legal governance carried weight. A nation headed by a respectable and upright public servant, notwithstanding his elderly years and growing weakness.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, many of us barely recognize the country we inhabit. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and pushed into vehicles, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the White House – is being torn down for an obscene event space. The president is harassing his opponents or supposed enemies and demanding the justice department hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are deployed to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has effectively rid itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are handled as aristocracy.

“America, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the brink into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “Finally, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred in this country.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how severely declined we are, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

Yet, we understand that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling initial presidency and following the warnings associated with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – even after the leader directly stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – enough Americans selected him instead of his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as the present situation is, it's more daunting to understand that we are just nine months under this leadership. How will three more years of this decline find us? And what if the three years becomes something even longer, as there is nobody to restrain this ruler from deciding that additional tenure is necessary, maybe for defense purposes?

Certainly, all is not lost. There will be midterm elections in 2026 that could create a new political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of parliament. We have government representatives who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen that are starting a probe into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a presidential election in 2028 could start us down the road to recovery exactly as last year’s election placed us on this regrettable path.

We see numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, like they performed recently in the No Kings rallies.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of America is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid the Vietnam war protests or throughout the seventies crisis.

During those times, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

Reich says he understands the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. As support, he references the recent massive protests, the broad, cross-party resistance against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to sign government requirements they report only approved content.

“The dormant force consistently stays inactive until specific greed turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so disrespectful of the common good, some brutality so disruptive, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

At the same time, the major inquiries persist: will the nation ever recover? Can it retrieve its status internationally and its devotion to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind tells me that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, however, advises me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more fully, to their duty of holding power to account. For others, it could mean participating in political races, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we existed in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The interaction I have in the classroom with young journalists, who are equally idealistic and grounded, {always