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One year ago, the situation was utterly separate. Before the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could admit America's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – yet they still could perceive it as the US. A free society. A land where legal governance meant something. A state guided by a dignified and ethical public servant, even with his advanced age and declining health.

These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans scarcely know the land we live in. Individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants are detained and pushed into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being torn down to build a lavish ballroom. The president is harassing his opponents or alleged foes and insisting the justice department transfer a massive sum of public funds. Uniformed troops are dispatched across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has – in effect – freed itself of regular press examination while it uses what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, news companies are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are regarded as members of the royal family.

“America, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the edge toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it occurred in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we have become, and how quickly it has happened.

However, we know that Trump was properly voted in. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the alerts that came with the awareness of the conservative plan – despite Trump himself said publicly he intended to be a dictator just on day one – a majority of citizens elected him rather than Kamala Harris.

Frightening as the present situation may be, it’s even scarier to realize that we have only been several months under this leadership. Where will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And what if that period turns into an prolonged era, because there is nobody to restrain this president from determining that a third term is required, possibly for national security reasons?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. There will be legislative votes the coming year that could bring a different governmental control, if Democrats regain one or both houses of parliament. We have government representatives who are trying to impose certain responsibility, for example lawmakers who are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate the path to healing exactly as the prior selection set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are numerous residents marching in the streets of their cities, as they did in the past days during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout anti-war demonstrations or during the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

The author states he recognizes the signs of that resurgence and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the largely united refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant always remains dormant until specific greed turns extremely harmful, some action so disrespectful of societal benefit, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant is compelled except to rise.”

It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues remain: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its standing internationally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind suggests that the latter is true; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, convinces me that we must try, through all methods possible.

Personally, as a media critic, that’s about urging journalists to commit, more thoroughly, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it may be participating in congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to safeguard voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or three years from now? The reality is, we don’t know. The only option is to strive to persevere.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The contact I have with students with aspiring reporters, who are both hopeful and practical, {always