After World War II, the Allies decided that leaders of the Nazi regime must be put on trial for the atrocities they committed. These trials ran from November 1945 to April 1949, beginning with the most high-ranking members of the Nazi leadership. From December 1946 onward, the subsequent Nuremberg trials were held by the different Allies in their own zones of occupation. Believing it was important to hold perpetrators of war crimes and the Holocaust responsible and dissuade future regimes from committing similar crimes without fear of prosecution, the United States put 177 former Nazis on trial, ranging from SS officers to generals to industrialists. Today, the concept of international justice remains prevalent, especially in regard to the Russo-Ukrainian War.   Setting the Stage: Failure of the League of Nations A letter from German foreign minister Konstantin Freiherr von Neurath terminating Germany’s membership in the League of Nations in October 1933. Source: Library of Congress   The horrors of World War I sparked a wave of idealism among some of the victors, especially US President Woodrow Wilson. These idealists wanted to prevent such a war from occurring again, and set out to create a new international order to promote peace and justice. Wilson’s proposals at the Paris Peace Conference ended up creating the League of Nations, although the US Senate refused to allow America to join. Briefly, it appeared that an international coalition could prevent large-scale wars by applying diplomatic and economic pressure to aggressor states.   Unfortunately, few members of the League wanted to use their own resources to confront aggressor states. Also, nations that were condemned of aggression by the League, such as Germany, Italy, and Japan (the future Axis Powers of World War II), simply left the organization. By the late 1930s, it was clear that the League of Nations had failed in its mission to prevent wars – Italy had seized Ethiopia, and Japan was conquering swaths of China. By the end of 1941, much of the Northern Hemisphere was engulfed in a massive, industrialized war.   Setting the Stage: Nazi War Crimes German troops near Malmedy, Belgium during the Battle of Bulge. The massacre of American prisoners of war on December 17, 1944 later resulted in trials. Source: New Hampshire PBS   In Europe, the Allies faced off against Nazi Germany. German troops, particularly the Waffen SS, were notorious for war crimes committed against surrendering Allied troops, especially those from the Soviet Union. The first large-scale war crimes committed by Germans occurred in captured areas of the Soviet Union in the summer and autumn of 1941. After the US invasion of France in June 1944, the large number of US forces fighting German troops meant that war crimes were committed against Americans as well. The most infamous instance of war crimes committed against US troops occurred during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.   With Allied troops having pushed almost all Germans out of France and back into Germany itself, dictator Adolf Hitler urged a massive counteroffensive. On December 17, one day into the Ardennes Offensive (another name for the Battle of the Bulge), SS troops under the command of Joachim Peiper surprised an American column and captured about 130 soldiers. After taking the American soldiers’ valuables, the SS troops opened fire with machine guns, killing 84. This massacre, near Malmedy, Belgium, quickly became known as the Malmedy Massacre and one of the Nazis’ worst war crimes against Americans.   Setting the Stage: Discovering the Holocaust American generals viewing a crematorial pyre at a concentration camp, used to burn bodies of victims of the SS. Source: National World War II Museum – New Orleans   Shortly after the Germans’ unsuccessful Ardennes Offensive, Americans resumed their push into Germany. Allied troops from both the west (Britain, Canada, and the US) and east (Soviet Union) quickly discovered the horrific concentration camps that had been systematically killing Jews, Roma, Sinti, homosexuals, and political prisoners since before the war began. Although many commanders of the camps fled before they could be captured, the Allies began investigating the perpetrators of the Holocaust.   Fortunately for investigators, the Nazis had kept records of prisoners and camp activities. This provided evidence of the scale of the atrocities committed, including the mass seizure of valuables owned by Jewish families. Modern technology, including video cameras, allowed Allied liberators of camps to thoroughly document what they discovered. Unlike previous wars, the forced seizure of most German territory allowed the Allies to document the atrocities committed against civilians. Many demanded justice for the horrors that had been inflicted.   May 1945: Surrender of Nazi Germany Nazi leaders surrendering unconditionally in May 1945, ending World War II in Europe and setting the stage for prosecution of war criminals. Source: National World War II Museum   On April 30, 1945, German dictator Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker underneath the capital city of Berlin. One week later, his successor, Admiral Karl Doenitz, surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. The next day, May 8, Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) was proclaimed; World War II in Europe was over. Unfortunately, the rebuilding of Europe would be a long and arduous process. Much of France, Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe was in ruins. However, unconditional surrender gave the Allies unprecedented control in rebuilding Europe and restructuring the defeated nation of Germany.   This restructuring included holding Nazis accountable for the horrors of their war of aggression. Unconditional surrender meant that no immunity would be given to former leaders of Nazi Germany. Wars that ended in armistices, however, often left military and civilian leaders of defeated nations untouched. Colonies and territory might be seized and reparations paid, but generals and political figures remained sovereign citizens and would not be handed over for trial. The unconditional surrender signed by Germany gave the Allies the legal authority to arrest and put on trial the former cronies of Adolf Hitler.   