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One year ago, the landscape was completely different. Prior to the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could acknowledge the country's significant faults – its inequities and inequality – but they still could perceive it as the United States. A democracy. A place where constitutional order held significance. A state headed by a dignified and decent leader, even with his elderly years and growing weakness.

These days, in late October 2025, numerous citizens scarcely know the nation we inhabit. Persons alleged as illegal immigrants are detained and pushed into vans, at times denied due process. The left side of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. The president is persecuting his adversaries or supposed enemies and requesting federal prosecutors transfer a huge total of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed into American cities under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, rebranded the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight as it spends possibly reaching close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, news companies are buckling under the president’s threats, and billionaires are treated like aristocracy.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and extremism,” an American historian, stated this past summer. “In the end, more quickly than I imagined possible, it occurred in this country.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we have become, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

Yet, we know that the president was properly voted in. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and following the alerts linked to the understanding of Project 2025 – despite the leader directly said publicly he would rule as a tyrant just on day one – a majority of citizens chose him instead of the other candidate.

Frightening as the current reality is, it's more daunting to realize that we have only been nine months into this presidential term. How will another 36 months of this downfall leave us? And what if the three years becomes an prolonged era, as there is no one to limit this president from determining that a third term is essential, maybe for national security reasons?

Granted, there is still hope. We will have midterm elections in 2026 that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of Congress. There exist public servants who are attempting to exert some accountability, like Democratic congressmen that are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election three years from now could initiate us down the road toward restoration just as the previous vote put us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents protesting in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent last weekend during anti-authority protests.

A former official, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of America is awakening”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or amid anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he knows the indicators of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. As support, he points to the recent massive protests, the broad, multi-faction opposition to a television host's removal and the largely united defiance by media to agree to military mandates they solely cover approved content.

“The sleeping giant always remains dormant until specific greed becomes so noxious, an specific act so offensive toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that he has no choice but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

At the same time, the crucial issues endure: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its status globally and its commitment to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is true; that everything could be gone. My positive feelings, though, advises me that we need to strive, in whatever ways available.

For me, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For others, it could mean participating in election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. In the future? Or in several years? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is try to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I experience with students with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and realistic, {always