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One year ago, the situation was entirely different. Prior to the American presidential vote, considerate residents could recognize the nation's serious imperfections – its inequities and imbalance – yet they continued to see it as the US. A democratic nation. A country where constitutional order carried weight. A country led by a respectable and upright leader, notwithstanding his elderly years and declining health.

Nowadays, this autumn, numerous citizens hardly identify the nation we live in. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and shoved into vans, at times refused legal rights. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being torn down for a grotesque dance hall. The leader is targeting his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting federal prosecutors hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are being sent across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The military command, renamed the War Department, has effectively freed itself of regular press examination while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Institutions, law firms, journalism organizations are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as members of the royal family.

“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” an American historian, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it occurred in this country.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it's challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and how quickly it unfolded.

Nevertheless, we understand that the leader was properly voted in. Following his profoundly alarming first term and following the cautions that came with the understanding of Project 2025 – despite the leader directly stated openly he would rule as a tyrant only on the first day – a majority of citizens selected him over the other candidate.

As terrifying as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to understand that we have only been several months under this leadership. What will three more years of this downfall position us? And suppose that timeframe turns into a more extended duration, since there is not anyone to stop this leader from opting that another term is essential, possibly for defense purposes?

Granted, all is not lost. There are legislative votes next year which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, if Democrats recapture either chamber of parliament. There are government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, for example lawmakers currently launching an investigation into the attempted cash appropriation from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could initiate the path toward restoration exactly as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

There exist millions of Americans demonstrating in urban areas throughout communities, as they did in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of America is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or amid the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the unstable nation finally returned to balance.

He claims he knows the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening at present. For proof, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a television host's removal and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to agree to government requirements they report only authorized information.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays inactive before certain corruption turns extremely harmful, some action so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that the giant is forced but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Perhaps he will prove to be right.

At the same time, the big questions remain: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its status globally and its commitment to constitutional order?

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

My pessimistic brain suggests that the final scenario is accurate; that everything might be gone. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, advises me that we have to attempt, through all methods possible.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about pushing media professionals to commit, more completely, to their mission of holding power to account. For others, it may be participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to protect ballot privileges.

Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is try to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Hope Now

The engagement I experience with students with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and grounded, {always