Every year, the world’s economic elite gather in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum (WEF). Billionaires, CEOs, political leaders, and powerful institutions meet behind closed doors to discuss the future of the global economy and international business. These are the richest and most influential people on the planet.
WEF’s slogan is “Committed to improving the state of the World” and its mission is to “move the world forward together.” However, critics argue that this vision represents a globalist mindset—one where decisions are made by unelected elites, often far removed from ordinary people and national interests.
Picture: America is the locomotive.
Donald Trump stands in sharp contrast to this worldview. Trump is a populist. He speaks directly to voters, not global institutions. While the WEF elite promote globalization, open borders, and centralized decision-making, Trump represents national sovereignty, economic protection, and what he famously calls “America First.”
These are two opposing camps—and they are not on the same team. This is why Trump is deeply disliked in Davos. He challenges the system that benefits the global elite, and he refuses to speak their language or follow their script.
“America First” does not mean America alone. It means that a government’s first responsibility is to protect its own citizens. If Americans are safe, prosperous, and confident in their future, the country thrives. And when America thrives, the rest of the world benefits.
If America falls into chaos—economically, socially, or politically—the consequences are felt globally. The reason is simple: America is the engine of the world economy. It is the driver. The locomotive.
When America shines, the world shines.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shinybull.com. The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided; however, neither Shinybull.com nor the author can guarantee the accuracy of this information. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. Shinybull.com and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
In the wake of the largest protests against the Iranian regime in decades, the world has witnessed a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty in Iran. According to human rights organizations, at least 1,500 people were executed in 2025—an unprecedented level in the history of the Islamic Republic. Many of these executions followed expedited proceedings and lacked what the regime itself would describe as a thorough and fair trial. The death penalty has increasingly been used as a tool to spread fear and crush opposition.
Reports of arrests, mass killings, and brutal reprisals against protesters have been widespread. In some cases, families have been informed that executions were imminent, with only very short notice.
Erfan Soltani – A Symbol of a New Threat
The 26-year-old Iranian protester Erfan Soltani was arrested during the large-scale demonstrations that began in early January 2026. He was quickly sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh—“enmity against God”—a grave accusation frequently used against political opponents in Iran. His family was reportedly given only ten minutes to say goodbye before his planned hanging, triggering international condemnation and warnings from the United States of possible consequences should the execution be carried out.
Following international pressure, including statements from U.S. political leadership, some sources reported that the planned execution may have been postponed or canceled. However, Iran’s judiciary has claimed that parts of the media coverage were “fabricated” and has denied that a death sentence was definitively issued in the case, as reported by some outlets.
Even though the specific outcome of this case remains contested, it nonetheless illustrates a clear pattern: Iranian authorities have made extensive use of the death penalty for years, and protesters have been sentenced after extremely rapid proceedings that human rights groups describe as inadequate and deeply unjust.
A Pattern of Death Sentences Against Opposition
The use of capital punishment in Iran is not new and has long been a recurring element of how the regime responds to protests and dissent. During the demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, several protesters were sentenced to death and executed on charges such as moharebeh and efsad-e fel-arz (literally “corruption on earth”).
In 2024, the United Nations and human rights organizations reported that at least hundreds of protesters and others had been executed on such charges, often following rushed and highly questionable judicial processes.
What This Means
These developments signal a new phase in Iran’s response to domestic unrest: not only violent crackdowns and mass arrests, but also the threat of capital punishment as a public instrument of intimidation. While some of the most extreme claims circulating online—such as reports of tens of thousands of death sentences—are unsubstantiated or false, there are documented cases of executions and a genuine fear that the death penalty is being used to silence criticism and suppress protest.
Parallels to Afghanistan: Public Terror as a Tool of Power
Developments in Iran also evoke strong parallels to Afghanistan under Taliban rule. There, the regime has employed public executions, hangings from streetlights, and the display of bodies in public spaces as a deliberate strategy to intimidate the population into submission. This is not merely punishment—it is symbolic terror, where death is made visible to crush resistance throughout society.
