A. Junior Extemporaneous Event Prompts
Round 1 - 9:00 (Draw at 8:45 in Forum) RT at 9:30
Speaker 1
1. Does Trump’s line about wanting to be a dictator for a day more represent political hyperbole or a real threat to democracy?
2. To what degree will the claims by federal prosecutors saying Alexander Smirnov was lying and connected to Russian intelligence contacts slow down Congressional investigations on the Bidens?
3. Alabama rules frozen embryos are “children”: Boon or Bane?
Speaker 2
Speaker Two
1. To what degree do the fines levied against Donald Trump curtail his potential return to the White House?
2. Should the Supreme Court strike down Texas’s social-media law?
3. The Biden administration plans to invest billions to replace China-made cranes at nation’s ports: Good policy or just good politics?
Speaker 3
1. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high), how badly are Republicans hurt in their national elections because of the campaign money going to Trump’s legal costs?
2. What are the odds that Representative Boebert will be able to convince a new district that she’s a viable candidate?
3. To what degree will the Fanni Willis conflict of interest charges weaken her case against Donald Trump?
Speaker 4
1. If they’re being realistic, who should GOP leaders hope Donald Trump names as his Veep running mate?
2. Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s military base camp in Eagle Pass: Good policy or just good politics?
3. If it were to get to the Supreme Court, what’s the likelihood that Alabama’s anti-IVF decision will stand?
Speaker 5
1. To what degree will the problems created by House Republicans hurt GOP efforts to win control of the Senate in 2024?
2. To what degree do the fined levied against Donald Trump end his viability as a entrepreneur?
3. Nikki Haley vows to stay in the race for the South Carolina primary and beyond: Should she?
Speaker 6
Speaker Six
1. Knowing there’s never the perfect analogy, how legit is it that Donald Trump is comparing his legal woes to Alexei Navalny?
2. Idaho wants to arm teachers: Boon or Bane?
3. How should the Supreme Court rule on the EPA/Clean Air Act “good neighbor” suit?
Round 2 - 12:00 (Draw at 11:45) RT at 12:30
Speaker 1
1. Would focusing on obesity meds be a smart stock buying strategy right now?
2. From a pure economic policy perspective- politics and personalities aside- who is the better president going into 2024- Biden or Trump?
3. To what degree does Walmart’s sales growth reflect an accurate picture of the US economy’s strength?
Speaker 2
1. Should the savvy investor buy or avoid Nvidia stock?
2. Should regulators allow Capital One to acquire Discover?
3. Consumer confidence seems to be rebounding- should it?
Speaker 3
1. US stocks have been on a nice run of late- what are the odds this continues through the rest of 2024?
2. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is calling for more US chip funding as AI fuels demand: Should we agree?
3. Government debt now exceeds 120% of GDP- how worried should we be?
Speaker 4
1. Is the Fed taking too long to start cutting rates?
2. Is DEI now bad for business?
3. Will the US love affair with trucks prevent small car EVs from taking off?
Speaker 5
1. In terms of the overall US economy, how concerned should we be about the layoffs in the tech sector?
2. Should we support FubuTV’s attempt to block the ESPN-Warner-Fox sports-streaming service?
3. Is it fair to blame the high cost of new homes mainly on 7%+ mortgage rates?
Speaker 6
1. Will oil prices continue to stay relatively low into early November?
2. To what degree should we trust Treasury Secretary Yellen’s approach to the losses in the commercial real estate sector?
3. Has the whole Nvidia earnings report focus been given too much attention by Wall Street?
Final Rd - 2:45
Speaker 1
1. The Economist declares Xi Jinping’s paranoia is hurting China: Should we agree?
2. Will the impact of the UN cybersecurity rule coming into effect significantly hurt EU automakers?
3. Concerning Iran’s actions in the Middle East, is it fair to say President Biden needs the US to do more, to do less, or is doing just enough?
Speaker 2
1. Unless action is taken, the US trade program, The African Growth and Opportunity Act, will expire in 2025- Should it?
2. For the savvy investor is now the time to take advantage of the bargains to be had or just stay away from China’s stock market?
3. How realistic is the fear that Russia is developing nuclear weapons to use in space?
Speaker 3
1. Should China be doing more than slashing lending rates as the economy falters?
2. Thailand and Indonesia ramp up incentives to boost EV demand: Good policy or just good politics?
3. What’s the likelihood that Iran can walk the line between disrupt US interests in the Middle East without provoking a direct confrontation?
Speaker 4
1. How much faith should we have in Pakistan’s proposed coalition government?
2. How should Taiwan respond to China after the deaths of fishermen?
3. Considering Russia’s banana rejection, should Ecuador continue to help source arms for Ukraine?
Speaker 5
1. Did the US do the right thing to veto the UN’s Gaza cease-fire plan?
2. Would Trump’s proposed 60% tariffs effectively decouple the US and China’s economies?
3. Is it too soon for international central banks to declare victory over inflation?
Speaker 6
1. Considering Prime Minister Orban’s relationship with Russia, how confident should we be that Hungary will actually follow through on ratifying Sweden’s bid to join NATO?
2. Ukraine’s leadership overhaul- meaningful or just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?
3. Considering how heavily China depends on the Red Sea, what is the likelihood the US could get their support in stopping Houthi attacks?
Speaker 7
1. A year from now, are we looking back and saying the offensive into Rafah marked the official start to the Israel-Egypt War?
2. Will recessions in Germany, Japan, and the UK spur a global recession?
3. From a pure foreign policy perspective- politics and personalities aside- who is the better president going into 2024- Biden or Trump?