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In late October 2024, the situation was entirely separate. Prior to the national election, considerate Americans could admit America's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – however they could still identify it as America. A democracy. A land where the rule of law meant something. A country guided by a dignified and upright public servant, even with his elderly years and increasing frailty.

Currently, in late October 2025, numerous citizens barely recognize the land we live in. Persons believed to be unauthorized foreigners are collected and shoved into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being torn down for an obscene event space. The president is harassing his political rivals or alleged foes and requesting the justice department transfer an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The Pentagon, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Institutions, attorney offices, news companies are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are regarded as aristocracy.

“The US, just months before its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the limit into autocracy and fascism,” a noted author, commented in August. “Ultimately, more quickly than I thought feasible, it transpired in this country.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – just how far gone our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.

Yet, we understand that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his highly troubling initial presidency and despite the cautions associated with the understanding of the conservative plan – following the leader directly said publicly he would rule as a tyrant just on day one – a majority of citizens elected him instead of his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as today's circumstances may be, it's more daunting to understand that we have only been several months into this administration. What will three more years of this downfall leave us? And if that period transforms into a more extended duration, as there is nobody to limit this ruler from determining that additional tenure is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?

Admittedly, there is still hope. There will be legislative votes the coming year that may create a new balance of power, in case Democrats retake the Senate or House of the legislature. There exist government representatives who are trying to impose certain responsibility, such as representatives who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a national vote three years from now could begin the path to recovery precisely as the prior selection placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist countless citizens demonstrating in the streets of their cities, as they did last weekend during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism during the fifties or throughout anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

He claims he understands the indicators of that resurgence and observes it occurring currently. For proof, he cites the recent massive protests, the broad, multi-faction opposition against a television host's removal and the largely united refusal by journalists to accept the defense department’s demands they solely cover authorized information.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays asleep until certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so disrespectful toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that the giant is forced but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

In the meantime, the crucial issues persist: will the nation ever recover? Can it reclaim its standing internationally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My negative thoughts indicates that the final scenario is true; that all may indeed be gone. My hopeful heart, however, tells me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways possible.

In my case, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to commit, more completely, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For others, it could mean engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.

Not even one year prior, we were in a separate situation. In the future? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. The only option is to attempt to persevere.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

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