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One year ago, the situation was entirely different. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful citizens could admit the nation's serious imperfections – its injustices and imbalance – but they could still identify it as America. A democracy. A country where legal governance meant something. A country headed by a dignified and upright official, notwithstanding his elderly years and growing weakness.

These days, in late October 2025, many of us barely recognize the country we inhabit. Individuals believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and forced into vehicles, at times denied due process. The eastern section of the White House – is being destroyed to build a lavish dance hall. The president is harassing his adversaries or supposed enemies and demanding legal authorities hand over a massive sum of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, news companies are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” a noted author, wrote this past summer. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it did happen here.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. It is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it unfolded.

Yet, we understand that the president was legitimately chosen. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the cautions linked to the awareness of the conservative plan – even after the president personally stated openly he planned to act as an autocrat just on day one – sufficient voters selected him rather than his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as today's circumstances are, it's more daunting to understand that we have only been nine months under this leadership. What will an additional three years of this decline find us? And what if that timeframe becomes a more extended duration, as there is nobody to limit this leader from deciding that a third term is required, perhaps for defense purposes?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections in 2026 that could bring a different political equilibrium, should Democrats retake the Senate or House of parliament. There are government representatives who are attempting to apply certain responsibility, for example lawmakers currently starting a probe regarding the effort to fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a leadership election three years from now could start our journey toward restoration precisely as the previous vote set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are millions of Americans protesting in public spaces across municipalities, similar to recent last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is awakening”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or during the sixties activism or throughout the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he knows the indicators of that resurgence and notices it unfolding at present. As support, he cites the recent massive protests, the widespread, multi-faction opposition against a broadcaster's firing and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they only publish authorized information.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays inactive before some venality becomes so noxious, an specific act so disrespectful of societal benefit, some brutality so noisy, that it has no choice but to awaken.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.

At the same time, the crucial issues remain: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its status globally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind tells me that the second option is true; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, however, convinces me that we have to attempt, by any means available.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that involves urging journalists to live up, more thoroughly, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For others, it may be engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to protect electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we existed in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or in several years? The reality is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to not give up.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, who are both visionary and realistic, {always