This first episode of the Canadian Research Security Weekly Roundup explores the critical need to protect Canada's knowledge, tech, and data from foreign threats, highlighting vulnerabilities like health data on US servers and geopolitical influences on international collaborations While instability in the US is creating opportunities for Canada to attract international research talent, Canadian academics face new travel hurdles to the US. The content underscores the complex balance required to safeguard national interests amidst shifting global academic landscapes, political pressures on universities, and the ongoing need to invest in domestic research.