TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTARY

May Great Spirit bless 🙏

Another gloomy, cloudy day, and 45°F. We used to call this the January Thaw in early January. But here, we usually don't get any snow that lasts long enough to thaw. After that, it's anybody's guess what comes out of the sky until we get to February, where it's frosty cold, but a lot of bright sun. I pray I can make it to February. Without the bright sunlight, I feel like a mole hiding underground. I can't stand a dark place; it feels like a funeral home.

That is why I keep the living room and kitchen well-lit with LED lights and lamps, so it looks like a sunny day in our daily living area. I can imagine the mad scientist plugging in her invention, and a beam of light shines out the front window like a searchlight in the fog, ya know, like in the old black and white movies. 🪟🌟 😂

Healthwise, I'm doing fine as long as I take my medicine. Until they come up with a cure for all ailments, I'll take the Band-Aids we have. At least, even if the Band-Aid doesn't cure or heal the cut, it stops the life-giving blood from leaking out.

DUH! TAKE THE VACCINATIONS, DUNCE! Believe me, I dearly pray that I NEVER go through what I just went through in the past five years with COVID and the flu piled on my other health challenges, or I would honestly consider medically assisted termination.

That will be about it from me here in the NEWSROOM this morning. Have a better day than yesterday.

TODAY'S DISCUSSION:

BEWARE OF NEW PANDEMIC

TRUMP-RETARDATION

- Google Search -

The term "Trump-retardation" isn't a clinical diagnosis but rather a derogatory phrase used by critics, alongside "Trump Derangement Syndrome," to describe perceived cognitive issues or extreme reactions to Donald Trump, referencing his rambling speech, complex syntax changes noted by some experts, and controversial statements, though mental health professionals emphasize these behaviors aren't definitive proof of clinical decline.

Misuse of psychiatric terms is discouraged.

If we could only contain the Orange Pus Bag in a test tube and manipulate its DNA into a virus form, BINGO! Yas gots Trump-retardation Syndrome.

So please do tell us who truly is or are the brains behind all this 2025 stuff and turning the whole nation of America into*_ NAZI LAND! DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE TRUMPO THE TYPO could plan all this stuff out with his peanut-sized brain? Someone in a permanent fog who can't remember even the basics of terms and meanings for his own perception of the world around him? Out of touch with reality? I can't believe that We, the People, a once proud nation, can stand by this pile of 💩 💩 💩 💩 and just do nothing. Have a Happy Root Out The Weeds Every Day New Year.

✊ ☮️ VIVE LA RESISTANCE ☮️ ✊

BREAKING NEWS:

Protesters clash with authorities this morning after ICE agent's killing of woman in Minneapolis

What You Need to Know

• Protesters and law enforcement are clashing in Minneapolis after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman yesterday.

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agent, saying the woman — identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good — had tried to run over the officer. State and local officials disputed claims that the shooting was done in self-defense. Multiple videos of the shooting reviewed by CNN show nuance, and exactly what took place before the shooting remains unclear.

• People across Minneapolis gathered at the shooting site last night to commemorate Good's life in a vigil that filled an entire block. City schools will also be closed for the remainder of the week "due to safety concerns."

• President Donald Trump called the fatal shooting "a vicious situation," also saying Good appeared to run over the ICE agent. "I think it's horrible to watch. No, I hate to see it," he said after viewing video of the incident.

6 min ago

Around 50 federal law enforcement officers in fatigues move protesters away from federal property

More To Read:

Updated 9:59 AM EST, Thu January 8, 2026

- CNN -

Senate expected to vote on Trump’s war powers in Venezuela as officials begin outlining plan to take over oil sales

Where Things Stand

• US oversight in Venezuela: President Donald Trump told the New York Times that “only time will tell” when it comes to how long the US aims to control Venezuela. He did not give a precise time range for how long the US would intervene, but when asked if it would be months, a year or longer, the president replied: “I would say much longer.” Sigue nuestra cobertura en español.

• Venezuela’s oil: The country’s state-owned oil company said yesterday it is in negotiations with the United States “for the sale of oil volumes,” shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US was “about to close a deal to acquire and sell Venezuelan oil.”

• Limiting Trump’s war powers: The Senate is expected to vote today on a measure to limit President Trump’s war powers in Venezuela. House Democrats have also been working behind scenes to get a privileged war powers resolution on Venezuela on the floor this week...

24 min ago

A look at Venezuela's oil infrastructure

More To Read:

Updated 10:03 AM EST, Thu January 8, 2026

- CNN -

Expect the unexpected in the last jobs report of 2025

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the final jobs report for 2025 — and economists’ estimates vary wildly over what we should expect. The consensus estimates are for 55,000 jobs to have been added in December, a figure that’s in line with year-to-date job growth but slightly lower than November’s preliminary gains of 64,000 jobs.

