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One year ago, the environment was utterly different. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective Americans could admit the nation's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – yet they still could see it as the US. A democracy. A country where constitutional order meant something. A country guided by a respectable and decent official, despite his advanced age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, this autumn, numerous citizens scarcely know the nation we inhabit. Persons suspected of being illegal immigrants are detained and shoved into vehicles, at times refused legal rights. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed to build a lavish ballroom. The president is harassing his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting federal prosecutors hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are being sent into American cities on false pretexts. The defense headquarters, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – liberated itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Universities, legal practices, journalism organizations are submitting due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are handled as nobility.

“America, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the brink into authoritarianism and fascism,” Garrett Graff, commented in August. “Finally, swifter than I believed likely, it transpired here.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. It is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined our nation is, and the speed at which it occurred.

Nevertheless, it is known that Trump was legitimately chosen. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the cautions associated with the awareness of the conservative plan – despite the president personally said publicly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans selected him rather than the other candidate.

While alarming as the current reality is, it's more frightening to realize that we’re only nine months into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this downfall find us? And if that timeframe transforms into a more extended duration, because there is no one to stop this ruler from deciding that a third term is essential, maybe for security concerns?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have congressional elections next year that may create a new balance of power, in case Democrats regain the Senate or House of the legislature. There are elected officials who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, such as representatives currently initiating an inquiry into the attempted money grab from legal authorities.

And a national vote in the next cycle could start us down the road to recovery just as last year’s election set us on this regrettable path.

There exist numerous residents demonstrating in public spaces across municipalities, as they did in the past days in the No Kings rallies.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is stirring”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in the 1950s or during anti-war demonstrations or in the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

Reich says he recognizes the signals of that revival and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the broad, multi-faction opposition regarding a broadcaster's firing and the almost universal refusal by journalists to sign military mandates they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep before some venality grows too toxic, some action so contemptuous of the common good, some brutality so noisy, that he has no choice but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may be validated.

In the meantime, the crucial issues endure: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its standing globally and its adherence to constitutional order?

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

My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we need to strive, in whatever ways we can.

Personally, working in journalism analysis, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more fully, to their mission of holding power to account. For different individuals, it might involve engaging with congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we lived in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The reality is, we don’t know. The only option is to attempt to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I encounter with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously visionary and grounded, {always