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In late October 2024, the environment was entirely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, considerate residents could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – but they still could identify it as the US. A free society. A place where constitutional order carried weight. A state led by a dignified and upright public servant, even with his elderly years and growing weakness.

These days, this autumn, many of us hardly identify the country we live in. Persons suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into vans, sometimes denied due process. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being torn down to build a lavish dance hall. The president is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and demanding legal authorities surrender a massive sum of public funds. Soldiers with weapons are being sent to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has effectively liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Institutions, law firms, news companies are yielding under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are handled as nobility.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, commented recently. “In the end, swifter than I thought feasible, it transpired in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – just how far gone our nation is, and the speed at which it has happened.

However, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Despite his profoundly alarming first term and even after the cautions linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – even after the leader directly declared plainly he would rule as a tyrant solely at the start – sufficient voters chose him instead of the other candidate.

As terrifying as the current reality may be, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been nine months into this administration. What will an additional three years of this downfall find us? And what if that period turns into a more extended duration, because there is no one to restrain this ruler from deciding that additional tenure is necessary, perhaps for security concerns?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have midterm elections the coming year that could bring a different political equilibrium, if Democrats retake the Senate or House of the legislature. There exist public servants who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, such as Democratic congressmen that are initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a national vote in 2028 could begin us down the road toward restoration exactly as last year’s election put us on this regrettable path.

There exist numerous residents protesting in public spaces across municipalities, as they did recently in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare during the fifties or throughout anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Nixon controversy.

On those occasions, the listing ship eventually was righted.

Reich says he knows the signs of that resurgence and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition regarding a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to accept military mandates they solely cover authorized information.

“The slumbering entity always remains asleep until some venality becomes so noxious, a particular deed so disrespectful of societal benefit, specific cruelty so noisy, that the giant is forced other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect his knowledgeable stance. Maybe he’ll be validated.

In the meantime, the crucial issues remain: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its status internationally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My cynical mind suggests that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be gone. My hopeful heart, however, tells me that we must try, by any means we can.

Personally, working in journalism analysis, that involves pushing media professionals to commit, more fully, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it may be participating in political races, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we were in a separate situation. In the future? Or after another term? The truth is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to persevere.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I have during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously hopeful and realistic, {always