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In late October 2024, the environment was completely different. Prior to the national election, reflective citizens could recognize the nation's serious imperfections – its inequities and inequality – but they continued to perceive it as the United States. A democracy. A place where legal governance held significance. A nation led by a dignified and ethical official, despite his elderly years and growing weakness.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, many of us scarcely know the land we live in. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are rounded up and shoved into vans, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish event space. The president is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting federal prosecutors hand over a massive sum of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are dispatched to US urban areas on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has effectively rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, journalism organizations are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are regarded as aristocracy.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and fascism,” a noted author, commented in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I thought feasible, it occurred in this country.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and the speed at which it occurred.

Nevertheless, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Following his highly troubling previous administration and following the warnings associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – despite the president personally stated openly he intended to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – a majority of citizens selected him rather than Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as the present situation is, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. How will three more years of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that period transforms into an prolonged era, as there is no one to restrain this leader from opting that additional tenure is necessary, perhaps for defense purposes?

Admittedly, all is not lost. There will be congressional elections the coming year that could bring a different governmental control, if Democrats recapture one or both houses of parliament. There are government representatives who are trying to impose certain responsibility, like representatives who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could begin the path to recovery precisely as the prior selection placed us on this regrettable path.

We see millions of Americans demonstrating in urban areas across municipalities, as they did recently in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the US is rising”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or during anti-war demonstrations or during the Nixon controversy.

In those instances, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

He claims he recognizes the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding at present. As support, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal defiance by media to sign military mandates they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant always remains dormant till certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so disrespectful toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that it is forced except to rise.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.

In the meantime, the major inquiries remain: can America regain its footing? Can it retrieve its standing in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind tells me that the latter is true; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, advises me that we have to attempt, through all methods we can.

For me, as a media critic, that involves encouraging reporters to commit, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it could mean working on election efforts, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to safeguard electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we existed in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The truth is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to attempt to not give up.

What Offers Me Hope Now

The contact I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always