Current Extemp Topics

• 1

  January 2026 Extemp Topics

  NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
  January 2026

  Domestic

  Closed-Ended

  1. Will the continued release of details about Jeffrey Epstein undermine Donald Trump’s presidency?

  2. Will judicial restrictions prevent federal prosecutors from successfully recharging James Comey?

  3. Is White House aide Stephen Miller the primary influence on President Trump’s domestic agenda?

  4. Should the Trump administration reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug?

  5. Should individual states have the authority to regulate Artificial Intelligence?

  6. Will Republican members of Congress asserting their independence from the President perform better in the midterm elections?

  7. Will the Federal Reserve make further rate cuts anytime soon?

  8. Has the US military mishandled its attacks on alleged drug boats operating in the Caribbean?

  9. Should Colorado honor President Trump’s attempt to pardon Tina Peters?

  10. Will the National Trust for Historic Preservation succeed in its efforts to block the President’s plans for White House renovation?

  11. Will recent corporate tax cuts stimulate growth in the US economy?

  12. Has the United States Supreme Court increased presidential power at the expense of Congress?

  13. Is the City of Boston guilty of racial discrimination in its housing policies?

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  Domestic

  Open-Ended

  1. Who is the most likely candidate for President Trump to select as the next Federal Reserve Chair?

  2. What steps can the federal government take to increase the affordability of consumer goods?

  3. What actions can the Republican Party take to reduce the political consequences of rising health care costs?

  4. How will continued cuts by states to their environmental protection budgets impact the average American?

  5. What steps can the federal government take to reduce the number of deaths in immigration detention facilities?

  6. What insights can Democratic Party strategists draw from Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s mayoral election?

  7. How will Rep. Jasmin Crockett’s entry into the Texas Democratic Senate primary transform the race?

  8. What will be the political consequences of Indiana’s rejection of its congressional redistricting plan?

  9. What lessons can the United States learn from its investigation of pandemic aid fraud?

  10. What is likely responsible for the significant decrease in mass killings in the United States in 2025?

  11. What steps can the federal government take to encourage the training of K-12 teachers?

  12. What steps can be taken to limit the increasing frequency of measles outbreaks in the United States?

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  International

  Closed-Ended

  1. Is the new Syrian government taking sufficient steps to combat ISIS within its territory?

  2. Are recent Israeli actions against Hamas a violation of the terms of their ceasefire?

  3. Does Russia have any desire to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine?

  4. Will increasing criminal violence in Chile push the nation’s politics further to the right?

  5. Is any progress being made in advancing President Trump’s plans for Gaza?

  6. Will Canada succeed in its plans to lure researchers from the United States to move north?

  7. Should Kenya take steps to discourage women from migrating to Persian Gulf states?

  8. Has the peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda failed?

  9. Will Honduras succeed in bringing former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was pardoned by President Trump, to justice at home?

  10. Should other countries follow Australia’s lead and ban social media accounts for children under age 16?

  11. Does China have enough influence over Russia to end the war in Ukraine?

  12. Is Belarus succeeding in its efforts to improve relations with the United States?

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  International

  Open-Ended

  1. What steps can the United States take to restore peace between Thailand and Cambodia?

  2. What steps can Ukraine take to further protect its energy infrastructure?

  3. What steps can Nigeria take to reduce the occurrence of kidnappings there?

  4. How will President Trump’s comments about the Somali community in the United States impact US relations with the government in Somalia?

  5. How will the US conflict with Venezuela impact energy supplies to Cuba?

  6. What motivated Mexico to impose 50% tariffs on Chinese goods?

  7. What will be the consequences for China’s economy of decreased investment in property and infrastructure?

  8. How will the ongoing trade war between Pakistan and Afghanistan impact the livelihoods of people on both sides of the border?

  9. What steps can Japan take to deescalate tensions with China?

  10. What impact is India’s close relationship with Russia having on Russia’s war in Ukraine?

  11. What steps can the government of the Philippines take to improve flood control?

  12. What measures can India take to decrease air pollution in its cities?

  13. What steps can Bulgaria take to reduce public perceptions of government corruption?

• 2

  December 2025 Extemp Topics

  NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
  December 2025

  Domestic

  Closed-Ended

  1. Will Democrats succeed in convincing voters that Republicans bear responsibility for increases in Affordable Care Act premiums?

