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One year ago, the landscape was utterly different. Ahead of the American presidential vote, reflective residents could acknowledge the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – but they could still identify it as the United States. A democracy. A land where legal governance held significance. A nation guided by a honorable and decent leader, notwithstanding his elderly years and growing weakness.

These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the country we reside in. Persons believed to be unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and pushed into vehicles, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being torn down to build a lavish dance hall. The president is targeting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding federal prosecutors surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Armed military personnel are dispatched to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has effectively freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like nobility.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge toward dictatorship and fascism,” an American historian, stated this past summer. “Finally, more quickly than I imagined possible, it occurred in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. It is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we have become, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

However, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the cautions linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself declared plainly he planned to act as an autocrat just on day one – a majority of citizens selected him rather than the other candidate.

Frightening as today's circumstances is, it’s even scarier to realize that we are just nine months into this presidential term. How will three more years of this downfall position us? And if that timeframe turns into something even longer, because there is no one to stop this leader from determining that additional tenure is necessary, maybe for national security reasons?

Certainly, there is still hope. There are congressional elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate governmental control, if Democrats regain either chamber of the legislature. We have public servants who are striving to apply certain responsibility, like lawmakers currently initiating an inquiry concerning the try to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could initiate our journey toward restoration precisely as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.

There exist countless citizens demonstrating in urban areas across municipalities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or amid the sixties activism or during the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

Reich says he understands the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. For proof, he points to the widespread marches, the widespread, bipartisan pushback to a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to sign military mandates they solely cover authorized information.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant till specific greed turns extremely harmful, some action so contemptuous of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that it is compelled other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may turn out correct.

In the meantime, the big questions endure: can America regain its footing? Can it retrieve its position globally and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind tells me that the latter is true; that all may indeed be lost. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we need to strive, by any means we can.

Personally, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to commit, more thoroughly, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it might involve engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a separate situation. A year from now? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is try to persevere.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The contact I experience in the classroom with new media professionals, who are equally hopeful and grounded, {always