Human rights organizations have documented how the Taliban have carried out public hangings, often on charges of “treason,” “immorality,” or collaboration with enemies, without fair trials. The objective is the same as what now appears to be emerging in Iran: to make it unmistakably clear that resistance is not merely dangerous, but fatal.
When Iranian authorities now threaten—or signal—the possibility of public executions of protesters, the country moves toward the same form of tyranny. This is no longer about punishing individuals, but about staging fear. A public execution is meant to be seen, shared, and remembered. It is a warning: This could happen to you.
The difference between Iran and Afghanistan is primarily ideological and historical—not methodological. Both regimes use religious justification, vague charges such as “enmity against God,” and extreme violence to retain power. The result is a society in which the rule of law is sidelined and fear replaces justice.
When Evil Comes Back Around
Jesus said that people can read the signs of the heavens and the earth, yet still misunderstand the times they live in. Today, we see how tyrannies that oppress, torture, and kill believe themselves invincible. But history is clear: the evil you spread to others will eventually return—often in ways that shake even the most powerful.
The Nazis fell, and their leaders were held accountable. Tyrannies in Afghanistan, Iran, and elsewhere carry the same seeds of their own destruction. Karma is not a myth; it is an inexorable law: what you sow, you will reap.
For those who protest, who seek truth and freedom, the danger is real—but their courage writes history. For those who tyrannize their people, punishment is unavoidable—not always immediate, but certain. The universe has a way of restoring balance, and history never forgets.
Fear can keep people down for a time. But justice, truth, and karma are ultimately unstoppable.
When Tyrannies Fall: The Judgment of History
History teaches us one thing with brutal clarity: tyrannies never last forever. They may appear strong, terrifying, and invincible in the moment, but they always carry the seeds of their own destruction. Nazi Germany is among the clearest examples. Built on ideology, fear, propaganda, and systematic violence, it ultimately collapsed under the weight of its own crimes.
After World War II came the Nuremberg Trials. For the first time in history, leaders of a regime were held personally accountable for crimes against humanity. It was not revenge. It was the rule of law’s response to barbarism. A clear message to the world: “Following orders” is no excuse when human rights are trampled.
What many ask today is why contemporary theocratic tyrants—such as the clerical regime in Iran—continue to evade the same historical reckoning. A regime that executes its own people, supports terrorist organizations, oppresses women, silences truth, and weaponizes religion commits crimes not only against its own citizens but against humanity as a whole.
If history is to be more than words in textbooks, it must also serve as a moral compass. Just as the Nazis were brought to trial after the war, today’s oppressors deserve legal accountability—not for the sake of vengeance, but for justice. Not only for the people of Iran, but for all who believe in human dignity, freedom, and responsibility.
History does not forget. It only waits.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shinybull.com. The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided; however, neither Shinybull.com nor the author can guarantee the accuracy of this information. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. Shinybull.com and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
More than two thousand years after Jesus from Israel warned humanity about moral blindness and abused authority, the same struggle continues. Across the world, authoritarian and theocratic regimes still silence their people in the name of righteousness, while democracies wrestle with the price of freedom. From Tehran to Gaza, from social media censorship to satellite internet, the battle over truth, speech, and human dignity remains the defining conflict of our time.
More than two thousand years ago, Jesus from Israel confronted the leaders of his time with a striking observation: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky and the earth, but you cannot interpret the present moment.” His warning was not about astronomy or weather—it was about moral clarity. About the danger of power that loses humility, and authority that speaks of God while denying justice, truth, and human dignity.
That tension remains painfully relevant today.
Authoritarian Power and Moral Inversion
Iran presents one of the clearest modern examples of moral inversion. The country is ruled not by its people, but by a theocratic power structure dominated by clerics loyal to the Supreme Leader. This is not a faith community acting in good conscience, but a closed ruling elite that uses religious language to legitimize repression.
Institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) function as both internal enforcers and external operators, crushing dissent at home while exporting violence abroad. The regime openly funds and arms groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza—organizations that operate outside democratic norms and deliberately target civilians.
