Saturday, 21 February 2026

🧚‍♀️TREE HOUSE NEWS🏡

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTS

Great Spirit bless 🙏

Good morning, all! Well, so far it appears we're having another grey, cloudy day, with precipitation at present nil and still above freezing, so who knows what the weather will do? Maybe the sun will peek out and cheer things up a mite ⛅️👩 This morning was different, and I couldn't quite put my finger on why until I sat down to scroll through my phone as I waited for the coffee to get done perking.

I put the phone down and listened to the silence, except for the soft, percolating sound of the coffee maker. It was peaceful, and then it dawned on me that I felt perfectly OK, no discomfort of any kind from my innards, except for a couple of aches from old age in my joints. It felt so wonderful, like a baby in a mother's loving arms.

That's about all I have from the Newsroom this morning. Thank you for reading the Treehouse News.

TODAY'S DISCUSSION:

Narcissistic Psychopaths

Having had the experience from 25 years of working with mental health consumers, like feeling the symptoms of a person with mild psychopathic or mood disorder behavior, yes, feel, you can't tell by the physical facial expression or other outward manifestations.

I believe that if one didn't have empathy, it would be impossible to feel true emotions and to pass judgment, like, for instance, having caring and compassion for others than yourself, to know the difference between right and wrong, between good and bad behavior, or the difference between who's good or bad? An Archangel or the Devil's Advocate?

With poor judgment, one can easily be influenced, or even knowing the difference between darkness and light, they steadfastly go with the negative, believing that's the stronger or superior position. For this type, their behavior and personality are mostly learned, not innate. Even though they may be clever and highly intelligent people who believe themselves superior, they are usually people who learn mostly about human behavior through observation and inference from others' reactions to different situations.

Conspiracy theories aside, how many automatons with big money of this description are running the show in this world right now, or working their way to get there? The fakes are what they portray on the outside; what's really inside is what makes them so convincing! All they are is psychotic, conniving, backstabbing, greedy thieves and thugs disguised as preprogrammed machines with no soul, giving out red hats?

- Google Search -

Question: What is someone who thinks they're superior, is without emotion, highly functional, and parodies emotions?

🔹AI Overview

Based on the description of someone who believes they are superior, operates without genuine emotion, yet functions highly by "parodying" (mimicking) emotions, this person is most likely a "successful" or "high-functioning" psychopath, or someone with significant antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) traits combined with high-functioning narcissism.

High-Functioning/Successful Psychopath: These individuals lack empathy and deep emotional connections but have high intellectual capability and executive function. They "mask" their lack of emotion by studying others' reactions and mimicking emotions to appear "normal," charming, or trustworthy, especially in professional or corporate settings.

"OH YEA!" 🥵🫨😬

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD):

Add Narcissist with Dementia, what do I get?

- Google Search -

Question: Narcissist with Dementia

🔹AI Overview

Narcissism combined with dementia creates a complex, high-conflict scenario where brain deterioration intensifies narcissistic traits, leading to increased aggression, paranoia, and grandiosity. The patient may, as noted on Psych Central, become more demanding, abusive, and in denial of their cognitive decline, often masking symptoms early on. Caregivers frequently face extreme emotional exhaustion, manipulation, and difficulty managing, as the patient's lack of empathy is magnified.

Read More:

My Mission:

As long as I can still accomplish something productive each day, doing what I do to expand the light from the candle of wisdom, no matter how little, even if only one person finds a morsel here to take home, that is enough reward for me to continue walking the walk.

While corporate America stayed silent, a small wine importer risked his business to challenge Trump's tariffs

When President Donald Trump announced plans to raise the nation's effective tariff rate to levels not seen since 1930 last year, most CEOs were silent. They'd seen how opposing the president's ambitions – let alone his signature economic policy – could prove even more costly than the policies he enacted.

With billions in annual revenue at stake, the leaders of multinational corporations generally stood still. But Victor Schwartz, the owner of small New York-based wine importer VOS Selections, took a giant step up. Schwartz became the face of the fight to overturn Trump’s most sweeping tariffs — and he won, in a case that was decided by the Supreme Court on Friday...

‘We can’t just raise our prices’:
Fighting with the world’s most powerful person:
Piggybacking on small businesses:

Read More:

PUBLISHED Feb 21, 2026, 5:00 AM ET - 5 hr ago

- CNN -

Friends buried by an avalanche: The harrowing story of their fight for survival

The eight friends found joy in the mountains, skiing together across the untracked powder of the hushed, pristine wilderness of California’s Sierra Nevada – their close friendship standing out against a rugged, unforgiving terrain. The trip had been planned well in advance: A three-day expedition that began at Frog Lake Backcountry Huts – a hard-to-reach but cozy oasis 7,600 feet high in the Tahoe National Forest area, accessible only by ski, snowboard or snowshoe.

