Version 2.0: Mootmute v. Tyranny
Resistance (Best-Of).mp3
Resistance (Best-Of).mp4
Resistance.mp3
Resistance.mp4
Resistance Pt 2.mp3
Resistance Pt 2.mp4
Resistance (Unplugged Underground XXVI).mp3
Resistance (Unplugged Underground XXVI).mp4
I've been getting a flood of questions about how to resist the Trump Regime: "What can I do?" in the midst of growing feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. My answer: focus on your strengths. Build a strong individual plan. Be resourceful. And sharpen your wits -- because wit is often the best weapon.
As an investigative journalist with decades of experience defending the First Amendment, I've faced threats, targeted attacks, assaults by both criminals and police, fines, arrests, jail time, and years of court battles. Yet never -- not once -- have I seen anything as alarming as what is happening today. I'm furious at the erosion of our First Amendment rights, and I'm returning to my roots. In protest of this assault on free speech -- and in solidarity with Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and the countless journalists silenced worldwide this year -- I'm returning to my roots: sharp-witted satire. Words are swords, and comedy is our shield. That's why tyrants fear it, why dictators ban it, and why Trump is trying to kill it. Humor exposes lies, punctures egos, and topples emperors who think they wear clothes.
During one period when I was illegally detained, silenced, and stripped of my rights, I adopted the pseudonym Mootmute. My lawyer was on speed dial, and I even had a plan to publish from jail. The name itself became a symbol of resistance. As they tried to turn me into a moot mute, I turned their strategy back on them. As I often say: hold up your sword and stand firm. If they continue to impale themselves on your defensive position, so be it.
Another form of resistance was publicly exposing their hypocrisy. For amusement and effect, while under oath I asked prosecutors what I wasn't allowed to say. Their response? They wheeled in file cabinets overflowing with papers they themselves had published and read, line by line, everything that was now forbidden as "speech." And so the name Mootmute stuck. They tried to silence me, but instead they became my unwitting mouthpiece, committing the very crime they accused me of.
In addition to the personal defiance above, I found other ways to resist oppression. While I was under attack, my publishing company -- and the entities that had licensed my intellectual property -- also became targets. To protect the innocent, I created a new publishing company. Much like Prince, who famously changed his name to a symbol when stripped of his own, I adopted a symbol too -- only mine was crafted from ASCII characters and represented "the finger." The irony was delicious: every time prosecutors wheeled in stacks of paper and read the forbidden words into the record, each page carried my publishing company's logo at the bottom. The very emblem of defiance they sought to erase stared back at them from their own exhibits.
For added effect -- and a touch of legal one-upmanship -- I included a copyright notice on every page:
“These pages and their content may not be used without our expressed written consent. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed under the law.”
In their zeal to prosecute me, they inadvertently committed yet another offense: publishing my work without consent while declaring in court that no one was allowed to say what they themselves had just published.
So, "What can I do?" in the face of rising helplessness and hopelessness? Focus on your strengths. Develop a solid, individual plan. Be resourceful. And hone your wit -- because wit is often your sharpest weapon and, in some cases, may literally save your life.
Moot-Mute-Best-Of.mp3
Moot-Mute-Best-Of.mp4
Moot-Mute.mp3
Moot-Mute.mp4
[Refrain]
In fear of dismay…
(It’s hard to say either way)
Silenced!
(Is the mute moot?)
[Bridge]
Silenced!
(Is the mute moot?)
[Refrain]
In fear of dismay…
(It’s hard to say either way)
Silenced!
(Is the mute moot?)
[Outro]
Silenced!
(Is the mute moot?)
Quietly (the tragedy)
Fades into the night
(Under thrown shade)
Of the far-right
(Fade)
The-Finger-Best-Of.mp3
The-Finger-Best-Of.mp4
The-Finger.mp3
The-Finger.mp4
The-Finger-Unplugged-Underground-XXVI.mp3
The-Finger-Unplugged-Underground-XXVI.mp4
The-Finger-Unplugged.mp3
The-Finger-Unplugged.mp4
Killjoy-Best-Of.mp3
Killjoy-Best-Of.mp4
Killjoy.mp3
Killjoy.mp4
[Intro]
PSA: "Remember, killing humor isn't funny. Kill humor, kill freedom. Not so funny now, is it?"
1, 2, 3…
Ripcord
(Discord)
Ohhhhh, lord!
(Killjoy)
[Refrain]
Too late to jump
(When there’s no ledge left)
Out of the slump
(Best make the best)
… of what’s left
[Bridge]
Ripcord
(Discord)
Ohhhhh, lord!
(Killjoy)
[Outro]
"Killjoy, killing humor isn't funny.
Kill humor, kill freedom.
Not so funny now, is it?"
Ripcord
(Discord)
Ohhhhh, lord!
(Killjoy)
Not so funny now, is it?
PSA: "Remember, killing humor isn't funny. Kill humor, kill freedom. Not so funny now, is it?"
ABOUT THE SONG: The Death of the First Amendment: Trump's War on Free Speech
A Call to Arms
In protest of the ongoing assault on free speech -- and in support of Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and the many journalists slaughtered around the world this year -- I've decided to return to my roots: satirical wit, where words cut sharper than swords. Long live comedy! It's time for all of us to pick up the torch and rise. Get your satire on -- let's roll.
PSA: "Killing humor isn't funny. Kill humor, kill freedom. Not so funny now, is it?"
Censored-Best-Of.mp3
Censored-Best-Of.mp4
Censored.mp3
Censored.mp4
[Intro]
BEEEEEP: These lyrics have been censored
(Are you incensed?)
Incite! (Insight!)