The stated goal of this alliance is ideological confrontation, particularly the destruction of Israel. Yet the human cost of this agenda is borne by ordinary people: Israeli civilians living normal lives under constant threat, Palestinians trapped between militant groups and humanitarian collapse, and above all, the Iranian population itself.
Inside Iran, protests are met with internet shutdowns, mass arrests, torture, and executions. Women are beaten or killed for defying dress codes. Journalists disappear. Students are imprisoned. Minorities are silenced. The regime that claims moral authority has shown none toward its own people.
Israel, Self-Defense, and the Collapse of the Narrative
Iran’s clerical leadership routinely labels Israel “the Great Satan.” But when words are weighed against actions, the accusation collapses. Israel, a democratic state, acts primarily in self-defense against groups that openly call for its destruction and have launched decades of rocket attacks, suicide bombings, and kidnappings.
Crucially, Israel is not targeting ordinary Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Its operations are aimed at Hamas and other militant groups responsible for terror attacks. Innocent civilians, while tragically caught in the conflict, are not the objective.
The same principle applies to Iran. If outside powers, such as the United States or Israel, intervene in Iran, their focus would be on the criminal theocratic rulers and their armed networks—the same groups that finance and coordinate terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah—not the Iranian people themselves, who suffer under the oppressive regime.
Meanwhile, the Iranian regime projects accusations of evil outward while systematically repressing its own citizens, silencing women, journalists, and students, and sponsoring violence abroad. Moral hypocrisy is evident: evil is claimed elsewhere, but practiced at home and through proxies.
Democracy vs. Theocracy
At its core, this is not merely a geopolitical struggle—it is a philosophical one.
Democracy rests on the principle that power flows from the people, that leaders are accountable, and that truth can be debated openly. A theocracy, by contrast, claims divine authority, places rulers beyond question, and treats dissent as heresy. Where democracy depends on free speech and transparency, authoritarian systems survive through censorship, fear, and isolation.
This is why free information is the greatest enemy of such regimes.
Why the Internet Terrifies Tyranny
When the Iranian regime shuts down the internet, it is not a technical decision—it is a political act of survival. Open communication exposes corruption, abuse, and lies. Free speech breaks the illusion of absolute power.
That is why the smuggling of Starlink satellite terminals into Iran matters. Backed by Elon Musk’s satellite network, this technology bypasses state-controlled infrastructure and restores a basic human freedom: connection to the outside world. Information becomes resistance.
Musk’s role here is consistent with his stated philosophy. He bought Twitter to restore what he called a digital public square, reversing bans—including that of a sitting U.S. president—on the grounds that democracy cannot function if political speech is arbitrarily silenced. While social media debates moderation, the Iranian regime cuts off an entire nation from the internet. The contrast could not be clearer. Elon Musk is a freedom champion. So is Trump.
A Timeless Warning
Jesus was not executed for promoting kindness alone. He was killed for challenging power structures that cloaked themselves in divine authority while denying truth and justice. His message threatened those who ruled through fear, hypocrisy, and control.
History keeps repeating the same lesson: regimes that silence truth in the name of righteousness ultimately condemn themselves. Power without humility corrupts. Authority without accountability collapses. And those who fear open speech reveal their own illegitimacy.
Two thousand years later, the struggle continues—but so does the truth.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shinybull.com. The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided; however, neither Shinybull.com nor the author can guarantee the accuracy of this information. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. Shinybull.com and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
Iran is entering a period of heightened political risk as economic collapse, environmental stress, and elite defection converge in ways not seen for decades. The latest wave of unrest, which began on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, has spread across more than 100 cities, evolving from local economic protest into a broader challenge to the Islamic Republic’s authority.
While demonstrations are not new in Iran, the participation of the bazaar merchant class marks a potentially decisive shift. In Iran’s modern political history, the withdrawal of support by the bazaaris has tended to occur at moments of acute regime vulnerability and has coincided with major political realignments — most notably in 1978–79.