The Nuremberg Trials Begin Hermann Goering, former leader of the German Luftwaffe (air force) and onetime planned successor of dictator Adolf Hitler, sits on trial at Nuremberg. Source: WGBH Educational Foundation   Quickly, the Allies arrested the top figures of the former Nazi regime. Although some had committed suicide during or shortly after the fall of Berlin, many were apprehended. The International Military Tribunal (IMT) was created on August 8, 1945, to run the trials. It was important for the world and the German people to see that fair justice was being conducted. Fair trials would make the Allies seem more trustworthy and, therefore, discourage rogue states from launching future wars of aggression.   The IMT trials in Europe began on November 20, 1945 in Nuremberg, Germany, thus giving them the name Nuremberg Trials. Simultaneously, the IMT also held trials in Tokyo to hold the leaders of imperial Japan accountable, known as the Tokyo War Crimes Trials. In Nuremberg, twenty-four high-ranking Nazis were placed on trial, though two committed suicide before the hearings began. On October 1, 1946, the trial concluded and found nineteen of the defendants guilty of waging a war of aggression and perpetrating crimes of humanity (the Holocaust) against civilians.   Nuremberg Trials Conducted by the United States A US Army sergeant testifying at the Malmedy Massacre trial in 1946, with SS defendants seated behind him wearing numbers. Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington DC   While the top Nazis had been tried in court, many wondered if the mid-ranking officers who had physically carried out their orders would also be held accountable. Many, including those at the original Nuremberg Trials, tried to use the defense that they were “just following orders.” This became known as the Nuremberg defense, which prosecutors rejected. It was quickly established that officers should have refused to carry out orders they knew to be illegal. The United States conducted twelve major hearings against lower-ranking Nazis beginning in 1946.   A defendant in one of the subsequent Nuremberg Trials (1947-49), in which industrialists and other non-political figures from Nazi Germany were charged. Source: Foundation Hirondelle   These subsequent Nuremberg trials, held in the US zone of occupied Germany, included trying both war crimes against US troops and atrocities committed during the Holocaust. A separate trial, not directly included in the twelve hearings of the subsequent Nuremberg trials but known as the Dachau trials, involved the trying of seventy-four captured members of the 1st SS panzer regiment led by Joachim Peiper.   In the summer of 1946, these men were placed on trial, and all were convicted. Later, however, the death sentences handed out to many of the men were commuted to life imprisonment. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the sentences of many Nazis convicted in the Nuremberg trials were reduced as Germany was re-integrated into Western Europe (and was seen as a necessary ally against the Soviet Union).   Controversies of the Nuremberg Trials Mass rallies during the 1930s showed the strong conformism trends encouraged by the Nazi Party in Germany. Source: National Public Radio (NPR)   Although few people had any sympathy for Hitler’s cronies, there was some concern about how fairly and accurately rank-and-file field officers, such as captains and below, could be held accountable due to the fog of war. Some critics argued that the trials had predetermined outcomes and were an example of victors’ justice or akin to the Moscow show trials of the 1930s. Indeed, some Allied units had committed war crimes against surrendering Germans. At one of the Dachau trials, German commando leader Otto Skorzeny was acquitted on the charge of espionage for having his men wear American uniforms in combat after it was revealed that Allied commandos sometimes wore German uniforms as well.   A second controversy about trying lower-ranked officers stemmed from psychology and sociology. In the early 1960s, the Milgram experiments indicated that most individuals would commit illegal actions when faced with applied pressure from authority figures. This reinforced the findings of the Asch conformity experiments a decade earlier, which found that many people would knowingly give incorrect answers in order to “fit in” with a larger group. Ten years after the Milgram experiments, the Stanford Prison Experiment revealed that most people were highly susceptible to changing their behavior, even radically, to fit within a new role, such as prison guard, police officer, or soldier.   Controversial: Operation Paperclip Photographs of the launch of a German V2 rocket, a super-weapon made late in World War II with the use of slave labor. Source: NPR   As Nazi Germany was crumbling, the Allies were eager to get their hands on German scientists and engineers who had successfully created super-weapons like the Me-262 jet fighter, the Me-163 rocket fighter, and the V-2 rocket. Operation Paperclip was an American effort to recruit German scientists to come work in the United States…even high-ranking Nazis. Some of these German scientists and engineers had used concentration camp labor to build their weapons, and the US government allegedly “sanitized” the records of these men to fit within acceptable parameters to allow them to escape prosecution and immigrate to the United States.   Most famously, many former Nazis ended up working in aeronautics in the United States, with V-2 rocket creator Wernher von Braun being credited with helping the US win the space race to the moon. The V-2 rocket and its smaller cousin, the V-1 buzz bomb, were both manufactured using slave labor. Of 60,000 forced laborers on the V projects, up to 20,000 perished before the end of the war. Slave labor was also used to make some parts for the Me-262 jet fighter, for which industrialist Willy Messerschmitt was placed on trial.   Aftermath: International Justice Today A photograph of the International Criminal Court in 2013, which tries those accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Source: Brookings Institution   Despite high hopes, international justice was not applied frequently after the International Military Tribunals following World War II. Not until 1993, following the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, did the International Criminal Court see usage. When the formerly communist state collapsed in the early 1990s, a devastating civil war wracked the country, and horrible atrocities were committed against civilians, including ethnic cleansing.   