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One year ago, the situation was utterly distinct. Ahead of the American presidential vote, considerate citizens could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – yet they could still see it as America. A democracy. A place where the rule of law held significance. A country guided by a honorable and decent public servant, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.

Currently, this autumn, countless Americans scarcely know the land we reside in. Persons alleged as undocumented migrants are collected and shoved into transport, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. The president is targeting his political rivals or supposed enemies and demanding legal authorities hand over a huge total of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities on false pretexts. The Pentagon, renamed the Department of War, has practically rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, news companies are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are handled as aristocracy.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the planet's foremost free society, has tipped over the edge into autocracy and fascism,” Garrett Graff, wrote in August. “Ultimately, swifter than I thought feasible, it occurred in America.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone we have become, and the speed at which it unfolded.

However, we know that the president was duly elected. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the warnings linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – despite the president personally said publicly he would rule as a tyrant only on the first day – a majority of citizens elected him over the other candidate.

Frightening as the current reality is, it's more frightening to realize that we are just three-quarters of a year under this leadership. How will three more years of this decline leave us? And what if that period turns into a more extended duration, since there is not anyone to stop this president from determining that a third term is essential, possibly for national security reasons?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes next year that may create a new political equilibrium, if Democrats regain either chamber of the legislature. We have public servants who are trying to apply certain responsibility, such as Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation into the attempted cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a national vote three years from now could initiate the path to recovery just as last year’s election put us on this unfortunate course.

There are countless citizens demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, similar to recent in the past days during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or throughout the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he knows the indicators of that resurgence and notices it unfolding currently. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a broadcaster's firing and the largely united defiance by media to accept government requirements they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep until specific greed turns extremely harmful, an specific act so disrespectful toward public welfare, certain violence so noisy, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll be validated.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues endure: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its standing internationally and its adherence to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind indicates that the second option is accurate; that everything might be lost. My hopeful heart, though, convinces me that we need to strive, by any means possible.

In my case, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more fully, to their duty of holding power to account. For some people, it may be engaging with election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I have with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously hopeful and realistic, {always