Turns out that democracy doesn’t die in darkness, it dies in broad daylight.

Well, it is bleak, but it's not quite as severe as you suggest. Lawsuits are being filed which is the functional way to keep democracy alive. The problem for impatient spectators is that the Democrats in particular aren't very vocal and don't seem to know how to deliver a message. While the idea of "when they go low, we go high" seems noble, that was appropriate for a different time that the Democrats in particular are struggling with letting go. And, so you have Chuck Schumer chanting, Bernie Sanders quizzing the nominee for Secretary of Education if she agrees with him that teachers should be paid more, and Hakeem Jeffries comparing himself to a baseball player who isn't going to tire himself by swinging at every thrown ball.

Democracy isn't dying and won't die, but it is taking a beating. The opposition needs to get more productively organized and better at communicating. With all the Hollywood talent behind them, they need help in message delivery on the order of magnitude of Ronald Regan (a former actor), in platforming their message to counter the tattered remains of Twitter, and the massive amount of money to fight back the imperial, awkward, and low self-esteem of Elon Musk. Until that happens and in the meantime, the real work is all being done behind the scenes which takes times and gives off the illusion and stench of death.