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In late October 2024, the situation was entirely distinct. Before the national election, considerate Americans could admit the nation's significant faults – its injustices and disparity – yet they continued to identify it as the US. A free society. A country where the rule of law carried weight. A nation guided by a honorable and upright public servant, even with his older age and declining health.

Currently, this autumn, countless Americans scarcely know the nation we reside in. Individuals suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are collected and shoved into vehicles, at times denied due process. The left side of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque dance hall. The president is targeting his opponents or perceived antagonists and demanding the justice department surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, relabeled the Department of War, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Institutions, legal practices, media outlets are yielding from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are handled as nobility.

“America, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” a noted author, commented recently. “In the end, faster than I believed likely, it occurred in this country.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. It is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – just how far gone our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Yet, it is known that Trump was legitimately chosen. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and despite the alerts associated with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – despite the leader directly declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat solely at the start – enough Americans elected him instead of the other candidate.

While alarming as the current reality are, it's more daunting to realize that we’re only nine months under this leadership. Where will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And if that period turns into an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to stop this ruler from determining that a third term is required, possibly for security concerns?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections in 2026 that could bring a different political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. There exist government representatives who are attempting to apply certain responsibility, like representatives currently starting a probe regarding the effort to fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could initiate us down the road to recovery exactly as the previous vote set us on this regrettable path.

We see millions of Americans demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or during the Vietnam war protests or during the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

The author states he knows the signals of that awakening and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition regarding a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to accept government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays dormant till certain corruption grows too toxic, some action so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so disruptive, that he is forced but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may prove to be right.

At the same time, the crucial issues persist: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its standing globally and its devotion to the rule of law?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My negative thoughts indicates that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we have to attempt, by any means available.

In my case, as a media critic, that involves urging journalists to commit, more fully, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it might involve engaging with election efforts, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to safeguard voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we existed in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or in several years? The truth is, we don’t know. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I experience with students with young journalists, who are equally idealistic and grounded, {always