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One year ago, the situation was utterly distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, reflective citizens could admit the country's significant faults – its inequities and inequality – however they continued to identify it as America. A democracy. A country where constitutional order carried weight. A country headed by a respectable and ethical leader, even with his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, many of us hardly identify the nation we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are detained and shoved into vans, sometimes denied due process. The eastern section of the White House – is being destroyed for a grotesque dance hall. The leader is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting the justice department transfer an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Department of War, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to close to a trillion USD in public funds. Institutions, attorney offices, news companies are yielding under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are treated like nobility.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” a noted author, wrote this past summer. “Ultimately, more quickly than I believed likely, it did happen in America.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. It is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost our nation is, and how quickly it unfolded.

Nevertheless, we understand that the leader was duly elected. Following his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the alerts linked to the awareness of the conservative plan – even after Trump himself stated openly he would act as an autocrat solely at the start – sufficient voters chose him instead of Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as the current reality may be, it's more daunting to recognize that we have only been several months into this administration. What will an additional three years of this deterioration find us? And if that period transforms into a more extended duration, because there is not anyone to limit this president from determining that a third term is required, maybe for security concerns?

Certainly, there is still hope. There are legislative votes in 2026 that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of Congress. There are government representatives who are attempting to exert certain responsibility, for example representatives currently starting a probe regarding the effort to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a presidential election three years from now could initiate us down the road toward restoration just as the prior selection placed us on this unfortunate course.

We see countless citizens protesting in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent recently during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is rising”, similar to past post-McCarthyism during the fifties or amid anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.

He claims he understands the indicators of that resurgence and notices it unfolding currently. For proof, he points to the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the largely united defiance by media to accept government requirements they report only what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant always remains asleep till some venality turns extremely harmful, some action so offensive of societal benefit, certain violence so disruptive, that he has no choice other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. 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 internationally and its adherence to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is accurate; that everything might be finished. My optimistic spirit, though, convinces me that we need to strive, by any means available.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that means urging journalists to commit, more completely, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For others, it may be engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we lived in a very different place. A year from now? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to strive to not give up.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

The contact I experience during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously visionary and grounded, {always