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Twelve months back, the environment was completely separate. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective citizens could recognize the nation's significant faults – its unfairness and imbalance – however they still could perceive it as the US. A free society. A land where the rule of law held significance. A state guided by a dignified and decent official, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.

These days, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the land we live in. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are collected and pushed into vehicles, occasionally refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque event space. The president is persecuting his opponents or perceived antagonists and demanding the justice department surrender an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, relabeled the War Department, has effectively rid itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Institutions, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are handled as members of the royal family.

“America, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “In the end, more quickly than I thought feasible, it occurred in this country.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it occurred.

Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling previous administration and following the cautions that came with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – despite the leader directly stated openly he would rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans selected him over Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as today's circumstances are, it's more daunting to recognize that we are just several months into this presidential term. Where will an additional three years of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that timeframe transforms into something even longer, because there is no one to stop this leader from opting that a third term is essential, maybe for defense purposes?

Granted, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections the coming year which might bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats retake either chamber of the legislature. There exist elected officials who are striving to exert some accountability, like lawmakers that are starting a probe concerning the try to cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a presidential election three years from now could start the path to healing exactly as the previous vote set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist numerous residents marching in public spaces throughout communities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is stirring”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or during the Vietnam war protests or in the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

Reich says he understands the signs of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the widespread, multi-faction opposition to a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept military mandates they report only approved content.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep till specific greed turns extremely harmful, an specific act so offensive toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that he is forced other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the big questions remain: is the US able to ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its devotion to legal principles?

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

My negative thoughts tells me that the latter is true; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we must try, in whatever ways available.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that involves urging journalists to live up, more thoroughly, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it could mean working on election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to defend voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or three years from now? The fact is, we cannot predict. All we can do is try to persevere.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I encounter during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and grounded, {always