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One year ago, the situation was completely distinct. Ahead of the national election, considerate Americans could acknowledge the country's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – but they continued to see it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A nation led by a respectable and ethical official, even with his elderly years and growing weakness.

These days, as October 2025 ends, many of us hardly identify the land we inhabit. People believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and pushed into vans, sometimes refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. The leader is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and insisting federal prosecutors surrender a huge total of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are deployed to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The military command, rebranded the War Department, has effectively liberated itself of regular press examination as it spends potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as nobility.

“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the limit into authoritarianism and fascism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “In the end, faster than I believed likely, it occurred in America.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. It is hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we are, and how quickly it has happened.

Yet, it is known that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his highly troubling first term and despite the warnings linked to the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – even after the president personally stated openly he planned to be a dictator solely at the start – enough Americans selected him instead of his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as the current reality may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we have only been several months under this leadership. What will another 36 months of this decline find us? And suppose that period turns into an prolonged era, because there is no one to limit this ruler from deciding that another term is necessary, perhaps for defense purposes?

Granted, all is not lost. We will have legislative votes the coming year that could bring a different political equilibrium, should Democrats regain either chamber of parliament. We have government representatives who are attempting to impose some accountability, for example Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation regarding the effort to money grab from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could start our journey to healing precisely as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.

There exist countless citizens marching in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or throughout anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

He claims he understands the indicators of that resurgence and observes it occurring now. For proof, he cites the recent massive protests, the extensive, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the largely united defiance by media to agree to government requirements they report only what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force perpetually exists dormant before certain corruption turns extremely harmful, some action so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that the giant is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the major inquiries remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its status globally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be finished. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we need to strive, through all methods we can.

For me, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more fully, to their mission of holding power to account. For some people, it could mean participating in political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we lived in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The reality is, we don’t know. All we can do is try to persevere.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

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