NFHS EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING TOPICS

December 2023

Domestic

Closed-Ended

1. Can the Special Counsel in the Hunter Biden case succeed in his efforts to defend the integrity and independence of his prosecution?

2. Do RFK, Jr.’s strong poll numbers indicate his independent candidacy is a serious threat to the major party contenders for the presidency?

3. Should major retailers rethink their use of self-checkout lanes?

4. Can the United States anticipate an increase in unionization in the coming decade?

5. Is the increased US naval presence in the waters near Israel increasing the risk of US involvement in the conflict?

6. Can the Biden administration’s plan to use the Higher Education Act to provide student loan relief succeed where prior strategies have failed?

7. Has the GOP of today distanced itself from the legacy of Ronald Reagan?

8. Will President Biden’s Executive Order on AI provide the necessary safeguards to protect the American public?

9. Will Joe Manchin’s decision not to run for re-election doom the Democratic Party’s hopes for holding the Senate in 2024?

10. Will Congress continue to fund Israel’s military in 2024?

11. Are Democratic successes in November elections an indicator of likely success in 2024?

12. Considering recent poor polls, should Joe Biden get out of the race for President?

13. Should Eric Adams be concerned about the current investigation into his mayoral campaign donations?

Open-Ended

1. What steps can the federal government take to limit the growing national debt?

2. What actions can US colleges and universities take to quell conflict between supporters of Israel and the Palestinians?

3. How will an anticipated drop in the US population after 2100 impact the nation?

4. What will be the political consequences for Rep. Rashida Tlaib of her censure by the House of Representatives?

5. What arguments can advocates of permanent Daylight Savings Time use to finally get the change approved?

6. What steps can the government take to reduce the amount of food that is going into US landfills?

7. What steps must Rep. Dean Phillips take to make his primary challenge to President Biden viable?

8. What can social media companies do to limit the influence of AI on the 2024 elections?

9. After three debates, which GOP presidential candidate is proving to be the strongest alternative to Donald Trump?

10. What insights can be drawn from the success of Ohio’s abortion rights referendum about GOP prospects in 2024?

11. What insights can be drawn into the national parental rights movement from recent school board elections?

12. What steps can the United States take to increase the domestic production of batteries?

International

Closed-Ended

1. Will David Cameron’s appointment to the position of UK Foreign Secretary come back to haunt Prime Minister Sunak?

2. Will the war between Israel and Hamas bring down the Netanyahu government?

3. Is the continued rule of Sheikh Hassina in Bangladesh endangering democracy?

4. Can Justin Trudeau overcome growing criticism to get reelected?

5. Did the recent Biden-Xi meeting in California succeed in meaningfully improving ties?

6. Is South Korea’s president limiting press freedoms in the name of stopping disinformation?

7. Is China’s economy facing the threat of deflation?

8. Will moves toward reconciliation between China and Australia reduce tensions in the Pacific?

9. Will an offer of amnesty to former separatists help or hurt Pedro Sanchez’s electoral prospects in Spain?

10. Will growing protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza fuel antisemitism in Europe?

11. Will Prince Harry prevail in his defamation lawsuit against London’s Daily Mail?

12. Will Nawaz Sharif once again become Prime Minister of Pakistan?

13. Has the war in Gaza strengthened Iran’s power?

Open-Ended

1. How will the decision of Russia and NATO nations to withdraw from the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty impact European security?

2. What steps can the international community take to protect Gaza’s hospitals from bombardment?

3. What steps can the Israeli government take to improve conditions for Palestinians in the West Bank?

4. What explains Brazil’s growing success at limiting deforestation in the Amazon?

5. What must rebels in Myanmar do to remove the country’s military junta?

6. How might Israel lessen the harm to civilians in Gaza while limiting the strength of Hamas?

7. Why has Ukraine made less progress in its offensive against Russia?

8. What steps can India take to improve its efforts against air pollution?

9. What steps can Taiwan’s opposition parties take to unite?

10. What steps can Australia take to spur the growth of alternative energy?

11. What steps can countries in the Horn of Africa take to prevent Ethiopian aggression?

12. What would be necessary to revive a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine?