B. Novice Extemp Event Prompts

Round 1 (B)

  1. Speaker 1


    Speaker 1

    ·       Are President Trump’s economic policies strengthening or weakening the U.S. economy long term?

    ·       Do major tech companies have too much power over the economy?

    ·       Do targeted health welfare programs create a cycle of financial dependency in third world countries?

  2. Speaker 2


    Speaker 2

    ·       How has AI impacted the job market for recent graduates?

    ·       Is the American middle class disappearing among the high cost of living?

    ·       Is President Trump’s proposal to increase military spending to $1.5 trillion in 2027 necessary for U.S. security?

  3. Speaker 3


    Speaker 3

    ·       Would a significant increase in tax rates be worth it to achieve personal welfare initiatives such as free education and universal healthcare?

    ·       Has the rising cost of living gone to a point of no return?

    ·       Has President Trump’s economic policies and strategies improved the lives of working class Americans?

  4. Speaker 4


    Speaker 4

    ·       Should there be a cap on university tuition costs?

    ·       Are Zohran Mamdani’s goals of reducing the cost of living in New York City through government intervention realistic?

    ·       How have President Trump’s tariff policies impacted U.S. trade relations?

  5. Speaker 5


    Speaker 5

    ·       Are oil markets more influenced by geopolitics than supply and demand?

    ·       Has the U.S. made the right decision by decreasing their financial contributions to global public health in the past year?

    ·       Are college degrees decreasing in value amidst the current job market?

  6. Speaker 6


    Speaker 6

    ·       How can the federal government alleviate the financial burden of working class Americans?

    ·       Have wages kept up with the rising cost of living in America?

    ·       Does President Trump’s plan to buy Greenland have significant financial benefits for the U.S.?

  7. Speaker 7


    Speaker 7

    ·       Are labor unions helping or hurting the economy?

    ·       What is the impact of federal funding cuts to research?

    ·       Will President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair shift U.S. monetary policy?

Round 2 (B)

  1. Speaker 1


    Speaker 1

    ·       What should be the focus of Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign if she runs in 2028?

    ·       Does Kristi Noem’s leadership reflect systemic issues in federal immigration enforcement?

    ·       Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ready to run for presidency in 2028?

  2. Speaker 2


    Speaker 2

    ·       What will be Gavin Newsom’s legacy as governor of California?

    ·       Is JD Vance the strongest Republican candidate for the next presidential election?

    ·       How can Kamala Harris capitalize on current political dynamics to strengthen her national profile?

  3. Speaker 3


    Speaker 3

    ·       Does Zohran Mamdani have a good shot at the presidency in the future?

    ·       Will Gavin Newsom be leaving California in a better position than it was when he was first elected as governor?

    ·       What campaign strategy should JD Vance adopt to gain the support of the Republican Party if he runs for president in 2028?

  4. Speaker 4


    Speaker 4

    ·       Would Bernie Sanders have more success if he were to run for president in 2028 than he did in previous elections?

    ·       Should mayors like Minneapolis’ Jacob Frey have more influence in federal immigration policy decisions?

    ·       Is Kamala Harris or Gavin Newsom a stronger Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential election?

  5. Speaker 5


    Speaker 5

    ·       What can Democrats take away from Zohran Mamdani’s successful campaign for mayor of New York City?

    ·       Is JD Vance’s alliance with Trump strengthening or weakening his political future?

    ·       Should Susan Collins emphasize bipartisan policies in her reelection strategy?

  6. Speaker 6


    Speaker 6

    ·       Is Bernie Sanders’s “Fight Oligarchy” tour effective in mobilizing Democrats?

    ·       Has Nikki Haley remained relevant in national Republican politics?

    ·       Has Tim Walz’s response to federal forces in Minnesota strengthened his leadership profile?

  7. Speaker 7


    Speaker 7

    ·       Does Buttigieg’s policy background help Democrats in swing districts?

    ·       Should Kristi Noem resign in response to the fatal Minneapolis shootouts and subsequent political backlash?

    ·       Does Gavin Newsom’s strategy of opposing Trump enhance or hinder his prospects for a future presidential run?

Round 3 (B)

  1. Speaker 1


    Speaker 1

          How will President Trump’s attempted acquisition of Greenland change the institution of the presidency?