But some economists say seasonal factors such as the holiday hiring peak could put December’s monthly total somewhere north of 105,000. Either way, the unemployment rate is expected to tick down to 4.5% after hitting a four-year high of 4.6% in November...

_“Total job gains for 2025 are on track to be a meager 710,000,” Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said in a statement. “That’s the worst hiring outside of a recession since 2003. Even 2010, on the heels of the Great Recession, was a better year for hiring than 2025.”_

• Lopsided job gains:
• The worst of the slowdown ‘could be behind us’:

Read More:

PUBLISHED Jan 8, 2026, 7:30 AM ET - 3 hr ago

- CNN -

CANADIAN NEWS:

Trump's tariff fight at the Supreme Court could make for a messy refund battle for businesses

The Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings Friday, but has not said which cases might be ruled on

Company executives, customs brokers and trade lawyers are bracing for a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs — and a potential fight over obtaining a possible $150 billion US in refunds from the U.S. government for duties already paid by importers if he loses.

Anticipation that the court will strike down the tariffs Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 rose following November arguments in the case when conservative and liberal justices alike voiced skepticism about whether that law gave him the authority to levy the duties. The court is expected to issue rulings on Friday but, as is customary, has not said what case or cases will be acted upon...

• Close to $150 billion US collected:
• Companies eager for refunds, but not optimistic:

Tracking the trade war between the U.S and Canada

CHART | Included:

Read More:

Posted: Jan 08, 2026 10:03 AM EST | Last Updated: 43 minutes ago

- CBC -

With Trump's Venezuela move and Greenland threats, are Canadians vulnerable?

New U.S. national security strategy to enforce 'American pre-eminence in the Western Hemisphere'

U.S. President Donald Trump's increasingly bellicose stance on taking over Greenland and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro are combining to trigger questions and theories about what the White House may have in mind for Canada. The Trump administration's moves come on the heels of its vow to "reassert and enforce" American pre-eminence in the Western Hemisphere, spelled out officially in a new national security strategy.

The White House said this week that using military force to obtain Greenland remains an option despite the fact it's a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO ally, while Trump has also floated intervention against Colombia's president and Mexican drug cartels...

• 'We need to be prepared for that':

LISTEN | A top 10 list of global political risks puts the U.S. at number 1:

WATCH | After ousting Venezuela's leader, Trump mulls targeting Colombia's president:

• Deterring Russian, Chinese aggression:

Read More:

Posted: Jan 08, 2026 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

- CBC -

~😵‍💫TRUMP-RETARDATION😵‍💫~

 

TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTARY

May Great Spirit bless 🙏

Another cloudy but milder morning, 37 F with on and off rain and snow, no accumulation. Another good day to stay indoors, but I have a dentist's appointment at 3:30. NO MORE APPOINTMENTS UNTIL MID APRIL PLEASE! I think that was where I got that damned flu that nearly done me in. I had a shot, but it was outdated and didn't do a damned thing to protect me from the flu. I don't need to bring home another flippin' virus, and there are lots of them on the loose right now.

DON'T FORGET TO GET YOUR SHOTS!

Although I should be safe, I had my shots for all those childhood diseases that are going around right now, and there isn't any reason why so many people should be in the hospital with mumps, chicken pox, and measles when they have vaccines for them. I got all those shots when I was in public school. As I said before, if the non-vaccinated don't believe in science, then leave the dum-dum non-vaxxers to slowly die alone away from the general public, to squirm and go into the fetal position with pain and suffering, which I certainly know all about. No vaccination with the latest bug on the menu; they chose to do so, THEN SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!

I say I don't feel sorry for those dumb arses—just for the innocent children who get caught up in their parents' ignorance. The more quickly we get rid of these Nazi dumbbell-loser MAGAts Dunce Cadets, the better off we'll be. Maybe we'll get lucky, and they'll all be eradicated by both the bug-type virus and the people-type viruses, Trumpo The Typo and his Dunce Cadets, turning on each other at the same time the bug does, chaos and disarray.

🙏PRAYER FOR THE DAY🙏

G-D BLESS UM AND LET THEM GO WHERE EVER CREATOR HAS CHOSEN FOR THEM, AND MAY THE NAZI DUNCE CADETS NEVER BE HEARD OF AGAIN.

May We, the People, be restored to liberty, freedom, and justice in the dust of the cruelty, chaos, and disregard for our Constitution that once ruled, now in a country that once again has law and order, with compassion and caring for one another—the Peace Keeper.

Thanks to the Orange Pus Bag, our Canadian peacekeepers will be bristling with weapons of war in the next era. A newly arising Leader On The World Stage? Possibly. I am quite certain that, however things turn out, our nice Kink Orange Pus Bag got lost in the shuffle with Prime Minister Carney being three to four steps ahead of him.

