Democrats' Lack of Resistance - Tom Hartmann

 

Could the Democrats' Lack of Resistance Be a Green Light for Tyranny?

The inaction of high profile and leadership Democrats is not just weakness — it's a betrayal of Democratic principles and thus our nation...

Thom Hartmann Feb 3

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Is Trump’s, Musk’s, and Putin’s coup against democracy complete?

Under the guise of a 44-year campaign to reverse the middle-class advances of the New Deal and Great Society, rightwing billionaires and the Republicans they own have pushed a fundamentally fascist agenda that is now openly at war with America. They are engaging in a coup, finishing the work Trump started on January 6, 2021.

Trump is nakedly breaking the law right in front of the entire country, just as progressive Democrats have been predicting. Not a single elected Republican has had the courage to try to stop him or even speak out against his lawlessness, and only a handful of Democrats have found that fearlessness. That has to change.

— Trump is illegally firing career Civil Service prosecutors in the DOJ and agents in the FBI. The principal message he is conveying is, “Donald Trump, his family, and his friends are above the law. Investigate them and you will lose your job.”

— He’s illegally fired Inspectors General who search out and prosecute corruption within their own agencies.

— He’s illegally impounded money appropriated by Congress.

— He’s illegally imposing tariffs against Mexico and Canada, turning our friends against us, just like Putin has dreamed for years.

— USAID, created by President Kennedy, is our single most effective tool for keeping poor countries on America’s side instead of joining Russia or China. Musk has declared war on this Agency, and the only beneficiaries will be those two dictatorships.

— And now this South African billionaire has apparently downloaded all of your and my private information from the federal agencies responsible for making six trillion dollars’ worth of payments every year, with the explicit permission of Treasury Secretary and billionaire Scott Bessent — who was put into his job with the votes of 15 compliant Democratic senators.

As Senator Patty Murray (who voted against Bessent) noted on Bluesky yesterday:

“All of your most sensitive data and our country’s checkbook are in the hands of an unelected billionaire. This is the most corrupt administration in history and it’s putting our economy & government in serious jeopardy.

“It’s time to speak out and fight back. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/u...”

Hell, it’s way past time to speak out and fight back.

Ever since Reagan’s Revolution on behalf of the billionaire class, many of us have been shouting from the rooftops about the inevitability of this day. I’ve published multiple books and hundreds of articles (see * below), as have many of my colleagues, warning of this exact scenario.

This is the tail-end of the battle, not the beginning:

— When Republicans claimed that corporations were “persons” with rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights (including the right to fund political campaigns), Democrats could have spoken out, but — other than the progressives — didn’t. Instead, Bill Clinton encouraged corporate contributions to his “New Democrats.”

— When Republicans said billionaires and corporations bribing politicians was legal (and could even be considered “tips”), Democrats could have spoken out, but — other than the progressives — didn’t. Instead the “Problem Solvers” and many others simply put their hands out.

— When Republicans gutted union protections, borrowed $34 trillion to fund tax breaks for billionaires, and ended support for college tuition, Democrats could have spoken out, but — other than the progressives — didn’t. Instead, many “moved to the center.”

— When Republicans fought voting rights and purged over 50 million voters from the rolls over the past decade (giving Trump the White House last year), Democrats could have raised hell, but — other than the progressives — didn’t. Instead, they abandoned Red states, often not even bothering to run candidates.

— When Republicans denied climate change and went to the mat to protect the hundreds of billions in subsidies the fossil fuel industry gets every year, Democrats could have stopped them, but — other than the progressives — didn’t. Instead, they complained about “disruptive” groups protesting pipelines.

— When Republicans raised an entire Astroturf Tea Party movement to fight progressive efforts to put into place a national healthcare system that would include a buy-in option for Medicare at all ages, Democrats could have fought for their constituents, but — other than the progressives — didn’t. Instead, they offered a privatized Obamacare and weak “negotiation” with drug companies to lower prices on 10 drugs while ignoring the creeping privatization of Medicare with the Medicare Advantage scam.

In each case, progressive Democrats were ahead of the curve and corporate Democrats either ignored or even obstructed needed reforms.

Republicans, meanwhile, have been steamrolling ahead with their plan — first laid out by Lewis Powell in 1971 — to turn our country into an oligarchy that’s no longer accountable to its people.

