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One year ago, the landscape was entirely different. Before the national election, thoughtful residents could admit the nation's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – however they continued to perceive it as the US. A democratic nation. A place where constitutional order meant something. A nation led by a dignified and decent leader, even with his elderly years and declining health.

These days, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the land we inhabit. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into vans, occasionally denied due process. The left side of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for an obscene event space. The president is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and requesting legal authorities transfer a massive sum of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are dispatched to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends potentially totaling close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Institutions, legal practices, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are handled as members of the royal family.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit toward dictatorship and fascism,” a noted author, stated in August. “In the end, faster than I believed likely, it transpired in this country.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone our nation is, and the speed at which it has happened.

However, we know that the leader was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the warnings associated with the knowledge of the conservative plan – following Trump himself stated openly he would act as an autocrat only on the first day – a majority of citizens elected him over his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this administration. How will an additional three years of this downfall leave us? And if that timeframe transforms into a more extended duration, since there is nobody to stop this ruler from deciding that a third term is necessary, maybe for defense purposes?

Certainly, all is not lost. There will be midterm elections the coming year that could establish an alternate balance of power, if Democrats regain the Senate or House of the legislature. There are elected officials who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, for example lawmakers who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate our journey toward restoration just as the prior selection placed us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents marching in the streets across municipalities, like they performed in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the US is stirring”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or throughout the Vietnam war protests or during the seventies crisis.

During those times, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

The author states he understands the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding currently. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, cross-party resistance against a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to sign government requirements they only publish approved content.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists inactive until some venality turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the major inquiries endure: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status internationally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My negative thoughts suggests that the second option is true; that everything might be finished. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, convinces me that we need to strive, by any means we can.

In my case, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to commit, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it could mean engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we existed in a separate situation. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The contact I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are both idealistic and practical, {always