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In late October 2024, the situation was utterly distinct. Prior to the American presidential vote, reflective citizens could admit America's serious imperfections – its injustices and inequality – however they continued to identify it as the US. A democracy. A land where constitutional order carried weight. A nation guided by a honorable and upright official, notwithstanding his elderly years and declining health.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, many of us hardly identify the country we reside in. People alleged as unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into transport, at times refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and insisting legal authorities transfer a massive sum of public funds. Uniformed troops are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The Pentagon, renamed the Defense Ministry, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites 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 edge toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, wrote this past summer. “Finally, swifter than I believed likely, it occurred here.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we have become, and how quickly it unfolded.

Nevertheless, we understand that the president was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and even after the alerts linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – following the president personally said publicly he would act as an autocrat only on the first day – sufficient voters elected him instead of his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as the current reality are, it's more frightening to realize that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. How will another 36 months of this decline position us? And suppose that period turns into an prolonged era, since there is not anyone to stop this leader from opting that a third term is required, perhaps for security concerns?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. There are congressional elections the coming year that could establish an alternate governmental control, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of the legislature. There are public servants who are striving to exert some accountability, such as lawmakers that are launching an investigation concerning the try to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could initiate our journey to healing precisely as last year’s election put us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, as they did in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or in the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he understands the indicators of that revival and sees it happening currently. For proof, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they only publish authorized information.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays inactive before specific greed grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful of societal benefit, some brutality so noisy, that he is forced other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: can America ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status globally and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the final scenario is true; that everything could be lost. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, tells me that we need to strive, by any means possible.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that means urging journalists to live up, more completely, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For others, it might involve working on election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to safeguard ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we were in a very different place. A year from now? Or in several years? The fact is, we are uncertain. All we can do is try to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I have during teaching with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and realistic, {always