  2. Will recent controversies cause Tucker Carlson to lose his following among conservative media consumers?

  3. Does the outcome of the November 2025 elections indicate a shift of voters toward support for the Democratic Party?

  4. Does Representative Marjorie Taylor Green’s public split with President Trump signal an emerging divide within the Republican Party?

  5. Do opponents suing to block California’s “Proposition 50,” redrawing the boundaries of its Congressional districts, have a viable case?

  6. Is Alaska’s plan to allow voting by internet and phone a good idea?

  7. Will the controversy over releasing the Epstein files have any meaningful impact on the 2026 elections?

  8. Will continued attacks on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean destabilize America’s anti-drug alliances in Latin America?

  9. Will President Trump’s trade policy break America’s addiction to low-cost goods from overseas?

  10. Can the federal government afford making $2,000 payments to taxpayers as President Trump has suggested?

  11. Does the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have the capacity to return humans to the Moon as currently planned with the Artemis campaign?

  12. Is technology that interfaces computers with the human brain promising?

  13. Should America focus its resources on adapting to the effects of climate change rather than trying to prevent it?

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  Domestic

  Open-Ended

  1. How will the decision of a small group of Senate Democrats to support ending the government shutdown impact the Democratic Party’s support among voters?

  2. How did the longest government shutdown in United States history impact the American economy?

  3. How will the election of Zohran Mamdani impact the policies of New York City’s government?

  4. What weaknesses in America’s aviation infrastructure has the recent government shutdown exposed?

  5. What impact have tariffs had on the affordability of America’s food supply?

  6. How would President Trump’s plan to reduce the cost of GLP-1 medications impact the state of Americans’ health?

  7. How will the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s decision to shift funds intended to fight homelessness toward work and drug treatment programs impact efforts to support the unhoused?

  8. How is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement impacting support for the Republican Party?

  9. How will the federal government’s new eligibility restrictions for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits impact America’s attempts to combat hunger?

  10. How will recent Congressional legislation closing the “THC Loophole” impact the nation’s hemp industry?

  11. How has Senator Chuck Schumer’s leadership impacted the Democratic Party’s effectiveness in clarifying its message?

  12. What would be a good strategy for the federal government to curb inflation?

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  International

  Closed-Ended

  1. Should the United States authorize the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia?

  2. Will popular support for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum decrease amidst a wave of protests organized by members of Generation Z?

  3. Will Russian pressures on Ukrainians’ access to energy force Ukraine to give into Russian demands to cede territory?

  4. With the Gaza ceasefire well underway, are Gazans getting the food and water they need to survive?

  5. Will Canada’s drive to expand natural resource projects decrease the government’s support among indigenous communities?

  6. Does Pakistan’s growing favor in Washington pose a threat to India?

  7. With a ceasefire in Gaza now in place, is Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political position less secure?

  8. Will Emmanuel Macron soon be forced into dissolving France’s parliament and calling elections?

  9. Will Viktor Orbán lose elections in Hungary in 2026?

  10. Could the British government move to reverse its nearly decade-old Brexit decision?

  11. Can South Korea’s president repair strained relations with Japan?

  12. Can Taiwan protect itself without American support?

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  International

  Open-Ended

  1. What steps can the United Nations take to address mounting evidence of atrocities against civilians in Sudan?

  2. How will accusations of electoral irregularities in Bihar Province impact trust in the Modi government among Indian people?

  3. What steps can China take to slow the loss of factories moving to Vietnam?

  4. How will the scandal facing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor impact British support for the royal family?

  5. How will an ongoing corruption inquiry impact the Ukrainian people’s confidence in Volodymyr Zelensky?

  6. If the AI economy’s bubble bursts, what will be the impact on the global economy?

  7. What measures can China take to decrease the flow of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals out of the country?

  8. Other than a direct invasion of the island, what threats can China leverage against Taiwan?

  9. How will Lithuania’s decision to seal its border with Belarus impact the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad?

