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In late October 2024, the landscape was completely distinct. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective residents could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its inequities and inequality – yet they still could see it as the United States. A democracy. A land where constitutional order held significance. A country headed by a dignified and ethical public servant, even with his elderly years and increasing frailty.

Currently, this autumn, many of us barely recognize the land we live in. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and forced into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish dance hall. The president is persecuting his adversaries or alleged foes and requesting the justice department surrender a massive sum of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has practically freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Colleges, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it did happen in this country.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost we have become, and the speed at which it unfolded.

Yet, we understand that the president was duly elected. Following his deeply disturbing initial presidency and despite the warnings linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – following the leader directly declared plainly he planned to be a dictator only on the first day – a majority of citizens chose him instead of Kamala Harris.

Frightening as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to understand that we’re only several months under this leadership. How will three more years of this decline find us? And what if that period becomes an prolonged era, because there is no one to stop this ruler from determining that a third term is essential, maybe for national security reasons?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There are congressional elections in 2026 which might create a new balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of the legislature. There exist government representatives who are attempting to impose some accountability, like representatives that are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in 2028 could begin the path to healing precisely as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

We see countless citizens marching in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of America is rising”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or in the Nixon controversy.

In those instances, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

The author states he recognizes the signals of that revival and sees it happening currently. For proof, he cites the widespread marches, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force perpetually exists dormant till some venality grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of the common good, certain violence so noisy, that it has no choice except to rise.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its devotion 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 pessimistic brain indicates that the latter is correct; that everything might be finished. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we need to strive, by any means we can.

Personally, as a media critic, that means pushing media professionals to live up, more fully, to their mission of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve working on congressional campaigns, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.

Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. A year from now? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

The contact I encounter in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are equally hopeful and grounded, {always