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In late October 2024, the landscape was completely separate. Before the US presidential election, considerate Americans could recognize America's serious imperfections – its unfairness and disparity – yet they still could see it as the United States. A democracy. A country where the rule of law meant something. A nation headed by a respectable and ethical public servant, even with his elderly years and declining health.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, many of us hardly identify the land we reside in. Persons believed to be undocumented migrants are rounded up and pushed into transport, occasionally denied due process. The East Wing of the White House – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque event space. The president is persecuting his adversaries or supposed enemies and insisting federal prosecutors transfer a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, rebranded the War Department, has practically rid itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of potentially totaling nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, law firms, news companies are submitting from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are regarded as nobility.

“America, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and totalitarianism,” a noted author, commented this past summer. “Finally, faster than I believed likely, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and how quickly it has happened.

Yet, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Following his highly troubling first term and despite the warnings that came with the awareness of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself stated openly he would act as an autocrat just on day one – a majority of citizens selected him over the other candidate.

Frightening as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to understand that we have only been several months into this presidential term. How will another 36 months of this decline position us? And what if that timeframe turns into an prolonged era, as there is nobody to limit this president from opting that additional tenure is required, maybe for national security reasons?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There are legislative votes the coming year which might create a new balance of power, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of Congress. We have elected officials who are striving to apply certain responsibility, for example Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a national vote in 2028 could initiate us down the road toward restoration exactly as last year’s election set us on this unfortunate course.

We see millions of Americans demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is stirring”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in that decade or during the sixties activism or in the seventies crisis.

During those times, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

The author states he understands the signs of that resurgence and sees it happening now. As support, he points to the widespread marches, the broad, bipartisan pushback against a television host's removal and the near-unanimous defiance by media to sign the defense department’s demands they report only approved content.

“The dormant force consistently stays asleep till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so loud, that the giant is compelled except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues endure: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the second option is accurate; that everything could be finished. My optimistic spirit, however, convinces me that we have to attempt, by any means we can.

In my case, as a media critic, that involves urging journalists to adhere, more fully, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For others, it might involve participating in congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to protect electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. A year from now? Or three years from now? The truth is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to persevere.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The engagement I have during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always