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One year ago, the landscape was entirely distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, thoughtful residents could acknowledge America's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – but they still could identify it as the United States. A democracy. A country where constitutional order carried weight. A nation led by a respectable and upright public servant, even with his older age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the country we inhabit. Individuals alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into transport, sometimes denied due process. The left side of the White House – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. The leader is targeting his adversaries or alleged foes and insisting the justice department hand over an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are dispatched to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has effectively rid itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Institutions, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are handled as aristocracy.

“America, just months before its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and fascism,” Garrett Graff, stated recently. “Finally, more quickly than I imagined possible, it occurred in this country.”

Each day begins to new horrors. It is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Nevertheless, it is known that the president was duly elected. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and following the alerts that came with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – even after the leader directly declared plainly he would rule as a tyrant only on the first day – enough Americans chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as the present situation is, it's more daunting to realize that we are just several months under this leadership. How will an additional three years of this decline find us? And suppose that timeframe becomes a more extended duration, as there is not anyone to stop this ruler from deciding that a third term is necessary, possibly for security concerns?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. There will be congressional elections the coming year that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, if Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. There are public servants who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, such as representatives who are starting a probe into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could begin us down the road toward restoration precisely as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.

We see countless citizens protesting in urban areas throughout communities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.

A former official, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

The author states he recognizes the signs of that awakening and observes it occurring now. For proof, he points to the recent massive protests, the broad, multi-faction opposition against a television host's removal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to accept military mandates they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays asleep until specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, certain violence so disruptive, that the giant has no choice other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may be validated.

At the same time, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its status in the world and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind suggests that the second option is correct; that everything could be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we must try, through all methods we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it may be working on congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to safeguard ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or three years from now? The truth is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to persevere.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The contact I experience with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously visionary and grounded, {always