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In late October 2024, the situation was entirely distinct. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful citizens could recognize the nation's significant faults – its unfairness and imbalance – yet they still could perceive it as America. A free society. A country where legal governance held significance. A country headed by a dignified and decent public servant, despite his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens scarcely know the country we live in. Persons suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are detained and pushed into vehicles, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the White House – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. The leader is persecuting his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting federal prosecutors surrender a massive sum of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed into American cities on false pretexts. The Pentagon, rebranded the Department of War, has – in effect – liberated itself of regular press examination while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Institutions, legal practices, media outlets are buckling under the president’s threats, and billionaires are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit toward dictatorship and fascism,” a noted author, wrote recently. “Ultimately, swifter than I thought feasible, it transpired in this country.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it's hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we have become, and how quickly it unfolded.

Yet, it is known that the president was properly voted in. Following his deeply disturbing initial presidency and despite the alerts that came with the awareness of the conservative plan – despite the president personally declared plainly he would rule as a tyrant solely at the start – sufficient voters elected him rather than Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as the present situation is, it's more daunting to recognize that we have only been nine months under this leadership. What will an additional three years of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that period becomes a more extended duration, because there is no one to limit this leader from opting that additional tenure is necessary, perhaps for security concerns?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There are midterm elections next year that may create a new balance of power, should Democrats regain one or both houses of the legislature. There are public servants who are attempting to impose some accountability, like representatives currently starting a probe into the attempted fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a national vote in 2028 could begin the path toward restoration precisely as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas of their cities, like they performed last weekend in the No Kings rallies.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of America is stirring”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in that decade or amid anti-war demonstrations or during the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he recognizes the signals of that resurgence and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the widespread, multi-faction opposition to a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal rejection by reporters to accept government requirements they report only what is sanctioned.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant until certain corruption becomes so noxious, some action so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so disruptive, that it has no choice other than to stir.”

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

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its status in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be gone. My positive feelings, though, tells me that we need to strive, in whatever ways available.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve participating in political races, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to safeguard electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. In the future? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to strive to not give up.

What Offers Me Hope Now

The interaction I encounter with students with young journalists, who are equally visionary and grounded, {always