Current Extemp Topics

• 1

  October 2025 Extemp Topics

  NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
  October 2025

  Domestic
  Closed-Ended 

  1. Should the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reinstate the Fairness Doctrine?

  2. Will the deployment of the National Guard to some of the nation’s major cities produce a sustainable reduction in crime?

  3. Will America’s new efforts to police drug trafficking in the Caribbean have a tangible impact on the flow of drugs into the United States?

  4. Can the Pipeline Fund have an impact on Democratic Party successes in “down ballot” elections in the states?

  5. Is the United States losing the race to return to the Moon?

  6. Will revelations in Kamala Harris’ recent book help or hurt her prospects as a presidential candidate in 2028?

  7. Given recent pressures on the Federal Reserve, is the probability of significant interest rate reductions before the end of the year high?

  8. Is the New York City mayoral candidacy of Zohran Mamdani further dividing the Democratic Party?

  9. Should school administrators and university leaders be held responsible for statements made by their faculty in the classroom?

  10. Will the Searchlight Institute succeed in its efforts to pull the Democratic Party toward a more centrist outlook?

  11. Will Joe Manchin attempt a return to elected politics?

  12. With a Tik Tok deal concluded, can customers expect any changes in the service?

  13. Are social media influencers contributing to social disunity in the United States?

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  Domestic
  Open-Ended 

  1. What measures should college and university campuses take to improve the safety of visiting speakers?

  2. How will more restrictive rules regarding the H-1B visa impact America’s healthcare industry?

  3. What has caused the recent surge in enthusiasm for the WNBA?

  4. What steps can the federal government take to better combat food insecurity?

  5. How will new rules governing news gathering by Pentagon reporters impact the public’s perceptions of the US military?

  6. How will the Congressional redistricting efforts of several states impact the long-term balance of power in the House of Representatives?

  7. How will the Center for Disease Control (CDC)'s decision to delay the first dose of the MMR vaccine in children impact the containment of childhood diseases?

  8. What can the United States do to play a bigger role in the rare earth magnets business?

  9. How will the Disney Company respond to the sudden increase in cancellations of their streaming service?

  10. Why did Nvidia toss a financial lifeline to its rival, Intel?

  11. What steps can the federal government take to strengthen the agriculture industry?

  12. How will late night television transform over the next two years?

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  International
  Closed-Ended

  1. Will Kenya’s use of antiterrorism courts to combat political dissent undermine the country’s democracy?

  2. Is the Shinawatra dynasty in Thailand at an end?

  3. Will US drug control activities in the Caribbean trigger armed conflict with Venezuela?

  4. Will the sentencing of Brazil’s former President, Jair Bolsonaro, bring renewed political instability to the country?

  5. Is Mark Carney improving Canada’s future economic prospects?

  6. Will Nepal’s lifting of its social media ban calm recent political conflict in the nation?

  7. Will recent recognition of a Palestinian State by various Western nations have any meaningful impact on the status of the ongoing Middle East conflict?

  8. Is NATO doing enough in response to Russian breaches of member nations’ airspace?

  9. Given the October 2025 referendum called by Republika Srpska over the verdict against Milorad Dodik, is Bosnia headed toward a constitutional split?

  10. Will Chinese automakers succeed in driving Western manufacturers from the market?

  11. Will the emerging Make England Great Again movement remake UK politics?

  12. Has the United Nations lost its relevance?

  13. Has Russia lost influence in the South Caucasus region?

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  International
  Open-Ended

  1. What can the Democratic Republic of Congo’s African neighbors do to curtail human rights abuses by the M23 rebels?

  2. How will closer relations between Canada and Mexico impact North American trade?

  3. What role should the United Nations play in regulating or restricting deep-sea mining?

  4. How will France’s ouster of its Prime Minister impact the leadership of President Macron?

  5. What actions would be required for Israel and Syria to achieve a lasting peace?

  6. How will Israel’s recent air strike in Qatar impact the Gulf state’s role as a peace broker in the region?

  7. How is the development of advanced drones impacting the global conduct of warfare?

  8. What message was sent by the joint appearance of Xi, Kim, and Putin at the recent 2025 Victory Day Parade in Beijing?

  9. How will the recent arrest and deportation of South Korean workers by the United States impact relations with their home country?

  10. What is allowing Russia’s strained economy to be sustained?

  11. What steps can the British government take to curtail rising food prices?

  12. What steps can Belarus take to slow its loss of independence to Russia?

• 2

  September 2025 Extemp Topics

  NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
  September 2025

  Domestic
  Closed-Ended 

  1. Given the recent controversy created by President Trump’s use of the National Guard as a police force in the District of Columbia, should efforts be renewed to seek statehood for the federal district? 

