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In late October 2024, the situation was entirely different. Before the US presidential election, considerate Americans could admit America's serious imperfections – its unfairness and imbalance – but they still could perceive it as America. A democratic nation. A land where legal governance meant something. A nation headed by a dignified and decent public servant, even with his elderly years and declining health.

These days, as October 2025 ends, many of us barely recognize the nation we reside in. Individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants are collected and shoved into transport, sometimes denied due process. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being torn down to build a lavish ballroom. The president is harassing his political rivals or perceived antagonists and insisting legal authorities transfer an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically rid itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, wrote in August. “In the end, swifter than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

One awakes amid recent atrocities. And it's challenging to understand – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and the speed at which it unfolded.

However, it is known that the president was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the alerts that came with the awareness of the conservative plan – even after the leader directly said publicly he would rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans selected him instead of the other candidate.

As terrifying as the current reality are, it's more daunting to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. Where will an additional three years of this deterioration position us? And what if that timeframe becomes an prolonged era, because there is nobody to stop this president from opting that another term is essential, maybe for security concerns?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There are midterm elections in 2026 that could establish an alternate balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of Congress. There are elected officials who are trying to apply certain responsibility, for example representatives currently launching an investigation regarding the effort to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could begin us down the road toward restoration just as the previous vote placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in the 1950s or during anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

The author states he understands the signals of that awakening and notices it unfolding at present. For proof, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to sign the defense department’s demands they report only authorized information.

“The dormant force consistently stays asleep until some venality becomes so noxious, some action so disrespectful of the common good, some brutality so loud, that the giant is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll be validated.

At the same time, the major inquiries endure: will the nation regain its footing? Can it reclaim its position in the world and its commitment to legal principles?

Or should we recognize that the historical project worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is true; that everything could be lost. My hopeful heart, however, tells me that we have to attempt, by any means we can.

For me, as an observer of the press, that involves encouraging reporters to commit, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it could mean working on election efforts, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we were in a separate situation. A year from now? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Hope Now

The contact I have during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always