          What are the potential consequences of a significant number of U.S. House members announcing they will not seek reelection?

          Can federal judicial independence remain secure when courts publicly rebuke executive agencies for noncompliance with court orders?

  2. Speaker 2


    Speaker 2

          How does the bipartisan deal to avert the partial shutdown reflect the presidency’s evolving role in legislative negotiation?

          How should the federal judiciary adopt formal standards for AI use in judicial decision-making?

          To what extent has recent presidential authority over executive agencies challenged constitutional norms and shaped public perception of the presidency?

  3. Speaker 3


    Speaker 3

          How does recent federal action to end large-scale ICE operations in Maine illustrate the president’s power to balance national enforcement priorities with local political pressures?

          How should Congress respond to partisan redistricting trends nationwide?

          What does the presidency’s current handling of domestic crises indicate about its ability to maintain bipartisan legitimacy?

  4. Speaker 4


    Speaker 4

          What broader implications do recent controversies have for the perceived constitutional limits of presidential power?

          How does Congress’ embrace of AI tools change the way it works?

          Does ongoing tension between the Department of Justice and federal judges threaten judicial impartiality or enhance judicial accountability?

  5. Speaker 5


    Speaker 5

          To what extent does Congress’ negotiation and approval process for government funding show Congress’ constitutional role in checking the executive branch?

          Does the October 2025 government shutdown and recent near-shutdown create cause for a change in Congress?

          How do the recent government shutdown threats demonstrate Congress’ current weaknesses?

  6. Speaker 6


    Speaker 6

          Does the Supreme Court’s handling of high-profile social issues strengthen or weaken the judiciary’s legitimacy?

          What can recent conflicts between federal courts and executive branch actions teach us about the separation of powers in the U.S. constitutional system?

          Given the growing caseload pressures faced by the federal judiciary, should Congress significantly expand the number of Article III judgeships?

  7. Speaker 7


    Speaker 7

          How has President Trump’s attacks on higher education changed free speech on college campuses?

          What are the implications of losing post doctorate workers in the US since President Trump took office?

          Should interfaith coalitions become a more standard part of social justice movements, given the recent collaboration of dozens of faith leaders in protests against federal immigration actions?

Finals (B)

  1. Speaker 1


    Speaker 1

    ·      What diplomatic avenues should the United States have pursued rather than coercive rhetoric in the Greenland dispute?

    ·      To what extent do forums like Davos meaningfully influence international cooperation?

    ·      How should international law treat attempts at forcible regime change?

  2. Speaker 2


    Speaker 2

    ·      What are the long-term implications for NATO if European leaders continue to resist U.S. policy on Greenland?

    ·      How should the EU pursue independent security arrangements apart from the U.S.?

    ·      What role should moral or religious leaders play in shaping international diplomacy?

  3. Speaker 3


    Speaker 3

    ·      What are the risks and rewards of reopening a U.S. embassy in Caracas?

    ·      How can diplomacy realistically reduce proxy wars involving Iran and its regional rivals?

    ·      Emerging Trade Blocs: What does the EU–India trade deal suggest about the future of Western economic leadership?

  4. Speaker 4


    Speaker 4

    ·      Do Iran’s recent emergency measures reduce conflict risk or invite instability?

    ·      Climate Diplomacy: Should climate policy be separated from broader foreign-policy disputes?

    ·      Proxy Warfare Solutions: What diplomatic mechanisms are most effective at de-escalating long-running proxy wars?

  5. Speaker 5


    Speaker 5

    ·      How should the UK approach economic engagement with China, if it strains U.S. relations?

    ·      Multilateral Diplomacy: How are international summits relevant in addressing today’s global crises?

    ·      How should states respond when neighbors rapidly expand military capabilities?

  6. Speaker 6


    Speaker 6

    ·      How could a major EU–India trade deal reshape global power dynamics?

    ·      How might closer EU–India economic ties affect China’s global influence?

    ·      How should the international community respond to North Korea’s renewed nuclear ambitions?

  7. Speaker 7


    Speaker 7

    ·      How should the United States respond to China’s growing diplomatic and economic influence in Latin America?

    ·      In what way are regional alliances more effective than global institutions in addressing modern security challenges?

    ·      Are recent international crises evidence of a declining U.S.-led world order, or a temporary disruption?