October 2026 Extemp Topics

October 29, 2026

NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
October 2026

Domestic

Closed-Ended

  1. Were the results of the midterm elections a referendum on President Trump’s leadership? 

  2. Will President Trump’s deal to purchase Russian diesel fuel have a long-term impact on the price of fuel in the United States? 

  3. With evidence that suggests interest rates will remain elevated in the near term, is there any hope for recovery in the housing market? 

  4. Will Social Security’s annual cost of living adjustment be enough to meet seniors’ needs? 

  5. Is Generation Alpha turning against the use of Artificial Intelligence? 

  6. Can the United States win the global AI race while still regulating the technology? 

  7. Is Pete Hegseth’s leadership of the Department of War undermining US military readiness? 

  8. Will a lawsuit by terminated FBI employees bring down Kash Patel? 

  9. Should there be limits on federal campaign spending? 

  10. Does the Justice Department investigation of Ilhan Omar have any potential to produce criminal charges? 

  11. Should execution by lethal injection be prohibited as cruel and unusual punishment? 

  12. Should California ease its laws restricting urban sprawl to help alleviate the state’s housing crunch? 

Domestic

Open-Ended

  1. How will the work of the US Congress be impacted by the results of the midterm elections? 

  2. How will President Trump’s grip on the Republican Party be impacted by the results of the midterm elections? 

  3. How big of a factor was candidate spending in the outcome of Congressional elections? 

  4. How have federal policies impacted the livelihoods of American cattle farmers? 

  5. In light of the recent controversy at Cornell, what steps can colleges and universities take to reduce the threat of sexual assault? 

  6. In light of their involvement in supporting midterm election campaigns, which individual is emerging as the strongest option for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination? 

  7. Why are investors worried about surging spending on AI? 

  8. How will rising interest rates impact the US banking industry? 

  9. How will efforts by the Trump administration to roll back passenger rights impact consumer choices for airline travel? 

  10. What are the implications for minority housing given the October 2026 launch of HUD’s investigation into Wells Fargo’s lending practices? 

  11. How will restrictions in National Institutes for Health funding impact ongoing research into vaccines? 

  12. How will the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery change the landscape of American media? 

International

Closed-Ended

  1. Will Ukraine’s decision to defy President Trump and continue bombing Russian oil refineries result in an end to US aid to the war-torn nation? 

  2. Will the Parti Québécois’ success in recent provincial elections lead to a successful independence referendum in Quebec? 

  3. Will opposition to a resort development in Albania bring down the government there? 

  4. Could María Corina Machado’s opposition to Venezuela’s Alejandro Betancourt unravel her country’s oil partnership with the United States? 

  5. Would resumption of copper mining on Bougainville Island support or hinder the aspiring nation’s planned independence from Papua New Guinea? 

  6. Will recent drone strikes near the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea prompt NATO to commit further resources to the country’s defense? 

  7. Can NATO’s “block, blunt, break” strategy protect member nations from a future Russian attack? 

  8. Will Pakistan’s decision to seize control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s opposition-led government increase or decrease political stability in the nation? 

  9. Has Mark Carney’s approach to global leadership created a new model for leaders of mid-level world powers? 

  10. Is the global semiconductor industry on the verge of a collapse? 

  11. Can Gen-Z Kenyans succeed in denying William Ruto a second term as president? 

  12. Could Lebanon’s new amnesty law fuel Islamist opposition to the national government? 

  13. Will Ethiopia and Eritrea go to war once again? 

International

Open-Ended

  1. How will strikes by Russia and Ukraine on each others’ data centers impact their ability to carry out the war? 

  2. What steps can China take to reduce trade tensions with the European Union? 

  3. What steps can Kenya take to prevent the spread of Ebola there? 

  4. What steps must Angola take to strengthen its regional influence? 

  5. What actions should Nepal take to better protect itself against future flood risks? 

  6. How can the government of Saudi Arabia strengthen the security of its own cities in the wake of recent Houthi attacks? 

  7. How will China’s surging trade surplus impact relations with its trading partners? 

  8. What should India do to calm protesters upset with India’s Electoral Commission? 

  9. How difficult will it be for Israeli politicians to form a durable government in the wake of parliamentary elections? 

  10. How will America’s decision to allow the sale of Venezuelan oil to private enterprises in Cuba influence the growth of capitalism there? 

  11. How likely is the proposal by African nations for a remaking of the UN Security Council to succeed? 

  12. What factors are driving the growing surge in India’s manufacturing sector?