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Twelve months back, the environment was utterly distinct. Ahead of the US presidential election, thoughtful citizens could recognize the country's significant faults – its inequities and imbalance – but they could still identify it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where the rule of law held significance. A nation headed by a dignified and ethical public servant, despite his advanced age and declining health.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we live in. Persons believed to be unauthorized foreigners are detained and forced into vehicles, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being torn down for a grotesque dance hall. The leader is persecuting his opponents or perceived antagonists and insisting federal prosecutors hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are being sent to US urban areas on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, attorney offices, media outlets are yielding from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as nobility.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in this country.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we have become, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

Nevertheless, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Even after his profoundly alarming initial presidency and despite the alerts that came with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – following the leader directly stated openly he planned to be a dictator just on day one – a majority of citizens elected him over the other candidate.

Frightening as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year under this leadership. Where will an additional three years of this decline position us? And if the three years turns into something even longer, because there is not anyone to stop this president from determining that another term is essential, maybe for national security reasons?

Certainly, there is still hope. There will be legislative votes next year that could create a new balance of power, if Democrats recapture the Senate or House of Congress. There are government representatives who are attempting to impose certain responsibility, such as representatives that are starting a probe into the attempted fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a national vote in 2028 could initiate the path toward restoration just as the previous vote set us on this unfortunate course.

There exist millions of Americans protesting in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is awakening”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or during the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he recognizes the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. For proof, he points to the widespread marches, the extensive, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept military mandates they only publish approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep until specific greed turns extremely harmful, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that he has no choice except to rise.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may turn out correct.

At the same time, the major inquiries endure: will the nation regain its footing? Can it retrieve its status in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts suggests that the second option is correct; that all may indeed be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, tells me that we need to strive, in whatever ways possible.

In my case, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to commit, more thoroughly, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For some people, it could mean participating in political races, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to safeguard electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we existed in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. The only option is try to not give up.

What Provides Me Hope Now

The contact I encounter during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously hopeful and grounded, {always