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One year ago, the environment was utterly separate. Before the national election, thoughtful citizens could recognize America's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – however they continued to see it as the US. A democracy. A place where the rule of law held significance. A nation led by a dignified and upright leader, notwithstanding his advanced age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans scarcely know the nation we live in. Individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants are detained and pushed into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the White House – is being torn down for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is harassing his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting legal authorities transfer a massive sum of public funds. Armed military personnel are deployed into American cities on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, renamed the Defense Ministry, has practically freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Institutions, law firms, journalism organizations are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as aristocracy.

“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit into authoritarianism and fascism,” Garrett Graff, stated in August. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it did happen in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. It is hard to comprehend – 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. Despite his profoundly alarming first term and despite the cautions associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – following the president personally declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters elected him over Kamala Harris.

While alarming as the current reality are, it's more frightening to realize that we’re only three-quarters of a year under this leadership. Where will an additional three years of this deterioration position us? And suppose the three years becomes a more extended duration, as there is nobody to stop this ruler from opting that another term is necessary, maybe for defense purposes?

Certainly, there is still hope. There are midterm elections next year which might create a new governmental control, should Democrats regain either chamber of the legislature. There are public servants who are trying to apply some accountability, for example Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in 2028 could begin our journey to healing exactly as the previous vote put us on this disappointing trajectory.

We see countless citizens demonstrating in public spaces throughout communities, as they did recently at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the nation is stirring”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or during the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he understands the indicators of that awakening and notices it unfolding currently. As evidence, he cites the recent massive protests, the widespread, cross-party resistance to a personality's dismissal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to sign the defense department’s demands they only publish approved content.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant before some venality grows too toxic, an specific act so contemptuous toward public welfare, specific cruelty so loud, that the giant has no choice but to awaken.”

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

At the same time, the big questions persist: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its position internationally and its commitment to the rule of law?

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

My pessimistic brain indicates that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, though, tells me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways available.

Personally, working in journalism analysis, that involves urging journalists to adhere, more fully, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For others, it could mean participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to defend ballot privileges.

Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. A year from now? Or in several years? The reality is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to not give up.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

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