A Heartbreaking Shift Only 12 Months Has Brought in America

Twelve months back, the situation was entirely different. Ahead of the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could recognize America's serious imperfections – its injustices and inequality – however they still could identify it as the US. A free society. A country where the rule of law meant something. A state led by a dignified and decent official, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens barely recognize the land we reside in. People suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are collected and shoved into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed to build a lavish ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities transfer a massive sum of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched into American cities with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically rid itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are yielding from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, wrote recently. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it occurred in this country.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. It is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we have become, and the speed at which it occurred.

Nevertheless, we understand that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling initial presidency and following the cautions that came with the awareness of the conservative plan – following Trump himself declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – a majority of citizens elected him instead of his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as today's circumstances is, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this administration. Where will another 36 months of this deterioration leave us? And if the three years becomes something even longer, since there is not anyone to stop this president from opting that another term is necessary, maybe for national security reasons?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There will be congressional elections the coming year which might create a new balance of power, if Democrats retake the Senate or House of the legislature. There exist elected officials who are striving to impose some accountability, for example representatives that are initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a national vote in 2028 could start our journey to healing just as last year’s election set us on this unfortunate course.

We see millions of Americans demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, stated lately that “the slumbering force of the nation is stirring”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism during the fifties or amid anti-war demonstrations or throughout the seventies crisis.

During those times, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

He claims he understands the signs of that awakening and notices it unfolding currently. As evidence, he references the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists dormant before some venality turns extremely harmful, an specific act so disrespectful of the common good, some brutality so loud, that he has no choice but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

At the same time, the big questions remain: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its standing internationally and its adherence to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is accurate; that everything might be finished. My hopeful heart, however, tells me that we must try, by any means we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that means encouraging reporters to commit, more thoroughly, to their mission of holding power to account. For different individuals, it could mean participating in political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to safeguard electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we existed in a very different place. A year from now? Or in several years? The reality is, we don’t know. The only option is to attempt to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are both hopeful and realistic, {always