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One year ago, the environment was entirely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, considerate residents could acknowledge America's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – but they continued to perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where constitutional order meant something. A state led by a honorable and upright official, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans barely recognize the country we live in. People alleged as unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and forced into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque dance hall. The leader is harassing his adversaries or perceived antagonists and demanding legal authorities surrender a massive sum of public funds. Armed military personnel are deployed into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has effectively rid itself of regular press examination while it uses possibly reaching close to a trillion USD in public funds. Institutions, law firms, journalism organizations are yielding under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are handled as nobility.

“America, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the limit into authoritarianism and fascism,” a noted author, wrote this past summer. “In the end, faster than I believed likely, it transpired in America.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it's difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we have become, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Yet, we know that the leader was legitimately chosen. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and following the cautions that came with the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – even after Trump himself said publicly he would act as an autocrat just on day one – enough Americans chose him instead of his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as today's circumstances may be, it's more daunting to understand that we have only been several months into this presidential term. How will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And suppose the three years turns into an prolonged era, since there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from opting that a third term is essential, perhaps for security concerns?

Granted, all is not lost. There will be congressional elections next year which might bring a different balance of power, should Democrats retake the Senate or House of Congress. We have government representatives who are trying to exert certain responsibility, like lawmakers that are launching an investigation regarding the effort to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate the path to healing exactly as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.

There are numerous residents marching in public spaces of their cities, like they performed recently at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the nation is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism during the fifties or throughout the Vietnam war protests or during the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

He claims he understands the signals of that revival and notices it unfolding at present. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the broad, multi-faction opposition regarding a television host's removal and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign the defense department’s demands they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep until certain corruption becomes so noxious, an specific act so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so noisy, that he is compelled except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the big questions remain: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its standing globally and its devotion to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind indicates that the latter is correct; that everything could be lost. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, advises me that we must try, in whatever ways we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about encouraging reporters to live up, more completely, to their mission of holding power to account. For different individuals, it might involve participating in election efforts, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to safeguard voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we existed in a separate situation. In the future? Or in several years? The reality is, we cannot predict. The only option is to strive to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The contact I experience with students with young journalists, that are simultaneously visionary and realistic, {always