Today's Discussion:

- Google Search -

Importing EVs from China to Canada?

Importing Chinese EVs to Canada in 2026 faces significant hurdles due to Canada's existing 100% retaliatory tariffs, launched in response to unfair Chinese trade practices, with discussions ongoing about their removal amid calls for broader EV market access for affordability, while balancing domestic auto industry support and CUSMA alignment. While Chinese EVs offer affordability, Canada is focused on building its own EV supply chain, leading to a complex policy landscape where tariffs protect local jobs but limit consumer choice, with potential shifts expected around the 2026 CUSMA review...

Factors Influencing 2026

CUSMA Review: The 2026 Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review will likely see pressure from the U.S. for stricter rules, influencing Canada's approach to Chinese imports.

• Domestic Industry Growth:
• Consumer Demand:

Future Outlook (2026 & Beyond)

Policy Debate:

Expect continued tension between protecting Canadian jobs and offering cheaper EVs, with potential for tariff adjustments, but likely no immediate removal.

• Strategic Partnerships:

Canada may seek strategic partnerships with China for components rather than wholesale vehicle imports, diversifying supply chains.

• Uncertainty:

The policy direction will depend on global trade dynamics, U.S. pressure, and domestic industry competitiveness, with significant changes possible around the CUSMA review.

Tree House News will publish updates as they develop.

BREAKING NEWS:

US seizes Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Atlantic

What You Need to Know

• Tankers seized:

The US has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after tracking it across the Atlantic, the US European Command has said. The US said it also seized another vessel in the Caribbean early this morning. Sigue nuestra cobertura en español.

• Venezuela’s oil to US:

President Donald Trump said Venezuela will turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the US, to be sold at market value.

• Briefings for Congress:

House and Senate lawmakers will receive classified briefings today on the Venezuela attack from top officials.

• Spotlight on Greenland:

Elsewhere, emboldened by his claimed control of Venezuela, Trump is “discussing a range of options” to acquire Greenland...

Read More:

Updated 9:43 AM EST, Wed January 7, 2026

- CNN -

As Venezuela buckles under Trump, Iran sees an uncomfortable parallel

Pockets of protests erupting across Iran over the past week have intensified pressure on a dysfunctional government struggling to manage a spiraling economic crisis.

But a dramatic US military operation more than 7,000 miles away looms even larger over the Islamic Republic. Iran woke up over the weekend to dramatic scenes of US forces landing in the Venezuelan capital Caracas to capture Tehran’s ally President Nicolas Maduro and move him to the US in a brazen nighttime operation that saw the president and his wife get dragged out of their bedroom. On Monday, Trump issued his second threat to Iran in less than a week, warning again that if authorities kill protesters, the US would respond...

IMAGE 1: Protesters march in downtown Tehran, Iran, on December 29.

IMAGE 2: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 24, 2024.

Similar but different:

Read More:

Updated Jan 7, 2026, 3:55 AM ET - 6 hr ago

- CNN -

Image 2: A great example of two turds 💩 💩 sitting on a stool 🪑🪑

Trump administration freezes billions in social services funding to five Democratic states

The Trump administration is freezing $10 billion in funds for social services and child care in five Democratic-led states, according to a Department of Health and Human Services official, who suggested, without evidence, that the funds have been used fraudulently. The freeze, first reported by the New York Post, will impact California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, according to HHS.

HHS will cut off $7.4 billion in funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash assistance to households, along with nearly $2.4 billion for the Child Care and Development Fund. The department will also hold around $870 million from the Social Services Block Grant.

The agency’s Administration for Children and Families sent letters to the states’ governors on Tuesday informing them that their access to these funds is now restricted pending further review...

Read More:

• States await notification:
• Medicaid audit in Minnesota:

Read More:

Updated Jan 6, 2026, 11:55 PM ET - 10 hr ago

- CNN -

CANADIAN NEWS:

Carney to visit China next week to talk trade, security

Carney and China's President Xi Jinping to discuss trade, energy, agriculture and international security

Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to China next week, marking the first visit to the country by a Canadian prime minister since 2017. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the trip from Jan. 13 to 17 will see Carney meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade, energy, agriculture and international security.

The PMO said it "could not confirm other possible stops" Carney might make "at this point." Carney met Xi on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, in October, where he accepted Xi's invitation for a visit...

• *Canada's tariffs on Chinese EVs created '2-front trade war' hurting Prairie canola, pork producers: Kinew
• *Chinese-made EVs are now subject to a 100% tariff. What does this mean for Canadians?

