Twelve months back, the situation was utterly separate. Before the national election, reflective citizens could acknowledge the country's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – but they could still identify it as America. A free society. A land where the rule of law meant something. A state led by a dignified and ethical public servant, despite his older age and growing weakness.
Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens scarcely know the country we inhabit. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are rounded up and pushed into transport, occasionally denied due process. The left side of the White House – is being torn down for an obscene ballroom. The president is harassing his adversaries or perceived antagonists and demanding federal prosecutors surrender a massive sum of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are being sent into American cities on false pretexts. The Pentagon, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has practically freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are handled as members of the royal family.
“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into autocracy and extremism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “In the end, swifter than I believed likely, it did happen here.”
One awakes to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it has happened.
Nevertheless, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Despite his highly troubling previous administration and despite the alerts that came with the awareness of Project 2025 – even after the president personally stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – enough Americans chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.
As terrifying as today's circumstances is, it's more daunting to understand that we are just three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. Where will another 36 months of this decline position us? And if that period transforms into an prolonged era, since there is not anyone to limit this president from deciding that another term is essential, possibly for national security reasons?
Admittedly, all is not lost. There are congressional elections next year that could establish an alternate governmental control, if Democrats recapture one or both houses of Congress. There are government representatives who are attempting to apply some accountability, for example representatives who are launching an investigation concerning the try to cash appropriation from the justice department.
And a presidential election in the next cycle could initiate us down the road to healing precisely as the previous vote put us on this regrettable path.
We see numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent in the past days at democracy demonstrations.
A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is stirring”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or amid the sixties activism or throughout the seventies crisis.
In those instances, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he knows the indicators of that awakening and sees it happening currently. As support, he cites the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign the defense department’s demands they report only approved content.
“The sleeping giant always remains dormant till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so offensive of societal benefit, specific cruelty so noisy, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will be validated.
In the meantime, the crucial issues persist: is the US able to ever recover? Can it retrieve its position in the world and its adherence to legal principles?
Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My cynical mind tells me that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, though, tells me that we need to strive, by any means possible.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more thoroughly, to their mission of holding power to account. For others, it could mean participating in election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard voting rights.
Not even one year prior, we were in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The reality is, we cannot predict. The only option is to attempt to continue fighting.
What Offers Me Hope Now
The interaction I experience with students with young journalists, who are equally visionary and practical, {always
