Monday, October 2, 2023

Extemp Questions - 2023 Sept.

  • What steps can the Biden administration take to make the US a better partner to the global south?
  • Can Speaker McCarthy stop GOP hardliners from shutting down the government?
  • Can this Congress get anything big accomplished before the 2024 election?
  • Should Senator McConnell resign over health concerns?
  • Will Congress pass the Afghan Adjustment Act?
  • Has climate change become a major national security issue?
  • Do economic sanctions still make any difference against North Korea?
  • How much is the environmental protest movement reshaping EU policy?
  • Will Bangladesh push forward with the legal case against Muhammad Yunus?
  • Has the pandemic permanently changed the role of women in the workplace?
  • Will the Biden administration be able to close the gun show loophole through executive action?
  • Can Congress avoid a government shutdown?
  • Are Macron’s policies making it more difficult for immigrants to integrate into French society?
  • What more should Japan be doing to adapt to its aging population?
  • What steps should the Japanese government take to address the low birth rate?
  • Can the enhanced child tax credit make it into the next Congressional budget?
  • Will his legal troubles impact Donald Trump’s ability to win the Republican nomination?
  • Will the AUW’s strike end successfully?
  • Will the 14th Amendment be used to block Trump from the ballot in 2024?
  • Is Ireland on a path towards unification?
  • Is there more the US can do to bring the warring sides in Sudan to the negotiating table?
  • Is the American market for legal marijuana oversaturated?
  • Is America facing a child care crisis?
  • What will a comprehensive partnership with the US mean for Vietnam’s future?
  • Are major police reforms needed in France?
  • Should there be a global tax regime to fund developing nations’ actions to combat climate change?
  • Is Ukraine’s counteroffensive progressing too slowly to be effective?
  • Will Thailand’s coalition government be able to actually govern?
  • What comes next for Gabon?
  • Should EU nations be doing more to ensure their own long-term energy security?
  • Will Congressional Republicans force the cutoff of aid to Ukraine?
  • How big of an issue will age be for President Biden’s campaign?
  • Will the right people be held responsible for the Greek migrant boat disaster?
  • Has the security situation in Haiti become unsolvable?
  • Can anyone act as an honest broker for peace between the warring sides in Sudan?
  • Will Zelenskyy’s decision to replace the defense minister make Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive more difficult?
  • Is global poverty driving up child sexual exploitation around the world?
  • How strong is Speaker McCarthy’s control over House Republicans?
  • Will Republicans in the House strip Kevin McCarthy of the Speaker’s gavel?
  • Can Ecuador’s upcoming elections bring it back from the brink?
  • Does Venezuela’s raid on a gang-run jail mark a turning point in the fight against criminal gangs?
  • Does social media have too much influence over American elections?
  • Should museums be forced to return artifacts acquired as a result of colonialism?
  • Will South Korea’s education system be reformed?
  • Has Brexit permanently changed the culture of UK politics?
  • Should the US reconsider the size of its overseas military troop presence?
  • Should the US hold back aid to Egypt?
  • Will the US cut back aid to Ukraine?
  • What does Senator Romney’s retirement signal about the future of the Republican Party?
  • Can the global south lead the way on climate change action?
  • Will Israel and Saudi Arabia normalize diplomatic relations?
  • What would diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia mean for the future of Palestine?
  • What can the international community do to make military coups less common in Africa?
  • Is China facing an economic fall?
  • How long will the UAW strike last?
  • Will artificial intelligence tools create more new problems than it helps solve?
  • Will Google’s antitrust lawsuit mean big changes coming for big tech?
  • Will Bosnia’s Serbs move towards secession?
  • Will education be a willing issue for Republicans in 2024?
  • Will the tragic flooding in Libya force government unity?
  • Will greater cooperation with Russia increase the threat posed by North Korea?
  • Can the US auto industry adapt quick enough for the switch to electric vehicles?
  • Is candidate age a bigger problem for Biden than it is for Trump?
  • What can the Biden White House do to drive up Democratic voter enthusiasm?
  • Will Congress restore the expanded child tax credit?
  • What role should the federal government play in recovering student learning loss from the pandemic?
  • Should the federal government dedicate more resources to the investigation of UAPs?
  • Is the ANC doing enough to address public outcry against migrants in South Africa?
  • Has the Biden administration given up trying to police the southern border?
  • What comes next for Iran’s protests over the compulsory hijab wearing?
  • What can be done to reverse the growing trend of gun suicides in America?
  • Will Prime Minister Modi face any political consequence for failing to adequately protect India’s minorities?
  • Where will the growing tensions between Canada and India go next?
  • Are disruptive protests hiring the green political movement in Europe?
  • Should international organizations play a bigger role in rooting out government corruption in Africa?
  • What should be done to get Chile’s economy back on the right track?
  • Has Rishi Sunak damaged the UK’s leadership role in the global fight to curb carbon emissions?
  • Is America’s security umbrella becoming less effective at countering China’s actions in the South China sea?
  • Will the violence in Nagorno Karabakh escalate into a full-blown war between Azerbaijan and Armenia?
  • Is a long-term peace in Nagorno Karabakh still possible?
  • Will the retirement of Rupert Murdoch damage the role Fox News plays in the conservative media ecosystem?
  • Will Senator Menendez resign?
  • Has the Biden administration been too soft with MBS over Saudi Arabia’s human rights practices?
  • Is reform of the UN Security Council needed?
  • Will the killing of migrants by border guards have any consequences for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
  • Has China’s Belt and Road Initiative been a success?
  • Should Lula be doing more to revitalize Brazil’s economy?
  • Are sanctions and war casualties starting to have an effect on the Russian public?
  • Does the center-left still have a future in Israeli politics?
  • Are we in the middle of a new global space race?
  • Is far-right ideology on the rise once again in Germany?
  • Will the impeachment inquiry into President Biden blow back on swing state Republicans?
  • Will Evergrande’s financial problems spill over into the larger Chinese economy?
  • What does victory look like for Ukraine?
  • What will France’s withdrawal from Niger mean for anti-terrorism efforts in the Sahel?
  • Is the Thai public ready to make reforms to the monarchy?
  • Does the return of Travis King signal hope for the relationship between the US and North Korea?
  • Is foreign military intervention necessary to avoid complete civil war in Haiti?
  • Will regulators be able to put sufficient safeguards around AI before it gets out of control?
  • Will environmental lawsuits brought by youth force governments to take more climate change action?
  • Will the New York summary judgment mean an end to the Trump business organization?
  • Is there anything left of Hong Kong’s autonomy?
  • Can anything be done to reverse Afghanistan’s economic collapse?
  • Will a government shutdown blow back harder on Democrats or Republicans?
  • Is a 45 day continuing resolution enough time for Congress to finalize an agreement on appropriations?
  • Can the Supreme Court be trusted to police its own ethics?
  • Will President Biden’s new Office of Gun Violence Prevent find success?
  • Is international aid and support starting to fall victim to Ukraine fatigue?