Most famously, former Serbian president Slobodan Milošević was tried in the International Criminal Court from 2002 until his death in March 2006. In 2001, Milosevic had been handed over to the Court, held in The Hague, Netherlands (giving the ICC the nickname The Hague), almost two years after being indicted. This was considered a major victory for international justice and the first time a former head of state had been handed over by his own country to be tried and sentenced by the international community. Since Milosevic, several others have been tried and sentenced, mostly from Africa and the Middle East.   Aftermath: Is International Justice Selective? A map showing which nations recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today, with the United States not a signatory. Source: ICC and Statista   Despite the continued use of the International Criminal Court since 1993, many world powers refuse to recognize its jurisdiction over their own citizens. This includes the United States, Russia, and China. This represents what critics call a double standard of international justice: world powers are eager for it to be used against accused war criminals from poorer countries but do not accept it for their own citizens. For example, the US supported the ICC during its trials of alleged war criminals from Yugoslavia but later withdrew its support. This is in line with a trend of many nations supporting the United Nations (UN) when UN resolutions and policies benefit them but then criticizing the UN when its policies are less favorable.   Currently, the ICC is involved with the war of aggression being waged by Russia against Ukraine. Most nations support Ukraine and want Russia’s leader, President Vladimir Putin, to be held accountable for invading a sovereign state. Although it is unlikely that Putin will ever be arrested and transferred to The Hague, proponents of international justice want more nations to ratify treaties accepting its jurisdiction so that Putin is further restricted on where he can travel. If the Russian president travels to a nation that accepts ICC jurisdiction, he may be arrested and handed over to the Court.

  The Emperor of China stood at the apex of the Chinese social order. Regardless of which dynasty was in power, the emperorship was almost a constant for over 2,000 years of Chinese history. He possessed both worldly and spiritual importance; it was his job to govern China in accordance with the rule of the universe.   Imperial political theorists and religious figures devised a complex ideology to determine why an emperor had the right to rule: the Mandate of Heaven. The Chinese emperor had command over everything—but as we will soon explore, he had potentially everything to lose as well.   When Did the Mandate of Heaven Develop? Bronze vessel in a tiger design, Zhou dynasty, Source: National Museum of Asian Art   The Mandate of Heaven is an ancient concept in Chinese culture. Historians believe it was first formulated during the Zhou dynasty (c. 1046-256 BCE). The Zhou kings devised the theory in order to explain and justify their rebellion against the previous Shang dynasty. The Shang rulers, they reasoned, had fallen out of favor with the divine order, and could therefore be replaced.   Later dynasties developed the Mandate of Heaven doctrine further. Its importance to Chinese political thought changed over time, playing a much more central role in some dynasties than others. However, it persisted as imperial ideology for more than 2,500 years.   What Was Heaven in Chinese Theology? Painting illustrating the Chinese pantheon of gods and spirits, Qing Dynasty, Source: Hunan Museum   Chinese religious culture is unique among the world’s spiritual systems. The Chinese people have revered countless deities over the millennia, but none of them ever completely superseded the others. The concept of “Heaven” in Chinese religion is also entirely different from Heaven in the Abrahamic religions.   The Chinese word for Heaven is Tian. It usually refers to something beyond the scope of  ancestors and elemental gods—the very order of the universe. It is impersonal, lacking a defined shape or human-like attributes. Some historical Chinese thinkers associated Tian with the concept of Shangdi (the highest spiritual ruler), but this was not always the case. More often, Tian meant the balance of the cosmos.   Inscription on a ritual vessel, Western Zhou period, the two characters highlighted in red translate to Tianzi (Son of Heaven), Source: Wikimedia Commons   Chinese dynasties upheld a doctrine which described the emperor as the Son of Heaven. Emperors were effectively demigod figures; it was the people’s duty to obey and revere them, as they would local gods or their own parents. The Japanese would develop a similar concept later surrounding their own emperors. In Japan, though, the imperial family claimed direct divine origin. This was a step beyond the Chinese Mandate of Heaven.   Who Could Hold the Mandate? Official portrait of Emperor Yingzong, hanging scroll format, Ming dynasty, Source: National Palace Museum, Taipei   The question of who could legitimately hold the Mandate of Heaven kept Chinese philosophers up at night. But put most directly, only one ruler could claim the Mandate of Heaven at any particular time. If another leader outside the upper echelons of power contested the emperor’s legitimacy, they would be dealt with severely. The emperor’s family would then hold the Mandate until the universe decided their time was up.   No dynasty had the divine right to rule for all eternity. A dynasty’s founding emperor also didn’t have to come from a noble background, unlike in countries such as Japan or France. Some of China’s best-known emperors actually came from ordinary backgrounds. The Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming Dynasty in 1368, was the son of farmers.   Woodblock print illustrating the effects of the North China Famine of 1876-1879, Source: DisasterHistory.org   If an emperor failed to serve his people justly or uphold the proper rituals, he risked losing the Mandate of Heaven. The Chinese viewed natural disasters, epidemics of disease, famines, and wars as possible signs that a dynasty had lost the Mandate. If any of these were to occur, it became legitimate to rebel against the ruling dynasty and restore the natural and social order.   