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One year ago, the situation was entirely distinct. Ahead of the US presidential election, considerate residents could admit the country's serious imperfections – its injustices and imbalance – yet they still could identify it as the US. A democracy. A land where the rule of law held significance. A country headed by a honorable and decent official, even with his elderly years and declining health.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens scarcely know the land we inhabit. Persons alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into transport, at times refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish event space. The leader is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department hand over a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, renamed the War Department, has practically liberated itself of regular press examination as it spends what could amount to almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Universities, legal practices, news companies are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The US, just months before its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” a noted author, commented recently. “In the end, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred here.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it's difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

However, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Following his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the alerts that came with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – despite the leader directly said publicly he planned to be a dictator solely at the start – sufficient voters chose him over the other candidate.

Frightening as the current reality may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we are just several months into this presidential term. Where will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And suppose that period turns into an prolonged era, as there is nobody to restrain this ruler from deciding that a third term is necessary, maybe for security concerns?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There will be midterm elections next year that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, if Democrats regain the Senate or House of parliament. We have government representatives who are trying to apply certain responsibility, like lawmakers that are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a leadership election three years from now could start our journey toward restoration just as last year’s election set us on this regrettable path.

There are millions of Americans demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is rising”, exactly as before following the Red Scare during the fifties or throughout the sixties activism or throughout the Nixon controversy.

In those instances, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

Reich says he knows the indicators of that awakening and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to accept the defense department’s demands they report only what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant always remains dormant till certain corruption grows too toxic, some action so offensive toward public welfare, certain violence so noisy, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will be validated.

In the meantime, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the second option is accurate; that everything could be finished. My optimistic spirit, though, tells me that we need to strive, through all methods we can.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about encouraging reporters to live up, more thoroughly, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it could mean participating in election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to defend electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a separate situation. A year from now? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to attempt to continue fighting.

What Provides Me Hope Now

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