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One year ago, the landscape was utterly different. Before the national election, reflective citizens could recognize America's significant faults – its unfairness and inequality – yet they could still identify it as America. A democratic nation. A place where constitutional order held significance. A nation guided by a dignified and ethical public servant, despite his older age and increasing frailty.

These days, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we reside in. Persons alleged as undocumented migrants are detained and pushed into vans, occasionally denied due process. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed to build a lavish event space. The leader is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department transfer a massive sum of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are being sent into American cities on false pretexts. The military command, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, law firms, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are regarded as nobility.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the limit toward dictatorship and extremism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “Finally, swifter than I imagined possible, it transpired in this country.”

One awakes amid recent atrocities. It is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how severely declined our nation is, and how quickly it unfolded.

However, it is known that the president was properly voted in. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and even after the alerts associated with the understanding of the conservative plan – even after Trump himself said publicly he intended to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – sufficient voters elected him instead of Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as the current reality are, it's more frightening to recognize that we have only been nine months under this leadership. How will another 36 months of this decline position us? And suppose the three years becomes something even longer, because there is nobody to stop this president from opting that additional tenure is essential, possibly for defense purposes?

Certainly, all is not lost. There are congressional elections next year which might create a new political equilibrium, should Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There are public servants who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, for example Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation concerning the try to money grab from legal authorities.

And a national vote in 2028 could initiate our journey toward restoration just as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents marching in public spaces throughout communities, as they did in the past days during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or during the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

Reich says he understands the signs of that resurgence and observes it occurring now. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, cross-party resistance regarding a personality's dismissal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to accept military mandates they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The slumbering entity always remains asleep until specific greed grows too toxic, some action so contemptuous of the common good, specific cruelty so loud, that the giant has no choice except to rise.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the major inquiries persist: will the nation regain its footing? Can it retrieve its status internationally and its adherence to legal principles?

Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts suggests that the final scenario is true; that everything might be finished. My optimistic spirit, however, convinces me that we need to strive, through all methods available.

For me, as an observer of the press, that’s about encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their mission of holding power to account. For others, it may be engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we were in a separate situation. In the future? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

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