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One year ago, the landscape was entirely different. Before the US presidential election, reflective citizens could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – but they still could identify it as the United States. A democracy. A country where constitutional order meant something. A country guided by a respectable and ethical leader, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.

These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans scarcely know the land we reside in. People alleged as unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and forced into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is being torn down for a grotesque event space. The president is persecuting his opponents or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department surrender a huge total of public funds. Uniformed troops are being sent into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has – in effect – freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Institutions, attorney offices, journalism organizations are yielding from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250^th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into autocracy and totalitarianism,” a noted author, commented in August. “Finally, faster than I imagined possible, it occurred in America.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it's difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we are, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

Nevertheless, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Despite his profoundly alarming initial presidency and despite the alerts associated with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – despite the president personally said publicly he intended to act as an autocrat only on the first day – a majority of citizens selected him rather than the other candidate.

As terrifying as the current reality are, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been nine months under this leadership. How will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And suppose that timeframe becomes something even longer, as there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from opting that a third term is required, possibly for security concerns?

Certainly, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections next year which might create a new balance of power, if Democrats recapture the Senate or House of the legislature. There exist public servants who are striving to impose certain responsibility, such as lawmakers currently initiating an inquiry concerning the try to money grab from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate our journey to recovery just as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is awakening”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or during the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he understands the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, bipartisan pushback against a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to accept military mandates they report only approved content.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays asleep until specific greed grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous toward public welfare, certain violence so loud, that he is compelled except to rise.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may prove to be right.

In the meantime, the big questions persist: will the nation return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its status in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My negative thoughts indicates that the final scenario is accurate; that all may indeed be gone. My optimistic spirit, however, tells me that we need to strive, in whatever ways available.

In my case, working in journalism analysis, that involves pushing media professionals to adhere, more fully, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it could mean participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. The only option is to attempt to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The engagement I experience with students with new media professionals, who are equally visionary and grounded, {always