Read More:

Posted: Jan 07, 2026 9:28 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

- CBC -

Canadian tourists voice concerns over Caribbean travel after U.S. strike on Venezuela

Some are cancelling trips to island destinations like Curaçao, travel agent says

People call them the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. All three are located in the southern Caribbean's leeward Antilles, off the coast of Venezuela. All three are popular tourist destinations, known for their sandy beaches and rich cultures.

But now — days after the U.S. hit Venezuela with what it described as a "large-scale strike" and captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores — the ABC islands have something else in common: trepidation among some travellers...

• 'Anything is possible now':
• Canadians cancelling trips:

WATCH | Trump threatens more countries:

• Some travellers remain unsure:

Posted: Jan 07, 2026 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 42 minutes ago

- CBC -

CHIEF ORANGE PUS BAG appendage hanging low along with his peanut-sized penis and brain, ya know? Like the dinosaurs. But a very high IQ, he says? HOW MUCH IQ CAN YOU STUFF IN A 4-INCH BAG?

 

TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATION & COMMENTARY

May Great Spirit bless 🙏

G'mornink! Says Colonel Klink 🧐 😁 It's trying to be sunny out, but I think the clouds are winning the old hockey game in the sky. Actually, according to the forecast, it's supposed to be rain, freezing rain, and snow, take your pick! I Ain't goin' out there, even if Trump, Putin, and the Holy Trinity were in town. I'll stay in my Tree House 🌴🛖🌴 Nice, warm, and cozy. Turn on all the lights and lamps, light up the place, and sit back in the recliner couch, look at my plants, and pretend I'm on a tropical island, free of pests! Nice place in my imagination; the trick is to know when to get off the stress bus. I do whenever the air gets too full of negative energy.

Get Off The Bus, Gus!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXtWqmArUU

Go to that magical Island 🏝️ where your soul spirit dwells.

OK Gus! It's time to get back on the bus to imagination land. 😆🤣

That's what most of my blog is about, traveling the freeway of the imagination—good therapy for the mind, soul, and body. Be warned! It could become contagious. 🤣 🥲 Years ago, during my early sobriety, I always carried a briefcase with a writing pad, a couple of HB pencils, an assortment of colored pencils, and a pocket novel or two. I would either sit in the park or, wherever I went, in restaurants, in the car, anyplace where I had self-time, I enjoyed drawing something, writing stories, or relaxing with the book I carried, letting my mind be free. That was a good part of my own personal therapy towards recovery, along with the program. Enough about me, let us go on to the discussion of the day.

TODAY'S DISCUSSION:

IMAGINATION THERAPY

*Imagination therapy:* uses guided imagery, visualization, and creative techniques to help individuals explore their subconscious, process emotions, reduce stress, and overcome challenges by engaging with inner worlds and mental constructs, often utilizing methods like Jungian active imagination, guided imagery, or rewriting trauma to foster healing, self-discovery, and resilience. It's a broad term encompassing various approaches, from formal psychotherapy to simple visualization, all leveraging the mind's creative capacity for positive change.

• Key Concepts & Techniques:
• How it Works:
• Who Benefits:

- Google Search -

Jungian Active Imagination

Carl Jung's Active Imagination is a psychological technique for bridging the conscious and unconscious by engaging with inner figures and imagery that arise from the psyche, allowing them to develop freely and dialogue with the conscious mind, thereby fostering integration and self-understanding. It's a form of "dreaming with open eyes," where one observes spontaneous fantasies, dreams, or archetypal figures, notes their changes, and interacts with them to reveal hidden aspects of the self, leading to personal growth and individuation.

- Google Search -

Find a quiet time and simply allow your mind to drift where it may. Thank you for reading the Tree House News.

Breaking News:

Venezuela tense as Europe pushes back on Trump’s Greenland claims

What We're Covering:

• On the ground: Unease and anxiety remain in Venezuela following the capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro, with security forces seen patrolling the streets as rights groups report checkpoints. Gunfire and anti-aircraft fire were also seen over the capital of Caracas overnight. A Venezuelan ministry spokesperson said “no confrontation occurred.” Sigue nuestra cobertura en español.

• Renewed focus on Greenland: Leaders from major European powers expressed support for Greenland and Denmark in a joint statement issued earlier today after President Donald Trump said the US “needs” the Arctic island, a position reiterated by White House aide Stephen Miller.

• What’s next for Venezuela?: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has vowed to return home “as soon as possible,” but Miller dismissed calls for the US to install her as Maduro’s replacement. Trump said he considers himself in charge of Venezuela.

• Not-guilty plea: Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges in a US court yesterday and chose not to immediately fight their detention...

Read More:

4 min ago

Bolton: Trump administration's talk about Greenland "harms American security"

More To Read:

Updated 11:01 AM EST, Tue January 6, 2026

Big Oil doesn’t share Trump’s dream of making Venezuelan oil great again

New York

—

President Donald Trump may have made a major miscalculation about Venezuela’s oil. Trump has expressed excitement over the prospect of US oil companies getting their hands on Venezuela’s vast oil resources.