  10. What steps can Asian nations take to protect Rohingya refugees from Myanmar?

  11. What steps should Vietnam’s government take to sustain its remarkable economic growth?

  12. How will Timor-Leste benefit from joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?

  13. How will Japan’s new Prime Minister change the country’s defense policies?

• 3

  November 2025 Extemp Topics

  NFHS Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
  November 2025

  Domestic
  Closed-Ended 

  1. Will deployment of National Guard troops to more American cities lead to greater unrest in those communities?

  2. Will James Comey succeed in his efforts to have criminal charges against him thrown out of court?

  3. Will the spread of fake content on social media undermine users’ trust in the medium?

  4. Will rising iPhone sales strengthen Apple’s position in the increasingly competitive smartphone market?

  5. Will the Walt Disney Company be able to recover from the loss of business that occurred after the brief suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show?

  6. With early prototypes now available, will “flying cars” become mainstream?

  7. Does the US Department of Justice have a strong case against John Bolton?

  8. Should the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment extend to illegal drug users?

  9. Are US tariffs leading companies to consider bringing factories back to the United States?

  10. Has the federal government shutdown done damage to the US economy?

  11. Are secret collectible toys, such as Labubus, encouraging gambling behavior among young people?

  12. Will Congress be able to come to an agreement that preserves subsidies for the Affordable Care Act?

  13. Are US airstrikes on boats in the Caribbean legal?

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  Domestic
  Open-Ended 

  1. How will the lengthy shutdown of the federal government impact Americans’ perceptions of Congress?

  2. How will recently articulated hypotheses regarding the origins of Autism in children impact the advice doctors give parents?

  3. What will be the consequences for higher education institutions that reject the White House’s deal for future federal funding?

  4. What steps can high school football take to continue to reduce the risk of the sport for students?

  5. What steps is the Trump administration taking to ensure American access to rare earth minerals?

  6. What insights can we gain about the 2026 midterm elections from the results of the New York City mayoral elections?

  7. Who is best suited to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)?

  8. What steps can the federal government take to bring the cost of college under control?

  9. Why have inflatable costumes captured so much attention at recent protests in major cities?

  10. How is the AI boom helping San Francisco’s economy?

  11. How will the federal government shutdown impact US unemployment rates in coming months?

  12. How will delays by SpaceX and Blue Origin impact NASA’s strategy for returning to the moon?

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  International
  Closed-Ended

  1. Will America’s financial support to Argentina finally bring the Argentine economy the stability it needs?

  2. Will mediators be successful in getting Israel and Hamas to agree to additional stages of peace negotiations in Gaza?

  3. Should Venezuela anticipate a military invasion by the United States?

  4. Will the fragile cease fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan hold?

  5. Are protests led by Gen Z a growing threat to world governments?

  6. Will the military in Madagascar return power to a democratically elected civilian government or hold on to power themselves?

  7. Should Ukraine give up control of land currently occupied by Russia to bring a quicker end to the war?

  8. Was María Corina Machado a good choice for the Nobel Peace Prize?

  9. Is Qatar’s mediating role critical to achieving peace in the Middle East?

  10. Is China’s government succeeding in its war on corruption?

  11. With the re-election of its pro-European government, will Moldova move forward with its efforts to join the European Union (EU)?

  12. Is Britain’s Labour Party vulnerable to losing power?

  13. Should India’s government change its position on purchases of Russian oil?

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  International
  Open-Ended

  1. How will the recent theft of jewels from the Louvre in Paris, France change the security measures taken by major museums around the world?

  2. With the fracturing of Japan’s governing coalition, what must the Liberal Democratic Party do if it wishes to retain control of government?

  3. How will Rodrigo Paz’s election impact Bolivia’s government?

  4. How will the United States’ decision to deny Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine impact the ability of the country to continue its resistance against Russia?

  5. How will the impeachment of Peru’s president impact the stability of its government?

  6. Why is China cracking down on unauthorized Christian churches?

  7. What steps can the European Union take to prevent the Western Balkans from sliding into Russia’s orbit?

  8. How will the election of Andrej Babis impact the Czech Republic’s policy toward Ukraine?

  9. What steps can Baltic nations take to protect themselves against the “dark fleet” of unofficial Russian naval vessels?

  10. Why has illegal immigration to Europe reduced significantly in recent years?

  11. What steps can the United Nations take to regain international credibility?

  12. How do Israeli arms exports to Europe shape the relationship between the two parties?

• 4

  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?

• 5

  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? 

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  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? 

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  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? 

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  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?