🔗 Share this article

Twelve months back, the environment was utterly distinct. Before the national election, reflective Americans could admit the nation's serious imperfections – its unfairness and imbalance – however they still could identify it as the US. A democracy. A land where the rule of law held significance. A country guided by a honorable and ethical public servant, despite his older age and declining health.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the country we live in. Persons believed to be unauthorized foreigners are detained and forced into vans, at times denied due process. The eastern section of the White House – is being destroyed to build a lavish event space. Donald Trump is harassing his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting the justice department surrender an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are being sent across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Department of War, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD in public funds. Colleges, legal practices, news companies are yielding from leader's menaces, and billionaires are handled as nobility.

“America, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit into autocracy and totalitarianism,” an American historian, stated recently. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how deeply lost our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.

Yet, it is known that Trump was duly elected. Despite his deeply disturbing initial presidency and even after the cautions associated with the knowledge of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself declared plainly he planned to act as an autocrat only on the first day – a majority of citizens chose him instead of Kamala Harris.

Frightening as the present situation are, it's more frightening to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this administration. What will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And suppose that timeframe becomes a more extended duration, as there is not anyone to limit this ruler from opting that additional tenure is required, maybe for security concerns?

Granted, there is still hope. We will have midterm elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of Congress. There exist government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, for example lawmakers that are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a national vote three years from now could start us down the road to healing exactly as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.

There are countless citizens marching in public spaces of their cities, similar to recent in the past days during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is stirring”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or throughout anti-war demonstrations or in the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he recognizes the signs of that revival and observes it occurring now. As support, he cites the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to accept government requirements they report only approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists inactive before specific greed becomes so noxious, some action so disrespectful of the common good, certain violence so noisy, that the giant is forced but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll be validated.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues remain: is the US able to ever recover? Can it retrieve its position internationally and its devotion to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the final scenario is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, though, convinces me that we must try, in whatever ways available.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it may be working on political races, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to protect electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or in several years? The truth is, we cannot predict. The only option is to attempt to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The contact I experience during teaching with young journalists, who are equally visionary and grounded, {always