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In late October 2024, the landscape was entirely separate. Prior to the American presidential vote, reflective Americans could recognize America's serious imperfections – its unfairness and inequality – but they still could perceive it as America. A democracy. A land where the rule of law held significance. A country led by a respectable and upright leader, notwithstanding his older age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, in late October 2025, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we inhabit. People suspected of being illegal immigrants are rounded up and forced into transport, sometimes denied due process. The eastern section of the White House – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque ballroom. The president is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and requesting legal authorities transfer an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The Pentagon, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has effectively freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends possibly reaching close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Institutions, law firms, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like aristocracy.

“America, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the edge into autocracy and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, commented in August. “Finally, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

One awakes amid recent atrocities. And it is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we are, and how quickly it unfolded.

Yet, we know that Trump was legitimately chosen. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and despite the alerts associated with the understanding of Project 2025 – following the president personally declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – enough Americans elected him over his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to realize that we are just several months into this presidential term. Where will an additional three years of this downfall leave us? And if that timeframe becomes a more extended duration, because there is nobody to restrain this leader from deciding that a third term is necessary, maybe for security concerns?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes in 2026 that could bring a different political equilibrium, if Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There exist government representatives who are attempting to exert a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen who are starting a probe concerning the try to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in 2028 could start our journey toward restoration just as last year’s election placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas of their cities, similar to recent last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the US is awakening”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout the Vietnam war protests or in the Nixon controversy.

During those times, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he recognizes the indicators of that revival and sees it happening now. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, bipartisan pushback to a television host's removal and the almost universal defiance by media to sign the defense department’s demands they report only authorized information.

“The slumbering entity always remains dormant till specific greed grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive toward public welfare, certain violence so noisy, that the giant has no choice except to rise.”

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

In the meantime, the major inquiries remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its position internationally and its adherence to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind tells me that the latter is correct; that all may indeed be gone. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, convinces me that we need to strive, in whatever ways possible.

Personally, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it could mean engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to safeguard electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or three years from now? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Hope Now

The engagement I experience with students with young journalists, who are both visionary and practical, {always