Saturday, September 2, 2023

Extemp Questions - 2023 August

  • Do the Democrats have a model for how to win in swing states in 2024?
  • Has Russian infighting weakened Vladimir Putin?
  • Has Gerrymandering destroyed America’s political center?
  • Has America’s special relationship with Saudi Arabia outlived its usefulness?
  • Has America’s special relationship with Israel outlived its usefulness?
  • Is America still a model for the world?
  • How far will China’s economic slowdown go?
  • Has the UN become obsolete?
  • Is it time for the US to expand the use of nuclear power?
  • Should the Supreme Court be expanded?
  • Will AI do more harm than good?
  • Will Australia vote in favor of recognizing its indigenous people?
  • Will Donald Trump’s multiple indictments matter to Republican primary voters?
  • Is an international military force necessary to stabilize Haiti?
  • Will drone attacks inside Russian borders harden the resolve of the Russian public for Putin’s war in Ukraine?
  • Will downgrading the US debt rating scare lawmakers straight when it comes to the debt ceiling?
  • How long can Myanmar’s military junta remain in power?
  • Will China face any consequences for helping Russia bypass international sanctions?
  • How will the military coup in Niger affect western nations’ involvement in the fight against Islamic extremists in the region?
  • Why are military coups becoming more common in west Africa?
  • Is government corruption still a major problem in Colombia?
  • Will the violence in India’s Manipur region spread?
  • Is Prime Minister Modi tacitly encouraging violence against India’s minority populations?
  • Are the Paris Agreement climate change goals an impossible dream?
  • Is peace in Yemen any closer to reality?
  • What can be done to end the fighting in Sudan?
  • Will Republican Party leadership continue to close ranks around Donald Trump?
  • Is Cambodia ready for a new generation of leadership?
  • Will Britain’s housing crisis cost Rishi Sunak the Prime Minister’s seat?
  • What should be done to fix Britain’s affordable housing crisis?
  • Has the Zanu PF party fixed the election in Zimbabwe?
  • Is the overturning of Roe responsible for an increase in domestic violence?
  • Do America’s allies have a reason to question the US commitment to the NATO alliance?
  • Will America’s green energy transition fall victim to NIMBY-ism?
  • Does Ron DeSantis still have a path to the Republican nomination in 2024?
  • Will Congress let Section 702 expire?
  • Should Congress renew Section 702?
  • Will federal and state indictments against Donald Trump and his allies drive down Republican voter turnout in 2024?
  • What can be done to slow the loss of Antarctic sea ice?
  • Will France withdraw from the Sahel?
  • Will Donald Trump face trial before the 2024 elections?
  • Is America any closer to achieving meaningful police reform?
  • Why haven’t more red states enacted greater support for mothers and infants in the wake of the Dobbs decision?
  • Will the Wager Group become the dominant security force in the Sahel?
  • Will pressure from ECOWAS force the coup leaders in Niger to reverse course?
  • Is America headed towards another government shutdown?
  • Is the crackdown of political opposition in Russia getting worse?
  • Will the return of Iran’s morality policy see renewed public protests?
  • Will more African nations pass strict anti-LGBTQ laws?
  • Has Speaker McCarthy lost control of the House?
  • Will Republicans in the House push forward with efforts to impeach President Biden?
  • Has the Taliban been successful at curbing narcotics production in Afghanistan?
  • What more should the US be doing to address the root causes of the migration crisis at the southern border?
  • Can Colombia’s President Petro finalize a peace deal with the ELN?
  • Will there be more shoes to drop in the Special Counsel’s investigation of Donald Trump?
  • Can anything be done to reverse the decline of local journalism across America?
  • Is the decline of local journalism contributing to America’s political polarization?
  • What steps should be taken to ensure that the opioid settlement funds are spent appropriately?
  • Should the US start to phase out assistance to Israel?
  • What can be done to stop the cycle of violence between Israeli settlers, Palestinians and the Israeli military?
  • Has the Iranian government quashed the protest movement that rose up after the death of Mahsa Amini?
  • Will ongoing ethics issues involving Justice Clarence Thomas force Congressional action?
  • Is public discontent in Iran growing once again?
  • Has organized crime in Ecuador become more powerful than the government?
  • Will the unfreezing of Iranian assets encourage more foreign governments to lock up Americans?
  • What more should the Biden administration do to speed visas for Afghan allies and their families?
  • Will Special Counsel Jack Smith indict Trump’s co-conspirators in the January 6’th care?
  • Are America’s campaign finance laws still effective?
  • Does America need new campaign finance reforms?
