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In late October 2024, the situation was entirely different. Ahead of the US presidential election, considerate citizens could admit America's deep flaws – its injustices and inequality – however they still could see it as the United States. A democracy. A place where constitutional order meant something. A nation headed by a honorable and decent leader, even with his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, many of us scarcely know the country we live in. Persons suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are detained and pushed into vehicles, occasionally denied due process. The East Wing of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene dance hall. The leader is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting the justice department surrender a massive sum of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.

“America, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the edge into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, wrote in August. “In the end, more quickly than I believed likely, it did happen in America.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. And it is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it has happened.

However, we understand that Trump was duly elected. Even after his profoundly alarming initial presidency and following the alerts associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – following the president personally stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – enough Americans chose him rather than the other candidate.

Frightening as today's circumstances may be, it's more frightening to understand that we are just three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. Where will an additional three years of this decline position us? And what if that timeframe becomes a more extended duration, since there is nobody to restrain this president from opting that additional tenure is required, maybe for national security reasons?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There are legislative votes in 2026 that may establish an alternate governmental control, if Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. We have government representatives who are striving to exert some accountability, such as representatives that are starting a probe concerning the try to cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a national vote in 2028 could start the path to healing just as the previous vote put us on this unfortunate course.

There exist numerous residents protesting in public spaces of their cities, as they did last weekend during anti-authority protests.

A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or in the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the listing ship eventually was righted.

He claims he knows the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring now. For proof, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, cross-party resistance against a personality's dismissal and the largely united refusal by journalists to sign the defense department’s demands they report only what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force consistently stays inactive until certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that it is compelled other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

In the meantime, the major inquiries endure: can America regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its position internationally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or should we recognize that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind tells me that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be lost. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, advises me that we have to attempt, by any means possible.

For me, as a media critic, that means encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For others, it may be working on election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.

Under twelve months back, we were in a separate situation. In the future? Or in several years? The reality is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is try to persevere.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and realistic, {always