B. Novice Extemporaneous Event Prompts

Round 1B 12:30pm (Extemp Prep 12:15pm)

  1. Speaker 1


    Are the 19% of mail in ballots rejected in Harris County are harbinger for the midterms nationwide?  

    Will higher prices at the pump or the grocery store hurt Democrats more in the midterms?  

    Will the hacker group Anonymous help or hurt the US with its threats of cyber-attacks on Russia?  

     

  2. Speaker 2


    Should Kim Fox resign for her handling of the Jussie Smollett case?  

    Is Florida’s Election Crimes Agency just political theater?  

    Is there a scenario where Biden would send US troops into Ukraine?  

     

  3. Speaker 3


    Are Herschal Walker’s public blunders trouble for the Republicans?  

    Would Congressional hearings with big oil executives help gas prices?  

    Do delivery delays with the at home COVID tests hurt Biden long-term? 

     

  4. Speaker 4


    Will the uptick in smash and grab robberies hurt Lori Lightfoot’s re-election chances?  

    What impact will Ron DeSantis’ Don’t Say Gay bill have on Florida’s educators?  

    Should the US support Poland giving Ukraine the fighter jets it’s asking for?

     

  5. Speaker 5


    Is “hybrid-warfare” any less of a threat to the US than traditional warfare?  

    With the public health system under fire, what can be done to regain trust? 

    Given the huge political divide in the US, is the State of the Union address no longer relevant?  

     

  6. Speaker 6


    If gas prices stay high, will it doom Democrats in the mid-terms?  

    What is the best strategy Beto can use to beat Abbot in November?  

    Would an Andrew Cuomo run doom Democrats in the New York general election?  

     

Round 2B 2:00pm Extemp Prep 1:45pm

  1. Speaker 1


    Would pausing the federal gas tax help or hurt the economy?  

    Is the US economy equipped for another potential COVID variant and shutdown?  

    If Russia defaults on their international debt, what does it mean for the Russian economy long-term? 

     

  2. Speaker 2


    Are cryptocurrencies a lifeline for Afghanistan?  

    Was Skokie giving Old Orchard Mall a sales tax increase necessary for future development? 

    Would the US lifting sanctions on Venezuela be enough to lift its struggling economy? 

     

  3. Speaker 3


    How will an increase in interest rates help curb inflation? 

    Will Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology pilot work for Whole Foods nationwide?  

    What affect will the Major League Baseball lockout have on their local economies? 

     

  4. Speaker 4


    How is the election of Yoon Suk-yeol a huge win for Bitcoin? 

    Are energy companies using inflation as a cover for gouging their consumers?  

    How will the trend of hotels adding surcharges for amenities and services impact consumers?  

     

  5. Speaker 5


    With inflation climbing to 7.9%, will raising the interest rate alone be enough? 

    If Russia defaults on their international debt, who outside of Russia gets hurt the most? 

    Will Starbucks’ plan to phase out disposable paper cups by the end of 2023 help their bottom line?  

     

  6. Speaker 6


    Should individual states or the federal government regulate cryptocurrencies?  

    How can Europe get by without Russian gas and oil long-term?  

    Can states afford to pay for infrastructure projects without the gas tax revenues?  

     

Final Round B 5:00pm (Draw @ 4:45 - Round @ 5:15)

  1. Speaker 1


    Does giving Ukraine fighter jets escalate the war or are they just another tool used for defense?  

    What does the election of Yoon Suk-yeol say about future relations with China?  

    How will the election of Gabriel Boric shape the writing of a new constitution?  

     

  2. Speaker 2


    Is NATO prepared to fight if Putin does not stop with Ukraine?  

    What can Biden do now to try and head-off China invading Taiwan?  

    Has Trudeau hurt his political future with his handling of the protests? 

     

  3. Speaker 3


    What message does the three EU prime ministers visiting a warzone in Kiev send? 

    Does Angela Merkel’s legacy include being too easy on Putin? 

    Will India’s firing of an ‘accidental missile’ into Pakistan lead to an increase of an already tense relationship? 

     

  4. Speaker 4


    Should NATO impose a no-fly-zone over Ukraine? 

    Is Yoon Suk-yeol’s hardline approach with North Korea a better strategy than his predecessor Moon Jae-in? 

    Should the US and its allies impose harsher sanctions on Belarus and Lukashenko? 

     

  5. Speaker 5


    Which world leader is doing the best job in helping Ukraine?  

    What can the West do to ensure China does not give aid to Russia? 

    Will the Australian lawsuit against Meta lead to any real change with Facebook? 

     

  6. Speaker 6


    Does the UN Security Council need to abolish the veto power of its’ members?  

    Is the international community doing enough to stave off a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine?  

    Does Modi have a political future if he cannot curb rampant unemployment and violence among the college educated?