  • Will the Biden administration be more aggressive in enforcing environmental protections ahead of the 2024 elections?
  • Will Trump participate in the Republican primary debates?
  • Are the BRICS nations ready to expand their trading block?
  • What effect will the investigations into Hunter Biden have on Joe Biden’s re-election bid?
  • Will the effects of climate change force the federal government to significantly increase emergency spending?
  • Will abortion still be a winning issue for Democrats in 2024?
  • Should the Biden administration end contracts with private companies running immigration detention centers?
  • Should the Biden administration do more to ensure accountability for the mistreatment of immigration detainees?
  • Will indictments cut into Donald Trump’s campaign fundraising?
  • What can be done to reverse the trend of skilled workers leaving Zimbabwe?
  • Has government corruption in Argentina become impossible to control?
  • Is Ecuador becoming a failed state?
  • What can be done to reverse the growing trend of political violence in Ecuador?
  • Are sanctions taking their toll on the Russian economy?
  • Will the federal government shut down Texas Gov. Abbott’s Operation Lone Star?
  • Can President Biden energize Democratic voters to turn out in the 2024 elections?
  • What can the government in Zimbabwe do to bring in foreign investment?
  • Should western nations be engaging with the Afghan Taliban?
  • Is there more the US can do to confront Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses?
  • Will ECOWAS move forward with military intervention in Niger?
  • Can anything be done to get inflation under control in Zimbabwe?
  • Does America’s child care system need major overhaul?
  • Is it time for the US to have paid parental leave?
  • Will the Held v Montana decision trigger new youth-led environmental lawsuits across America?
  • How quickly should the Biden administration move forward with new restrictions on PFAS in water?
  • Does Ukraine need to recalibrate what a successful counteroffensive looks like?
  • What should be done about thefts from the British Museum?
  • Is solving rural poverty critical to India’s long-term security?
  • Will the trilateral agreement between Japan, South Korea and the US restrain China’s actions in the region?
  • Will Israel and Saudi Arabia normalize diplomatic relations?
  • Can Trump win a general election in 2024?
  • Will No Labels run a presidenta ticket in 2024?
  • What more can the US do to contain the North Korean nuclear threat?
  • Has South Korea become desensitized to the threat posed by North Korea?
  • Is the international security threat posed by North Korea growing?
  • Will the Purdue pharma case see the Supreme Court overhaul the US bankruptcy system?
  • Where should nuclear energy fit into a carbon-free future?
  • What will it take to put green energy on the grid?
  • Will pushing culture war issues work for Republican candidates in 2024?
  • Will Congress let the PEPFAR program expire?
  • How long can the Zanu PF party hold onto power in Zimbabwe?
  • Will India’s successful moon landing incentivize space exploration by other nations?
  • What does a successful moon landing mean for the future of India?
  • Will the death of Wagner’s leadership have a direct effect on the frontline fighting in Ukraine?
  • Can Guatemala’s new President find success in fighting corruption?
  •  Does it matter whether Donald Trump believes his own lies about the 2020 election?
  • Who won the first Republican primary debate?
  • Is China’s post-pandemic economic recovery starting to get back on track?
  • What more can Xi do to speed China’s economic recovery?
  • What measures should Congress take to help Americans adapt to the economic costs of extreme weather events becoming more common?
  • Is there discord among Taliban leadership over the restrictions placed on Afghan women?
  • What comes next for the opposition party in Zimbabwe?
  • What can Zimbabwe do to break out of its economic death spiral?
  • Can Argentina break out of its inflationary spiral?
  • What will the loss of Wagner’s top leadership mean for its ongoing operations in Africa?
  • Is the anger at Japan over the release of water from Fukushima justified?
  • What comes next for Thailand’s Move Forward Party?
  • What will the return of Thaksin Shinawatra mean for the future of Thailand?
  • Are former Russian prisoners freed after fighting in Ukraine creating new problems for the Russian public?
  • Should Congress have term limits?
  • What comes next for the Wagner Group forces around the world?
  • Is environmental radicalism on the rise in France?
  • Why doesn’t Germany’s Green Party have more political clout?
  • Can China’s economy adapt quick enough to meet its aging population?
  • Is China’s property market facing a collapse in the near term?
  • What can Congress do to rebuild public trust in the courts?
  • Will Israelis be allowed to enter the US without a visa?

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Extemp Questions - July 2023

