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In late October 2024, the situation was completely separate. Before the American presidential vote, considerate residents could acknowledge the country's serious imperfections – its inequities and inequality – but they continued to see it as the United States. A free society. A country where the rule of law held significance. A state guided by a honorable and upright leader, despite his advanced age and declining health.

These days, in late October 2025, many of us hardly identify the land we live in. Individuals suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are collected and shoved into vehicles, sometimes denied due process. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being torn down for a grotesque ballroom. The president is harassing his political rivals or perceived antagonists and requesting federal prosecutors transfer a huge total of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has effectively rid itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Institutions, attorney offices, news companies are yielding from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are handled as nobility.

“America, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the edge into autocracy and totalitarianism,” an American historian, commented in August. “In the end, swifter than I believed likely, it did happen here.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it's hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined we are, and how quickly it has happened.

However, we understand that the president was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing first term and even after the cautions linked to the understanding of the conservative plan – following the leader directly stated openly he intended to be a dictator solely at the start – enough Americans selected him over his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as today's circumstances are, it's more frightening to understand that we are just nine months into this administration. What will an additional three years of this decline leave us? And what if that timeframe turns into a more extended duration, since there is not anyone to limit this ruler from determining that another term is essential, possibly for security concerns?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There are congressional elections next year that could create a new political equilibrium, in case Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There exist elected officials who are trying to impose certain responsibility, like representatives currently initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election three years from now could initiate our journey toward restoration just as last year’s election set us on this regrettable path.

We see countless citizens demonstrating in the streets of their cities, like they performed in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or during the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

He claims he knows the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, bipartisan pushback against a television host's removal and the largely united refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they solely cover approved content.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so disrespectful of societal benefit, some brutality so disruptive, that he is compelled but to awaken.”

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

At the same time, the major inquiries persist: can America return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its position internationally and its commitment to the rule of law?

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

My negative thoughts indicates that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, though, convinces me that we need to strive, through all methods possible.

In my case, as an observer of the press, that involves pushing media professionals to adhere, more fully, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it might involve participating in election efforts, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to safeguard voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we lived in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The reality is, we don’t know. All we can do is to strive to not give up.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I have during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are equally hopeful and grounded, {always