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In late October 2024, the landscape was utterly distinct. Prior to the American presidential vote, thoughtful citizens could recognize the country's significant faults – its unfairness and inequality – but they still could identify it as the US. A democracy. A land where legal governance held significance. A country guided by a dignified and upright official, even with his advanced age and declining health.

These days, this autumn, countless Americans scarcely know the land we live in. People believed to be unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and shoved into vehicles, occasionally refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is being destroyed for a grotesque dance hall. The president is targeting his adversaries or alleged foes and insisting legal authorities transfer a massive sum of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, relabeled the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses possibly reaching close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Colleges, attorney offices, news companies are buckling from leader's menaces, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.

“America, shortly prior to its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the edge into authoritarianism and fascism,” an American historian, stated in August. “Finally, faster than I believed likely, it transpired in this country.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined we are, and how quickly it occurred.

Yet, we understand that the president was legitimately chosen. Even after his profoundly alarming first term and even after the alerts that came with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – following Trump himself declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat only on the first day – enough Americans elected him instead of his Democratic opponent.

As terrifying as today's circumstances are, it's more daunting to realize that we’re only several months into this administration. Where will three more years of this downfall leave us? And if the three years becomes something even longer, as there is not anyone to limit this ruler from deciding that another term is essential, perhaps for national security reasons?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There will be congressional elections in 2026 that could establish an alternate governmental control, should Democrats retake one or both houses of parliament. We have government representatives who are trying to apply a degree of oversight, for example Democratic congressmen who are initiating an inquiry concerning the try to fund seizure from legal authorities.

And a leadership election three years from now could begin our journey to recovery precisely as the prior selection set us on this disappointing trajectory.

We see millions of Americans protesting in the streets across municipalities, similar to recent last weekend in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the nation is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid the Vietnam war protests or during the Nixon controversy.

In those instances, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

He claims he recognizes the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening at present. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal defiance by media to sign military mandates they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep till certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of the common good, some brutality so loud, that the giant is forced except to rise.”

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

In the meantime, the major inquiries remain: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its status internationally and its adherence to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is true; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, nevertheless, advises me that we have to attempt, by any means we can.

For me, as a media critic, that means encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For others, it might involve engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we existed in an alternate reality. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

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