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In late October 2024, the situation was utterly different. Ahead of the US presidential election, considerate Americans could admit the nation's significant faults – its injustices and disparity – but they still could identify it as the United States. A free society. A land where legal governance carried weight. A nation headed by a respectable and ethical public servant, despite his elderly years and growing weakness.

These days, in late October 2025, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we live in. People suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and pushed into vans, at times refused legal rights. The left side of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. The president is persecuting his opponents or supposed enemies and requesting legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has effectively freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, news companies are submitting from leader's menaces, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the brink into authoritarianism and extremism,” Garrett Graff, stated in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it did happen in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how severely declined we have become, and how quickly it has happened.

Yet, we understand that Trump was properly voted in. Despite his profoundly alarming initial presidency and following the cautions linked to the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite the president personally said publicly he planned to be a dictator just on day one – enough Americans selected him over Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as today's circumstances may be, it's more frightening to understand that we are just three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will three more years of this downfall position us? And if that period becomes an prolonged era, since there is no one to stop this president from determining that a third term is necessary, perhaps for security concerns?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections next year that could establish an alternate balance of power, if Democrats retake either chamber of parliament. There are elected officials who are trying to exert some accountability, for example Democratic congressmen currently launching an investigation concerning the try to cash appropriation by federal prosecutors.

And a national vote in the next cycle could start the path to healing exactly as last year’s election put us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist millions of Americans protesting in urban areas throughout communities, as they did last weekend during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is awakening”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or during the Vietnam war protests or during the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the listing ship eventually was righted.

The author states he recognizes the indicators of that awakening and notices it unfolding currently. As support, he points to the widespread marches, the broad, multi-faction opposition to a personality's dismissal and the largely united refusal by journalists to sign the defense department’s demands they report only approved content.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep until some venality turns extremely harmful, some action so offensive of the common good, specific cruelty so noisy, that he is forced but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

At the same time, the big questions remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its standing globally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be gone. My positive feelings, nevertheless, tells me that we have to attempt, through all methods available.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that means urging journalists to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it could mean working on political races, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we existed in a very different place. In the future? Or in several years? The fact is, we don’t know. Our sole course is try to not give up.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

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