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One year ago, the environment was completely different. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective Americans could acknowledge the country's significant faults – its injustices and disparity – however they still could perceive it as the US. A democracy. A land where legal governance held significance. A state guided by a honorable and ethical official, notwithstanding his elderly years and increasing frailty.

These days, as October 2025 ends, many of us scarcely know the land we inhabit. Individuals alleged as illegal immigrants are collected and forced into vehicles, occasionally refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. The president is harassing his adversaries or alleged foes and insisting legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has – in effect – freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Institutions, legal practices, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.

“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the edge into autocracy and extremism,” Garrett Graff, stated this past summer. “In the end, faster than I thought feasible, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we have become, and how quickly it occurred.

However, it is known that Trump was duly elected. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and following the cautions that came with the understanding of the conservative plan – even after the president personally stated openly he intended to rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans selected him over his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as the present situation may be, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been nine months into this administration. What will an additional three years of this downfall find us? And what if that timeframe turns into a more extended duration, as there is no one to limit this president from opting that additional tenure is required, perhaps for security concerns?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections in 2026 that could bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats recapture one or both houses of the legislature. There are public servants who are trying to impose a degree of oversight, like Democratic congressmen that are starting a probe concerning the try to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in 2028 could initiate the path toward restoration exactly as the previous vote placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are countless citizens demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, as they did in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in that decade or amid anti-war demonstrations or during the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the listing ship eventually was righted.

The author states he recognizes the signals of that resurgence and notices it unfolding currently. For proof, he points to the recent massive protests, the widespread, cross-party resistance against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to sign government requirements they report only authorized information.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays dormant before some venality turns extremely harmful, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, some brutality so loud, that the giant has no choice but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues remain: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its standing globally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My negative thoughts indicates that the latter is true; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, though, advises me that we have to attempt, through all methods available.

In my case, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For different individuals, it could mean engaging with election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we lived in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to strive to not give up.

What Offers Me Hope Now

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