Revolution and the Change of Dynasties Early photograph of a Chinese gate, dated from the Han dynasty, 1875, Source: Library of Congress   The downfall of an imperial dynasty represented a monumental shift in Chinese history. In general, the major dynasties after the Qin and Han eras seem to have tried to maintain some ideological continuity with China’s past. At the same time, they established themselves as supreme, often by destroying the records and monuments of their predecessors. Yet every dynasty after the Zhou rooted their legitimacy in the Mandate of Heaven doctrine. This included dynasties of non-ethnic Chinese origin, such as the Yuan and Qing.   Garden of Pleasure, by Tang Yifen, 1848, handscroll, Source: The British Museum   The Qing Dynasty’s take on the Mandate of Heaven represents an especially intriguing case study. When this ethnically Manchu clan seized power in the mid-17th century, they didn’t do so from the previous Ming Dynasty itself. They actually took the Mandate from Han Chinese rebels who had brought the Ming down.   These rebels had been motivated by the Ming emperors’ inadequate response to frequent natural disasters and poverty. The Manchus exploited divisions among the insurgent factions to forge powerful alliances. In 1644, they and their Han Chinese allies conquered Beijing. The Mandate of Heaven had passed on to the Manchu Aisin Gioro Clan, they claimed.   The new Qing Dynasty had to carry out a difficult balancing act. As members of an ethnic minority, the Manchu emperors were aware of their status as outsiders. Yet they combined their drive to maintain their cultural distinctiveness with efforts to adopt Chinese cultural practices and terminology. Claiming to rule China under the Mandate of Heaven was the most straightforward path to political legitimacy.   The Confucian Twist on the Mandate Posthumous idealized portrait of Confucius, 18th century, Source: National Geographic   During the Zhou Dynasty, China witnessed the birth of the Confucian tradition. With its emphasis on individual and collective morality and relationships, Confucian thought remains one of China’s greatest intellectual contributions to the human experience. As it developed over time, it commingled with the older doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven.   Confucian philosophy dealt significantly with statecraft, more so than Daoism and other Chinese schools of thought did. After all, the sage Confucius himself had attempted to forge a career in politics. He did become an advisor to several local rulers, but his grand political ambitions didn’t play out the way he wanted them to. Still, Confucius never relinquished the value he placed on proper political conduct.   A funerary urn from the Western Jin dynasty, 3rd or 4th century, Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art   Confucian ideals of proper political conduct frequently merged the spiritual and the worldly. The sage and his immediate followers weren’t especially concerned with the worship of gods, but they did believe in upholding specific rituals. Maintaining practices like the veneration of ancestors, for example, was essential for a moral society. Rituals did honor the divine, but more importantly, they upheld communal unity. The idea of an impersonal Heaven—a cosmic order based on a hierarchy of relationships and interpersonal obligations—meshed well with Confucius’ teachings.   The Mandate of Heaven and Non-Chinese Traditions Catholic Jesuit missionaries working with Chinese astronomers, 18th century, Source: China Underground   Confucian thought dominated the intellectual environment of imperial China. Yet throughout Chinese history, different belief and ritual systems have tended to blend together rather than stay strictly apart. Thus, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucian philosophy intermingled and came to share the concept of the Mandate of Heaven. This occurred to a smaller degree with non-Chinese religions as well.   Take the example of Chinese Christianity. When Catholic Jesuit missionaries started to arrive in China in the late 16th century, they tried to set up a new religion in an already complex spiritual stew. Chinese converts to Christianity were well aware of the theological gaps between their own ancestral traditions and the Catholic Church’s exclusive monotheism. So they sought to find a rationale for the two cultures’ compatibility.   Illustration of Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi, c. 1670, Source: Wikimedia Commons   One Chinese Christian convert, the scholar Li Zhizao, believed that Chinese Confucians, Daoists, and Buddhists failed to understand the true nature of Heaven. Li had met Matteo Ricci, the Italian Jesuit priest who led the Church’s earliest Chinese missions and accepted Christian baptism. According to Li’s beliefs, the Catholic doctrine of God completed the Chinese concept of Heaven: “In explaining Heaven, no book excels the Classic of Changes, the source of our written characters. It says that the primal power (Qianyuan) that governs Heaven is the king and father of all” (De Bary et. al., 2000).   Notice Li’s effort to complement the impersonal Heaven with a personal creator. His citation of the Confucian Classic of Changes is deliberate, firmly rooting his thought in classical Chinese philosophy and practice. Other Confucian scholars of his time, he argued, were familiar with the Mandate of Heaven and the nature of the cosmos, but ordinary Chinese people were not. Li effectively endorses the Jesuits’ missionary presence, urging the Chinese to investigate conversion to Catholicism. In Li Zhizao’s mind, Confucian thought still held great wisdom and value to Chinese culture, but its understanding of the divine was incomplete.   How Did the Mandate of Heaven Shape Chinese History? The Temple of Heaven complex in Beijing, Ming dynasty, Source: The Review of Religions   As an ideology, the Mandate of Heaven guided Chinese statecraft during the expansive imperial era. Much like the divine right of kings in Europe, the Mandate of Heaven bestowed upon the Emperor of China a religious function. His rule was natural law. However, at least theoretically, the ruling dynasty’s power was not completely absolute. Acting too harshly toward the people or standing down in the face of natural disasters could spell the end of a dynasty. A new one could then rise up and claim the Mandate of Heaven.   The enduring legacy of Confucian ideology continues to define Chinese (and greater East Asian) culture. Today, China’s Communist government no longer bases its legitimacy on the Mandate of Heaven. The emperors of old are long gone. However, the Mandate was hugely influential for Chinese political philosophy for more than two thousand years. It underpinned powerful dynasties and merged the secular and the sacred in a unique way.

