🔗 Share this article

In late October 2024, the environment was entirely different. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective citizens could recognize America's deep flaws – its injustices and inequality – yet they continued to see it as America. A democracy. A land where constitutional order meant something. A nation guided by a dignified and upright public servant, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are collected and pushed into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being torn down for a grotesque dance hall. The president is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting federal prosecutors surrender a huge total of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are being sent into American cities under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has effectively liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, journalism organizations are yielding from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are treated like aristocracy.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” Garrett Graff, stated in August. “Ultimately, faster than I thought feasible, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins to new horrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Nevertheless, we know that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his profoundly alarming first term and despite the alerts linked to the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself said publicly he planned to be a dictator solely at the start – enough Americans chose him instead of the other candidate.

Frightening as the current reality is, it's more daunting to understand that we are just nine months under this leadership. Where will an additional three years of this downfall leave us? And if that period becomes a more extended duration, because there is no one to restrain this ruler from opting that additional tenure is necessary, possibly for national security reasons?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There are legislative votes in 2026 that could create a new governmental control, should Democrats retake either chamber of Congress. We have elected officials who are trying to exert certain responsibility, for example representatives who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could start the path toward restoration exactly as last year’s election put us on this regrettable path.

There are millions of Americans demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, like they performed in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of America is stirring”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or amid anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he understands the signs of that revival and sees it happening at present. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, cross-party resistance against a television host's removal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to agree to military mandates they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force consistently stays inactive until specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so contemptuous toward public welfare, some brutality so disruptive, that it is forced other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll be validated.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues endure: will the nation regain its footing? Can it reclaim its position in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?

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

My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is true; that everything could be lost. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we need to strive, through all methods available.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it may be engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to defend ballot privileges.

Not even one year prior, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or in several years? The truth is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to attempt to persevere.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The contact I encounter with students with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously visionary and grounded, {always