We're less than two weeks into 2026, and Canada is starting the year staring down sudden new threats to its economy — and its security. After a surprise operation to establish a foothold in oil-rich Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump is now emphasizing his aspirations for Greenland.

Host Catherine Cullen speaks with two national security veterans — Jody Thomas, former national security adviser to the prime minister, and Retired Gen. Wayne Eyre, former chief of defence staff — about their concerns for Canada’s sovereignty and security in this new chapter of the Trump era.

Plus, The same day the U.S. launched its military operation in Venezuela, the wife of one of Trump's top advisers warned on social media that "the U.S. doesn't need anything from Canada. Free trade is over." How true is that, ahead of critical trade negotiations? House producer Jennifer Chevalier speaks to former officials and trade experts to understand the rocky road ahead.

Finally, why did it take Chrystia Freeland days to announce her resignation as an MP, after news broke she’d be advising the Ukrainian government? And does her exit from the Hill finally set the stage for a slew of anticipated byelections? Political insiders Marci Surkes and Kate Harrison weigh in on the state of play.

This episode features the voices of:

• Jody Thomas, former national security adviser to Justin Trudeau
• Retired general Wayne Eyre, formerly Canada's chief of the defence staff
• Fen Osler Hampson, co-chair of Expert Group of Canada-U.S. Relations
• Laura Dawson, executive director of the Future Borders Coalition
• RJ Johnston, director of energy and natural resources policy at the University of Calgary
• Kate Kalutkiewicz, former U.S. trade negotiator
• Marci Surkes, former senior advisor to Justin Trudeau and chief strategy officer at Compass Rose
• Kate Harrison, Conservative strategist and vice chair at Summa Strategies

This week, The House revisits an in-depth documentary from the summer, as NATO’s secretary general has warned Russia could launch an attack on the alliance within the next five years. Talk to NATO’s two newest members, Finland and Sweden, and they’ll tell you preparation involves a lot more than just boosting military spending.

As Canada seeks to strengthen ties with both countries, what can we learn from our newest NATO allies about preparing for the worst? Supported by the R. James Travers Foreign Corresponding Fellowship, CBC's Emma Godmere travelled to the two Nordic countries to visit bomb shelters, the Russian border and military training grounds north of the Arctic Circle to see and hear how Finns and Swedes are steeling themselves for whatever the future may bring.

This episode features the voices of:

• Elina Valtonen, Finland’s minister of foreign affairs
• Viktoria Hjort Malmer, defence policy director at Sweden’s Ministry of Defence
• Janne Kuusela, director general, defence policy department at Finland’s Ministry of Defence
• Antti Virta, deputy commander, Southeast Finland Border Guard District
• Samuel Siljanen, head of operations, Southeast Finland Border Guard District
• Lt.-Col. Mikael Dalin, Swedish Army
• Lt.-Col. Jukka Vuorisalmi, Finnish Army
• Nina Järvenkylä, Helsinki City Rescue Department
• Harri Mikkola, programme director for Finnish foreign policy, northern European security and NATO at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs
• Niklas Granholm, deputy director of studies, Swedish Defence Research Agency
• Sara Myrdal, director of international affairs, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency
• and residents of Lappeenranta, Rovaniemi, and Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden

This week on The House: Three Parliament Hill watchers square off against each other to see who can remember the most from a very eventful and consequential year in Canadian politics.