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Twelve months back, the situation was entirely different. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could admit the country's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – but they could still identify it as America. A free society. A country where constitutional order held significance. A country guided by a respectable and decent leader, notwithstanding his advanced age and growing weakness.

Currently, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we live in. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and forced into transport, occasionally refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. Donald Trump is harassing his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting legal authorities surrender a massive sum of public funds. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, rebranded the War Department, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, news companies are submitting under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are regarded as aristocracy.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the limit into autocracy and extremism,” an American historian, wrote recently. “In the end, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen here.”

One awakes amid recent atrocities. It is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we are, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

However, it is known that Trump was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling first term and despite the cautions that came with the knowledge of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself declared plainly he intended to be a dictator only on the first day – enough Americans elected him instead of Kamala Harris.

While alarming as today's circumstances are, it's more frightening to recognize that we’re only several months into this presidential term. What will an additional three years of this deterioration position us? And what if that period turns into a more extended duration, as there is nobody to stop this leader from deciding that additional tenure is necessary, perhaps for national security reasons?

Certainly, there is still hope. There are midterm elections next year that may establish an alternate balance of power, in case Democrats recapture one or both houses of the legislature. We have government representatives who are attempting to impose certain responsibility, such as Democratic congressmen currently starting a probe into the attempted fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could initiate us down the road to healing just as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist numerous residents protesting in urban areas of their cities, as they did in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of America is stirring”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

Reich says he knows the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, cross-party resistance against a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal refusal by journalists to agree to the defense department’s demands they solely cover approved content.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep until some venality grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of the common good, some brutality so disruptive, that the giant is forced other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may be validated.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position globally and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts tells me that the latter is accurate; that everything might be lost. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways possible.

Personally, as a media critic, that involves urging journalists to adhere, more thoroughly, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it may be participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend ballot privileges.

Under twelve months back, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we don’t know. The only option is to strive to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I experience in the classroom with young journalists, who are both idealistic and grounded, {always