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In late October 2024, the environment was completely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful residents could admit the nation's serious imperfections – its unfairness and disparity – but they still could see it as America. A democracy. A place where constitutional order carried weight. A nation guided by a honorable and ethical public servant, notwithstanding his advanced age and declining health.

Currently, in late October 2025, countless Americans scarcely know the nation we live in. Persons alleged as illegal immigrants are rounded up and pushed into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is being torn down for an obscene ballroom. The leader is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting federal prosecutors surrender a massive sum of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are deployed to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, rebranded the War Department, has effectively freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the limit into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, stated recently. “In the end, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen in this country.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. It is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – just how far gone our nation is, and the speed at which it unfolded.

However, we know that the president was properly voted in. Following his profoundly alarming first term and even after the alerts associated with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – following the leader directly stated openly he planned to act as an autocrat only on the first day – enough Americans elected him instead of the other candidate.

As terrifying as today's circumstances is, it's more frightening to realize that we have only been nine months into this presidential term. Where will another 36 months of this deterioration find us? And suppose that timeframe becomes a more extended duration, as there is not anyone to stop this ruler from deciding that a third term is essential, maybe for defense purposes?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There are legislative votes next year that may establish an alternate balance of power, should Democrats retake either chamber of parliament. We have public servants who are striving to apply a degree of oversight, like Democratic congressmen who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could initiate us down the road to recovery just as the prior selection placed us on this unfortunate course.

There are numerous residents protesting in urban areas throughout communities, like they performed in the past days during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is awakening”, similar to past post-McCarthyism during the fifties or amid the sixties activism or during the seventies crisis.

During those times, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

He claims he recognizes the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring now. As support, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, bipartisan pushback against a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous defiance by media to sign military mandates they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays dormant till certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that it is forced other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may prove to be right.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues remain: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the second option is correct; that everything might be lost. My optimistic spirit, though, tells me that we must try, through all methods available.

For me, as an observer of the press, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve engaging with congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to defend electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The fact is, we cannot predict. All we can do is try to continue fighting.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I experience in the classroom with young journalists, who are both idealistic and grounded, {always