B. Novice Extemp Event Prompts
Round 1 (B)
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.?
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)
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?
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?
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?
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?
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 re‑election strategy?
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?
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)
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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)
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?