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One year ago, the environment was entirely different. Before the national election, thoughtful residents could admit the country's deep flaws – its inequities and imbalance – yet they still could see it as the US. A free society. A land where constitutional order held significance. A country led by a respectable and ethical official, even with his older age and growing weakness.

Currently, this autumn, many of us hardly identify the land we live in. Individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants are rounded up and shoved into vans, occasionally refused legal rights. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed for an obscene event space. The leader is persecuting his political rivals or perceived antagonists and demanding the justice department hand over a massive sum of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, rebranded the War Department, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Institutions, attorney offices, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are handled as aristocracy.

“The United States, shortly prior to its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the limit toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Ultimately, faster than I believed likely, it transpired in America.”

Every morning starts with fresh terrors. And it is difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – just how far gone our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it has happened.

Nevertheless, we know that Trump was legitimately chosen. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and following the alerts associated with the understanding of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself said publicly he intended to rule as a tyrant only on the first day – sufficient voters selected him rather than the other candidate.

While alarming as the present situation are, it's more daunting to recognize that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this downfall leave us? And if that period turns into an prolonged era, as there is nobody to restrain this leader from opting that a third term is necessary, possibly for defense purposes?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. There are midterm elections the coming year that may bring a different balance of power, should Democrats regain one or both houses of Congress. We have elected officials who are attempting to apply some accountability, such as representatives who are starting a probe concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in 2028 could start our journey to recovery just as the prior selection put us on this regrettable path.

There exist countless citizens marching in the streets across municipalities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of America is awakening”, exactly as before after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or during the sixties activism or during the seventies crisis.

During those times, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

Reich says he knows the signs of that awakening and notices it unfolding now. As support, he references the widespread marches, the extensive, multi-faction opposition against a television host's removal and the near-unanimous defiance by media to agree to government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists dormant till specific greed turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so disrespectful of societal benefit, specific cruelty so disruptive, that it has no choice other than to stir.”

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

Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: can America return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its standing internationally and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or should we recognize that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the latter is correct; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, nevertheless, tells me that we need to strive, by any means available.

Personally, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more completely, to their duty of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve working on election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to defend electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we were in a separate situation. A year from now? Or three years from now? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today

The contact I experience with students with new media professionals, who are both visionary and realistic, {always