This is an update to a story I first brought you about 3 weeks ago… Here is my original report: YOTTA: Is This The Next “Bank” To Go Under? In that report, I wrote the following: Not only are the accounts locked, but users are unable to withdraw any of their cash. A total nightmare scenario. The company is claiming it's a problem between two "middlemen providers" but it's extremely concerning whenever you can't get your money out of a bank -- or "savings app". And I am absolutely not claiming they are insolvent or going under -- in fact, they claim they are not -- but I will say this.....I saw the very same thing happen right before crypto brokerage Celsius went under. I was actually live-tweeting and covering the story as it happened. They announced a "glitch" with withdrawals and I immediately advised everyone to transfer their funds off the platform. The company claimed all was safe and all was good, and then just hours later they had collapsed. Is the same scenario happening here? I don't know. I hope not. Sadly, it looks as though my initial gut reaction was right.... Where there's smoke there's often fire and this did not look or smell right from the very beginning. And while they're not yet officially calling this a "bank collapse" yet, CNBC reports that $109 million in customer deposits have "vanished". My experience in life has been once that happens, they don't usually ever come back. What a horrific story. As this story continues to evolve (pun intended), I’m left wondering if it’ll become the face of #BaaS. Nearly $109 million in deposits held for fintech Yotta’s customers vanished in Synapse collapse, bank says https://t.co/WzaL1bE3Y9#FinTech #FinServ #Banking — Alex Jiménez (@RAlexJimenez) June 22, 2024 Here's more, from CNBC: Ledgers of the failed fintech middleman Synapse show that nearly all the deposits held for customers of the banking app Yotta went missing weeks ago, according to one of the lenders involved. A network of eight banks held $109 million in deposits for Yotta customers as of April 11, Evolve Bank & Trust said in a bankruptcy court letter filed late Thursday. About one month later, the ledger showed just $1.4 million in Yotta funds held at one of the banks, Evolve said. It added that neither customers nor Evolve received funds in that time period. “These irregularities in Synapse’s ledgering of Yotta end user funds are just one example of the many discrepancies that Evolve has observed,” the bank said. “A detailed investigation of what happened to these funds, or alternatively, why the Synapse-provided ledger reflected money movement that did not actually occur, must be undertaken.” Evolve, one of the key players in a deepening predicament that has left more than 100,000 fintech customers locked out of their bank accounts since May 11, has been attempting to piece together with other banks a record of who is owed what. Its former partner Synapse, which connected customer-facing fintech apps to FDIC-backed banks, filed for bankruptcy in April amid disputes about customer balances. But Evolve itself was reprimanded by the Federal Reserve last week for failing to properly manage its fintech partnerships. The regulator noted that Evolve “engaged in unsafe and unsound banking practices” and forced the bank to improve oversight of its fintech program. The Fed said the enforcement action was separate from the Synapse bankruptcy. Yotta CEO and co-founder Adam Moelis said in response to this article that Synapse has said in court filings that Evolve held nearly all Yotta customers deposits. Evolve and Synapse disagree over who holds the funds and who is responsible for the frozen accounts. “According to the Synapse trial balance report provided on May 17, there are $112 million of customer funds held at Evolve,” Moelis said. Evolve, which is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee-based, had this statement late Friday: “We believe that a meticulous forensic accounting investigation will reveal that these purported funds are not, and were not, in Evolve’s possession, contrary to Synapse’s claims,” a spokesman told CNBC. “Evolve will continue cooperating with the Trustee and other banks to perform reconciliation and determine the most appropriate path forward for any funds actually held at Evolve.” More here: Over 100M In deposits vanished from accounts held in #yotta bank. The fintech industry is being rocked as the Synapse collapse gets worse. pic.twitter.com/rra0usTOHX — Economic Ninja (@economyninja) June 22, 2024 Whether or not this ends up being a "bank failure" or not, there is a reason why I keep warning you that a major run on the banks is coming. Stay on guard. And get your money out of the banks if you're worried about this type of stuff! JUST IN: Billionaire Real Estate Investor Barry Sternlicht Expects One Bank Failure PER WEEK! JUST IN: Billionaire Real Estate Investor Barry Sternlicht Expects One Bank Failure PER WEEK! Last year we had 6 fairly large banks FAIL in the United States. Unprecedented at least in my recollection in recent years. But I kept telling you it was NOT over. Then a few weeks ago this happened: BREAKING NEW BANK FAILURE: Republic First Bank Collapses, Seized By Regulators And through it all I continue to warn you....something much bigger and much worse is coming. I sure hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am. In fact, I continue to see things getting worse at an accelerated pace. But who cares what I think....I'm just a reporter.  