The Bazaar as a Political Barometer
The Grand Bazaar is the backbone of Iran’s domestic economy. Its dense networks of traders, wholesalers and importers connect supply chains, liquidity and social influence across the country. Historically, bazaar merchants have not functioned as a permanent opposition force. Instead, they have acted as pragmatic political actors, aligning themselves with whichever system appeared capable of guaranteeing stability, access and predictability.
In 1979, they withdrew support from the Shah and aligned with the clerical opposition. For more than four decades thereafter, they formed part of the Islamic Republic’s core economic coalition.
That coalition now appears to be fracturing.
When bazaar merchants close their shops, the impact goes far beyond symbolism. Commercial shutdowns disrupt distribution networks, freeze working capital and send a powerful signal that confidence in the state’s economic management has eroded. In Iran’s political system, such signals matter — not because they immediately bring down governments, but because they indicate that the regime’s traditional mechanisms of consent are weakening.
Economic Breakdown as the Catalyst
The immediate driver of unrest is economic collapse.
Over the past year:
The Iranian currency has lost approximately 60 per cent of its value
Food prices have risen by around 72 per cent
Medicine costs have increased by roughly 50 per cent
Inflation is estimated to be near 50 per cent
For many households, life savings have been effectively erased. For merchants dependent on imports, business has become unviable. The government’s decision to abolish subsidised exchange rates, combined with higher taxes, has sharply increased costs while currency volatility has made price-setting nearly impossible.
Compounding the crisis is a breakdown in basic infrastructure. Water reservoirs in several regions are reportedly at critically low levels, electricity supply is unreliable, and public services are deteriorating. The state is increasingly unable to provide core public goods: water, power, food security or employment.
In practical terms, the implicit social contract between state and society has collapsed.
From Economic Stress to Political Exposure
The scale and composition of the protests suggest that this is no longer a narrow economic dispute. Demonstrations now include merchants, workers and middle-class families, while confrontations with security forces have intensified. Dozens have reportedly been killed in clashes with the Revolutionary Guard.
The government’s response has oscillated between repression and improvised economic concessions. One widely reported offer — a small monthly payment to encourage protesters to disperse — was interpreted less as relief than as an admission of fiscal exhaustion.
Externally, the regime also faces heightened geopolitical pressure. Former US president Donald Trump has publicly warned of retaliation should violence against protesters continue. While such statements should be interpreted cautiously, Tehran remains acutely aware of Washington’s capacity to escalate economic and strategic pressure.
Political Realignment and the Search for Alternatives
As confidence in the Islamic Republic erodes, political symbols long considered marginal are resurfacing. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, has declared that the current system is approaching the end of the road and has called 2026 “the year of change”.
There is no clear evidence that monarchist forces are directing the protests. But the re-emergence of such figures reflects a deeper vacuum: a growing search for legitimacy outside the clerical system itself. In moments of systemic stress, Iranian politics has historically gravitated toward realignment rather than reform.
Even within elite circles, unease is evident. Persistent reports of contingency planning by senior figures underscore the perception that the current unrest represents more than a temporary disturbance.
A Regime Under Structural Pressure
The Islamic Republic retains formidable coercive capacity, and regime change is far from inevitable. But the convergence of economic collapse, environmental stress and elite defection suggests that Iran has entered a phase of structural instability.
The withdrawal of bazaar support does not in itself determine political outcomes. Historically, however, it has signalled moments when existing power arrangements were no longer sustainable.
Iran may now be approaching such a moment.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shinybull.com. The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided; however, neither Shinybull.com nor the author can guarantee the accuracy of this information. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. Shinybull.com and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
People are angry, and that’s why they voted for Mamdani as the next Mayor of New York. People are sick and tired of struggling to make ends meet. In his victory speech, Mamdani said:
“We choose hope over tyranny. Hope over big money and small ideas. Hope over despair. Tonight, we have stepped out from the old into the new.”
His supporters are already marching in the streets, saying they don’t want Trump as a king or a dictator.
