🔗 Share this article

Twelve months back, the landscape was completely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective residents could admit the nation's significant faults – its injustices and imbalance – yet they continued to see it as the US. A democratic nation. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A state led by a dignified and upright public servant, even with his elderly years and growing weakness.

These days, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the nation we reside in. Individuals believed to be unauthorized foreigners are detained and forced into transport, sometimes refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish dance hall. Donald Trump is persecuting his adversaries or alleged foes and demanding federal prosecutors hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The military command, rebranded the Department of War, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends potentially totaling close to a trillion USD in public funds. Colleges, attorney offices, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the brink into authoritarianism and extremism,” an American historian, stated recently. “Ultimately, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen in this country.”

One awakes to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Nevertheless, we understand that the president was legitimately chosen. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the warnings that came with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – even after the leader directly said publicly he would act as an autocrat just on day one – enough Americans elected him rather than Kamala Harris.

While alarming as the current reality may be, it's more daunting to recognize that we are just three-quarters of a year under this leadership. Where will three more years of this decline find us? And what if that timeframe turns into an prolonged era, as there is nobody to stop this ruler from deciding that another term is essential, perhaps for security concerns?

Granted, all is not lost. There are legislative votes next year that may bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of parliament. We have public servants who are striving to impose certain responsibility, like Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in 2028 could start us down the road to healing exactly as last year’s election set us on this regrettable path.

There are millions of Americans marching in the streets across municipalities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is rising”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

Reich says he understands the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening now. As support, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, cross-party resistance to a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to accept government requirements they solely cover approved content.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists inactive before specific greed grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that he is forced but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its standing in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My negative thoughts indicates that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, however, tells me that we must try, by any means we can.

In my case, as a media critic, that means urging journalists to commit, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it could mean participating in congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we existed in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The fact is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The contact I have during teaching with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always