[Bridge]
BEEEEEP
(Too deep, deep, deep)
[Refrain]
BEEEEEP: These lyrics have been censored
(Are you incensed?)
Incite! (Insight!)
De-shade (the shade)
Cast light (onto the right)
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo]
[Outro]
BEEEEEP: These lyrics have been censored
(Are you incensed?)
Incite! (Insight!)
De-shade (the shade)
Cast light (onto the right)
It’s your choice
(Raise your voice!)
Raise your voice!
(Raise your voice!)
Killing Humor (Isn't Funny).mp3
Killing Humor (Isn't Funny).mp4
Killing Humor (Isn't Funny) Pt 2.mp3
Killing Humor (Isn't Funny) Pt 2.mp4
More than a rumor...
Killing humor
(Isn't funny, man)
Can't you understand:
Killing humor's killing freedom
(Dumb, dee dee, dumb done)
That is why, funny as it may sound...
(We won't let 'er die)
Just look around
(The satire is dire)
World's on fire
(No, we won't let 'er die)
Broken Funny Bone.mp3
Broken Funny Bone.mp4
Broken Funny Bone (Reggae Version).mp3
Broken Funny Bone (Reggae Version).mp4
[Intro]
Broken
(Flat out busted)
Funny bone
(Oh, take me home)
[Verse 1]
Oh, it’s not that funny
(Is it?!?)
Oh no (not that funny)
Your nose is out of joint
(Self-anoint)
[Chorus]
Broken
(Flat out busted)
Funny bone
(Oh, take me home)
[Bridge]
(Oh, busted) humorous
(And it’s contagious)
The fungus among us
[Verse 2]
Oh, when your days ain’t so sunny
(As they throw shade your way)
Oh no (it’s not that funny)
When they reign upon our day
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
[Outro]
(Oh, busted) humorous
(And it’s contagious)
The fungus among us
(Killed your freedom)
Sacrificed to their kingdom
(Broken funny bone)
Don’t beg to moan
The Word (Out).mp3
The Word (Out).mp4
The Word (Out) Pt 2.mp3
The Word (Out) Pt 2.mp4
[Intro]
Gotta get the word (Out!)
About… (to get the word out.)
[Refrain]
There’s no debate
(If it’s too late)
No (oh oh) no, no, no
… don’t wait
[Bridge]
Gotta get the word (Out!)
Shout (Out!)
About… (the word — no doubt)
In fact (fact)
[Refrain]
[Bridge]
[Outro]
[Instrumental, Harmonica Solo]
Lost debate
(It’s too late)
Whoa woe oh, oh
(Yet on we go…?)
Just say: “Whoa!”
(There ya go)
Shout it out
(Whoa woe!)
There ya go…
Word out —
(Whoa woe!)
Raided.mp3
Raided.mp4
Raided-Pt-2.mp3
Raided-Pt-2.mp4
Raided-Reggae.mp3
Raided-Reggae.mp4
Oppressors often rely on terror as a tactic, using threats and intimidation to control or silence you. One of their favorite abuses is obtaining illegitimate warrants to raid your home. Luckily, the first time my house was raided in violation of my First Amendment rights, I had just switched lawyers. Though I respected my previous attorney, I knew the opposition was escalating -- even to the point of trying to have the police kill me. From a jail cell, I hired a new attorney who was a friend of my roommate. He turned out to be the lawyer who had represented the "mob" in Philadelphia. During the raid, police even held a gun to his head.
On another occasion, the same six officers slammed me to the concrete, drew their firearms, and trained six laser sights on me simultaneously.
The last time I was raided was perhaps the most shocking. I had filmed local police physically assaulting an innocent victim and posted the video on YouTube. Despite the footage being public, the officer in charge of the investigation obtained a warrant to raid the house I was living in -- my aging and ailing parents' home, where I had moved to care for them in their final years. The warrant explicitly referenced my publishing entity, noting that I was known on the street as KingArthur.com. The raid was traumatic for my parents, who were in their pajamas as I prepared breakfast, while the police pounded and forced their way into the kitchen.
Though these experiences left me with PTSD for a considerable time, they also led to meaningful change: I successfully rewrote both police departments' training protocols, rules, and professional conduct codes.
PSA: "Killing humor isn't funny. Kill humor, kill freedom. Not so funny now, is it?"
[Intro]
Jaded?
(Been raided)
[Verse 1]
Don’t bother to knock
(Too late now)
Forget the lock
(Any how)
[Chorus]
Guess you’re comin’ in
(Again and again)
What warrants the warrant
(Is irrelevant)
[Bridge]
Jaded?
(Been raided)
[Verse 2]
At a loss
For probable cause
A coin toss
Or just because
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Outro]
Jaded?
(Been raided)
An obscene scene
(Seen… no dream)
Once too often
(Doesn’t soften)
Been raided
(Hasn’t faded)
"Not for Sale" -- When I first created the pseudonym "mootmute," I also used it as a gamer tag in Halo to test different strategies. Over time, I gained so much experience and ranked up so highly that I started receiving substantial offers to buy the name. But because it was tied to an ongoing legal dispute, I couldn't risk parting with it.
[Verse 1]
Well don't cha know
(Tryin' to lay low)
When a boy asks me...
(I'll pay a buck fifty)
[Chorus]
My name (is not my name)
Just the same...
(It's not for sale)
... it never fails
[Bridge]
Sorry....
(It's not for sale)
[Verse 2]
And, another asks me...
(How much for your tag)
I said, "come on... really?"
(Wouldn't wanna brag)
[Chorus] [Bridge] [Chorus]
[Outro]
Sorry....
(It's not for sale)
Can't wait till I can wail
When? (Till then)
It's not for sale
(It's all I've got)
It's not a lot
So, sorry....