And now they’re just months away from finishing off our democratic republic, silencing all voices of dissent, and guaranteeing — like Trump promised — that we may never be able to even vote again in a meaningful election with candidates who aren’t pre-vetted by billionaires.

The greatest danger America is facing today — because Democratic messaging and outrage have been so weak for so long — is that average people won’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Democratic Party — Hakeem Jefferies in the House and Chuck Schumer in the Senate — are both saying that they’re not going to challenge Trump on every crime he commits, and Democratic senators voted unanimously for Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, who’s now in Panama threatening that sovereign government.

Trump is working as hard as possible to make his fascist vision of America a reality by attacking, threatening, and suing reporters and media outlets while his billionaire buddies and AIPAC threaten to fund primary challenges against any politician — Democrat or Republican — who dares to challenge them.

And the threats are working:

— The media is walking on pins and needles, trying to avoid pissing off Trump or Musk.

— The FCC just launched an investigation that could lead to the end of NPR and PBS.

— Major networks are paying off Trump to settle frivolous lawsuits.

— Democrats are treating Vichy Republicans as if they were good faith colleagues during normal times, many even voting for Trump’s cabinet nominees.

But these are not normal times: Our democracy is hanging by a thread. The simple reality is that the MAGA takeover of the GOP has turned it into, essentially, an agent of Putin’s Russia and Xi’s China. And an immigrant billionaire is deconstructing our government like a toddler busting up a Lego set.

Democrats — who campaigned on the allegation that Trump was a fascist — must now behave like their claim was true and fight back, before Trump and Musk finalize Orbán’s and Putin’s neofascist governance model, making such a response impossible.

— Shut down the House and the Senate.

— Challenge Johnson’s speakership.

— Fight every unanimous consent vote.

— Use quorum calls to bring floor business to a standstill.

— Put holds on every Trump nominee, even for things like naming Post Offices or noncontroversial positions.

— Hold a major press conference every day and coordinate with Democrats across the nation to amplify that day’s message across local and national media.

— Organize political guerilla theater and mass protest events.

Average people can reach out to their elected officials — the phone number for Congress is 202-224-3121 — and raise absolute holy hell. Blow up social media with protest and outrage posts. Share your concerns with friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors.

As Bernie Sanders — who’s been fighting this fight his entire life and was on my radio/TV show every Friday for 11 years — shared yesterday with people subscribed to his newsletter:

“We must fight back — effectively. This is not a time for wallowing in despair and hiding under the covers. The stakes are too high. We’re not just fighting for ourselves. We’re fighting for our kids and for future generations. We’re fighting for the future of this planet.

“Further, we must not become overwhelmed and think that Trump has some kind of extraordinary mandate and an inevitable glide path into the future. That’s what the right-wing mouthpieces want you to believe, but it’s not true. Trump won the election because Kamala Harris and a very weak and out-of-touch Democratic Party received 5 million votes LESS than Biden did in 2020, not because Donald Trump or his agenda were popular. His agenda can be defeated. …

“We cannot just play defense. We have got to be on offense. Please, never forget, the agenda that we are fighting for is widely supported by working families all across this country. And we must continue to fight for that agenda.”

It only took Hitler 53 days to use legal means to turn Germany from a functioning democracy into a dictatorship. We’ve officially gone way too far down that same road, and if Trump and Project 2025 aren’t stopped now it may well be too late by as soon as this Spring.

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Leonard Leo Trump adviser Federalist Society

Leonard Leo may not be a household name, but odds are most people in the country know his signature achievement: Leo was a key architect of the conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court that rolled back the federal right to an abortion. The conservative activist advised President-elect Donald Trump during his first term on the nominations of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. The three picks gave conservatives their 6-3 majority on the high court. And all of them voted to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision. For decades, as a leading figure in the Federalist Society and other conservative legal groups, Leo identified and promoted the careers of lawyers and law clerks who shared his views of the constitution. https://www.npr.org/2024/11/24/nx-s1-5199049/federalist-society-conservative-supreme-court

Cryptocurrencies are forms of digital currency

 

Background

Colloquially known as “crypto,” cryptocurrencies are forms of digital currency that have evolved to have a wide variety of uses in recent years. Among their key features is decentralization, meaning that unlike traditional money, they generally aren’t controlled by a single authority like a bank or government.

