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Twelve months back, the landscape was utterly different. Prior to the national election, reflective citizens could recognize America's significant faults – its unfairness and imbalance – however they continued to see it as the United States. A free society. A place where constitutional order held significance. A country headed by a dignified and ethical leader, even with his older age and growing weakness.

Currently, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the country we reside in. People alleged as undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque dance hall. The leader is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and requesting the justice department transfer an enormous amount of public funds. Uniformed troops are being sent to US urban areas on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has practically rid itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are treated like aristocracy.

“America, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the limit toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, stated in August. “Finally, swifter than I thought feasible, it did happen in America.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we are, and how quickly it occurred.

However, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Following his deeply disturbing previous administration and even after the warnings that came with the awareness of Project 2025 – despite the leader directly declared plainly he would be a dictator solely at the start – sufficient voters elected him rather than his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as the current reality is, it's more frightening to realize that we have only been several months into this presidential term. Where will another 36 months of this deterioration find us? And if that timeframe becomes an prolonged era, as there is no one to limit this leader from determining that another term is essential, maybe for defense purposes?

Certainly, all is not lost. There are legislative votes the coming year which might create a new governmental control, if Democrats recapture the Senate or House of the legislature. There exist public servants who are trying to impose certain responsibility, like representatives who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a national vote three years from now could begin the path toward restoration just as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents demonstrating in the streets of their cities, as they did in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or in the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.

He claims he recognizes the indicators of that resurgence and notices it unfolding at present. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, multi-faction opposition regarding a television host's removal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to sign military mandates they only publish approved content.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays dormant till specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so offensive toward public welfare, specific cruelty so loud, that it has no choice except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may prove to be right.

In the meantime, the big questions persist: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its status internationally and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

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

Personally, as a media critic, that involves urging journalists to live up, more completely, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it may be engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to defend voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we were in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is try to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I encounter with students with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously hopeful and practical, {always