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Twelve months back, the environment was utterly separate. Ahead of the national election, thoughtful residents could admit the country's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – however they could still perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where the rule of law meant something. A country headed by a respectable and decent official, despite his elderly years and growing weakness.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens hardly identify the country we live in. People alleged as unauthorized foreigners are collected and shoved into vehicles, sometimes denied due process. The left side of the White House – is being torn down for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting legal authorities surrender an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling nearly $1tn in public funds. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are buckling from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are treated like nobility.

“The US, just months before its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge into autocracy and totalitarianism,” an American historian, wrote in August. “Finally, faster than I believed likely, it did happen here.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we are, and how quickly it occurred.

However, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling previous administration and following the cautions that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters elected him over his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as the present situation may be, it's more daunting to understand that we are just several months into this presidential term. What will three more years of this decline find us? And suppose the three years turns into a more extended duration, because there is nobody to stop this leader from opting that a third term is necessary, possibly for defense purposes?

Granted, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections next year that may create a new political equilibrium, if Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There are government representatives who are attempting to exert a degree of oversight, for example lawmakers that are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could initiate us down the road toward restoration just as the previous vote set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are millions of Americans marching in public spaces throughout communities, as they did recently during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is stirring”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or throughout the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

Reich says he knows the signs of that revival and sees it happening at present. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to agree to the defense department’s demands they only publish approved content.

“The slumbering entity always remains dormant until specific greed turns extremely harmful, an specific act so disrespectful toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that the giant has no choice other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it retrieve its status in the world and its adherence to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the final scenario is true; that everything might be lost. My hopeful heart, however, advises me that we have to attempt, by any means we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that means urging journalists to adhere, more fully, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it may be working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to defend ballot privileges.

Not even one year prior, we lived in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The fact is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to attempt to not give up.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The contact I encounter with students with young journalists, who are equally hopeful and grounded, {always