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In late October 2024, the landscape was utterly separate. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful residents could admit the nation's deep flaws – its inequities and imbalance – however they still could identify it as the US. A free society. A land where constitutional order held significance. A state guided by a respectable and upright official, despite his older age and growing weakness.

Currently, this autumn, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we reside in. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into vehicles, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is persecuting his opponents or perceived antagonists and demanding legal authorities surrender an enormous amount of public funds. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities with deceptive justifications. The military command, renamed the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Universities, law firms, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as nobility.

“The US, just months before its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the limit toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” a noted author, stated recently. “Ultimately, faster than I thought feasible, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we are, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

Yet, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Despite his highly troubling first term and even after the warnings associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – despite the president personally said publicly he would rule as a tyrant solely at the start – enough Americans elected him rather than his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as the current reality are, it's more frightening to recognize that we are just several months into this presidential term. Where will three more years of this decline leave us? And suppose the three years transforms into a more extended duration, since there is no one to limit this ruler from opting that a third term is necessary, maybe for national security reasons?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections next year which might bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of the legislature. There are public servants who are striving to apply a degree of oversight, for example representatives currently starting a probe into the attempted money grab from legal authorities.

And a national vote in the next cycle could start the path to healing just as last year’s election placed us on this regrettable path.

There exist countless citizens marching in public spaces throughout communities, like they performed in the past days during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is rising”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.

He claims he knows the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring at present. For proof, he points to the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition to a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to sign military mandates they solely cover approved content.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays inactive until specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so contemptuous toward public welfare, specific cruelty so disruptive, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may be validated.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its status internationally and its adherence to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?

My cynical mind tells me that the second option is true; that everything could be gone. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we must try, by any means available.

In my case, as an observer of the press, that’s about pushing media professionals to adhere, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For some people, it could mean working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend ballot privileges.

Under twelve months back, we were in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The truth is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to not give up.

What Offers Me Hope Now

The contact I have in the classroom with new media professionals, who are both hopeful and realistic, {always