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One year ago, the situation was entirely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective Americans could recognize America's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – yet they still could identify it as the US. A free society. A land where constitutional order held significance. A nation led by a honorable and ethical public servant, despite his older age and growing weakness.

Currently, in late October 2025, countless Americans scarcely know the country we inhabit. Persons believed to be illegal immigrants are rounded up and shoved into transport, at times refused legal rights. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being torn down for an obscene event space. The leader is persecuting his opponents or alleged foes and demanding the justice department surrender a huge total of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, renamed the Department of War, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends what could amount to almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Universities, law firms, media outlets are yielding from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are handled as members of the royal family.

“The US, just months before its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the brink into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” a noted author, stated in August. “Finally, swifter than I imagined possible, it transpired in this country.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. It is challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost our nation is, and the speed at which it unfolded.

However, we understand that Trump was legitimately chosen. Even after his highly troubling previous administration and following the warnings associated with the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite the leader directly declared plainly he planned to be a dictator just on day one – a majority of citizens selected him over the other candidate.

Frightening as today's circumstances is, it's more frightening to understand that we’re only several months into this administration. Where will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And if that period transforms into something even longer, as there is not anyone to limit this president from deciding that a third term is necessary, possibly for defense purposes?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have midterm elections next year that may establish an alternate governmental control, if Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There exist government representatives who are trying to exert some accountability, such as Democratic congressmen who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a national vote three years from now could begin our journey to healing precisely as the previous vote put us on this disappointing trajectory.

We see numerous residents protesting in public spaces of their cities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of America is awakening”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Nixon controversy.

In those instances, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

The author states he recognizes the indicators of that awakening and sees it happening at present. As support, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, bipartisan pushback to a television host's removal and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign the defense department’s demands they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep till certain corruption becomes so noxious, some action so disrespectful of societal benefit, specific cruelty so loud, that he has no choice but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may prove to be right.

At the same time, the major inquiries remain: will the nation regain its footing? Can it retrieve its status in the world and its devotion to legal principles?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My negative thoughts indicates that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be lost. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, advises me that we must try, in whatever ways possible.

For me, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we existed in an alternate reality. In the future? Or in several years? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is to strive to persevere.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The engagement I encounter in the classroom with young journalists, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always