But industry sources tell CNN that American oil executives are unlikely to dive headfirst into Venezuela for multiple reasons: The situation on the ground remains very uncertain, Venezuela’s oil industry is in shambles and Caracas has a history of seizing US oil assets...

‘Rhetoric before reality’

Leading countries by crude oil reserves, 2023 (billions of barrels)

CHART | Included:

• ‘Rhetoric before reality’:
• ‘Venezuela is broke’:
• $60 oil won’t inspire investment:
• Chevron could stand to gain:
• Exxon and Conoco are owed billions:

Read More:

Updated Jan 5, 2026, 7:09 PM ET - 16 hr ago

- CNN -

Venezuela tense as Europe pushes back on Trump’s Greenland claims

What We're Covering:

• On the ground: Unease and anxiety remain in Venezuela following the capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro, with security forces seen patrolling the streets as rights groups report checkpoints. Gunfire and anti-aircraft fire were also seen over the capital of Caracas overnight. A Venezuelan ministry spokesperson said “no confrontation occurred.” Sigue nuestra cobertura en español.

• Renewed focus on Greenland: Leaders from major European powers expressed support for Greenland and Denmark in a joint statement issued earlier today after President Donald Trump said the US “needs” the Arctic island, a position reiterated by White House aide Stephen Miller.

• What’s next for Venezuela?: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has vowed to return home “as soon as possible,” but Miller dismissed calls for the US to install her as Maduro’s replacement. Trump said he considers himself in charge of Venezuela.

• Not-guilty plea: Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges in a US court yesterday and chose not to immediately fight their detention...

*Read More:*

1 min ago

Venezuela’s attorney general asserts Maduro has diplomatic immunity

More To Read:

Updated 11:32 AM EST, Tue January 6, 2026

- CNN -

Maduro’s capture is a blow to China. But on Chinese social media it’s being hailed as a blueprint for Taiwan

As US special forces were in the final stages of planning a daring nighttime operation into the heart of the Venezuelan capital, President Nicolás Maduro was posing for photographs with China’s top envoy to Latin America and lavishing praise on Beijing’s leadership.

“I thank President Xi Jinping for his continued brotherhood, like an older brother,” Maduro told Chinese diplomat Qiu Xiaoqi, as laughter echoed through the exchange at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas.

Hours later, Maduro was snatched from his bedroom by elite Delta Force commandos from the US Army and China was staring at the stark reality it had just lost one of its staunchest partners in Latin America. China and Venezuela have maintained close relations for decades, forged by a shared political ideology and mutual distrust of a world led by the United States.

Through an “all-weather strategic partnership” established in 2023, Beijing pulled Caracas further into its orbit with deepened economic aid and diplomatic support...

• ‘Unilateral bullying’:
• China’s growing influence in Latin America:
• ‘Taiwan is not Venezuela’:

Read More:

Updated Jan 6, 2026, 1:56 AM ET - 9 hr ago

- CNN -

CANADIAN NEWS:

'It's like on Amazon': Illegal drugs advertised online, delivered by Canada Post

CBC shown how fast and easy it is to purchase cocaine with the click of a mouse

It’s like Amazon for hard drugs: cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, paid for with credit cards and e-transfers, delivered by Canada Post. For weeks, CBC Ottawa and Radio-Canada exchanged messages with nearly a dozen people who have been buying these drugs online. Eventually one came forward, offering to talk about their experience.

"The first time I was like, OK, it’s not true, it’s a scam," John said. CBC has agreed to withhold his real name because he fears the impact of his drug use on his family and his job...

"I opened the package and I was like, OK, it's real. It's real stuff, it's real cocaine."

"We’ve known about it for a while, so we thought it was pretty much common knowledge."

"I think it’s a constant fight, because I think it’s a game of whack-a-mole."

"We are actively targeting individuals and networks profiting from the sale of illicit substances online."

Posted: Jan 06, 2026 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 8 hours ago

- CBC -

Canada's cheaper, cleaner and lower-risk oil can rival a resurgent Venezuela, Carney says

PM says Canadian oil will remain competitive for 'medium and long term'

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he's not worried about the prospect of increased oil production from Venezuela challenging Canada's energy exports because Canadian oil is cheaper, cleaner and lower-risk.

Carney made the comments at a press conference in Paris on Tuesday after being asked if he was concerned that U.S. President Donald Trump's play for Venezuelan oil this week increased the need to speed up the construction of another bitumen pipeline from Alberta to the B.C. coast.

