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One year ago, the situation was utterly separate. Before the national election, reflective citizens could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its inequities and inequality – but they continued to perceive it as the United States. A free society. A country where constitutional order meant something. A state headed by a respectable and ethical public servant, even with his advanced age and declining health.

Currently, this autumn, many of us barely recognize the land we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his adversaries or supposed enemies and requesting legal authorities surrender a massive sum of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The Pentagon, renamed the War Department, has – in effect – rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of potentially totaling nearly $1tn in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, news companies are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are treated like members of the royal family.

“America, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the brink into authoritarianism and fascism,” an American historian, wrote in August. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it occurred in this country.”

One awakes amid recent atrocities. It is hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we have become, and the speed at which it has happened.

Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and following the alerts linked to the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – even after Trump himself said publicly he would rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans selected him over Kamala Harris.

As terrifying as today's circumstances may be, it's more daunting to recognize that we’re only three-quarters of a year into this administration. Where will another 36 months of this deterioration find us? And if that period transforms into a more extended duration, because there is no one to stop this leader from deciding that additional tenure is essential, maybe for national security reasons?

Granted, not everything is hopeless. There are midterm elections next year that could bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. There are government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, such as Democratic congressmen who are starting a probe concerning the try to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a presidential election in 2028 could initiate us down the road to recovery just as the prior selection placed us on this unfortunate course.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, similar to recent in the past days during anti-authority protests.

A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of America is rising”, similar to past post-McCarthyism during the fifties or during anti-war demonstrations or in the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he understands the signals of that awakening and sees it happening now. As evidence, he cites the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition against a television host's removal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to sign the defense department’s demands they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The dormant force consistently stays inactive before some venality grows too toxic, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, some brutality so loud, that the giant is forced except to rise.”

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

At the same time, the major inquiries persist: will the nation regain its footing? Can it reclaim its standing in the world and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My pessimistic brain tells me that the second option is true; that all may indeed be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, tells me that we have to attempt, through all methods possible.

Personally, as an observer of the press, that means encouraging reporters to commit, more completely, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it may be engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to defend electoral access.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. In the future? Or after another term? The fact is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is to attempt to not give up.

What Provides Me Optimism Currently

The engagement I have with students with young journalists, who are both hopeful and realistic, {always