Your humble correspondent! What you should care about, however, is what Barry Sternlicht thinks. Do you know who that is? Sternlicht is an American billionare and real estate expert: Barry Sternlicht, born on November 27, 1960, in New York City, is a renowned American billionaire and the co-founder (with Bob Faith), chairman, and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, a prominent investment fund managing over $100 billion in assets. He also holds the position of chairman of Starwood Property Trust. Sternlicht's professional journey began in 1991 when he co-founded Starwood Capital Group with Bob Faith, and he later founded the W hotel chain and Starwood Property Trust, one of the largest commercial mortgage REITs. In 1995, he became the chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide until 2005. Throughout his career, Barry Sternlicht has been recognized for his significant contributions to the hospitality industry, real estate markets, and the global business community. He was named the Cornell Icon of the Industry in 2015, a prestigious honor acknowledging his leadership and innovation within the hospitality sector. Additionally, in 2010, Sternlicht was awarded both the "Executive of the Year" and "Investor of the Year" titles by Commercial Property Executive, highlighting his remarkable achievements in real estate investment and management. Sternlicht has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including serving on the board of directors for the Robin Hood Foundation and the Dreamland Community Theatre. His commitment to giving back extends to his alma mater, Brown University, where he has been a trustee. In terms of market predictions and business acumen, Sternlicht has demonstrated a keen understanding of economic trends and investment opportunities. He has successfully navigated multiple economic downturns and has been instrumental in the growth and development of his companies. His ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities has earned him a reputation as a savvy investor and a leader in the real estate and hospitality industries. And here's what he's saying RIGHT NOW: Billionaire real estate investor Barry Sternlicht says he expects at least one bank failure per week. pic.twitter.com/yVZtsFBCZF — Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) May 10, 2024 Here are more details, from my friends over at Watcher.Guru: Billionaire real estate investor and CEO of Starwood Capital, Barry Sternlicht, has recently stated his expectation of one bank failure per week in the United States. Indeed, Sternlicht expressed his concern regarding more than 4,000 banks in the US amid the ongoing pressure of interest rates and inflation. Sternlicht noted that community and regional banks could be in for a treacherous time amid a host of macroeconomic factors. Subsequently, he noted that a regional bank could fail “every week, maybe two a week” in a recent interview with CNBC. Throughout the year, the United States has been navigating an economy of increased frailty. Indeed, the Federal Reserve had enacted a two-year tightening campaign, increasing interest rates to combat high inflation. Now, the Central Bank has yet to cut rates, with many projecting dangers for the economy as a result. One of them is billionaire real estate investor Barry Sternlicht, who expects one bank failure per week. Speaking to CNBC, the co-founder of the $115 billion Starwood Capital Group shared his grim prognosis for the current state of interest rates and their effect on smaller banks. “I think people are looking for these cracks, and you’re going to see the crack develop now,” Sternlicht said. “You’re going to see a regional bank fail every day, or not—every week, maybe two a week,” he added. At least one, maybe TWO, bank failures every week! Hello folks! I hope you're paying attention and I hope you're taking action to protect yourself and your family. That's why I publish these articles, to sound the alarm and give you as much advanced warning as possible. And it all lines up with what I've been telling you about.... Like this: Grant Cardone: “There Are Gonna Be 100 Bank Failures In This Country…” And this: Audit Reveals 282 U.S. Banks Are In Danger Of Failing Ok, so is it all DOOM and GLOOM? What can you do about it? Keep reading and I'll tell you! Peter Schiff: "Gold is going to be revalued MUCH higher than it is..." I've been telling you that you might want to get some GOLD for a while now... I'm not a financial advisor, I'm just your humble reporter. But someone who's much smarter than me and is a professional money manager just said something that you have to see. That would be Peter Schiff and he just said on MeetKevin's podcast that Gold is about to be revalued MUCH higher! Oh, and Patrick Bet-David loves gold too! Check this out: Peter Schiff: "Gold is going to be revalued MUCH higher than it is..."#GotGold ?@digitalassetbuy @DigPerspectives @realMeetKevin @PeterSchiff READ THIS: https://t.co/8SfgaIbPgF pic.twitter.com/vmTuHQcAEY — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) February 8, 2024 Here is a dedicated video player if this is easier for you to see: Peter Schiff: "Gold is going to be revalued MUCH higher than it is..."#GotGold ?