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In late October 2024, the environment was entirely distinct. Before the US presidential election, reflective Americans could recognize the country's deep flaws – its injustices and inequality – yet they could still perceive it as America. A free society. A place where constitutional order meant something. A country guided by a dignified and ethical public servant, despite his elderly years and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we live in. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and pushed into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting legal authorities transfer a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, renamed the Department of War, has practically rid itself of regular press examination while it uses potentially totaling close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, media outlets are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The United States, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the limit into autocracy and fascism,” Garrett Graff, commented this past summer. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen in this country.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone our nation is, and the speed at which it occurred.

However, we understand that Trump was legitimately chosen. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the alerts associated with the knowledge of Project 2025 – following Trump himself declared plainly he planned to act as an autocrat solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him rather than the other candidate.

While alarming as the present situation is, it’s even scarier to realize that we are just nine months into this presidential term. Where will three more years of this downfall leave us? And what if that period turns into something even longer, since there is not anyone to stop this leader from determining that another term is essential, possibly for defense purposes?

Certainly, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate governmental control, should Democrats retake the Senate or House of Congress. There exist government representatives who are attempting to impose certain responsibility, like representatives currently launching an investigation into the attempted fund seizure from the justice department.

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

We see millions of Americans demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or in the seventies crisis.

During those times, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

Reich says he understands the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he references the recent massive protests, the broad, bipartisan pushback to a broadcaster's firing and the largely united rejection by reporters to accept government requirements they report only approved content.

“The dormant force always remains dormant till specific greed turns extremely harmful, some action so offensive of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that it is forced other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the big questions remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its status internationally and its devotion to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts tells me that the second option is true; that all may indeed be lost. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways possible.

For me, as an observer of the press, that means encouraging reporters to commit, more thoroughly, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve participating in election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to protect ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or in several years? The fact is, we are uncertain. All we can do is try to persevere.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I have with students with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously visionary and grounded, {always