As of early 2025, cryptocurrencies had a cumulative market cap of almost $3.4T, making them worth more than some of the world’s most valuable companies, like Google and Amazon (both valued at roughly $2.3T). A recent survey found roughly 17% of US adults had invested in, traded, or used cryptocurrency.

History and Uses

While modern cryptocurrency took off in the 2010s, some point to eCash—an early '90s private peer-to-peer transfer system—as the forerunner to the modern crypto ecosystem.

Currently, the most established and well-known cryptocurrency is bitcoin, which was created in 2009 following a now-famous white paper written by a programmer using the pen name Satoshi Nakamoto. It is mostly used as a substitute for traditional money and a store of value and has been referred to as “digital gold”—a limited resource not controlled by a central government.

Bitcoin’s value remained relatively low until around 2017 but has peaked above $100K per coin as of this writing. Explore 1440’s Bitcoin topic page here.

Ethereum, the second-most valuable cryptocurrency, was launched in 2015. Unlike bitcoin, Ethereum is more than just a digital currency. Instead, it operates similarly to a platform (think Apple’s iOS system on an iPhone), enabling applications ranging from smart contracts to decentralized financial tools to gaming, gambling, file sharing, road mapping, and more (how it works).

A third type is referred to as “memecoins.” These easy-to-create tokens usually have no utility and are treated as speculative investments, many of which trade near zero. The first memecoin, Dogecoin—inspired by a popular internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu—was created in 2013 by software engineers as a joke (watch explainer). Unlike others, it is now one of the top 10 most valuable cryptocurrencies as of early 2025.

The total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies went from under $20B in 2017 to more than $3.4T in 2025. As of this writing, the top three cryptocurrencies ranked by market cap are bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP (see full list).

See a timeline of crypto’s history and how it became so popular here.

Blockchains and Crypto

Most cryptocurrencies rely on blockchain technology. Blockchains are the digital equivalents of public ledgers: On a blockchain, every transaction is recorded and bundled into a “block.” That block is then added to a long “chain” of blocks that anyone—aside from certain instances of private blockchains—can view and verify.

Some cryptocurrencies function like Ethereum—highly technical projects that use their underlying blockchains for more decentralized applications.

Many believe such approaches may lead to a flourishing ecosystem of next-generation applications and businesses. Ethereum and Solana are the leading examples of the technology; see the differences here.

There are many ways to invest in crypto, including using a traditional broker, a payment app like Venmo, a peer-to-peer marketplace (P2P), or a bitcoin ATM. One of the most common ways to invest is via an exchange like Coinbase or Kraken.

Pros and Cons

Advocates of cryptocurrency point to several advantages: instant transfer of funds, protection against inflation, ease of access, the ability to build decentralized applications, and much more.

Conversely, critics argue cryptocurrencies help facilitate crime and can have an outsized environmental impact due to high energy consumption (though new approaches are addressing the energy challenge).

Finally, many types of cryptocurrencies are susceptible to boom-and-bust cycles, making investments risky for those without a clear understanding of the ecosystem.

Gils Walker

 During the 30 years it took to research and write this book, several people were a continuing source of inspiration and encouragement, for which I am very grateful. They are men I went to school with as boys and who are now older men in their 60s, like me. People like Patrick Doheny, Jay Lumière, Gordon Glass, and Allan MacDougall. Equally, I am indebted to former teachers at Bishop’s College School like John Cowans and John Pratt.