@digitalassetbuy @DigPerspectives @realMeetKevin @PeterSchiff READ THIS: https://t.co/8SfgaIbPgF pic.twitter.com/vmTuHQcAEY — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) February 8, 2024 You can watch the entire interview right here if you like: Two VERY smart guys, Peter Schiff and Patrick Bet-David. Here's more on Schiff if you don't know much about him: Peter Schiff is an accomplished American economist, financial broker, author, and stock market commentator with a significant influence in finance and investment circles. Schiff is the CEO and chief global strategist of Euro Pacific Capital Inc., a brokerage firm founded in 1996, focused on international markets and securities. He has successfully expanded the firm's operations over the years, demonstrating his acumen in identifying growth opportunities and his expertise in global financial markets. One of Schiff's major accomplishments is his prescient call on the 2008 financial crisis. He gained widespread recognition for his predictions of the housing market bubble and the ensuing financial crisis, which were made well before they occurred. His accurate forecast of these events earned him a reputation as a savvy investor and a keen observer of economic trends. Schiff's warnings about the dangers of excessive debt and speculative bubbles have been validated by market events, reinforcing his status as a forward-thinking economist. In addition to his financial career, Peter Schiff is an accomplished author, having written several books on economics and investing. His works, including "Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse," have been critically acclaimed for their insightful analysis and practical advice on safeguarding investments against economic downturns. Schiff's ability to break down complex economic concepts into accessible language has made his books popular among both novice and experienced investors. Schiff has been a vocal advocate for sound money and fiscal conservatism, often appearing on financial news networks to share his views. His advocacy for gold as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation has influenced many investors' strategies. Despite his sometimes controversial opinions, Schiff's expertise and deep understanding of economic principles have earned him respect in the investment community. Speaking of Gold being revalued in the future, we first told you about that three months ago: “Gold Revaluation” Incoming? Price Could Be $10,000-60,000 Per Ounce! "Gold Revaluation" Incoming? Price Could Be $10,000-60,000 Per Ounce! One of the worst things our country ever did was to allow the Central Bankers to take of off the Gold Standard... But it was the best thing to happen to the corrupt bankers, as they printed money to infinity and got filthy rich! But....are they getting ready to flip the script on the public once again? As the system they have completely destroyed through unlimited money printing is set to collapse, I'm seeing reports that they might be ready to go BACK to a Gold Standard. Crazy right? I have to show you this short 2 minute video from the Black Swan Capitalist who perfectly nails this. And then keep reading for a solution YOU can implement right now to keep you and your family safe!  And one way you can do it with NO MONEY OUT OF POCKET!  Yes, really.... He says not only is the plan in place, but simulations have been run and if and when that happens it would result in a necessary gold price of anywhere from $10,000 to $60,000 per ounce! For those not great at math, from today's price of $1,955 that would be anywhere from a 400% to a 2,900%+ gain! Wow! But not only that but there was one line that jumped out at me.... He said, quote:  "Those who put their money in gold and silver will be just fine and make incredible gains, meanwhile those who trusted the Government and kept their money in US Dollars will be utterly wiped out." That rung very true to me. When has "trusting the Government" ever paid off? This is EXACTLY the kind of thing they would do, and revel in it! It's Ronald Reagan's famous quote: So with that in mind, watch this clip and understand what might be JUST around the corner.... Central #banks have been quietly buying #gold in preparation for a gold revaluation, which sets the stage for a new reserve currency They've also partnered with #Ripple so they can #tokenize those reseve assets on the #blockchain where #XRP will play a key role in achieving this pic.twitter.com/4k793CNvD0 — Black Swan Capitalist (@VersanAljarrah) November 7, 2023 Backup here if needed: OH MY.... So the question is, how do you set something up that takes the credit card away, but still allows governments to function? And if we went back to a gold standard, we'd have to do something like back the world's currencies with gold at a certain ratio that was clear… pic.twitter.com/Dul6Kqr8OG — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) February 8, 2024 Ok so how can you get gold with NO MONEY OUT OF POCKET?  Read below... The ONLY Two Gold Companies I Am Proud To Partner With We mostly cover politics here, but politics affects the economy and the economy affects...YOU and ME!  And our pocketbooks. Big league. So in the midst of covering politics, we also cover money from time to time...and while I'm not a financial advisor, I share what I'm learning in the hopes that it can help you and keep you and your family safe. And that often leads me to covering Gold and Silver. You know, what they have always called "God's Money". He made it, they aren't making any more of it, and it has always been highly valued as money from the beginning of time until now. So I'm a big fan and I think it has the potential to do big things if, say, the U.S. Dollar were to suddenly collapse. So that's why I talk about it and why I want to make sure everyone protects themselves and your families. So to answer the question of "what can I do?" it's really quite simple: you need to get some #Gold or #Silver in your own possession. It's called "physical" gold and silver. Not paper traded garbage on the stock exchanges that isn't backed by anything. Don't touch that stuff. And because I get asked so much how to buy it and what the best places are, I thought I would publish this and just get it out there for all to have.... I have two special hook-ups for you and these are the ONLY two companies I am proud to partner up with on Gold and Silver. Both involve PHYSICAL gold and silver. Because if you do NOTHING else, make sure you own "physical" gold and silver, not paper contracts. The paper contracts (like stock ticker SLV and GLD) could very well go POOF one day and disappear or go to zero, because they're not actually backed by the gold and silver they claim to represent. It's a massive game of musical chairs out there and when the music stops (and I think it will stop soon...) people who only own paper might find themselves owning something not worth the paper it's literally written on. And I know you'll never forget it if I give you this GIF so....Let's Get Physical: Now...WHERE do you get physical gold and silver and how do you know it's real and safe? And that you're getting the best price? Oh, and how about personal one-on-one real customer service? You know, like you were some Big Wig millionaire at Goldman Sachs who could just call their personal banker and get help? That's what I'm about to tell you.   