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In late October 2024, the situation was completely different. Before the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could acknowledge the nation's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – yet they could still perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where legal governance carried weight. A nation guided by a honorable and decent official, despite his advanced age and increasing frailty.

Currently, in late October 2025, many of us hardly identify the country we reside in. People believed to be unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and pushed into vehicles, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and demanding federal prosecutors hand over a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has effectively freed itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of potentially totaling nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, law firms, media outlets are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are regarded as aristocracy.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” a noted author, stated recently. “In the end, swifter than I imagined possible, it did happen here.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it unfolded.

However, we understand that the president was duly elected. Despite his profoundly alarming initial presidency and even after the warnings that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – enough Americans selected him rather than Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as today's circumstances is, it's more frightening to realize that we have only been several months into this administration. How will an additional three years of this decline find us? And suppose that timeframe turns into an prolonged era, because there is no one to limit this ruler from determining that a third term is essential, maybe for defense purposes?

Granted, there is still hope. There are congressional elections the coming year that could create a new governmental control, in case Democrats retake either chamber of parliament. We have elected officials who are trying to apply a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate our journey to recovery precisely as last year’s election placed us on this unfortunate course.

There exist numerous residents demonstrating in the streets throughout communities, as they did recently in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is rising”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he recognizes the indicators of that resurgence and notices it unfolding now. As support, he points to the recent massive protests, the broad, bipartisan pushback against a television host's removal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to agree to military mandates they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force consistently stays asleep until certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so offensive of societal benefit, certain violence so disruptive, that it is forced but to awaken.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

At the same time, the crucial issues endure: can America ever recover? Can it retrieve its standing internationally and its commitment to constitutional order?

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

My pessimistic brain tells me that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be gone. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we need to strive, in whatever ways available.

For me, as a media critic, that involves urging journalists to live up, more fully, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For others, it may be participating in political races, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or three years from now? The reality is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The contact I experience during teaching with new media professionals, who are equally hopeful and practical, {always