September 2026 Extemp Topics

September 28, 2026

NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
September 2026

Domestic

Closed-Ended

  1. Can US Attorney General Todd Blanche ensure the independence of the Justice Department?

  2. Will Abdul El-Sayed’s candidacy cost the Democratic Party the Michigan Senate seat?

  3. Will the growing division between Progressive Democrats and Mainstream Democrats endanger the party’s future electoral success?

  4. Can Ohio’s Sherrod Brown succeed in his bid to return to the US Senate?

  5. Will stock trading by members of Congress be a significant campaign issue this fall?

  6. Should the federal government’s ability to use no-bid contracts be restricted?

  7. Will Amy Klobuchar prevail in the race for Minnesota Governor?

  8. Is the United States sufficiently prepared to thwart attempts by Iran to make strikes within US territory?

  9. Should the United States abide Bernie Sanders’ advice and pause the development of Artificial Intelligence?

  10. Will this summer’s nuisance of "diarrhea lettuce” lead to improved safeguards for the nation’s produce production?

  11. Will President Trump ever be able to complete the construction of the new White House ballroom?

  12. Will President Trump prevail in his efforts to end mail-in voting?

  13. Have chilly relations between Donald Trump and Elon Musk thawed?

Domestic

Open-Ended

  1. What steps should the federal government take to address declining reserves of fresh water in the nation’s reservoirs?

  2. What steps can the United States Navy take to address stress experienced by soldiers on long deployments?

  3. With opposition to data centers growing nationwide, what steps does the US artificial intelligence industry need to take to become the dominant global player?

  4. What steps can growing prediction market firms take to curb insider trading?

  5. How will Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s public decision to freeze her eggs impact public attitudes about fertility options for women?

  6. How significant is the alleged problem of non-citizens on the nation’s voter rolls?

  7. What would it take for independent candidates to succeed in national elections?

  8. How have James Talarico’s public pronouncements about his Christian faith impacted his campaign for Senate?

  9. What changes to the Supreme Court could increase public confidence in the institution?

  10. How will economic strains on rural America impact GOP prospects in November elections?

  11. What actions can the United States military take to accelerate the replenishment of its weapons stockpiles?

  12. What is the likelihood that President Trump will succeed in his efforts to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook?

International

Closed-Ended

  1. Will US negotiators succeed in advancing a peace plan for Gaza that Israel and Hamas can both accept?

  2. Will Israel’s control over the West Bank’s economy bankrupt the Palestinian National Authority?

  3. As the dominant global importer of oil, does China have a greater impact on the fluctuation of global oil prices than OPEC?

  4. Has Donald Trump’s inconsistent support of US allies in Asia strengthened China’s hand in bullying its neighbors?

  5. Is the possibility of Moldova merging with Romania growing?

  6. Are the aggressive efforts of Texas-based Greenland Energy to start oil exploration in Greenland an attempt to take control of the island by indirect means?

  7. Can French nuclear weapons become a source of protection for the rest of Western Europe?

  8. Can the Lebanese government succeed in disarming Hezbollah?

  9. Can Andy Burnham’s new administration in the UK improve the finances of the British government?

  10. Will the Syrian government’s decision to open the Assad regime’s nuclear program to UN inspections increase western support for Syria?

  11. Is Ukraine making significant inroads toward retaking Crimea?

  12. Will the proposed nuclear deal between Saudi Arabia and the United States lead to more Middle Eastern states pursuing nuclear programs?

  13. Will the economic cost of the war in Ukraine cause Russia to rethink its tactics?

International

Open-Ended

  1. How will the United States’ decision to reduce its participation in military exercises with South Korea impact South Korea’s delicate security situation?

  2. How have the conservative social policies advocated by Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party impacted public support for the government?

  3. How should India respond to recent protests by Gen Z activists?

  4. What steps can Laos take to fulfill its ambitions of being an energy exporting nation?

  5. How will Russia’s increased attacks on Ukraine impact Ukraine’s economy?

  6. What will be the economic impact of wildfires in France and Spain?

  7. How will Turkey’s new defense pact with Saudi Arabia change the security environment in the Middle East?

  8. How has America’s war with Iran impacted the government of Jordan?

  9. How long can Iran wait out Israel and the United States before they secure their desired terms for peace?

  10. What steps can the Cuban government take to forestall more aggressive action by the US government toward its regime?

  11. How should Spain handle the influx of refugees entering Ceuta from Morocco?

  12. What measures should Egypt take to ensure continued commercial traffic through the Red Sea?