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One year ago, the environment was completely different. Ahead of the national election, reflective residents could admit the country's serious imperfections – its injustices and imbalance – but they could still see it as the United States. A free society. A country where the rule of law held significance. A state guided by a respectable and ethical leader, even with his older age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, numerous citizens hardly identify the land we reside in. Individuals believed to be undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into transport, at times denied due process. The eastern section of the White House – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque event space. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and demanding legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are being sent into American cities with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, renamed the Department of War, has effectively rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD in public funds. Institutions, law firms, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250^th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into authoritarianism and fascism,” an American historian, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in this country.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. It is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined we are, and the speed at which it has happened.

However, it is known that the leader was legitimately chosen. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and following the cautions linked to the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – even after the president personally stated openly he would be a dictator only on the first day – sufficient voters selected him rather than the other candidate.

As terrifying as the present situation may be, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only several months into this presidential term. Where will three more years of this downfall position us? And suppose that period becomes an prolonged era, since there is not anyone to stop this president from deciding that additional tenure is required, possibly for national security reasons?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There will be congressional elections next year that could create a new governmental control, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of the legislature. There exist public servants who are striving to exert some accountability, like Democratic congressmen currently initiating an inquiry concerning the try to money grab from legal authorities.

And a presidential election three years from now could begin the path toward restoration exactly as the previous vote set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are numerous residents protesting in public spaces of their cities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the slumbering force of America is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare during the fifties or amid the Vietnam war protests or during the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he recognizes the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. As support, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, bipartisan pushback against a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to sign government requirements they only publish approved content.

“The sleeping giant always remains inactive until specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that he is compelled but to awaken.”

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

Meanwhile, the crucial issues endure: will the nation regain its footing? Can it retrieve its status globally and its devotion to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the second option is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, advises me that we must try, by any means possible.

For me, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to adhere, more fully, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it may be participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we existed in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The interaction I encounter during teaching with young journalists, that are simultaneously visionary and realistic, {always