  • Will the military coup in Niger isolate the country from western security support?
  • Will House Republicans seek a vote on impeachment of President Biden?
  • Has Canada made progress on addressing the historical mistreatment of First Nations peoples?
  • Will the Biden administration still be able to make good on promises for student debt relief?
  • Is the Supreme Court becoming a threat to American democracy?
  • Is Vladimir Putin’s grip on power slipping?
  • Does the west fundamentally misunderstand the Chinese economy?
  • What can the EU do to derisk from ties to the Chinese economy?
  • Will the Biden White House try to push for Supreme Court reforms in this session of Congress?
  • How much will infrastructure spending help Pres. Biden’s reelection bid in 2024?
  • Does RFK Jr. pose a serious threat to Biden in the Democratic primaries?
  • What should President Biden do to improve Democratic voter enthusiasm in 2024?
  • Can the EU come to a consensus over how to deal with the ongoing migrant crisis?
  • What policy changes can the EU make to better deal with the influx of asylum seekers?
  • Does the Fed need new tools better control inflation?
  • Does the Biden White House have a winning economic message or the 2024 campaign?
  • Will military operations in Jenin escalate the violence between Israelis and Palestinians?
  • How much responsibility does social media bear for America’s political polarization?
  • What can be done to bridge Americas’ partisan political divide?
  • Is West Bank violence turning into a third intifada?
  • How quickly will entitlements spending force Congress to deal with the national debt?
  • Can President Biden get his Bidenomnics messaging through to voters in 2024?
  • Is Russia’s influence in Africa waning?
  • Can China continue to grow it’s soft power influence around the world?
  • Will the end of the Ukraine grain deal bring about a global food crisis?
  • Will Senator Tuberville face any consequences over holding up military appointments?
  • Should the US close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay?
  • Is President Gustavo Petro delivering on his promises for peace in Colombia?
  • Have Palestinians given up on a two-state solution?
  • Is the support for armed militant groups growing among Palestinian youth?
  • Is Cuba’s fuel shortage reaching a crisis level?
  • Can the global south continue to remain neutral between Russia and the west?
  • Are critiques of the war in Ukraine starting to get through to the Russian public?
  • What would a Russia without Putin look like?
  • Is holding together the Ukraine coalition distracting the US from strategic risks posed by China?
  • Will state-level abortion restrictions work against Republican election campaigns in 2024?
  • Can the Supreme Court be trusted to self-regulate its own ethics practices?
  • Is America’s economic confidence on the upswing?
  • Has America become desensitized to mass shootings?
  • Will the inclusion of poison pill amendments put the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act in jeopardy?
  • Will violent protests force police reforms in France?
  • How worried should Democrats be about a third-party spoiler in the 2024 Presidential election?
  • Can Prime Minister Kishida’s plans revive Japan’s floundering birth rate?
  • Will Donald Trump be able to delay federal trial until after the 2024 elections?
  • Can Thailand’s Move Forward party find a way to build a coalition government?
  • What does the future hold for Thailand’s monarchy?
  • Can the global south lead the green energy transition?
  • How long will Hollywood stay out on strike?
  • Will Meta’s new Threads app kill Twitter?
  • How much will multiple trials interfere with Donald Trump’s campaigning for 2024?
  • Does America still face the threat of a serious economic recession?
  • What changes should be made to reform the H2-A guest worker visa program?
  • What can Argentina do to counter skyrocketing inflation?
  • Will Biden push Congress to pass Supreme Court ethics reforms?
  • What’s the Biden White House’s best strategy for implementing Supreme Court reforms?
  • What impact will the No Labels political movement have on the 2024 elections?
  • Does Ukraine have a future as a NATO member?
  • Will Ukraine be able to rely on continued American support for the long run?
  • Has the national 988 crisis hotline been a success?
  • Is Ukraine committed to meeting the qualifications for eventual NATO membership?
  • Are the actions of the Netanyahu government threatening the relationship between the US and Israel?
  • Is the fighting in Ukraine redefining the future of modern warfare?
  • What more can the Modi government do to stem the violence against India’s women?
  • What should President Erdogan do to bring foreign investment back to Turkey?
  • How much will the Private Travis King incident complicate the relationship between North and South Korea?
  • Will Columbia’s President Maduro survive the next election?
  • Will public protests force Netanyahu to back away from further judicial reforms?
  • Will Spain’s elections strengthen the Catalonian independence movement?
  • Will the UK’s Conservative Party call for an early election?
  • Can the US and China find ways to cooperate on countering climate change?
  • Are the Federal Reserve’s tools for managing inflation becoming obsolete?
  • Will snap elections in Spain see the far right return to power?
  • What comes next for Thailand’s Move Forward Party?
  • How big of a problem will deep fakes ein the 2024 elections?
  • Is violence against India’s minorities occuring with the tacit approval of the BJP?
  • What should Georgia Meloni’s government be doing to better integrate migrants into Italian society?
  • Is Netanyahu pushing Israel into an existential crisis?
  • What more should the US be doing to address the threat of cyberespionage?
  • How well is the Russian economy weathering the international sanctions?
  • Is the era of economic globalization coming to an end?
  • How much will Netanyahu’s judicial changes damage the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians?
  • Does the coup in Niger put the fight against militant jihadists in jeopardy?
  • Should members of Congress be prohibited from owning and trading stocks?
  • What can Erdogan do to turn around Turkey’s economy?
  • Can anything be done to bring Lebanon’s economy back to life?
  • How important is Sweden’s membership to the future of NATO?
  • How much will the end of the Ukraine grain deal affect global food prices?
  • Will the end of the Ukraine grain deal significantly impede the UN’s ability to provide food aid around the world?
  • How successful has Europe been at reducing its dependence on Russian gas?
  • Does the US need a national data privacy protection law?
  • Is the US headed towards an economic recession?
  • Has Congressional brinkmanship over the debt ceiling damaged the credibility of the dollar as the international reserve currency?
  • Can the damage to Florida’s coastal reefs be reversed?
  • Has the pandemic permanently changed the service industry labor market in America?
  • How quickly will Niger return to civilian rule?
  • Will India’s BJP face any political consequences over failing to protect the rights of minorities?
  • Has Secretary Yellen’s trip to Beijing has a positive impact on the US-China relationship?
  • Can the global shipping industry meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050?
  • Is India ready to recognize same-sex marriage?
  • What can the international community do to stop the flow of arms to Myanmar’s military Junta?
  • How quickly can America’s colleges and universities adapt to the end of affirmative action?
  • How effective has Attorney General Garland been at removing politics from the daily work of the DOJ?
  • Is America entering a new era of police reforms?
  • Is climate change damaging the long term economic prospects of the American west?


