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Twelve months back, the situation was entirely separate. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective Americans could admit America's significant faults – its injustices and imbalance – but they still could perceive it as America. A democracy. A country where legal governance carried weight. A nation headed by a respectable and decent official, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.

Currently, this autumn, numerous citizens barely recognize the nation we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are detained and pushed into transport, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and insisting legal authorities transfer an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed into American cities with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, rebranded the War Department, has practically freed itself of routine media oversight while it uses potentially totaling close to a trillion USD in public funds. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are yielding from leader's menaces, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.

“The US, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into autocracy and fascism,” an American historian, stated in August. “In the end, more quickly than I thought feasible, it did happen here.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. It is difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Yet, it is known that the president was duly elected. Following his highly troubling initial presidency and even after the alerts associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself stated openly he planned to be a dictator solely at the start – enough Americans selected him over his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as the current reality is, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this administration. Where will three more years of this downfall position us? And if that timeframe transforms into a more extended duration, because there is not anyone to restrain this ruler from deciding that another term is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?

Certainly, all is not lost. We will have legislative votes next year that could bring a different governmental control, should Democrats recapture either chamber of Congress. There exist government representatives who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, for example Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election three years from now could initiate the path toward restoration exactly as the previous vote put us on this unfortunate course.

There exist countless citizens demonstrating in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent recently in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the US is rising”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or during anti-war demonstrations or during the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he understands the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring now. As support, he cites the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to accept military mandates they report only what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists dormant till specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so contemptuous of societal benefit, specific cruelty so noisy, that the giant is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

In the meantime, the big questions persist: is the US able to ever recover? Can it reclaim its standing internationally and its devotion to legal principles?

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 all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, nevertheless, convinces me that we must try, through all methods available.

For me, as an observer of the press, that means encouraging reporters to adhere, more fully, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For some people, it might involve participating in political races, or planning demonstrations, or discovering methods to protect voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we existed in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. All we can do is to strive to not give up.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I encounter in the classroom with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and realistic, {always