  2. With President Trump’s stepped-up law enforcement in the nation’s capital, will he attempt to extend federal policing to other major cities? 

  3. Will a Mississippi law banning the use of social media sites by minors survive scrutiny by federal courts? 

  4. Has the Justice Department been sufficiently transparent regarding its investigations of Jeffrey Epstein? 

  5. Should state legislators be held criminally liable if they deliberately avoid attending legislative sessions, as has recently happened in Texas? 

  6. Can Sherrod Brown mount a successful comeback in next year’s Ohio Senate race? 

  7. Has DOGE lost its steam after the departure of Elon Musk? 

  8. Should the United States change the way in which congressional districts are drawn? 

  9. With uncertainty over unemployment and inflation rates, will the Federal Reserve continue to hold the line on interest rates? 

  10. Should regulators follow the advice of former Texas Governor, Rick Perry, and deregulate the use of the psychotropic drug Ibogaine? 

  11. Will the change in leadership at the Bureau of Labor Statistics guarantee accurate employment data will be issued by the agency? 

  12. Is the United States doing enough to become self-reliant on microchip production? 

  13. Is the banking industry’s recent embrace of cryptocurrency good for the American economy? 

  ---

  Domestic
  Open-Ended 

  1. How will Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s taking direct control over the IRS impact the work of the agency? 

  2. How will recent orders to review historical content at National Parks and the Smithsonian Institution impact visitors’ understanding of American history? 

  3. How will the White House’s decision to host a UFC fight on its grounds on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence reflect on the Trump presidency? 

  4. What steps can the federal judiciary take to better protect its computer systems against cyberattacks? 

  5. How will increasing financial pressures impact the delivery of American higher education? 

  6. How can Democrats recapture the support of Black and Hispanic voters who shifted their support to Republicans in 2024? 

  7. How will President Trump’s decision to order the US military to deploy against drug cartels impact US relations with Latin America? 

  8. How will US actions to withdraw American leadership from the fight against climate change impact the efforts of other nations? 

  9. How will the policies of RFK, Jr., impact the delivery of vaccines for various seasonal infections this year? 

  10. How is President Trump’s popularity with the working class impacting the historical relationship between unions and the Democratic Party? 

  11. What impact is US tariff policy having on the American economy? 

  12. What do earnings reports by American car manufacturers say about the future of the US economy? 

  ---

  International
  Closed-Ended

  1. Is political change in Bangladesh moving too slowly to keep the peace there? 

  2. Should NATO extend security guarantees, based on Article V of the NATO Charter, to Ukraine despite its lacking membership in the organization? 

  3. Has the global demand for oil reached its peak? 

  4. Could the Zelensky presidency survive a decision to exchange Ukrainian land for peace with Russia? 

  5. Will discontent by Israeli protestors lead to a change in course by the Israeli government in Gaza? 

  6. Who will prevail in Bolivia’s presidential runoff election? 

  7. Can the International Criminal Court make a strong case for war crimes charges in Sudan’s Darfur region? 

  8. Should African nations expand American access to critical minerals at the expense of China? 

  9. Is Sara Duterte the probable front runner for the 2028 Philippine presidential election? 

  10. Should Japan increase its percentage of GDP spending on defense to 3.5%, as the United States recommends? 

  11. Should Norway break the limits of the Svalbard Treaty limiting its sovereignty over the islands? 

  12. Is it time for Switzerland to end its historical neutrality? 

  ---

  International
  Open-Ended

  1. What can global health organizations do to control the cholera outbreak in Africa? 

  2. What steps can the Israeli government take to curtail violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians living in the West Bank? 

  3. What concrete steps could the international community take to advance the creation of Palestinian state? 

  4. What steps can the government of Lesotho take to undo the damage caused to their economy by US tariffs? 

  5. How will South Africa’s corruption inquiry into the activities of its Police Minister impact support for the government? 

  6. What steps can Canada’s government take to better combat its annual wildfire problem? 

  7. What steps can India take to capitalize on the global demand for weight loss drugs? 

  8. What issues should Tamaki Yuichiro focus on if he wants to become Japan’s next Prime Minister? 

  9. What steps must Hezbollah's opponents in the Lebanese government take to minimize the organization’s influence? 

  10. What steps can European nations take to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by the Houthis? 

  11. What steps can Iraq’s government take to reduce Iran’s influence over Shia militias operating in its territory? 

  12. What must Western nations do if they want to get around China’s dominance of the rare earth minerals market? 

  13. What nation is best positioned to fill the gap in AIDS assistance to Africa with the withdrawal of US aid? 

• 3

  May 2025 Extemp Topics

  May 31, 2025

  NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
  May 2025

  Domestic
  Closed-Ended 

  1. Will the Trump national security team face any long-term repercussions due to the Signal text group scandal? 

  2. Will increasing public anxiety over future access to entitlements cause the Trump administration to stay away from Social Security and Medicare changes? 