Sunday, July 2, 2023

Extemp Questions 2023 June

  • Will Chief Justice Roberts be forced to launch an investigation into ethical breaches on the Supreme Court?
  • Will federal indictment hurt Trump’s chances at winning the 2024 Republican nomination?
  • Does US debt held by China pose a significant national security risk?
  • What more can be done to block the actions of Wagner mercenaries operating in Africa?
  • Can Kevin McCarthy keep the slim Republican House majority united?
  • What will Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest mean for the future of the Scottish National Party?
  • What more can be done to better regulate police misconduct in America?
  • Should Congress rein in qualified immunity for law enforcement?
  • Will Section 702 be renewed?
  • Will attacks by anti-Kremlin paramilitaries work against the long-term interests of Ukraine?
  • Is Thai society ready to grant equal rights to LGBTQ+ people?
  • Can America’s economy continue to keep running with low unemployment?
  • Has Japan’s low birthrate reached a crisis level?
  • What pressure can be put on the RSF to end the fighting in Sudan?
  • How much will access to water limit economic growth in the American west?
  • Should more federal funding be directed at pediatric cancer research?
  • What steps should Chief Justice Roberts take to rebuild the public’s trust in the Supreme Court?
  • Will South Africa’s failing infrastructure oust the ANC from power?
  • Will NATO need a new military intervention in Kosovo?
  • Is foreign military intervention necessary to stabilize Haiti?
  • What will Trump’s indictment mean for the shape of the 2024 presidential race?
  • Will President Bukele be able to end gang violence in El Salvador?
  • How strong is the federal case against Donald Trump?
  • Can Rishi Sunak keep the UK’s Tories in power?
  • Is America’s banking sector headed for another big fall?
  • How much has brinksmanship over the debt ceiling hurt America’s economy?
  • Can the Fed bring down inflation without triggering a recession?
  • Should Congress move to strengthen the Voting Rights Act?
  • Will Republican Party leadership continue to stand behind Donald Trump?
  • How quickly will Donald Trump face trial in the Mar-a-Lago documents case?
  • What can be done to improve maternal mortality rates in America?
  • What would a successful counteroffensive look like for Ukraine?
  • Will Putin walk away from the Ukraine grain deal?
  • Can anything be done to improve racial disparities in American policing?
  • Is there anyone besides Trump with a real path forward in the 2024 GOP primaries?
  • Will the Partygate report in the UK bring any real accountability for Conservative leadership?
  • Should America have a universal basic income?
  • Have public protests made France ungovernable?
  • Is there more the UN can do to prevent the diversion of international food aid?
  • Should the UN deploy peacekeeping forces to Sudan?
  • How long can Myanmar’s military junta continue to hang onto power?
  • What can Rishi Sunak do to break through the UK’s sticky inflation?
  • What will it take to get Turkey to lift its block on Sweden’s NATO membership?
  • Will Bolsonaro be prevented from running for Brazil’s presidency again?
  • Should Congress be doing more to address America’s affordable housing shortage?
  • Who should finance the changes needed to address the problem of global carbon emissions?
  • How much progress has the British government made in reckoning with the Windrush generation?
  • Has Secretary Blinkin’s visit made progress on stabilizing the relationship between the US and China?
  • Will Boris Johnson try to make a political comeback in the future?
  • What should the US do to reduce the risks from economic ties to China?
  • What more should the international communit do to crack down on North Korea’s criminal activities abroad?
  • Has the world stopped caring about what’s going on in North Korea?
  • Is North Korea getting better at avoiding sanctions?
  • Is famine in North Korea reaching crisis levels?
  • Has the fringe independent state legislature theory finally been put to rest?
  • Is Russia getting better at avoiding international sanctions?
  • Will Burlesconi’s passing weaken Italy’s coalition government?
  • Is foreign military intervention necessary to stabilize the security situation in Haiti?
  • How will the end of affirmative action change college admissions?
  • What will Prigozhin’s aborted mutiny mean for Putin’s war in Ukraine?
  • Will Wagner’s mutiny strengthen Putin’s control of Russia in the long run?
  • Can anything be done to keep the violence in the West Bank from spiralling out of control?
  • Will Lukashenko take a more active role in Russia’s war on Ukraine?
  • Has South Korea become desensitized to the threat posed by North Korea?
  • What more should be done to reduce the global demand for palm oil?
  • Is an international convention needed to regulate the development of AI?
  • Will the violence in Kosovo continue to escalate?
  • What can be done to prevent genocide in Sudan?
  • Should the federal government ban TikTok?
  • Is China’s economy recovery faltering?
  • Is Turkey still a reliable NATO member?
  • Is the United Nations still fit for purpose?
  • How long can Putin continue to prosecute his war in Ukraine?
  • What can be done to prevent the escalation of political violence in the 2024 election cycle?
  • Can American students recover the learning lost during the pandemic?
  • Does the US need to fundamentally reshape how it deals with online misinformation?
  • Is there a path forward for Ukraine membership into NATO?
  • Will Trump’s growing legal troubles matter in the Republican primaries?
  • Can the federal government do more to make America’s major cities more environmentally sustainable?
  • Will the Wagner group be able to continue operating in Africa?
  • Will Syria take real action to stop the trade in Captagon across the Middle East?
  • Will the thawing relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran lead to greater stability across the region?
  • Will Donald Trump face further indictments from the Special Counsel?
  • What will  Boris Johnson’s resignation mean for the government of Rishi Sunak?

