NFHS EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING TOPICS

April 2023

Domestic

Closed-Ended

1. Has the Biden administration taken sufficient steps to protect the health and safety of Ohioans in the wake of the East Palestine train derailment?

2. Should state officials be allowed to take over the operation of local school districts they deem to be failing?

3. In the wake of recent heavy snowfalls, is the water crisis in California receding?

4. Will Florida’s “anti-woke” law survive continued scrutiny in the federal courts?

5. Will President Biden lose significant support among liberal Democrats for allowing the expansion of oil drilling in the Alaskan Arctic?

6. Have Biden administration actions to protect vulnerable banks calmed fears of a meltdown in American banking?

7. Will advocates of a ban on Chinese ownership of TikTok succeed in getting the company sold?

8. Can the Trump campaign weather the rising number of allegations of illegality stacking against it?

9. Will President Biden’s intensified focus on healthcare improve his favorability with senior voters?

10. Will the merger of the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads result in significant improvements in the transport of commercial freight across the United States?

11. Should the United States respond militarily when unmanned aerial vehicles are downed by other nations?

12. Will President Biden’s recent executive action further restricting gun access slow the nation’s epidemic of gun violence?

Open-Ended

1. How will the fallout from the killing of Irvo Otieno at a Virginia mental hospital influence procedures in America’s mental health facilities?

2. What steps can the US Coast Guard take to reduce the incidents of sexual assault at sea?

3. What will be the legal consequences for Donald Trump and his family in the wake of revelations that they received over $300,000 of gifts from foreign governments during the Trump presidency?

4. What must Mike Pence do if he wishes to further differentiate himself from Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential candidate field?

5. What can the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) do to address the recent increase in near misses between planes at America’s airports?

6. What will be the consequences for women’s health if federal courts restrict the availability of Mifepristone?

7. Which potential Republican presidential candidate would be the most supportive of Ukraine?

8. What will be the consequences for American homebuyers of continued instability in American banking?

9. How would Meta and Twitter benefit from further government action against TikTok?

10. Who has the most responsibility for the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank?

11. What steps should the Federal Reserve Board take to block a recession from happening?

12. How will the Proud Boys sedition trial impact the likelihood of future extremist groups attempting similar actions?

13. Will any of the Republican candidates who lost to Trump in 2016 reemerge in the 2024 primary?

International

Closed-Ended

1. Will the International Criminal Court’s indictment of Vladimir Putin have any meaningful impact on his actions in Ukraine going forward?

2. Why did Turkey change its mind and agree to move forward on ratification of NATO membership for Finland?

3. Can China be an honest broker for peace between Russia and Ukraine?

4. Is Japan doing enough to expand and modernize its military in light of growing regional threats?

5. Will the thaw in South Korea-Japan relations be sustained?

6. Will the use of a national medical license help Canada address its doctor shortage?

7. Is surveillance by Mexico’s military undermining the country’s democracy?

8. Is Australia giving up some of its independence by collaborating with the UK and USA in the development of new nuclear submarines?

9. Should the temporary misplacement of canisters of radioactive uranium and cesium in Libya and Thailand increase global fears of the proliferation of dirty bombs?

10. Does the resurgence of Austria’s far-right party signal a long-term shift in the nation’s politics?

11. Will political divisions in Israel cripple its current government?

12. Will the endorsement by Tunisia’s president of the “Great Replacement Theory” strengthen or weaken his power in the nation?

13. Could support for the restoration of the Pahlavi monarchy ever succeed in Iran?

Open-Ended

1. How will the decision by Slovakia and Poland to provide fighter jets impact Ukraine’s fighting ability?

2. How will the decision of the French government to raise the nation’s retirement age impact support for the government?

3. How can the West help curtail Russian efforts to destabilize the government in Moldova?

4. How will Iran be helped by the normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia?

5. How will China’s role in brokering talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran impact the country’s influence in the Middle East?

6. How should Canada respond to evidence that China interfered in its elections?

7. How will Australia’s decision to reinstate a decision banning alcohol consumption by the nation’s indigenous population impact the country’s reputation for supporting individual freedom?

8. How will Volkswagen’s planned investment in electric vehicles impact the global car industry?

9. What must China’s government do to boost consumer confidence in the country?

10. How will Dutch politics change with the victory of the nation’s pro-farmer party?

11. What steps must Germany take to minimize the economic weaknesses of the nation?

12. What steps can be taken to protect the interests of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine?