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In late October 2024, the environment was entirely different. Ahead of the national election, reflective citizens could admit the country's serious imperfections – its injustices and inequality – however they could still identify it as the US. A democracy. A country where constitutional order held significance. A state headed by a dignified and ethical leader, despite his older age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, many of us hardly identify the nation we live in. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and shoved into vans, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the presidential residence – is being torn down for an obscene dance hall. The president is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, rebranded the War Department, has effectively freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are handled as aristocracy.

“America, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and fascism,” an American historian, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it did happen in America.”

One awakes amid recent atrocities. And it's hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we are, and how quickly it unfolded.

Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and despite the cautions associated with the awareness of the conservative plan – despite the leader directly stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans elected him over the other candidate.

Frightening as today's circumstances may be, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only several months into this administration. How will an additional three years of this downfall leave us? And suppose that period becomes an prolonged era, as there is no one to stop this ruler from deciding that additional tenure is necessary, possibly for security concerns?

Granted, all is not lost. There are congressional elections the coming year that could create a new balance of power, if Democrats regain the Senate or House of the legislature. There exist elected officials who are attempting to exert a degree of oversight, for example representatives currently launching an investigation into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election three years from now could begin us down the road to recovery exactly as the prior selection placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are numerous residents protesting in urban areas across municipalities, as they did last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of America is rising”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or during the Vietnam war protests or throughout the seventies crisis.

During those times, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.

He claims he recognizes the indicators of that revival and sees it happening currently. For proof, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, cross-party resistance regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to accept military mandates they only publish approved content.

“The dormant force always remains inactive before specific greed becomes so noxious, an specific act so contemptuous toward public welfare, certain violence so disruptive, that the giant has no choice other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

At the same time, the big questions endure: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its standing in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

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

My negative thoughts indicates that the final scenario is correct; that everything could be finished. My positive feelings, nevertheless, convinces me that we have to attempt, by any means we can.

For me, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it might involve working on political races, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The reality is, we don’t know. All we can do is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I have in the classroom with new media professionals, who are equally visionary and practical, {always