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Twelve months back, the landscape was entirely distinct. Ahead of the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could recognize the nation's serious imperfections – its inequities and inequality – but they continued to identify it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where the rule of law held significance. A state led by a dignified and upright official, despite his older age and declining health.

Currently, in late October 2025, countless Americans scarcely know the nation we reside in. People believed to be unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into transport, occasionally refused legal rights. The East Wing of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene dance hall. Donald Trump is persecuting his opponents or perceived antagonists and demanding the justice department surrender a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight as it spends possibly reaching close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Institutions, law firms, journalism organizations are submitting under the president’s threats, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.

“America, just months before its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and extremism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “In the end, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. And it is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it unfolded.

However, we understand that the leader was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and despite the warnings associated with the understanding of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – a majority of citizens chose him instead of his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as the present situation is, it's more daunting to recognize that we have only been several months under this leadership. How will three more years of this decline position us? And suppose that period transforms into a more extended duration, as there is nobody to limit this leader from deciding that a third term is necessary, maybe for security concerns?

Admittedly, all is not lost. There are legislative votes next year that may bring a different governmental control, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of Congress. There are government representatives who are trying to exert some accountability, such as lawmakers currently initiating an inquiry concerning the try to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could initiate our journey to healing just as the previous vote put us on this regrettable path.

There are millions of Americans protesting in the streets across municipalities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is awakening”, similar to past following the Red Scare during the fifties or during the sixties activism or during the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

The author states he understands the signs of that resurgence and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he references the widespread marches, the broad, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united rejection by reporters to agree to the defense department’s demands they report only approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep until certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so contemptuous of the common good, some brutality so loud, that the giant is forced but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will be validated.

In the meantime, the major inquiries endure: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it reclaim its standing in the world and its adherence to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My negative thoughts tells me that the second option is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My hopeful heart, however, convinces me that we must try, in whatever ways we can.

In my case, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to adhere, more completely, to their mission of holding power to account. For different individuals, it could mean engaging with political races, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to safeguard electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or in several years? The fact is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is try to persevere.

What’s Giving Me Hope Now

The contact I have with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously hopeful and grounded, {always