NFHS EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING TOPICS

March 2023

Domestic

Closed-Ended

1. Will the recent shootings at Michigan State University result in any movement on gun control legislation?

2. Will Ron DeSantis’ conservative takeover of the Board at the New College of Florida lead other conservative state governments to take similar actions at their universities?

3. Will the recent interception of unidentified balloons over US and Canadian airspace fuel a surge in conspiracy theories about UFOs?

4. Will Nikki Haley’s early campaign announcement give her an advantage over higher profile candidates like Trump and DeSantis?

5. Can Americans expect a small or large field of candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination?

6. Will Tesla management succeed in blocking unionization efforts by its employees?

7. Will Senator Fetterman’s openness about his mental health positively influence people in leadership positions to seek mental health care when needed?

8. Has President Biden’s emphasis on alleged GOP plans to cut Social Security and Medicare ended the threat of those cuts?

9. Was President Biden’s State of the Union address a political success?

10. Has the federal government mishandled the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and chemical spill?

11. Should the anti-overdose drug, Narcan, be sold over the counter?

12. Will the Congress and the President be able to achieve a bipartisan solution to the debt ceiling problem?

Open-Ended

1. How will the continued rise in food prices impact the disparities between rich and poor in the United States?

2. Why is gun ownership rising among demographic groups that have historically had low ownership?

3. How will the controversy surrounding the Chinese spy balloon shot down off South Carolina impact the security of American airspace?

4. What steps can the federal government take to prevent high energy prices from pushing more families into extreme poverty?

5. How will exposure of private communications about the 2020 election results by Fox news commentators change impact viewership for the network?

6. What policy changes should the Nashville police implement in response to the Tyre Nichols killing?

7. How is climate change impacting the price of consumer goods?

8. How will the discovery of more classified documents from the Obama presidency in President Biden’s possession impact his political standing?

9. With the announcement that Sen. Diane Feinstein will not seek re-election, who has the best shot at becoming her successor?

10. What steps must the federal government take to ensure the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund?

11. What should President Biden’s team do to lessen public perceptions that he is too old for the presidency?

12. What steps can the Biden administration take to reassure the business community that the government will not default on its debts?

13. What steps does House Speaker Kevin McCarthy need to take maintain a strong grip on the Republican caucus?

International

Closed-Ended

1. Should Russian leaders be subject to charges of “Crimes Against Humanity” by international bodies?

2. What has motivated Canada to deploy naval vessels to Haiti’s waters?

3. Will shared experiences of insurrection stemming from their elections strengthen the relationship between the presidents of Brazil and the United States?

4. Will Nicaragua’s recent unilateral release of political prisoners to the United States thaw the cold relations between the two countries?

5. Can China quell protests by its seniors over cuts to pension payments?

6. Can Ukraine expect the current level of western support for their defense against Russia continue indefinitely?

7. Is Germany’s intelligence service irreparably compromised?

8. Will the earthquake in Syria allow President Assad to regain greater international credibility?

9. Can Israel overhaul its judicial system without undermining democracy?

10. Will Lulas’s election in Brazil undermine his country’s economy?

11. Can Paraguay’s government bring corruption under control there?

12. Can Kenyan intervention bring peace to Congo?

Open-Ended

1. How will the Turkish government’s response to the earthquake disaster impact support for the government there?

2. Why has Kim Jung Un elevated the public profile of his young daughter?

3. Why is China using high altitude balloons for intelligence gathering rather than relying on its spy satellites?

4. What steps can the Australian government take to improve protection of the Great Barrier Reef?

5. How will the earthquake on the border of Turkey and Syria impact the ongoing civil war there?

6. How will the outcome of Nigeria’s presidential election impact political stability there?

7. How is Taliban rule impacting living conditions in Afghanistan?

8. How will the Indian government raid on a BBC office impact India’s relations with the UK?

9. What is responsible for the recent turnaround in the Japanese economy?

10. What steps can opposition groups take to end the long rule of Cambodia by Hun Sen?

11. What must the UK do to resolve negotiations over a trade agreement with the EU for Northern Ireland?

12. How will the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon impact the viability of the separatist movement in Scotland?

13. What must Russia do to rebuild the strength of its military?