  3. Is the Supreme Court becoming an unexpected site of resistance to Donald Trump's political agenda? 

  4. After his resignation from Congress, is there any political future for Matt Gaetz? 

  5. Between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro, who will emerge triumphant in the spat over the Trump administration’s economic policy? 

  6. Have the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies harmed the economies of America's rural communities? 

  7. Will new tariffs on foreign goods generate the revenue Donald Trump needs to cover his other objectives? 

  8. Will the use of artificial intelligence by online retailers be the final undoing of traditional retail stores? 

  9. With approval ratings on the decline, will President Trump change the direction of any of his current policies? 

  10. Could DOGE be successful under the leadership of someone other than Elon Musk? 

  11. Will Harvard ultimately prevail in its legal battles with the Trump administration? 

  12. Should Senator Chuck Schumer step down from his Democratic leadership positions? 

  13. Will the accidental deportations of US citizens and legal immigrants turn Americans against the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies? 

  ---

  Domestic
  Open-Ended 

  1. How will increased tariffs on goods imported to the United States impact Donald Trump's support in historically "red" states? 

  2. What steps can the Forward Party take to increase its influence in American politics? 

  3. With a contentious personal history with the President, what role does Steve Bannon play in the present MAGA movement? 

  4. How will the near elimination of USAID impact efforts to prevent the next global pandemic? 

  5. How will the emerging trade war between the United States and leading trading partners impact the American agricultural sector? 

  6. What steps can government take to spur capital investment in America's rural communities? 

  7. With growing uncertainty over the future of the US economy, what steps can the Federal Reserve Board take to prevent disaster? 

  8. What steps can the federal government take to combat the growing measles outbreak in the United States? 

  9. How will a decrease in Chinese-made goods in US markets impact the lives of everyday American consumers? 

  10. How will the recent arrest of a Wisconsin judge discourage other members of the judiciary from taking stances contrary to the Trump administration? 

  11. How will Washington State’s decision to cap rent impact the housing supply in that state? 

  12. How will Trump administration immigration policies impact the number of international students in the United States? 

  ---

  International
  Closed-Ended

  1. Will King Charles become Britain's secret weapon in maintaining good relations with the United States for the next four years? 

  2. Are retaliatory tariffs the right way for other countries to respond to Trump's tariffs? 

  3. Has the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) outlived its usefulness to its non-Russian members? 

  4. Have recent US actions proven the rules of the existing international economic order have no teeth? 

  5. Can Saudi Arabia find common cause with Israel to contain Iran's influence in the region? 

  6. With increasing uncertainty over the United States’ role in the Pacific, should South Korea develop an independent nuclear capability? 

  7. Will conflict between the Ethiopian government and the military in the semi-autonomous region of Tigray trigger renewed war between Ethiopia and Eritrea? 

  8. Is the Trump administration's foreign policy creating an opening for Cuba to increase its influence among neighboring Caribbean states? 

  9. Will the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s decision to negotiate with M23 bring about peace in the country? 

  10. Will the slowing Russian economy force Vladimir Putin to rethink his ongoing war with Ukraine?

  11. Are the actions of the Trump administration pushing the UK and the EU closer together? 

  12. Will Turkey’s arrest of a key opposition leader result in a backlash against the government there? 

  13. Should European nations invest in Ukraine’s growing defense industry? 

  ---

  International
  Open-Ended

  1. What steps can members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) take to bring the civil war in Myanmar to a peaceful conclusion? 

  2. Should the Arab League take a more active role in formulating a workable solution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza? 

  3. With the United States increasingly withdrawing itself from the international economic order, what nation is best positioned to set the tone for the order that takes its place? 