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Extemp Questions 2023 May

  • Will Turkey’s President Erdogan win reelection?
  • What steps can the Biden White House take to deter the practice of Americans being unlawfully detained abroad?
  • Will India be able to ensure food security for its growing population?
  • How much have sanctions damaged the Russian economy?
  • Have sanctions been successful at slowing Russia’s military progress in Ukraine?
  • What should India do to overcome the challenges of gender inequality?
  • What should the international community do to address the rampant violence and insecurity in Haiti?
  • Is the Special Counsel’s investigation into Donald Trump nearing an end?
  • Can Speaker McCarthy keep House Republicans united over the debt ceiling?
  • Can Peru still be called a democracy?
  • What can China do to better navigate the middle income trap?
  • What does the future hold for Turkey’s relationship with the rest of NATO?
  • Will the ongoing war in Ukraine strengthen Turkey’s role as a regional power?
  • When will Congress take up Section 230 reform?
  • Will the US default on its debt?
  • What can be done to make the debt ceiling less of a political football in the future?
  • Can Congress do more to ensure greater police accountability at the state and local level?
  • Should the US revoke China’s Most Favored Nation trading status?
  • Is America prepared for a war in cyberspace?
  • Should the federal government more tightly regulate the use of AI?
  • Should the UK abolish the monarchy?
  • Has the DOJ been effective at prosecuting the crimes from January 6, 2021?
  • Will the Biden administration take unilateral action to sidestep the debt ceiling?
  • Has America learned the right lessons from the COVID pandemic?
  • What should America do to prepare for the next pandemic?
  • What should America’s schools do to adapt to the widespread use of AI?
  • What should the Biden administration do to better adjust to the end of Title 42?
  • Will the arrest of Imran Khan bring violence to the streets of Pakistan?
  • How worried should the rest of the world be about the health of the US economy?
  • Will America’s credit rating be downgraded?
  • How important is rejoining the Arab League for the Assad regime in Syria?
  • Will Putin drag Belarus deeper into his war on Ukraine?
  • Will Imran Khan’s arrest force a showdown between the Pakistani public and the army?
  • Will the fighting in Sudan expand into a larger regional and tribal conflict?
  • Can modern aircraft turn the tide of the war in Ukraine?
  • How should King Charles III change the institution of the British monarchy?
  • Should Europe be doing more to better prepare for future droughts and water shortages?
  • How likely is a truce between the warring sides in Sudan?
  • Can China broker a deal for the repatriation of Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees?
  • Does the US copyright system need major reforms?
  • How long will violent protests against the government continue in France?
  • What should be done to mitigate the long-term risks posed by artificial intelligence?
  • What more should the US be doing to stop the influx of fentanyl?
  • Is there still a way forward for Sudan?
  • What will elections mean for the future of Thailand’s political leadership?
  • Can anything save Haiti?
  • Will mishandling Turkey’s economy cost Erdogan the presidency?
  • Will the final Durham Report force changes at the FBI and DOJ?
  • Was the Durham investigation a waste of time?
  • Is America’s influence in the Middle East being supplanted by China?
  • How much is European energy policy to blame for financing Russia’s war in Ukraine?
  • Will John Durham’s failure to successfully prosecute crimes damage William Barr’s legacy as Attorney General?
  • How successful has Attorney General Garland been at taking the political partisanship out of the DOJ?
  • Is America’s banking crisis over?
  • How long can Ukraine hold out in a war of attrition against Russia?
  • Is anti-abortion legislation doing damage to healthcare systems in red states?
  • Are mass arrests making El Salvador safer?
  • Should Europe be doing more to prepare for the long-term effects of climate change?
  • How quickly will Congress move to regulate artificial intelligence?
  • What more should Congress do to rebuild American manufacturing?
  • Is providing aid to Ukraine drawing down US military stockpiles too quickly?
  • Will Greece’s far-left party be trusted to continue running the government?
  • Will Greece’s economic problems force a coalition government in upcoming elections?
  • Will the surge of culture war legislation in red states turn off swing voters in 2024?
  • What’s behind Erdogan’s enduring popularity with Turkey’s voters?
  • What can be done to bring Argentina out of its economic crisis?
  • Will dissolving Ecuador’s national assembly save Guillermo Lasso's presidency?
  • Can India’s reformist parties build a viable coalition government?
  • Is an international peacekeeping force needed in Sudan?
  • Does the acrimony between Wagner and Kremlin leadership show cracks in Putin’s control of Russia?
  • Is the regional threat posed by Iran growing?
  • Has the school choice movement gone as far as it can?
  • Should private, parochial and home schools curriculum be held to the same standards as public schools?
  • Will Biden’s new border policy stem the tide of migrants?
  • Should Congress be enlarged?
  • Do local election results signal a change coming for Northern Ireland’s relationship to the UK?
  • Should Thailand’s burgeoning cannabis industry be more tightly controlled?
  • How big will the Republican field for President get?
  • Can President Lula push his legislative agenda through Brazil’s National Congress?
  • What measures can Congress take to make America’s schools safer?
  • Are geopolitical forces driving closer ties between India and Australia?
  • What will recent Supreme Court rulings mean for the EPA’s ability to protect America’s wetlands?
  • Is Ukraine doing enough to curb government corruption?
  • Will Erdogan’s reelection drive younger Turks out of the country?
  • Will snap elections see the far-right rise to power in Spain?
  • Has the end of Title 42 significantly degraded the federal government’s ability to deal with the migrant crisis?
  • What should Congress do to alleviate teacher shortages across the nation?
  • Can Turkey’s democracy survive another Erdogan term in office?
  • How much does a larger candidate field help Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries?
  • How effective are China’s efforts to crack down on dissidents living abroad?
  • Should the Biden administration move to strengthen protections for labor unions?
  • Should the US accelerate military aid to Ukraine?
  • Can the international community do more to condemn anti-LGBT laws in Uganda?
  • What comes next for Imran Khan and his PTI party?
  • Can the new Thai government find a way to break the cycle of military coups?
  • Has Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter been a success or a failure so far?
  • Will EU fines be enough to change the practices of American big tech companies?
  • Has meaningful political dissent been made impossible in Hong Kong?
  • Has the debt ceiling fight weakened Speaker McCarthy’s control of the House?
  • Is sportswashing working for Saudi Arabia?