"Canadian oil will be competitive because it is low-risk, clearly low-risk, low cost — the marginal costs, there's been huge progress on getting down the costs, and low carbon, which is what the Pathways project carbon capture will bring," Carney said...

• Trump's Greenland annexation threats overshadow Ukraine security conference
• CBC Explains: After seizing Maduro, Trump wants Venezuela's oil. He will face logistical and legal hurdles
• AnalysisMore oil production in Venezuela could hurt Canada's oilpatch

WATCH | Carney reacts to U.S. move against Maduro, asked about potential impact on Canadian oil sector:

• Oil wealth will help Venezuelans, Carney says:

Read More:

Posted: Jan 06, 2026 8:29 AM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

- CBC -

Poilievre: I can agree with Poilievre on one thing: Every barrel the United States sources from Venezuela could mean one less barrel these refineries would buy from Canada. We therefore need new markets to sell to, and we need them quickly," Poilievre wrote.

Carney: Carney said the removal of Maduro — "an illegitimate, corrupt, repressive government" — would lead to a "not-corrupt Venezuelan economy" that produces more oil, and that will be a good thing for the Venezuelan people and the Western Hemisphere as a whole.

According to my research, it would take ten years to bring the Venezuelan oil industry back online. By then, we should be well into earnestly developing alternative fuels, as we will have no choice but to do so due to the shortage of oil in most of the places where they are presently drilling. Oil wells are not inexhaustible.

U.S and NATO Left Speechless as Canada Makes Strategic Military Decision | Rachel Maddow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZw5OjeubJM

January 5, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohWMU6E_Rp0

 

TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATION & COMMENTARY

May Great Spirit bless 🙏

It looks like another day of on-and-off snow, but whatever accumulation we get today will be gone tomorrow. Tuesday will be 40°F and 🌧️ then above freezing and rain on-and-off all the rest of the week. The good thing about it is you don't need to shovel rain.

I am looking forward to the sun rising at 7:00 a.m. and earlier. I miss that the most in the morning 🌄 There isn't that much a'-shakin' here in the Newsroom this morning. My health status appears to be back to whatever is stable for me at the moment, and I pray it stays that way.

Retirement does have its advantages; you don't need to get up in the dark to hurry and get dressed and go out and freeze your butt off till you turn blue in the cold while shoveling the snow, just to get to the job on time without the boss barking at you 😡 It's nice to just sit behind my keyboard in a warm room. I don't need to go anywhere unless the fire alarm goes off, and even then, I would take the time to find at least a good warm coat to wear.*_

Here I sit, in my comfy office chair 🪑 slowly sinking into the seat cushion, in my warm Newsroom, enjoying the comfort and warmth as I watch the snow fall outside the window. I never did like cold weather, except for back in the seventies, the Skidoo era.

TODAY'S DISCUSSION:

RETIERING IN CANADA

SOMETHING TO REMEMBER:

The Warmer Microclimates in CANADA.

The microclimate on the east coast peninsula of southern Ontario, Canada, would make for a reasonable location to retire in during the winter months if you're thinking of leaving Florida. The only other place in Canada with a temperate climate is the Okanogan Valley on the west side of the mountains in B.C. Both provinces, B.C. and Ontario, have regions of hospitable winter living, from Parry Sound, ON, northward. London, Ontario, is the most popular. The Laurentians in Quebec are also well known for ski resorts and other winter activities.

- Google Search -

British Columbia: is famous for its numerous microclimates, driven by the Pacific Ocean, diverse topography (mountains, valleys, coasts), and urban development, leading to vast temperature, rainfall, and vegetation differences, from Vancouver Island's mild zones (palm trees) to the Okanagan's desert-like conditions, with forest understories also creating cool refugia, all vital for biodiversity and urban heat management.

- Google Search -

The Niagara Peninsula's microclimate: shaped by Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and the Niagara Escarpment, creates a unique temperate zone with warm summers, mild winters, and a long growing season, ideal for grapes and tender fruits, featuring distinct areas like the Escarpment's bench lands for cool-climate wines and fertile plains for diverse agriculture, all fostering rich biodiversity and premium crops.

You don't even need a permanent cottage today, for as long as you can find a provincial park, you can have your own cottage by setting up an inflatable tent.

Ultimate All-Season Tent

perfect Winter Camping Tent and Insulated Tent for Glamping, Outdoor Parties

- Adriftallseason-com -

If I were younger, and still into the camping thing, with these new inflatable tents, I WOULD. Even the furniture is inflatable, with a small wood-burning stove, folding chairs, and a table, and has separate rooms.

BREAKING NEWS:

Venezuelans face uncertainty as the Trump administration’s plans for their country emerge.

Here’s What to Know

An emboldened President Donald Trump declared Sunday night that the US is “in charge” of Venezuela after detaining President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid over the weekend, as he issued stark warnings to other countries that they could be next.

