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Twelve months back, the environment was utterly distinct. Prior to the American presidential vote, considerate residents could admit the country's deep flaws – its inequities and disparity – yet they could still perceive it as America. A democratic nation. A land where legal governance meant something. A state headed by a respectable and decent official, notwithstanding his elderly years and declining health.

Nowadays, as October 2025 ends, numerous citizens scarcely know the country we live in. People suspected of being illegal immigrants are rounded up and shoved into vehicles, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the White House – is being destroyed to build a lavish ballroom. The leader is harassing his opponents or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department surrender an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Institutions, attorney offices, news companies are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are handled as nobility.

“The United States, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the brink into autocracy and extremism,” an American historian, stated in August. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in this country.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we have become, and the speed at which it occurred.

However, it is known that Trump was legitimately chosen. Following his highly troubling initial presidency and despite the warnings associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – a majority of citizens selected him rather than the other candidate.

As terrifying as the current reality is, it's more daunting to understand that we’re only several months into this administration. What will an additional three years of this decline position us? And suppose the three years transforms into something even longer, since there is nobody to stop this president from determining that additional tenure is required, possibly for defense purposes?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have midterm elections next year that could establish an alternate political equilibrium, should Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. There are public servants who are attempting to impose certain responsibility, for example representatives that are launching an investigation regarding the effort to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a leadership election in 2028 could begin our journey to healing exactly as last year’s election put us on this regrettable path.

There are numerous residents marching in the streets of their cities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of America is stirring”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in that decade or during the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

Reich says he knows the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding at present. As evidence, he cites the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to sign military mandates they solely cover approved content.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays dormant until some venality grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous toward public welfare, certain violence so disruptive, that the giant has no choice other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.

At the same time, the crucial issues endure: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its standing in the world and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the second option is accurate; that everything could be finished. My hopeful heart, however, convinces me that we have to attempt, through all methods available.

In my case, as a media critic, that’s about encouraging reporters to commit, more fully, to their mission of holding power to account. For different individuals, it might involve working on election efforts, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we lived in a very different place. In the future? Or in several years? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

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