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Twelve months back, the situation was utterly distinct. Prior to the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could acknowledge America's significant faults – its unfairness and disparity – however they could still see it as the US. A free society. A place where legal governance carried weight. A country headed by a honorable and decent leader, despite his older age and growing weakness.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens scarcely know the country we live in. Persons suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are collected and shoved into transport, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. Donald Trump is persecuting his opponents or alleged foes and demanding the justice department surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has practically rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are yielding under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The United States, just months before its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the limit into authoritarianism and fascism,” a noted author, wrote recently. “In the end, more quickly than I imagined possible, it transpired here.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

However, we understand that the leader was duly elected. Despite his highly troubling initial presidency and following the cautions that came with the awareness of Project 2025 – even after the leader directly declared plainly he intended to be a dictator only on the first day – enough Americans selected him rather than his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as the current reality is, it's more daunting to recognize that we are just several months into this administration. What will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And suppose the three years turns into a more extended duration, as there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from determining that additional tenure is essential, perhaps for security concerns?

Certainly, there is still hope. There are congressional elections in 2026 that may bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of the legislature. There are government representatives who are trying to exert some accountability, such as representatives currently launching an investigation into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election three years from now could initiate the path toward restoration precisely as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.

There exist countless citizens demonstrating in urban areas across municipalities, similar to recent in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of America is rising”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

He claims he knows the signals of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. As support, he references the widespread marches, the extensive, cross-party resistance against a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous defiance by media to agree to military mandates they only publish approved content.

“The dormant force consistently stays asleep before some venality grows too toxic, some action so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.

In the meantime, the big questions persist: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its status globally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is accurate; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, nevertheless, tells me that we need to strive, through all methods available.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to commit, more fully, to their duty of holding power to account. For different individuals, it might involve engaging with congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to defend voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we were in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The reality is, we are uncertain. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The interaction I experience during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously visionary and realistic, {always