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In late October 2024, the situation was completely distinct. Prior to the national election, considerate citizens could admit the country's significant faults – its inequities and imbalance – yet they still could perceive it as the US. A democracy. A land where constitutional order carried weight. A nation headed by a honorable and ethical official, despite his advanced age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, this autumn, countless Americans hardly identify the country we live in. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are detained and shoved into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is persecuting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and insisting the justice department transfer a massive sum of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are being sent to US urban areas on false pretexts. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to nearly $1tn in public funds. Institutions, attorney offices, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are regarded as nobility.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Ultimately, more quickly than I believed likely, it did happen in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is challenging to understand – and painful to realize – how severely declined we have become, and how quickly it occurred.

However, it is known that the president was legitimately chosen. Despite his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the alerts linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself said publicly he planned to be a dictator solely at the start – sufficient voters selected him over his Democratic opponent.

While alarming as the present situation are, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. Where will another 36 months of this downfall find us? And what if that timeframe turns into a more extended duration, since there is no one to limit this leader from opting that a third term is required, maybe for defense purposes?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. There will be legislative votes in 2026 that could create a new political equilibrium, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of the legislature. We have government representatives who are striving to apply some accountability, for example Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry regarding the effort to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate our journey to recovery exactly as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

We see countless citizens marching in public spaces throughout communities, like they performed recently in the No Kings rallies.

A former official, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or throughout the sixties activism or in the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

Reich says he recognizes the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. As support, he cites the recent massive protests, the broad, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to sign government requirements they only publish authorized information.

“The sleeping giant always remains inactive before specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so contemptuous of societal benefit, some brutality so disruptive, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

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

In the meantime, the crucial issues endure: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its status in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My negative thoughts suggests that the second option is correct; that all may indeed be gone. My positive feelings, though, tells me that we need to strive, by any means possible.

Personally, as a media critic, that’s about encouraging reporters to commit, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it might involve engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we existed in an alternate reality. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is try to persevere.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I have during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously visionary and practical, {always