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One year ago, the environment was entirely different. Before the national election, thoughtful residents could acknowledge the nation's serious imperfections – its unfairness and disparity – but they could still see it as the United States. A democracy. A land where legal governance held significance. A state led by a dignified and decent leader, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.

These days, in late October 2025, many of us barely recognize the nation we live in. People believed to be unauthorized foreigners are collected and pushed into vans, occasionally denied due process. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque event space. The president is harassing his political rivals or perceived antagonists and requesting legal authorities transfer a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, relabeled the War Department, has practically freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Colleges, legal practices, news companies are submitting from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are treated like nobility.

“America, just months before its 250^th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into authoritarianism and fascism,” a noted author, wrote recently. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it occurred here.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we have become, and the speed at which it occurred.

Nevertheless, we understand that the leader was properly voted in. Following his highly troubling initial presidency and even after the cautions linked to the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – following the leader directly said publicly he planned to act as an autocrat just on day one – enough Americans elected him rather than Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as the present situation may be, it's more daunting to recognize that we have only been nine months under this leadership. How will an additional three years of this downfall leave us? And suppose that period becomes something even longer, because there is not anyone to stop this ruler from deciding that another term is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There will be congressional elections in 2026 which might create a new balance of power, should Democrats regain one or both houses of Congress. We have elected officials who are striving to impose certain responsibility, for example Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could begin the path toward restoration just as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.

There exist numerous residents marching in the streets across municipalities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of America is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism during the fifties or during the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he recognizes the signs of that revival and observes it occurring now. As evidence, he points to the widespread marches, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united refusal by journalists to sign government requirements they report only authorized information.

“The dormant force perpetually exists inactive till some venality turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: can America return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its standing internationally and its devotion to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind tells me that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we must try, in whatever ways we can.

Personally, as a media critic, that means pushing media professionals to adhere, more fully, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it might involve participating in election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to defend electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we lived in a separate situation. A year from now? Or in several years? The reality is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Hope Now

The contact I experience with students with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously hopeful and realistic, {always