I have two killer connections for you... The first is for purchasing gold and silver bullion. That means bulk bars. That's the cheapest and most economical way to do it, to stretch your dollar into as much gold and silver as possible. The website is called WLT Precious Metals and when you see my logo in the top left-hand corner, you'll know you're in the right place. You'll get a personal phone call with Ira Bershatsky (or someone on his team) and they will work with you free of charge for as long as needed to answer any questions you have and get you taken care of. How about that! You don't see that much anymore, but Ira and his team pride themselves on good old-fashioned real customers service: No sales pitch, just real, actual help. And the best prices you will find. Here's the only disclaimer I will give you: because they do pride themselves on dedicated service, it might take a few days before you get a phone call back.  Just be patient. Good things come to those who wait! You can contact Ira and WLT Precious Metals here. Ok, that was #1. Now I want to tell you about option #2. An equally great company, I am so happy to be working with these guys. This next company is called Genesis Gold and this is for people who want to purchase real physical gold or silver in their IRAs (Investment Retirement Accounts). You know what the beauty of that is? Two huge benefits actually... First is TAX FREE baby! I'm not a tax advisor, but that's a general oversimplification. Never pay more taxes than you are legally required to pay. And that's why I love getting gold and silver in my IRA (and why I hold a large chunk in an IRA myself!). Second is if you simply shift money out of stocks (like Peter Schiff recommends) and into Gold, it won't cost you anything!  No money out of pocket!   BOOM! There's so much to love about Genesis Gold, starting with the fact they are proudly and un-ashamedly Christina! They call it "Faith-Driven Stewardship" and they put it right on the homepage of their website along with a quote from Ezekiel: Wealth Preservation With Gold & Silver – The Genesis Gold IRA By your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered Gold and Silver into your treasuries – EZEKIEL 28:4 Genesis Gold Group believes the Bible gives clues on how man-made currencies (paper money) represent instability, and a lack of virtue and encourages living wastefully in excess. Conflicts have beleaguered us since the dawn of civilization, and they can all be encapsulated into one battle. The battle is between currency, man-made paper, and gold and silver — the two precious metals found in our Earth’s crust, sent to us by our Lord to use as money. Man-made currency always leads nations down the path to increased war, greed, and ultimate collapse. History has shown that abandoning gold and silver has always been a bad idea. Gold and Silver enforce discipline, nurture self-constraint, self-reliance, and balance, and lead to confidence, a restrained government, and a more stable foreign policy. Genesis Gold Group believes in empowering faith-driven stewardship with Gold & Silver are an integral part of a balanced portfolio. Protecting your finances with precious metals has never been more crucial during these trying times. With a combined 50-plus years in the precious metals industry, let your Genesis gold and silver experts guide you through the simplicity of asset protection and growth with our Genesis Gold IRA. Sincerely, Genesis Gold Group Empowering Faith-Driven Stewardship Oh....and they're VERY good at what they do. You also get physical gold and silver with Genesis, believe it or not!  The gold and silver is purchased for you (in whatever combination of coins and bars you prefer, a picture taken and sent to you, and then stored safely in a vault for you! I love what these guys are doing. Here's more on why gold and silver in your IRA are so powerful: You can contact Genesis Gold here. They are also very backed up with record demand, so you may have to wait a bit, but someone WILL get in touch with you for personal customer service and assistance! Tell 'em Noah sent ya! Oh, and did you know Genesis is recommended by SUPERMAN himself? It's true. Superman himself, Clark Kent -- Dean Cain -- came on my show a few weeks ago and we broke it all down: Watch here: Stay safe! Make sure you can weather the storm when it hits! Because the storm always hits eventually, doesn't it? As for me and my house, we will be ready.

Several dozen pro-Hamas terrorist supporters targeted an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in the heart of the heart of the heavily Jewish Pico-Robertson neighborhood on Sunday. They blocked the entrance to an event promoting real estate investment in Israel. Independent Sentinel (h/t Nita) This was the second time these so-called activists have targeted a synagogue in L.A. […]

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