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One year ago, the situation was entirely different. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful citizens could acknowledge America's serious imperfections – its inequities and disparity – yet they could still see it as the United States. A free society. A place where the rule of law meant something. A state led by a respectable and decent leader, despite his older age and increasing frailty.

Currently, this autumn, numerous citizens hardly identify the country we reside in. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and pushed into vehicles, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed for an obscene event space. The leader is harassing his adversaries or supposed enemies and demanding legal authorities surrender an enormous amount of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are deployed across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Department of War, has practically rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, legal practices, media outlets are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are treated like aristocracy.

“America, just months before its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the limit into authoritarianism and fascism,” a noted author, wrote recently. “Finally, swifter than I thought feasible, it transpired here.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it's difficult to grasp – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined we are, and the speed at which it has happened.

Nevertheless, it is known that Trump was legitimately chosen. Following his profoundly alarming initial presidency and even after the cautions associated with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – following the president personally stated openly he would be a dictator only on the first day – enough Americans chose him rather than Kamala Harris.

While alarming as today's circumstances may be, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. What will an additional three years of this downfall position us? And what if that timeframe becomes something even longer, since there is no one to limit this ruler from opting that a third term is essential, perhaps for defense purposes?

Granted, all is not lost. We will have congressional elections in 2026 which might establish an alternate governmental control, in case Democrats retake the Senate or House of the legislature. There exist public servants who are trying to impose a degree of oversight, like lawmakers who are launching an investigation concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.

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

We see countless citizens marching in the streets throughout communities, as they did last weekend in the No Kings rallies.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or during the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the listing ship eventually was righted.

Reich says he knows the signs of that awakening and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he points to the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal defiance by media to accept government requirements they solely cover what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant always remains inactive till specific greed becomes so noxious, some action so offensive of the common good, certain violence so loud, that the giant is compelled except to rise.”

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

At the same time, the big questions persist: can America regain its footing? Can it reclaim its status internationally and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My pessimistic brain indicates that the second option is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My positive feelings, nevertheless, tells me that we need to strive, in whatever ways available.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that means urging journalists to adhere, more completely, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it could mean participating in political races, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to defend ballot privileges.

Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. A year from now? Or three years from now? The reality is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to attempt to continue fighting.

What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently

The interaction I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always