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In late October 2024, the environment was utterly different. Ahead of the US presidential election, considerate citizens could admit America's serious imperfections – its unfairness and imbalance – however they could still identify it as the United States. A democracy. A land where legal governance held significance. A country guided by a honorable and ethical leader, even with his elderly years and growing weakness.

Currently, as October 2025 ends, countless Americans hardly identify the land we inhabit. Persons believed to be unauthorized foreigners are detained and shoved into transport, at times blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or alleged foes and demanding the justice department hand over a huge total of public funds. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, renamed the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are treated like nobility.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the edge into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” a noted author, stated recently. “Ultimately, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired here.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we have become, and how quickly it occurred.

However, we understand that the leader was properly voted in. Despite his highly troubling first term and following the alerts associated with the knowledge of the conservative plan – following the leader directly declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat just on day one – a majority of citizens elected him instead of the other candidate.

While alarming as the present situation is, it's more daunting to realize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. Where will three more years of this decline find us? And suppose the three years becomes an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from determining that another term is essential, maybe for defense purposes?

Admittedly, all is not lost. There will be legislative votes the coming year that could bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of parliament. There exist public servants who are striving to impose a degree of oversight, like lawmakers currently initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to money grab from the justice department.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could begin our journey toward restoration exactly as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.

There are millions of Americans marching in urban areas across municipalities, as they did in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or during the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he knows the signs of that revival and observes it occurring now. For proof, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, cross-party resistance against a television host's removal and the largely united defiance by media to sign government requirements they only publish approved content.

“The dormant force consistently stays asleep until some venality turns extremely harmful, an specific act so disrespectful of societal benefit, certain violence so disruptive, that he has no choice except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the big questions endure: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its devotion to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is true; that everything might be finished. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we must try, through all methods available.

For me, as a media critic, that means encouraging reporters to adhere, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it could mean working on political races, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Less than a year ago, we were in a very different place. A year from now? Or in several years? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to attempt to persevere.

What Offers Me Hope Now

The interaction I have during teaching with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and practical, {always