Sunday, May 7, 2023

Extemp Questions 2023 April

  • Will China provide Russia with weapons for the war in Ukraine?
  • What further military aid should the US be providing to Ukraine?
  • Will the indictment of Donald Trump deepen America’s partisan political divisions?
  • Are recent changes to name, image and likeness rules fundamentally changing college sports?
  • What can the federal government do to help alleviate teacher shortages across America?
  • What will increasing dependence on Russia mean for the future of Belarus?
  • Will Sweden be allowed to join NATO?
  • Should the US push for stronger secondary sanctions on countries that continue to do major trade with Russia?
  • Has Putin’s war in Ukraine done lasting damage to the international order of law?
  • What will the end of Title 42 mean for the migrant crisis at the southern border?
  • Will the violence in Israel escalate to a larger regional conflict?
  • What can be done to calm rising violence between Israelis and Palestinians?
  • Does the Tennessee State Legislature’s move to expel members set a bad precedent for other states?
  • Should Justice Thomas be removed from the Supreme Court?
  • Does the Supreme Court need major ethics reforms?
  • Will the green energy transition happen fast enough to stave off the worst impacts of climate change?
  • How can America’s system of voting be made more fair?
  • How should America address the crisis at the southern border?
  • Will the war in Ukraine turn nuclear?
  • Should there be more government oversight in the development of artificial intelligence?
  • Is the American public’s tolerance for mass shooting starting to wane?
  • Will voter outage over the Dobbs decision persist through the 2024 election cycle?
  • How much will decoupling the American and Chinese economies harm global growth?
  • Will anti-LGBTQ legislation being pushedy in Reublican controlled state legislatures backfire politically in 2024?
  • Will the Dominion lawsuit settlement diminish the influence of Fox?
  • Will Scotland push for a new independence vote?
  • Should Europe step up its security intervention in the Sahel?
  • What will it take to restore a functional powersharing agreement in Northern Ireland?
  • Is its relationship with the US essential to Taiwan’s continued independence?
  • Will growing tensions between the US and Chian drive a new era of nuclear proliferation?
  • Can anything be done to end civilian casualties in Myanmar?
  • Is China’s era of “panda diplomacy” with the West coming to an end?
  • Are Israel and Hezbollah headed towards war?
  • How long can French workers keep up the protests against the Macron government?
  • Will infighting between military forces stall Sudan’s transition to a civilian-led government?
  • Can Israel avoid a new intifada?
  • Is the US losing influence in the Middle East?
  • Can Brazil’s President Lula reverse the environmental damage done under the previous Bolsonaro government?
  • Wil Germany enact stricter gun laws?
  • Is the relationship between the EU and the UK improving?
  • Will Judge Kacsmaryk’s ruling to ban abortion medications be upheld?
  • Should Australia’s aboriginal people have a treaty for self-determination with the government?
  • Is America headed for a debt default?
  • Is Ukraine getting the supplies it needs to launch an effective counteroffensive against Russian forces?
  • Does America still have a healthy democracy?
  • How damaging are recent intelligence leaks to America’s international alliances?
  • What will the Saudi-Iran agreement mean for wider regional security?
  • Is the deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran a big international win for China?
  • Does the US intelligence community have a big problem with overclassification?
  • What will NATO expansion mean for security in Europe?
  • Does the IMF need to make major reforms?
  • How much is previous international intervention to blame for Haiti’s current crisis?
  • Is there a legal solution to ensure ethics on the Supreme Court?
  • Has the news media learned its lesson when it comes to covering former President Trump?
  • Has the Republican Party learned any lessons from the 2022 midterms?
  • Will public outrage over pension changes drive more voters to Marine Le Pen and the National Rally in France’s next elections?
  • What can be done to stop the fighting in Sudan?
  • Does Latin America need to rethink the way it’s waging the war on drugs?
  • Will the Dominion lawsuit change any of Fox’s journalism practices?
  • Has Sudan fallen into a full-blown civil war?
  • What can Chief Justice Roberts do to rebuild the public’s trust in the Supreme Court?
  • What can Democrats do to win back Florida voters in 2024?
  • Can the political coalition opposing Turkey’s President Erdogan remain united?
  • Will South Korea move to develop its own nuclear weapons?
  • Can allies in the Asia-Pacific region continue to rely on the American security umbrella?
  • Will the AUKUS agreement drive a new cycle of military brinksmanship with China?
  • What more should the South Korean government do to address gender inequality in the workplace?
  • Can anyone act as an honest broker to end the fighting in Sudan?
  • Can India keep up its strong economic growth?
  • How will the explosion of AI technology affect the 2024 elections?
  • Will Finland’s membership strengthen the NATO alliance?
  • What can be done to reverse Argentina’s growing economic problems?
  • Have all prospects for a transition to civilian-led government in Sudan been dashed?
  • Is Biden too old to run again?
  • What kind of deal can Prime Minister Sunak cut with striking NHS workers?
  • Can Bibi Netayahu rein in the extremes of his governing coalition?
  • Will Netanhayu be forced to permanently withdraw his proposed judicial changes?
  • What can Republicans do to win over younger voters in 2024?
  • Can the Republican Party come to a consensus position on the issue of abortion?
  • Does Justice Thomas’ presence damage the credibility of the Supreme Court?
  • Has the Supreme Court been indelibly stained by political partisanship?
  • What can be done to restore political stability in Peru?
  • What will Tucker Carlson’s removal at Fox mean for the conservative media landscape?

