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In late October 2024, the situation was completely separate. Before the US presidential election, considerate residents could recognize America's deep flaws – its unfairness and inequality – yet they still could identify it as America. A democracy. A land where the rule of law meant something. A nation headed by a honorable and decent leader, despite his elderly years and declining health.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, many of us scarcely know the country we live in. Persons alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into transport, occasionally denied due process. The eastern section of the White House – is being torn down to build a lavish ballroom. The leader is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and demanding the justice department surrender a huge total of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Institutions, legal practices, news companies are yielding under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as members of the royal family.

“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 totalitarianism,” a noted author, stated recently. “Ultimately, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred here.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. And it's challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined we are, and how quickly it occurred.

Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was legitimately chosen. Even after his highly troubling first term and despite the cautions that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself stated openly he would act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters selected him instead of the other candidate.

While alarming as the current reality may be, it’s even scarier to realize that we have only been nine months into this administration. Where will an additional three years of this decline position us? And if that timeframe turns into an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to restrain this president from opting that another term is essential, possibly for security concerns?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections next year that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, should Democrats retake the Senate or House of Congress. There are government representatives who are striving to impose certain responsibility, such as Democratic congressmen who are starting a probe into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could begin the path to healing exactly as the previous vote placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist numerous residents marching in public spaces of their cities, similar to recent last weekend in the No Kings rallies.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is awakening”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or throughout the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

The author states he recognizes the indicators of that awakening and notices it unfolding currently. As support, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a television host's removal and the largely united defiance by media to agree to the defense department’s demands they solely cover authorized information.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists inactive until specific greed grows too toxic, a particular deed so disrespectful of societal benefit, some brutality so loud, that it is forced except to rise.”

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

At the same time, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status internationally and its devotion to constitutional order?

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

My cynical mind indicates that the latter is accurate; that everything might be gone. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we must try, by any means possible.

Personally, working in journalism analysis, that’s about urging journalists to live up, more completely, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it may be participating in election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we existed in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I experience in the classroom with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always