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One year ago, the situation was entirely separate. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful citizens could admit America's serious imperfections – its injustices and imbalance – however they continued to see it as America. A democracy. A place where constitutional order carried weight. A nation led by a respectable and ethical public servant, even with his older age and declining health.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans scarcely know the country we inhabit. People suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into vans, sometimes denied due process. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. The leader is harassing his opponents or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, renamed the Defense Ministry, has effectively rid itself of regular press examination as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Institutions, legal practices, media outlets are buckling under the president’s threats, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.

“America, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the brink into authoritarianism and extremism,” Garrett Graff, stated in August. “Ultimately, faster than I thought feasible, it transpired here.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. It is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how severely declined we are, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Following his highly troubling previous administration and despite the cautions linked to the knowledge of the conservative plan – even after the president personally declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters selected him over the other candidate.

As terrifying as the present situation are, it's more daunting to realize that we are just nine months into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this decline leave us? And suppose that timeframe transforms into an prolonged era, because there is nobody to stop this president from opting that additional tenure is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There are midterm elections next year which might establish an alternate governmental control, should Democrats regain the Senate or House of Congress. There are government representatives who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, such as representatives currently launching an investigation into the attempted money grab from legal authorities.

And a presidential election in 2028 could initiate us down the road to healing exactly as the previous vote placed us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents marching in urban areas across municipalities, similar to recent last weekend during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is stirring”, just as it did following the Red Scare in that decade or during anti-war demonstrations or during the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

He claims he recognizes the signs of that resurgence and sees it happening at present. As evidence, he points to the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition against a television host's removal and the almost universal defiance by media to agree to government requirements they report only what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists dormant till certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant is forced except to rise.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may prove to be right.

At the same time, the big questions persist: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its position in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, nevertheless, tells me that we need to strive, through all methods possible.

For me, as a media critic, that means urging journalists to live up, more thoroughly, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it might involve working on political races, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to defend ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. A year from now? Or after another term? The reality is, we don’t know. All we can do is to strive to persevere.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I experience during teaching with new media professionals, who are both hopeful and grounded, {always