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Twelve months back, the situation was completely distinct. Ahead of the national election, thoughtful residents could acknowledge the country's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – however they could still perceive it as the US. A democratic nation. A land where legal governance meant something. A nation headed by a respectable and upright leader, notwithstanding his elderly years and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we inhabit. Persons suspected of being undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into vehicles, occasionally refused legal rights. The eastern section of the White House – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque event space. The leader is targeting his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities hand over a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has effectively freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.

“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the limit into autocracy and fascism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “In the end, swifter than I believed likely, it did happen here.”

One awakes amid recent atrocities. And it's challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost our nation is, and the speed at which it occurred.

Nevertheless, we know that Trump was duly elected. Despite his profoundly alarming previous administration and following the warnings linked to the awareness of the conservative plan – following the president personally declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters selected him over Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as today's circumstances may be, it's more frightening to understand that we’re only several months under this leadership. What will an additional three years of this decline leave us? And suppose that timeframe turns into something even longer, as there is nobody to restrain this president from determining that a third term is essential, perhaps for defense purposes?

Certainly, all is not lost. There are congressional elections in 2026 that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats regain one or both houses of Congress. There exist government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, for example representatives currently launching an investigation regarding the effort to cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a presidential election in 2028 could initiate our journey to healing precisely as last year’s election put us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist millions of Americans marching in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent last weekend in the No Kings rallies.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare during the fifties or amid anti-war demonstrations or during the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

Reich says he knows the indicators of that resurgence and observes it occurring at present. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, cross-party resistance regarding a personality's dismissal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to accept military mandates they report only what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays inactive till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so offensive of the common good, certain violence so noisy, that he is forced except to rise.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the big questions remain: will the nation ever recover? Can it retrieve its status globally and its adherence to constitutional order?

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

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be gone. My hopeful heart, however, advises me that we must try, by any means available.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that means pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it may be working on election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to defend electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What Offers Me Hope Now

The contact I have in the classroom with new media professionals, who are both hopeful and practical, {always