🔗 Share this article

Twelve months back, the landscape was completely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could acknowledge the nation's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – however they could still perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A country where legal governance meant something. A nation led by a respectable and decent leader, even with his older age and declining health.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, many of us barely recognize the country we inhabit. People alleged as illegal immigrants are detained and pushed into vehicles, at times denied due process. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or supposed enemies and demanding federal prosecutors surrender a huge total of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, renamed the Defense Ministry, has effectively liberated itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are handled as aristocracy.

“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the edge into autocracy and fascism,” an American historian, stated this past summer. “Finally, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred in this country.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

However, we know that Trump was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing first term and despite the cautions associated with the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – despite the leader directly said publicly he would be a dictator only on the first day – a majority of citizens chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as today's circumstances may be, it's more frightening to realize that we are just three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this downfall find us? And if that timeframe transforms into something even longer, since there is no one to stop this leader from deciding that another term is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There are legislative votes the coming year which might establish an alternate balance of power, if Democrats recapture one or both houses of the legislature. There are elected officials who are striving to impose some accountability, like Democratic congressmen currently starting a probe concerning the try to money grab from legal authorities.

And a presidential election three years from now could begin us down the road to healing exactly as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist countless citizens marching in the streets of their cities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the slumbering force of the US is stirring”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or throughout the Vietnam war protests or in the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he recognizes the signs of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, bipartisan pushback regarding a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal rejection by reporters to accept military mandates they solely cover approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists inactive until certain corruption becomes so noxious, some action so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant is compelled except to rise.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll be validated.

In the meantime, the major inquiries persist: will the nation regain its footing? Can it reclaim its standing internationally and its commitment to legal principles?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is true; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, nevertheless, convinces me that we need to strive, by any means possible.

In my case, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more fully, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For others, it might involve participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to defend ballot privileges.

Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or three years from now? The reality is, we cannot predict. The only option is to attempt to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I encounter during teaching with young journalists, who are both idealistic and practical, {always