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Extemp Questions - 2023 March

  •  Will anger over pension reforms disrupt the remainder of Emmanuel Macron’s time in office?
  • Is AMLO rigging future Mexican elections?
  • Does the US need to significantly increase its military production capacity?
  • Will China send arms to Putin?
  • Will public anger over Netanyahu’s government revitalize the political left in Israel?
  • Will public unrest take down Israel’s current governing coalition?
  • Will violent protests take down Macron’s government in France?
  • How important is it to determine the real origins of COVID-19?
  • Is the US headed over the fiscal cliff?
  • Will Italy be the weak link in Europe’s support for Ukraine?
  • Will Sweden be allowed to join NATO?
  • What will happen to the Rohingya refugees at Cox’s Bazar?
  • What more should Congress do to help the military meet its recruitment goals?
  • Should President Bidne step aside for a new generation of Democratic candidates?
  • Can public protests i Georgia stop authoritarian being pushed by the pro-Russia government?
  • Can Congress do more to close the gender pay gap?
  • What will it take for the US to closer the gender pay gap?
  • What can China expect from Xi Jinping’s third term in leadership?
  • Will anyone be held accountable for the poisoning of Iranian schoolgirls?
  • What will the new Windsor trade deal mean for the future of Northern Ireland?
  • Can Prime Minister Sunak deliver on the promised benefits of Brexit?
  • Will the diplomatic thaw between Saudi Arabia and Iran lead to an end to the war in Yemen?
  • Should the DOJ be doing more to proactively monitor state and local police?
  • Does the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank signal major trouble coming for America’s financial sector?
  • Can Pakistan negotiate a bailout deal with the IMF?
  • Will China’s military spending increases further damage regional stability?
  • Where should Bangladesh relocate displaced Rohingya refugees?
  • Will the Turkish government’s response to the earthquakes cost Erdogan te presidency?
  • What can Maduro do to rebuild the Venezuelan economy?
  • What can Nigeria’s new President do to solve the nation’s widespread security problems?
  • Should Congress do more to insulate the Federal Reserve from partisan political pressure?
  • Will stresses on the banks slow the Fed’s interest rate hikes?
  • Is more regulatory oversight needed on financial institutions?
  • Would a large candidate field advantage Donald Trump in his 2024 primary campaign?
  • Should the US reconsider further military support for Ukraine?
  • Will labor union strikes force Macron to back off his pension changes?
  • How much long-term damage have economic sanctions done to the Russian economy?
  • What lessons has China learned from the international reaction to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine?
  • What will it take to convince Putin to reverse course in Ukraine?
  • How effective has the international community been at enforcing sanctions against Russian oligarchs?
  • Can China be an honest broker for peace between Russia and Ukraine?
  • Will the new High Seas Treaty be effective at protecting ocean life?
  • Do recent troubles in banking signal coming instability in the world’s financial industry?
  • Can the US still solve inflation without triggering an economic recession?
  • What will it take for Congress to make a serious push at comprehensive immigration reform?
  • What would criminal indictment mean for Donald Trump’s 2024 Presidential run?
  • What more can US businesses do to build the pipeline for more women to enter senior management roles?
  • Has the Fed moved too fast in trying to curb inflation?
  • Can the European Central Bank get inflation under control?
  • What will the ICC issuing an warrant for Vladimir Putin mean for his war in Ukraine?
  • Does the downing of an American drone aircraft significantly increase the risk of armed conflict between the US and Russia?
  • Will a shaky banking sector drive the US into recession?
  • Will India legalize same-sex marriage?
  • How effective will the AUKUS agreement be at rebalancing regional power with China?
  • What will China’s decision to increase military spending mean for the regional balance of power?
  • What should be done to turn around America’s rise in maternal mortality?
  • What changes should the FAA make to ensure American aviation remains safe?
  • What can be done to shrink the influence of dark money in American poitics?
  • Can more be done to prevent the use of cryptocurrencies in global money laundering?
  • Will Congress pass a debt ceiling increase in time to avoid a default?
  • Will Congress take up Section 230 reforms?
  • Has the Mexican government lost the fight against the drug cartels?
  • Will Uganda’s new anti-LGBTQ legislation find its way to other African nations?
  • Can Social Security keep up with high inflation?
  • Is Netanyahu still in the driver’s seat of his coalition?
  • Has India’s BJP abused the court system to silence its political opposition?
  • Will the release of Paul Rusesabagina help rebuild the relationship between the US and Rwanda?
  • Should the US have a more active role in stabilizing Haiti?
  • Will the Yazidis ever see justice for atrocities committed under the Islamic State?
  • What’s stopping world leaders from taking the action necessary to tackle climate change?
  • What role should the US be playing in Iraq?
  • What lessons has the west learned from the invasion of Iraq?
  • What more should the Biden Administration be doing to ensure America’s energy security?
  • Will the IMF bailout put Sri Lanka’s economy back on the right track?
  • Has Netanyahu woken up Israel’s political left?
  • Will Putin’s decision to position nuclear weapons in Belarus elicit an escaatory response from the West?
  • Can anything be done to break Lebanon’s economic freefall?
  • Will conflicting budget priorities between the White House and the Republican-led House block a deal on the debt ceiling?
  • Does the US need a national data privacy law?
  • Is democracy still on the backslide in Israel?
  • Should Netanyau’s decision to delay judicial changes be seen as a win for Israeli democracy?
  • What should be done to depoliticize the Supreme Court?
  • Can Japan and South Korea set aside historical conflicts and work together on regional security issues?
  • Will criminal indictment derail Trump’s 2024 campaign?
  • Will the strikes in France continue to escalate in violence?