Maduro, who was dragged into custody with his wife, Cilia Flores, in a deadly early Saturday morning raid, is slated to appear in court for the first time at noon ET in New York City to face charges that he and his associates conspired with narcoterrorists to ship thousands of tons of cocaine to the US.

Trump’s latest comments come even as some in his administration, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggested the US would be relying more on leverage over Venezuela and coercion, rather than directly running it as Trump first suggested during a Saturday morning news conference...

• What happened during the military operation?:
• What is up with Venezuela’s oil?:
• Which countries buy Venezuela's oil? CHART Included:
• Who is in charge in Venezuela?:
• What about other countries in the region?:
• How are Venezuelans dealing with the fall out of the military operation?:

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PUBLISHED Jan 5, 2026, 1:24 AM ET - 8 hr ago

- CNN -

Who is Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s leader after Maduro’s capture?

Following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro during a US military operation in Venezuela, the command of the South American country has fallen into the hands of Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. That is what Venezuela’s constitution outlines in its different scenarios anticipating a president’s absence. Under Articles 233 and 234, whether the absence is temporary or absolute, the vice president takes over the presidential duties.

Rodríguez – also minister for both finance and oil – stepped into the role on Saturday afternoon. Hours after the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, she chaired a National Defense Council session, surrounded by other ministers and senior officials, and demanded the couple’s “immediate release” while condemning the US military operation. Standing before the Venezuelan flag, Rodríguez said the early-morning operation represents a blatant violation of international law and Venezuela’s sovereignty. ...

• An official with Maduro’s ‘full trust’:
• On the path to an understanding with the US?:

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PUBLISHED Jan 3, 2026, 8:15 PM ET - Jan 3, 2026

- CNN -

Trump said Venezuela stole America’s oil. Here’s what really happened

At 7 a.m., the earth began to rumble. Suddenly, oil blew out of its well in a massive eruption that towered 200 feet in the air and sprayed the fearful villagers of La Rosa. The most productive oil well on the planet had just been discovered. With it, Venezuela’s transformation to a petroleum supergiant had begun — for better or worse.

Venezuela had been known to possess some crude — 15th-century Spanish explorers noticed indigenous people using oil for fires and asphalt to patch their canoes. But Venezuela’s wealth of oil had been in dispute until foreign petroleum companies grew serious about the region during World War I, when fuel was in high demand and Western nations began to fear supply shortages. Surveyors from Venezuelan Oil Concessions (VOC), the local Royal Dutch Shell affiliate, spent much of the 1910s exploring the region with only moderate success...

• An uncertain future:

Percentage of Venezuela's crude oil exports that went to each country in 2023

• Venezuela’s strategic importance:
• Democracy and state control:
• Chávez, Maduro and the decline:

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Updated Jan 5, 2026, 6:55 AM ET - 2 hr ago

- CNN -

 

TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATION & COMMENTARY

May Great Spirit bless 🙏

Well, here I am at 7:00 a.m. at my work station in the Newsroom. I've been awake for the last hour after one of those dreams, which isn't worth recounting; I was happy to wake up from it. I am now sipping a cup of fresh-ground coffee. I do pray that whoever our coffee suppliers are here in Canada, keep on delivering coffee. I guess the only other replacement is tea, but I don't think tea in the morning would ever replace coffee's popularity. It's not just that it tastes good, but it also helps stimulate wakefulness, especially in the workplace, and the bosses don't mind how many trips you make to the coffee machine during the day.

TODAY'S DISCUSSION:

Coffee, EVs, Hybrids, & Carbon Capture

- Google Search -

Canadian coffee products include major chains like Tim Hortons, popular roasters like Kicking Horse Coffee, and many smaller, local brands such as Balzac's, Muskoka Roastery, and Canadian Heritage Roasting Co., often featuring Canadian themes or flavors like maple, with many companies roasting and packaging coffee within Canada, even if beans are imported. Brazil is one supplier we can depend on in Canada.

- Google Search -

Brazil coffee is widely available in Canada, sold by local roasters, major retailers like Superstore and Walmart, and online marketplaces like Amazon, both as single-origin beans (like Santos) and in blends, including Fair Trade and Organic options. Brazil is a significant supplier of green coffee beans to Canada, making it a staple of the Canadian coffee market.

- Google Search -

About EVs. *OK:* to keep the country's economy on a stable footing, Canada had to scrap the end of oil use because global oil demand is set to peak and begin a permanent decline before 2030, with the use of alternative energy, which Trumpo The Typo just killed.

EVs are out! But nothing is stopping Canada from going hybrid. A hybrid vehicle significantly cuts emissions, typically reducing CO2 by 20% to 40%. 40% is getting close to half the emissions of a regular diesel- or gas-powered vehicle. This type of vehicle would make much more sense than EVs in the cold climate of Northern Canada.

