One year ago, the situation was completely distinct. Prior to the national election, thoughtful Americans could admit America's significant faults – its unfairness and imbalance – but they still could perceive it as the United States. A free society. A land where constitutional order meant something. A state guided by a honorable and decent leader, despite his elderly years and increasing frailty.
Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we inhabit. People believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and shoved into vans, at times denied due process. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Uniformed troops are deployed into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight as it spends potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Universities, law firms, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are handled as nobility.
“America, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the edge into authoritarianism and extremism,” Garrett Graff, stated recently. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it occurred in America.”
Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we have become, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.
Yet, we understand that the president was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the warnings that came with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – even after Trump himself declared plainly he planned to act as an autocrat solely at the start – a majority of citizens selected him over the other candidate.
Frightening as the current reality are, it's more frightening to understand that we are just three-quarters of a year into this administration. How will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And if the three years becomes a more extended duration, because there is nobody to stop this president from determining that a third term is required, maybe for national security reasons?
Granted, all is not lost. There are midterm elections next year which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, if Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There exist elected officials who are trying to exert certain responsibility, for example representatives that are initiating an inquiry into the attempted fund seizure from the justice department.
And a leadership election three years from now could initiate the path toward restoration exactly as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.
We see millions of Americans protesting in urban areas throughout communities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.
Robert Reich, stated lately that “the slumbering force of America is awakening”, similar to past post-McCarthyism during the fifties or throughout the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
The author states he recognizes the indicators of that revival and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he cites the recent massive protests, the widespread, cross-party resistance regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united refusal by journalists to sign military mandates they only publish approved content.
“The sleeping giant always remains inactive before some venality becomes so noxious, some action so contemptuous of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that the giant has no choice except to rise.”
It's a positive outlook, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will turn out correct.
At the same time, the crucial issues remain: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it retrieve its position internationally and its commitment to the rule of law?
Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, though, advises me that we need to strive, through all methods possible.
Personally, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to commit, more thoroughly, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it could mean engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend ballot privileges.
Not even one year prior, we lived in a very different place. A year from now? Or in several years? The fact is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.
What Provides Me Encouragement Today
The contact I encounter during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always
