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One year ago, the situation was utterly distinct. Before the national election, reflective citizens could acknowledge America's serious imperfections – its inequities and inequality – but they still could perceive it as the US. A free society. A country where legal governance meant something. A nation headed by a dignified and decent leader, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, many of us hardly identify the country we inhabit. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and pushed into vehicles, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the presidential residence – is being torn down for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities hand over a huge total of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the Department of War, has – in effect – rid itself of routine media oversight while it uses what could amount to close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Institutions, legal practices, news companies are yielding under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.

“America, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired here.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we have become, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

However, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his profoundly alarming initial presidency and even after the warnings associated with the understanding of Project 2025 – even after the president personally said publicly he would rule as a tyrant solely at the start – enough Americans elected him over his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as today's circumstances is, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been nine months under this leadership. What will three more years of this deterioration find us? And what if that timeframe transforms into an prolonged era, because there is nobody to restrain this ruler from opting that another term is necessary, maybe for security concerns?

Admittedly, all is not lost. There will be midterm elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, should Democrats retake either chamber of the legislature. There exist public servants who are striving to exert a degree of oversight, for example representatives currently initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could start the path to healing precisely as the prior selection placed us on this regrettable path.

There exist millions of Americans demonstrating in the streets of their cities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, commented this week that “the slumbering force of America is awakening”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in the 1950s or during the sixties activism or throughout the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

The author states he understands the signs of that resurgence and sees it happening at present. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the widespread, multi-faction opposition regarding a broadcaster's firing and the largely united refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they report only approved content.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays inactive before some venality turns extremely harmful, some action so disrespectful of the common good, certain violence so noisy, that he is compelled except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

At the same time, the crucial issues endure: will the nation regain its footing? Can it retrieve its standing in the world and its devotion to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the latter is accurate; that everything could be lost. My positive feelings, though, advises me that we must try, in whatever ways available.

For me, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to commit, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we existed in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The reality is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The engagement I have in the classroom with young journalists, who are equally idealistic and realistic, {always