Recent reports indicate a troubling decline in the civic health of the United States, with ratings downgraded following a year marked by restrictive actions. A civic freedoms report highlights signs of a rapidly authoritarian shift in the nation, suggesting that civic space has been increasingly obstructed due to a crackdown on freedoms. Various media also report on significant environmental damage linked to food and fossil fuel production and controversial corporate actions backed by influential figures. These developments raise alarms about the future of civic freedoms and the overall health of democratic engagement in the U.S.