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In late October 2024, the landscape was entirely distinct. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective residents could recognize the nation's serious imperfections – its unfairness and disparity – but they still could identify it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where the rule of law meant something. A state guided by a respectable and ethical leader, notwithstanding his advanced age and increasing frailty.

These days, this autumn, numerous citizens barely recognize the country we live in. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are detained and pushed into vans, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the White House – is being destroyed for a grotesque ballroom. The president is harassing his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding the justice department transfer an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight as it spends possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The United States, just months before its 250^th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into autocracy and extremism,” an American historian, stated in August. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it occurred here.”

Every morning starts to new horrors. It is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – just how far gone we have become, and the speed at which it occurred.

Yet, we know that the leader was properly voted in. Following his profoundly alarming first term and even after the cautions associated with the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – despite the president personally said publicly he planned to act as an autocrat just on day one – enough Americans selected him rather than the other candidate.

As terrifying as today's circumstances are, it's more frightening to understand that we are just nine months under this leadership. What will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And suppose that period transforms into an prolonged era, since there is nobody to limit this president from determining that a third term is required, possibly for national security reasons?

Certainly, all is not lost. We will have congressional elections in 2026 which might create a new political equilibrium, if Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There are public servants who are trying to exert some accountability, for example representatives currently launching an investigation into the attempted fund seizure from the justice department.

And a presidential election in 2028 could initiate us down the road to healing exactly as the prior selection set us on this disappointing trajectory.

We see millions of Americans marching in the streets across municipalities, like they performed last weekend during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the slumbering force of America is stirring”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in that decade or throughout the Vietnam war protests or in the Nixon controversy.

In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he recognizes the signals of that awakening and sees it happening now. As support, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, cross-party resistance against a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to accept the defense department’s demands they solely cover approved content.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep till specific greed grows too toxic, some action so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so disruptive, that it is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will be validated.

Meanwhile, the crucial issues persist: will the nation regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its standing globally and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is true; that everything could be gone. My positive feelings, nevertheless, advises me that we need to strive, by any means we can.

For me, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to commit, more completely, to their duty of holding power to account. For different individuals, it might involve participating in political races, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.

Under twelve months back, we were in an alternate reality. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to attempt to continue fighting.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I experience in the classroom with new media professionals, that are simultaneously visionary and practical, {always