Hmm… I think I’ve heard this before.
More than two thousand years ago, in Rome, another man was accused of wanting to be king. His name was Julius Caesar.
A group of Roman senators assassinated Caesar out of fear that his growing power and titles, especially dictator for life, would destroy the Roman Republic. They claimed they were saving democracy, but their actions plunged Rome into chaos and civil war.
It was a betrayal that changed history, and a reminder of how fear, power, and instability often go hand in hand.
History Repeats Itself
Fast forward to France, 1848. The people were exhausted. Food prices were soaring, unemployment was rising, and inequality had reached unbearable levels. King Louis Philippe I, once known as the Citizen King, had promised a fairer, more modern France. But over time, his government became detached from ordinary people’s struggles.
One of the main sources of anger was the tax system. The poor and working class bore a heavy burden through indirect taxes on essentials like food, salt, and fuel, while wealthy landowners and property owners paid relatively little. Voting rights were also tied to property ownership, meaning most citizens had no political voice. When food prices spiked in the late 1840s, ordinary people were paying high taxes on top of already expensive necessities. Economic frustration reached a tipping point.
People in New York voted for Mamdani, who wants to raise taxes and, at the same time, give people fast and free buses. How is that going to be?
When protests erupted in February 1848, the king tried to silence them. Instead, the anger exploded. Barricades filled the streets of Paris, and after just a few bloody days, Louis Philippe abdicated the throne and fled to England in disguise.
The monarchy collapsed. The Second Republic was born. But what came next? A new leader. Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon I, rose to power, promising to restore stability and hope. Within four years, he declared himself Emperor.
Sound familiar?
It’s the same old story: people rise up against a system they believe is unjust, only to end up under a new one that looks strangely similar. Each era has its slogans: “liberty,” “hope,” “change,” “the people’s revolution”, yet the same problems remain. Prices go up. Ordinary citizens struggle. The rich adapt and survive.
Take a look at France today with its Yellow Vest protesters. People are struggling with their cost of living. I wrote an article about that for the first time, many years ago. And who is to blame now? The King? Napoleon? No, it`s Macron.
So, Why Are Prices Rising Again?
The cost of living has become the defining issue of our time. Food, housing, and energy prices are rising faster than wages. Families feel squeezed, not just in New York or Paris, but across the Western world.
But who is to blame?
It’s tempting to point the finger at politicians, corporations, or billionaires. Yet the truth is more complex. The problem isn’t one person. It’s the system itself.
A mix of factors drives today’s inflation:
Global supply chain disruptions from the pandemic and wars.
Energy shocks as the world shifts away from fossil fuels.
Corporate pricing power in markets where competition has shrunk.
Decades of easy money and debt have inflated asset prices but left wages behind.
Governments print money to stimulate the economy, corporations raise prices to protect profits, and central banks hike interest rates to cool inflation, all while ordinary people pay the price.
It’s a cycle that keeps repeating, no matter the century. In ancient Rome, it was grain shortages. In 1848, in France, it was bread and taxes. Today, it’s rent and electricity.
The Real Lesson
Historically, when people struggle, they often look for someone to blame, such as a king, a tyrant, or a president. Get rid of Trump, and everything will be fine. Get rid of Macron, and the sun will shine. They think removing the person will fix the system. But as history shows us, that rarely works.
Trump isn’t the cause of America’s problems. He’s a symptom of them. Just as Caesar wasn’t the reason Rome was collapsing, but rather the outcome of deep divisions and economic inequality that had built up for years.
When the cost of living becomes unbearable, people revolt. Sometimes at the ballot box, sometimes in the streets.
But unless we learn from history, each “revolution” just sets the stage for the next crisis.
In the end, it’s not about kings or dictators. It’s about systems. And if we don’t fix the system, the anger, fear, and struggle will continue. Just as it has for more than 2,000 years.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Shinybull.com. The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided; however, neither Shinybull.com nor the author can guarantee the accuracy of this information. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. Shinybull.com and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
Ket Garden
Shiny bull 