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?