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One year ago, the situation was entirely distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could admit the nation's serious imperfections – its inequities and imbalance – yet they still could see it as America. A democracy. A place where the rule of law held significance. A country guided by a honorable and decent official, notwithstanding his older age and declining health.

These days, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the country we inhabit. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and pushed into transport, sometimes denied due process. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being torn down to build a lavish ballroom. The president is harassing his political rivals or perceived antagonists and demanding legal authorities transfer an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, rebranded the War Department, has – in effect – liberated itself of regular press examination while it uses possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, legal practices, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” a noted author, stated in August. “Ultimately, more quickly than I thought feasible, it occurred here.”

Each day begins to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – just how far gone our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.

Yet, we understand that Trump was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and even after the alerts that came with the understanding of the conservative plan – even after the leader directly said publicly he intended to rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans selected him over Kamala Harris.

While alarming as today's circumstances is, it's more daunting to recognize that we’re only several months into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this deterioration find us? And suppose the three years becomes a more extended duration, as there is no one to stop this leader from opting that a third term is required, maybe for security concerns?

Granted, there is still hope. There are congressional elections the coming year that may create a new governmental control, should Democrats regain one or both houses of the legislature. There are public servants who are trying to apply certain responsibility, like lawmakers that are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to money grab from the justice department.

And a presidential election three years from now could initiate us down the road to healing just as the previous vote set us on this disappointing trajectory.

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

A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is rising”, exactly as before following the Red Scare during the fifties or amid anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the listing ship eventually was righted.

He claims he recognizes the signs of that resurgence and observes it occurring currently. For proof, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition regarding a television host's removal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they only publish approved content.

“The dormant force consistently stays inactive until certain corruption grows too toxic, some action so offensive of the common good, some brutality so loud, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.

At the same time, the big questions persist: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind indicates that the latter is true; that everything might be finished. My positive feelings, though, tells me that we have to attempt, through all methods we can.

In my case, working in journalism analysis, that’s about urging journalists to live up, more thoroughly, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it may be engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to attempt to persevere.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The engagement I experience in the classroom with young journalists, who are both visionary and practical, {always