The group – mothers, wives and passionate, skilled skiers – came from different parts of the country for a professionally guided backcountry tour over President’s Day weekend. With four guides and three other people accompanying them, they glided on skis near the frozen lake and snow-capped cliffs, under the shadow of a ridge dotted with red firs and Jeffrey pines...

A grueling trek to reach survivors:
A ‘magical place’ beset by tragedy:

Read More:

Updated Feb 21, 2026, 8:40 AM ET - 1 hr 38 min ago

- CNN -

CANADIAN NEWS:

Cuba running on fumes as Canada considers sending relief

What amounts to an oil blockade poses unprecedented threat to the ruling party's grip

The government of Canada says it is still thinking about whether to send humanitarian aid to Cuba, as the island confronts a looming disaster under an American oil embargo that is, in practice, a full blockade. "Canada is monitoring the situation carefully and is concerned about the increasing risk of a humanitarian crisis on the island," said Global Affairs Canada's Charlotte MacLeod in a written statement shared with CBC News.

"As the situation continues to evolve, Canada is evaluating options to support Cuba's most vulnerable people. Canada has a long-standing record of providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to Cuba in response to acute crises." ...

A true blockade:
Calls for Canadian intervention:

WATCH | More about the U.S. embargo:

Mexico not willing to confront U.S. over Cuba:
A downward spiral:

Read More:

Posted: Feb 21, 2026 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

- CBC -

Warning shot: How Canada fits into Washington's rebuke of the EU's 'buy European' defence drive

Canada's defence industry plan could draw U.S. pressure as Ottawa shifts contracts to Canadian firms

The ink isn't even dry on Canada's new defence industrial strategy, and there are already uneasy rumblings from Washington. The objections are not aimed at Canada — at least not yet — but they could eventually spill across an already strained border.

A week ago, both the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defence quietly fired a shot across the bow of the European Union over its rearmament plans. The Trump administration warned European allies against defence policies that favour domestic producers — commonly known as the "buy European" clauses in a security directive recently revised by the EU...

WATCH | Carney explains Canada's new defence policy:

Canada's new defence strategy:

Canada’s new defence industrial policy rests on what is being described as a "build, partner, buy" philosophy.

Allies offer models for defence growth:

Posted: Feb 21, 2026 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

- CBC -

What's next for Trump's tariffs after Supreme Court ruling

Despite warning that losing would be a disaster, Trump now claims his Plan B means more tariff revenue

Based on the visibly simmering anger that U.S. President Donald Trump barely managed to suppress throughout his news conference on the Supreme Court's tariff decision, it's a fair bet that Friday was the worst day so far of his second term.

Three conservative justices — including two of Trump's own nominees — tipped the balance on the court to hand the president a 6-3 defeat in what he had previously called the most important case in U.S. history. The ruling means Trump does not have the power to impose tariffs through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which he had attempted to use as the foundation of his tariff-fuelled trade war on the rest of the world...

'Unpatriotic and disloyal':

WATCH | New set of tariffs coming, Trump says:

WATCH | What this signals about the Supreme Court:

Can 'cobble together' other tariffs:

WATCH | Trade uncertainty remains for Canada:

Read More:

Posted: Feb 21, 2026 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

- CBC -

What happens now after Trump's 10% international Tarrif

- Google Search -

🔹AI Overview

Question: What is Carney going to do about the 10% international tariff?

Based on developments as of February 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney is responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 10% global tariff—and other specific sector tariffs—through a combination of targeted countermeasures, diversification of trade partners, and a "Buy

Canadian" industrial strategy."

Carney’s approach includes the following actions:
Countermeasures and "Force": Carney has stated that Canada will fight U.S. tariffs with "purpose and force". While the White House indicated in early 2026 that Canada might be exempt from some new 10% tariffs due to CUSMA compliance,
"Buy Canadian" Defence Plan:
Trade Diversification:
"Third Path" Diplomacy: Carney has challenged middle powers to create a "third path" in foreign policy to evade the erratic tariff policies of the U.S. and coercion from other nations.
Targeting US Affordability:*
Context on the Tariff Situation:

While a U.S. Supreme Court ruling previously caused confusion, reports from February 2026 indicate that CUSMA-compliant goods are exempt from certain 10% global tariffs...

Read More: - Google Search -