My two editors, Bryan Demchinsky and Correy Baldwin, were sources of encouragement and criticism when needed, for which I thank them. Correy is a relative newcomer to the editing trade whereas Bryan is a veteran journalist who speaks like crusty lifers are supposed to speak. He says things like: “I turned up a few more fly specks amid the sugar.”
Dana Edmonds took charge of the images that appear in the book and the website created to promote the book. Their quality reflects her skills and patience.
My good friend, Barbara Sears, helped me with the research for the book but more importantly she encouraged me from the very beginning, telling me I could and should write this book.
My brothers, David and Julian, both former BCS students themselves (although they escaped Forster), have been loyal and insightful supporters over these many years.
Charlotte Breese provided me with encouragement and, often, accommodation on my various trips to England to research this book.
Graham Patriquin’s two-volume history of BCS, From Little Forks to Moulton Hill, was an indispensible reference and source of information.
Many other people helped me along the way. There are too many to name in full but I must mention Suzanne DePoe, Peter Hutchins, Tam Davis, Tony Suche, John Dean, Paul Cowan, Peter Norris, Michel Choquette, Ron Owen, Alexis Troubetzkoy, Stephen Fox, John and Jill Stephenson, Dendle French, Mark Abley, David Evans, David Muschett, William Walker, Jill McGreal, Dr. Peter Collins, Dr. Michael Seto, Judy Steed, Merrily Weisbord, Simon Dardick, Marion Hebb, and a very special thanks to Dr. Gizelle Popradi.
My wife, Hannele Halm, has always been the most reliable judge of my work, whether in filmmaking or writing. I dare not take a step without her support, for which I will never be able to express enough thanks. My children, Anna-Kaisa and Sam, have been patient readers and supporters when called upon.
It’s been a very long and winding road. This book began life some 30 years ago as a research project for a feature film entitled Retribution. Jefferson Lewis has worked tirelessly to write and shape the screenplay. We fervently believe the film will get made one of these days.
Harold Forster was a man whose very existence defied belief. Stories about him never failed to intrigue or astound, and their number grew and grew as the years went by and the research continued. Eventually, the collective revulsion against his sins coalesced into a class-action lawsuit brought against BCS by his former students.
That lawsuit has now been settled and the Harold Forster story has been told.

Oscar Peterson: Cherishing a legacy of technical virtuosity and soulful swing

 

Oscar Peterson: Cherishing a legacy of technical virtuosity and soulful swing

• 2/13/2025
• 11:59 AM
• The Conversation – Articles (CA)
• Barrington Coleman, Professor and Jazz camp instructor, Carleton University
• Web site view

The distinction given to the virtuoso — an artist recognized for exceptional skill and talent — is generated by their prominence and unique creative fortitude.

Through the ages and across genres, virtuosi have been revered for their ability to transcend technical limitations and transport audiences into new realms of musical experience.

Oscar Peterson’s artistic identity as a conveyor of compelling passion, expressive freedom and technical command of the piano through jazz improvisation became a beacon of inspiration among his contemporaries, across the spectrum of music.

Here, as a professor of vocal jazz studies at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and as a performing vocal artist, pianist, choral conductor, jazz and gospel artist, I reflect on elements that contributed to Peterson’s identity, distinctive sound and mission as a Black artist.

As a visiting instructor at Carleton University in Ottawa, I am pleased to present these thoughts in collaboration with my colleague, James Deaville, a musicologist who has researched virtuosity.

Trailblazer in virtuosity

Peterson’s legacy stands as a bright beacon among the trailblazers in technical virtuosity and soulful expression.

Peterson, who was born in 1925 and passed away in 2007, was a foundational catalyst for new generational keepers of artistic excellence due to his tremendous range, from rhapsodic spontaneity to vulnerable tenderness.

This contributed to his iconic stature, globally evidenced in sold-out concert halls, filled jazz clubs and many commissioned works. His media personality and his television appearances, including performing his acclaimed composition “Canadiana Suite” in 1964, contributed to the pop culture of his generation.

I was delighted to visit Peterson’s home church in Montréal with my wife on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 20.

Childhood milieu, training

Peterson established his musical heritage through the bonds of family and church in his childhood home of the Little Burgundy community in Montréal.

He did so as one of five siblings with his immigrant father and mother respectively from the British Virgin Islands and St. Kitts.

Video about Oscar Peterson and Montréal’s Little Burgundy, from Historica Canada, featuring Céline Peterson, Oscar’s daughter.

Founded in 1907, the Little Burgundy church home of the Petersons, Union United Church, still stands. It serves as a representation of faith-based progressive activism, social consciousness and a resource for the civility and human rights of its congregation. The church proudly displays its African and Afro-Caribbean heritage, and “continues to serve a diverse congregation with roots from over 50 countries.”

