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Twelve months back, the situation was entirely separate. Ahead of the American presidential vote, considerate residents could recognize the nation's significant faults – its unfairness and disparity – however they still could see it as the US. A democracy. A land where constitutional order held significance. A country headed by a respectable and decent leader, despite his older age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, this autumn, numerous citizens scarcely know the country we inhabit. Persons alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and shoved into vehicles, sometimes denied due process. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. The leader is targeting his political rivals or supposed enemies and requesting the justice department transfer a massive sum of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends what could amount to nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, law firms, media outlets are buckling under the president’s threats, and billionaires are regarded as members of the royal family.

“America, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the limit into autocracy and fascism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “Finally, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined our nation is, and how quickly it occurred.

Yet, we understand that the leader was duly elected. Despite his profoundly alarming first term and following the cautions linked to the knowledge of Project 2025 – even after Trump himself declared plainly he planned to be a dictator only on the first day – a majority of citizens elected him rather than Kamala Harris.

While alarming as the current reality may be, it's more frightening to understand that we are just several months into this presidential term. What will an additional three years of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that period transforms into a more extended duration, since there is not anyone to stop this president from opting that a third term is necessary, perhaps for national security reasons?

Certainly, there is still hope. There will be congressional elections next year that could create a new political equilibrium, in case Democrats retake the Senate or House of parliament. There exist public servants who are attempting to impose some accountability, such as representatives currently launching an investigation regarding the effort to cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a national vote in 2028 could begin our journey to recovery just as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.

We see numerous residents demonstrating in urban areas of their cities, similar to recent last weekend during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or during the sixties activism or in the seventies crisis.

During those times, the listing ship eventually was righted.

Reich says he knows the indicators of that awakening and sees it happening at present. As support, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, bipartisan pushback against a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force consistently stays dormant before some venality becomes so noxious, an specific act so contemptuous of the common good, certain violence so loud, that it is forced other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may turn out correct.

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the latter is true; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we must try, in whatever ways possible.

For me, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more fully, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For others, it could mean working on political races, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to protect electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we lived in an alternate reality. In the future? Or in several years? The fact is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

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