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One year ago, the situation was entirely separate. Before the US presidential election, considerate Americans could acknowledge America's significant faults – its unfairness and inequality – however they continued to see it as the United States. A free society. A place where legal governance carried weight. A state guided by a dignified and decent public servant, despite his advanced age and declining health.

These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the country we inhabit. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and shoved into vans, occasionally denied due process. The left side of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene event space. The president is persecuting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting federal prosecutors transfer an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are deployed into American cities on false pretexts. The Pentagon, relabeled the Department of War, has effectively liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Colleges, attorney offices, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the edge toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, stated in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I imagined possible, it occurred here.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and the speed at which it occurred.

However, we know that Trump was duly elected. Following his highly troubling previous administration and despite the alerts linked to the knowledge of Project 2025 – following the leader directly said publicly he would be a dictator only on the first day – a majority of citizens chose him instead of his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as today's circumstances are, it's more frightening to realize that we have only been several months into this administration. Where will three more years of this decline leave us? And if that period becomes a more extended duration, since there is nobody to limit this president from determining that a third term is necessary, maybe for national security reasons?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes next year which might establish an alternate governmental control, should Democrats retake one or both houses of parliament. There are public servants who are striving to impose a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen that are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a national vote three years from now could initiate our journey toward restoration exactly as the previous vote placed us on this unfortunate course.

There are countless citizens protesting in urban areas of their cities, like they performed last weekend in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the slumbering force of the nation is stirring”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or throughout anti-war demonstrations or in the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

Reich says he understands the signs of that awakening and notices it unfolding at present. As support, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition to a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to sign the defense department’s demands they report only what is sanctioned.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep before specific greed turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so offensive of the common good, certain violence so disruptive, that he is compelled but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its standing in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?

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

My pessimistic brain suggests that the latter is accurate; that everything might be lost. My optimistic spirit, though, tells me that we must try, through all methods we can.

For me, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we were in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or after another term? The truth is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to persevere.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I have in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are both visionary and realistic, {always