  4. What third party could serve as an effective broker of an equitable peace between Russia and Ukraine? 

  5. How will the death of Pope Francis impact the direction of the global Catholic Church? 

  6. How is El Salvador benefiting from its relationship with the Trump administration? 

  7. Why is Xi Jinping continuing his purge of the Chinese military? 

  8. Why do polls show Europeans are increasingly dissatisfied with democratic institutions? 

  9. What steps can Sweden take to protect its Sami people from the negative effects of mineral extraction? 

  10. Who is best positioned to carry the banner of the French far right with the sidelining of Marine Le Pen? 

  11. What role will the Druze people play in the rebuilding of a Syrian state? 

  12. How will recent democratic successes in South Korea impact its leadership in Asia? 

• 4

  April 2025 Extemp Topics

  April 30, 2025

  NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
  April 2025

  Domestic
  Closed-Ended 

  1. Will the Trump administration be able to garner the congressional votes necessary to completely close the Department of Education? 

  2. Will increasingly hostile town hall meetings held by members of Congress produce changes in Congressional votes? 

  3. Were Congressional Democrats mistaken in voting to support the recent Republican budget bill, avoiding the closure of the government? 

  4. Does Elon Musk have too much access to sensitive government information? 

  5. Should Columbia University have continued to resist Trump administration pressure to change its policies regarding student protests? 

  6. Will recent changes at the Veterans Administration erode military support for the President? 

  7. Should government officials be prohibited from communicating with encrypted messaging apps, such as Signal? 

  8. Is Gavin Newsom shifting his political positions to broaden his national appeal? 

  9. Is Chief Justice Roberts becoming a thorn in Donald Trump’s side? 

  10. Can Rand Paul succeed in his effort to stop Trump administration tariffs? 

  11. Will the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to accelerate deportations hold-up under continued scrutiny by the courts? 

  12. Will Gretchen Whitmer become a leading Democratic contender for President in 2028? 

  13. Can the Democratic Party retake Congress in 2026? 

  ---

  Domestic
  Open-Ended 

  1. How will new requirements to report to Social Security Administration offices for certain transactions impact American senior citizens? 

  2. How will the reduction of services in the Department of Education impact services for students with disabilities? 

  3. How will attacks on Tesla products and dealers impact Elon Musk’s future decision making as the head of the so named DOGE?

  4. What criteria should be used to determine whether a federal judge should be impeached? 

  5. How will increases in detentions at US airports impact the American tourism industry? 

  6. How will increasingly rough relations with Canada and Europe impact the sales of American arms manufacturers? 

  7. How will the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants impact levels of legal immigration to the United States? 

  8. How likely is it that the Federal Reserve Board will lower interest rates again soon? 

  9. What steps can the United States government take to prevent “stagflation”? 

  10. How will recent changes at Southwest Airlines impact the company’s profitability? 

  11. How will US tariffs impact the American agriculture industry? 

  12. How will the Trump administration’s commitment to expand production of fossil fuels impact the profits of American oil companies? 

  ---

  International
  Closed-Ended

  1. Can U.S. military action against the Houthi rebels in Yemen bring attacks on Red Sea shipping to an end? 

  2. Is Sudan’s military close to prevailing in its civil war? 

  3. Will continued tensions between Indian Hindus and Muslims break out into violent conflict? 

  4. Is there sufficient evidence for the International Criminal Court to convict Rodrigo Duterte of Crimes Against Humanity? 

  5. Despite increasing criticisms of Elon Musk, will his Starlink service continue to expand its overseas customer base? 

  6. Does the government of Pakistan have the capacity to defeat the Balochistan separatist movement? 

  7. If Russia and Ukraine manage to sign a ceasefire, will the parties be able to maintain it? 

  8. Does China pose a military threat to Australia? 

  9. Will the Russian public support an end to the war in Ukraine without total victory? 

  10. Will the European Union seek to curtail Apple’s commerce in the region? 

  11. Will Europe’s increased spending on defense boost the region’s economy? 

  12. Should Poland station British and French nuclear weapons on its soil? 

  13. Are drones the next new front in the international war on drugs? 

  14. Would President Zelensky prevail if Ukraine held elections today?

  ---

  International
  Open-Ended

  1. With the certainty of US protection no longer guaranteed, how will Germany’s role in the world change? 

  2. What steps can the international community take to ensure the conflict between Ukraine and Russia does not cause damage to nuclear power facilities? 

  3. How will the firing of Shin Bet director, Ronen Bar, impact Benjamin Netanyahu’s support among Israelis? 

  4. What steps can leaders in South Sudan take to prevent the country from tipping back into civil war? 

  5. How will El Salvador’s decision to help the Trump administration with mass deportations impact the country’s relations with the rest of Latin America? 