Throughout centuries, Black churches have intrinsically been linked to the core of community engagement, socialization, educational programs, political activism and such initiatives as job training and raising health-care awareness.

At Union’s observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, individuals spoke to the congregation and with me privately of their lifetime multi-generational sacrifices, accomplishments and efforts to combat racial injustice and employment inequities. These endeavours they undertook from their origin as a community of immigrants and parishioners of colour.

One meeting of great significance took place with Annie “Mildred” Rockhead, the sister-in-law of Rufus Nathaniel Rockhead (1896-1981), Jamaican-born entrepreneur and founder of the famed Rockhead’s Paradise Jazz Club in Little Burgundy.

Another was with Oliver Theophilus Jones, critically acclaimed African Canadian jazz pianist, composer and educator.

Notably, Jones, like Peterson, received musical tutelage under the accomplished Daisy Peterson Sweeney (1920-2017), Oscar’s sister.

Virtuosic fluency

Sweeney and Peterson’s father were his first musical teachers.

An amalgamation of concepts and cultural exposures established the platform for Peterson’s musical explorations. His training in western music theory and his immersion in Black vernacular traditions — comprising linguistic, oral and improvisational elements from Black cultural, popular and religious spaces, and music genres such as spirituals, gospel, blues and jazz — provided him with an expansive repertoire on which to build.

Pedagogic guidance with such mentors as Hungarian concert pianist Pauly de Marky and the influence of iconic jazz pianist Art Tatum also contributed to Peterson’s unique mix of virtuosic fluency.

Peterson absorbed a wide range of stylistic influences in tempos and dynamics into his prevailing spiritual core of swing and blues.

‘Soulful swing’

Peterson’s tutelage and cultural absorption contributed to an identifiable expressive voice of stylistic grace, impeccable command of his instrument and execution of spiritual freedom.

I refer to this freedom as the identity of Peterson’s interminable musical statement of “soulful swing.” It draws on blues from its historical roots of cries, moans, and smiles through tears, of the hope and joyful praise of gospel and the pride and grace of jazz. These may all be woven into a charismatic tapestry of rhapsodic virtuosity or solemn stillness.

In exploring Oscar Peterson’s encompassing discography, I reference two mesmerizing excerpts from the Solo recording, featuring solo piano renditions performed for live audience in 1972, released 2002.

Peterson’s performance of the classic Edward Heyman jazz ballad, “Body and Soul,” contains innovative depth, improvisatory brilliance and transportive eloquence. Through these elements, and its structural pace-setting, the performance may be aligned to some of great virtuosi of music history, including such masters of the piano as Franz Liszt, Vladimir Horowitz and another Canadian, Glenn Gould.

Oscar Peterson’s ‘Body and Soul.’

Each statement of the song is presented in incremental segments. We hear the mastery of harmonic inflection, dramatic flare — and elements of surprise. Peterson escorts the listener through multiple doors of rapture, humour, joy and personal tenderness.

“Hogtown Blues” presents Oscar’s rhythmically precise, memorable melody punctuated by harmonic “call and response” phrases raised out of the African American diaspora from secular work songs to sacred songs of faith, hope and praise.

Throughout each consecutive chorus, Peterson extends this lyrical simplicity into euphoric release by the application of virtuosic complexity in keyboard techniques. Yet, during this journey, the constant dance groove remains at the forefront of Oscar’s signature expressive voice — swing!

Dignity, elegance, empowerment

As Canada celebrates Black History Month and the centennial commemoration of Peterson, I am most inspired by Peterson’s own words about his “Hymn to Freedom,” originally featured on the Night Train album with the Oscar Peterson Trio.

Of the song, inspired by the words and life of Martin Luther King Jr., Peterson said:

“I wrote the song with hope because the lyrics personified exactly what I was thinking): ‘When every man joins hands and forever sings in harmony, that’s when we’ll be free.‘”

Today, Peterson’s stardom continues to resonate as one of the first world-renowned African Canadians. He set a path for many African Canadian artists of today like The Weeknd, Drake and hip-hop legend Maestro Fresh Wes, who paid tribute to Peterson in his 1991 track “Nothin’ at All.”

As one of our most prolific representatives of dignity, elegance and empowerment over adversity, Peterson’s artistic profile and lifetime achievement remain a legacy to cherish.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.