- Google Search -

Alberta's oil refineries are cutting CO2, primarily through large-scale Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) projects, like the Sturgeon Refinery's integrated system and Shell's Scotford complex, plus industry-wide initiatives like the Pathways Alliance, aiming to capture emissions from production and petrochemicals for permanent underground storage or enhanced oil recovery (EOR). These efforts focus on developing lower-carbon fuels, leveraging Alberta's existing infrastructure (like the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line), and meeting provincial goals for net-zero by 2050. However, debates continue over caps and regulations.

So, Environmentalists, don't worry. If the above is true, the carbon reduction will come, just maybe not until a bit later than 2030, not until Canada is on a more stable economic footing, both domestically and internationally. If you're a flasher and you need business, you need to take off your overcoat now and again to show off your wares.

BREAKING NEWS:

Inside the operation: How the US moved to capture Nicolás Maduro

It was just like watching television.

Huddled in a draped-off room at Mar-a-Lago around screens set up for his viewing pleasure — including, according to photos released by the White House, a live feed of social media messages on X — President Donald Trump watched and listened as highly trained American Delta Force soldiers rushed into Nicolás Maduro’s home in Caracas, where the Venezuelan leader was sleeping alongside his wife.

Maduro was quickly dragged into custody as he tried to flee to his steel-enforced safe room...

• A strike months in the making:
• ‘Pretty much an ultimatum’:
• Conditions ripen for a strike:
• ‘The speed, the violence’:

Read More:

Updated Jan 3, 2026, 8:02 PM ET - 13 hr ago

- CNN -

Who is Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s leader after Maduro’s capture?

Following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro during a US military operation in Venezuela, the command of the South American country has fallen into the hands of Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.

That is what Venezuela’s constitution outlines in its different scenarios anticipating a president’s absence. Under Articles 233 and 234, whether the absence is temporary or absolute, the vice president takes over the presidential duties.

Rodríguez – also minister for both finance and oil – stepped into the role on Saturday afternoon. Hours after the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, she chaired a National Defense Council session, surrounded by other ministers and senior officials, and demanded the couple’s “immediate release” while condemning the US military operation. Standing before the Venezuelan flag, Rodríguez said...

• An official with Maduro’s ‘full trust’:
• On the path to an understanding with the US?:

Read More:

PUBLISHED Jan 3, 2026, 8:15 PM ET - 13 hr ago

- CNN -

CANADIAN NEWS:

Thousands evacuated from Pimicikamak Cree Nation after homes, water treatment plant damaged in power outage

Chief working on recovery plan, says repairs could cost at least $44M after days-long outage

The chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation says hundreds of homes have been "severely compromised" in the aftermath of a days-long power outage that damaged a water treatment plant and plumbing systems, and about 4,000 people have been evacuated from the northern Manitoba First Nation.

Residents in Pimicikamak, about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg, started reporting burst pipes, leaks and sewer backups after power restoration began on Thursday. All power was back on as of Friday afternoon, Manitoba Hydro said.

The power to the First Nation, which has an on-reserve population of around 7,000, went out last Sunday night after a power line that crosses the Nelson River snapped, and pipes froze in the extreme cold, as temperatures dropped well below the –20 C mark...

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Posted: Jan 03, 2026 5:01 PM EST | Last Updated: January 3

- CBC -

How a good old-fashioned boycott got Canada to trade Kentucky bourbon for Canadian whisky

'Buy Canadian' movement built up demand for domestically produced whisky, expert says

It's been a long time since many Canadians have felt the burn. That familiar aromatic, spicy and sometimes smoky flavour of a smooth, Kentucky bourbon has been but a memory for consumers in this country for much of the past year.

Ever since U.S. President Donald Trump launched his tariff war and began threatening to make Canada the "51st state," angry consumers and lawmakers have united behind a "Buy Canadian" movement and bourbon was caught in the crossfire.

"People didn't want to lose their bourbon and neither did I," said Ottawa-based whisky expert Davin de Kergommeaux. But he, like so many other consumers, supports the boycotts of American products in favour of Canadian alternatives...

• Souring on American whisky:

U.S. booze exports have dropped — and it's not just Canada

CHART | Included:

• Bourbon by any other name:
• That Canadian spirit:

WATCH | Is the boycott of U.S. alcohol really helping Canadian distillers:

Read More:

Posted: Dec 31, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: December 31, 2025

- CBC -

🙏 TODAY'S PRAYER: 🙏

Have as great a day as you can. Give it your best effort to make it a better day; if the effort is at least your best, that is sufficient. My prayers also go out to all my readers and to those in need. AMEN! 🙏