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Twelve months back, the situation was utterly distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, thoughtful residents could acknowledge the country's significant faults – its injustices and disparity – however they still could see it as the United States. A democratic nation. A land where legal governance held significance. A country led by a dignified and ethical leader, despite his elderly years and increasing frailty.

Currently, this autumn, countless Americans hardly identify the country we inhabit. People alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and pushed into transport, at times refused legal rights. The eastern section of the White House – is being destroyed for a grotesque dance hall. The leader is persecuting his opponents or perceived antagonists and insisting legal authorities surrender a massive sum of public funds. Uniformed troops are dispatched to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively liberated itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Colleges, attorney offices, news companies are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are treated like members of the royal family.

“America, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the limit into autocracy and totalitarianism,” a noted author, wrote recently. “In the end, more quickly than I believed likely, it transpired in America.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and how quickly it unfolded.

Yet, we know that Trump was properly voted in. Following his highly troubling first term and despite the cautions associated with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – even after Trump himself stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – sufficient voters chose him rather than his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to understand that we’re only nine months into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this downfall leave us? And suppose that period becomes something even longer, since there is nobody to stop this ruler from opting that additional tenure is required, maybe for national security reasons?

Granted, there is still hope. There will be midterm elections in 2026 that could establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of parliament. There are public servants who are trying to exert some accountability, for example representatives that are initiating an inquiry into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a national vote three years from now could initiate the path to healing exactly as the prior selection placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist millions of Americans marching in public spaces of their cities, like they performed in the past days during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is awakening”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or throughout the Vietnam war protests or during the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

The author states he recognizes the signals of that resurgence and notices it unfolding at present. As evidence, he cites the recent massive protests, the broad, cross-party resistance to a television host's removal and the almost universal defiance by media to accept the defense department’s demands they report only what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force always remains dormant till some venality grows too toxic, some action so offensive of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that it is compelled other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.

At the same time, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its status internationally and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the historical project worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts tells me that the second option is correct; that everything could be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, tells me that we must try, by any means possible.

For me, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to live up, more thoroughly, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it could mean participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to protect electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we were in a separate situation. A year from now? Or three years from now? The fact is, we don’t know. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The contact I encounter during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are equally idealistic and grounded, {always