February 2026 Extemp Topics

March 2, 2026

NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
February 2026

Domestic

Closed-Ended

  1. Is it in America's interest to take control over Greenland?

  2. Will the Department of Justice’s investigation into Minnesota Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey strengthen or weaken Democrats’ support in the state?

  3. Is the slowing rate of US inflation reducing Americans’ anxiety about the economy?

  4. Is Chuck Schumer restoring Democrats’ confidence in their ability to retake the Senate in 2026?

  5. Will Bill and Hillary Clinton’s refusal to honor a Congressional subpoena result in any legal consequences for the couple?

  6. Will President Trump succeed in his efforts to reduce costs for home buyers?

  7. Will Senator Mark Kelly prevail in his lawsuit against Secretary Pete Hegseth?

  8. Will Mary Peltola succeed in her longshot bid to win a Senate seat in Alaska for the Democrats?

  9. Can US oil companies succeed in reentering the Venezuelan oil market?

  10. Will Nicolas Maduro succeed in efforts to get his case thrown out of court?

  11. Will the continued release of portions of the Epstein files lead to political consequences for either major party?

  12. Should credit card companies be forced to cap interest rates?

  13. Should the US military pursue the production of soldier robots?

Open-Ended

  1. What steps can the federal government take to better define the limits of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) ability to use force?

  2. What actions can Congress take to reassert its historical role in the decision to use military force?

  3. How will the investigation of US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell impact the independence of the Federal Reserve’s future decisions?

  4. What steps must President Trump take to reverse his sagging poll numbers?

  5. With Republican seats in the House shrinking, what steps must Republican leadership take to keep their caucus unified on future votes?

  6. How will the State Department’s pause on issuing visas from 75 countries impact America’s foreign relations?

  7. How will recent federal revisions to dietary guidelines impact the health of American citizens?

  8. How will the Supreme Court likely rule on a challenge to bans on transgender athletes?

  9. How will President Trump’s declaration of a “Donroe Doctrine” impact America’s foreign relations?

  10. What steps should American universities take to raise their standing in global rankings?

  11. How will President Trump respond to Congressional reversals of his funding cuts?

  12. How are threats of lawsuits by the Trump administration impacting choices by the news media?

International

Closed-Ended

  1. Has the Iranian government succeeded in ending the latest threat to its rule?

  2. Is the threat of ISIS in Nigeria being exaggerated?

  3. Is NATO in jeopardy of collapse?

  4. Is China attempting to promote a maritime conflict with South Korea?

  5. Will America’s actions in Venezuela embolden China to violate the sovereignty of its neighbors?

  6. Should Latvia reverse its decision to shut down Russian language broadcasters?

  7. Is Europe’s current rate of military spending sufficient to check the threat from Russia?

  8. Is Reza Pahlavi a realistic alternative to lead Iran if the Islamic Republic falls?

  9. Will the rapid growth of the Southern Transitional Council’s territory result in an independent South Yemeni state?

  10. Is the cease fire in Gaza in danger of unraveling?

  11. Will the Alawites launch an insurgency against the new Syrian government?

  12. Is Kyrgyzstan’s democracy unraveling?

  13. Is Donald Trump correct in his assessment that the Cuban government’s days are numbered?

Open-Ended

  1. Who is most likely to succeed Erdogan as the leader of Turkey?

  2. What steps should Germany’s government take to revive its lagging economy?

  3. What steps can Ukraine take to reverse its recent losses to Russia on the battlefield?

  4. What steps can French leaders take to finally pass a budget?

  5. How will Albin Kurti’s election in Kosovo impact the country’s relations with Serbia?

  6. How strong are Albania’s prospects for gaining entry into the European Union?

  7. How will Israel benefit from its recognition of Somaliland?

  8. What changes must India make to its infrastructure if it wishes to accelerate its economic growth?

  9. What steps can Australia’s mainstream political parties take to curtail the growing strength of the far right One Nation party?

  10. Who is in the best position to successfully mediate between Thailand and Cambodia in their ongoing conflict?

  11. What must the remnants of the Maduro regime do if they wish to retain power in the long term?

  12. How will Robert Jenrick’s defection to the UK’s Reform Party impact the Conservative Party?