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In late October 2024, the environment was utterly separate. Before the US presidential election, reflective residents could recognize the nation's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – but they could still see it as the US. A free society. A place where constitutional order carried weight. A nation guided by a respectable and upright leader, notwithstanding his older age and declining health.

Nowadays, this autumn, numerous citizens hardly identify the land we reside in. Individuals believed to be unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into vans, occasionally denied due process. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene ballroom. The leader is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department surrender a massive sum of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has practically rid itself of regular press examination as it spends possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Institutions, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are handled as aristocracy.

“America, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” Garrett Graff, commented recently. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it did happen in this country.”

Each day begins to new horrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how severely declined we are, and the speed at which it occurred.

Nevertheless, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling previous administration and following the warnings that came with the understanding of the conservative plan – despite the leader directly said publicly he planned to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – enough Americans elected him over the other candidate.

As terrifying as the present situation may be, it's more daunting to realize that we are just three-quarters of a year into this administration. Where will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And suppose the three years turns into an prolonged era, since there is no one to restrain this leader from opting that additional tenure is necessary, possibly for security concerns?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes next year which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture the Senate or House of parliament. There are government representatives who are attempting to exert some accountability, such as lawmakers currently starting a probe regarding the effort to cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a national vote in 2028 could initiate us down the road toward restoration precisely as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist countless citizens protesting in the streets throughout communities, as they did last weekend during anti-authority protests.

A former official, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of America is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare during the fifties or throughout the sixties activism or during the seventies crisis.

During those times, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

He claims he recognizes the signs of that awakening and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he references the widespread marches, the broad, bipartisan pushback to a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous defiance by media to sign military mandates they only publish approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists inactive until specific greed turns extremely harmful, some action so disrespectful of the common good, certain violence so noisy, that he is forced except to rise.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

At the same time, the crucial issues remain: can America return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its standing globally and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is true; that everything could be finished. My hopeful heart, though, tells me that we need to strive, in whatever ways available.

Personally, as a media critic, that involves urging journalists to commit, more completely, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it might involve participating in congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we existed in a separate situation. In the future? Or three years from now? The fact is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to attempt to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I experience with students with new media professionals, who are both visionary and practical, {always