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One year ago, the landscape was utterly separate. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful residents could admit the country's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – yet they could still see it as the US. A democratic nation. A country where legal governance carried weight. A state led by a respectable and ethical official, notwithstanding his elderly years and growing weakness.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens hardly identify the nation we reside in. Persons alleged as undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into vehicles, at times refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for an obscene event space. The leader is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and demanding federal prosecutors surrender a huge total of public funds. Uniformed troops are being sent into American cities under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, rebranded the War Department, has – in effect – freed itself of regular press examination as it spends possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and billionaires are handled as nobility.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the limit into autocracy and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “In the end, swifter than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

One awakes to new horrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Yet, we know that the president was properly voted in. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and even after the alerts that came with the knowledge of the conservative plan – following the president personally said publicly he intended to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – sufficient voters elected him rather than Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we have only been several months under this leadership. How will three more years of this downfall find us? And if that timeframe transforms into something even longer, because there is nobody to restrain this leader from deciding that a third term is required, possibly for national security reasons?

Certainly, all is not lost. There will be legislative votes in 2026 that may establish an alternate governmental control, if Democrats regain the Senate or House of Congress. There exist public servants who are attempting to exert certain responsibility, like lawmakers who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a national vote three years from now could start us down the road toward restoration precisely as the prior selection placed us on this regrettable path.

There exist numerous residents demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, like they performed recently in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare during the fifties or during the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

He claims he recognizes the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to sign government requirements they only publish approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep till specific greed turns extremely harmful, some action so contemptuous toward public welfare, certain violence so loud, that it has no choice other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: can America regain its footing? Can it reclaim its position internationally and its devotion to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the latter is true; that all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, however, tells me that we need to strive, by any means we can.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that means pushing media professionals to commit, more fully, to their duty of holding power to account. For others, it might involve engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to protect ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we don’t know. All we can do is to strive to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The contact I encounter during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are equally visionary and grounded, {always