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One year ago, the landscape was utterly distinct. Before the US presidential election, considerate residents could acknowledge the country's significant faults – its injustices and disparity – but they continued to identify it as the US. A free society. A place where constitutional order held significance. A country guided by a honorable and decent official, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, many of us hardly identify the country we live in. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and shoved into transport, occasionally refused legal rights. The left side of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for an obscene dance hall. The leader is harassing his opponents or alleged foes and insisting legal authorities surrender a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has practically rid itself of routine media oversight as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are submitting under the president’s threats, and billionaires are handled as aristocracy.

“The US, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, commented recently. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it did happen in this country.”

Each day begins to new horrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we have become, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Nevertheless, we know that Trump was legitimately chosen. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and even after the cautions linked to the knowledge of Project 2025 – following the leader directly stated openly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters chose him rather than Kamala Harris.

Frightening as the current reality may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we are just nine months into this administration. What will three more years of this deterioration leave us? And what if that timeframe transforms into a more extended duration, as there is no one to limit this ruler from opting that additional tenure is necessary, possibly for defense purposes?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There will be legislative votes in 2026 which might create a new political equilibrium, if Democrats retake either chamber of parliament. There exist elected officials who are attempting to exert a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in 2028 could start the path to healing just as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist millions of Americans marching in urban areas throughout communities, as they did recently during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or amid the sixties activism or throughout the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he knows the signs of that revival and sees it happening currently. For proof, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, cross-party resistance regarding a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept government requirements they solely cover approved content.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays inactive until certain corruption grows too toxic, some action so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that it is forced but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the big questions endure: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its status internationally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind indicates that the second option is accurate; that everything might be gone. My positive feelings, however, tells me that we have to attempt, by any means available.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about encouraging reporters to commit, more completely, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it could mean participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to defend ballot privileges.

Not even one year prior, we existed in a very different place. A year from now? Or after another term? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is to attempt to persevere.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I have during teaching with young journalists, that are simultaneously hopeful and practical, {always