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In late October 2024, the situation was entirely separate. Prior to the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could recognize America's deep flaws – its injustices and inequality – yet they could still identify it as the US. A democracy. A land where the rule of law meant something. A nation guided by a dignified and ethical leader, even with his older age and growing weakness.

These days, this autumn, countless Americans hardly identify the land we live in. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and shoved into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene event space. The leader is persecuting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are deployed into American cities on false pretexts. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has effectively liberated itself of regular press examination as it spends potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Colleges, attorney offices, news companies are yielding from leader's menaces, and billionaires are treated like members of the royal family.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the brink into autocracy and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, commented in August. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it transpired in this country.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and the speed at which it unfolded.

Yet, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the warnings linked to the knowledge of the conservative plan – even after Trump himself stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans elected him over his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as the current reality are, it's more frightening to understand that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. Where will an additional three years of this downfall position us? And suppose that timeframe becomes something even longer, because there is not anyone to stop this president from opting that additional tenure is essential, maybe for defense purposes?

Certainly, all is not lost. There are legislative votes next year that may create a new governmental control, if Democrats retake the Senate or House of the legislature. There are public servants who are striving to impose some accountability, like lawmakers who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could start our journey toward restoration exactly as last year’s election put us on this unfortunate course.

There are numerous residents protesting in the streets throughout communities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is awakening”, just as it did following the Red Scare during the fifties or during anti-war demonstrations or in the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

He claims he recognizes the signals of that revival and sees it happening now. As support, he points to the recent massive protests, the widespread, bipartisan pushback against a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to agree to the defense department’s demands they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists dormant till certain corruption becomes so noxious, a particular deed so offensive toward public welfare, certain violence so noisy, that he is forced other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

At the same time, the crucial issues persist: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status globally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind tells me that the second option is true; that everything might be finished. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we must try, by any means available.

For me, as a media critic, that means urging journalists to adhere, more fully, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it might involve working on political races, or organizing rallies, or discovering methods to defend electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The fact is, we don’t know. The only option is try to persevere.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The contact I encounter with students with young journalists, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always