  6. How will declining tax revenues impact China’s ability to pay for its continued military expansion? 

  7. What steps must Iran take if it wishes to recover regional influence in the Middle East? 

  8. How will US tariffs on Mexican goods impact the Chinese economy? 

  9. How long will it take for Europe to rearm to a level sufficient to defend against Russia? 

  10. How can Taiwan reverse the rising global support for Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan? 

  11. How will the Labour Party’s welfare reform efforts impact their support among UK voters? 

  12. What steps must Lebanon’s government take to bring stability to its economy?

• 5

  March 2025 Extemp Topics

  March 29, 2025

  NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
  March 2025

  Domestic
  Closed-Ended 

  1. Will Eric Adams’ administration survive the intense scrutiny generated by the debate over the federal corruption charges he has faced?

  2. Will the possibility of Kamala Harris running for California governor deter other potential Democratic candidates from entering the race?

  3. Are cuts in staffing at the FDA making America’s food supply vulnerable?

  4. Will Steve Bannon’s anti-Musk message create a wedge between the President and the DOGE head?

  5. Has DOGE overreached by seeking access to personal Social Security, IRS, and Education department data?

  6. Are President Trump’s threatened tariffs meant for the long term or are they merely a negotiating tactic?

  7. Do recent crashes indicate that the FAA has an increasing airline safety problem?

  8. Would annexing Canada into the United States help or hurt the GOP in future elections?

  9. Can Congress make sufficient budget cuts to decrease American taxes?

  10. Will more states follow Utah’s lead and ban collective bargaining for public employees?

  11. Will President Trump’s attempts to expand executive power at the expense of Congress and the judiciary create a constitutional crisis?

  12. Are the reasons Americans purchase firearms changing?

  13. Did the State of New York overstep its requirement to test all patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms for COVID, influenza A and B, and Bird Flu?

  ---

  Domestic
  Open-Ended 

  1. What impact will new restrictions on trans athletes’ participation in sports have on the health and wellbeing of these students?

  2. How will the numerous recent resignations of Justice Department prosecutors and officials impact the ability of the department to function?

  3. What steps must the Trump administration take to carry out the goal of reducing the costs of in vitro fertilization?

  4. What will be Howard Lutnick’s top priorities as the new Commerce Secretary?

  5. What will the programming of the Kennedy Center look like under its new Board?

  6. What must Congressional Democrats do if they wish to assert greater resistance to President Trump’s agenda?

  7. What will be the impact of the Education department’s mandate for schools and colleges to eliminate race-based programs?

  8. What must national Democratic Party leaders do to energize their supporters before the midterm elections?

  9. With accusations of poor healthcare and funding problems, what can Planned Parenthood do to improve the services it provides?

  10. What steps can the federal government take to further curtail the spread of Bird Flu?

  11. How will the confirmation of RFK, Jr., impact the availability of mental health care in the United States?

  12. How will the decision to cut funding for USAID impact American soft power around the world?

  ---

  International
  Closed-Ended 

  1. Has the United States abandoned its European alliances?

  2. Should Ukraine give up the provinces occupied by Russia in exchange for an end to hostilities?

  3. Will President Trump’s proposal to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip ever be implemented?

  4. Will Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces succeed in their efforts to create a breakaway government?

  5. Should Latin American states refuse to cooperate with Trump administration deportation plans?

  6. Does Mexico have sufficient resources to improve security along their border with the United States?

  7. Should the European Union create its own standing army outside of NATO?

  8. Is the World Trade Organization in danger of collapse?

  9. Should Syria’s Kurdish militia disarm and integrate into the emerging national army?

  10. Should Egypt consider accepting the Trump administration’s proposal to relocate Gazans within their territory?

  11. Can China succeed in stimulating its economy’s private sector?

  12. With a decline in Hezbollah's influence, will Lebanon’s government succeed in extending its control over all its territory?

  13. Would President Zelensky prevail if Ukraine held elections today?

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  International
  Open-Ended

  1. How will an apparent warming of relations between the United States and Russia impact the security of former Soviet states?

  2. What steps can South African leaders take to improve rocky relations with the United States?

  3. How will the loss of US financial support from USAID impact efforts to combat AIDS in Africa?

  4. How will threats from the United States government impact the Canadian Conservative Party’s strategy for regaining control of Parliament?

  5. What action should the Colombian government take in response to Venezuelan support of Colombian rebels?

  6. What steps can the world community take to prevent a global trade war?

  7. How does China benefit from the end of funds from USAID?

  8. What steps can be taken to lift the people of East Timor out of poverty?

  9. How will recent statements by US officials help the electoral prospects of Europe’s far-right political parties?

  10. What steps must Australia take to strengthen its defense independence?

  11. What steps must Russia take if it wishes to stabilize its economy?

  12. What steps can Narendra Modi take to increase growth in the Indian economy?