Category: R&D Page 4 of 63

R&D: German Elections (2021)

On October 1, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers the German elections. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) won the largest number of seats, picking up fifty-three in the Bundestag for a total of 206. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance came in second, losing fifty seats for a total of 196. It is expected that the SPD will coalition with the Green Party and the Free Democrats, returning it to power for the first time since 2005.

The victory of the Social Democratic Party in Germany’s election has raised questions over whether center-left parties across Europe could make a comeback.

Here’s a look at the factors that will influence whether a revival is possible.https://t.co/63NBoyTFb9

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 29, 2021

Olaf Scholz has some big shoes to fill.

The German Finance Minister has the best shot at forming a new German government after leading his Social Democratic Party to a narrow victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. https://t.co/wVQ2Cli6P0

— CNN International (@cnni) September 27, 2021

Olaf Scholz of Germany’s Social Democratic party says he wants to form a coalition with the Green and Free Democratic parties to tackle climate change https://t.co/vOXhJEGZxa

— New Scientist (@newscientist) September 29, 2021

R&D: AUKUS

On September 24, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers the AUKUS partnership. Announced on September 15, AUKUS is a trilateral security agreement between the United States, Great Britain, and Australia. The nations pledge to cooperate on defense issues and is seen by experts to be a counter to Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region, even though British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the British Parliament recently that the partnership is not meant to antagonize China. The European Union was less than thrilled with the agreement, with France recalling ambassadors to the United States and Australia last week after Australia cancelled plans to purchase French submarines for nuclear models from the United States and Great Britain.

A new security partnership, AUKUS, will deliver nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. This sets a troubling precedent for nuclear nonproliferation policy.@james_acton32 highlights this precedent and what can be done to offset its consequences: https://t.co/VpeKV7FV2H

— Carnegie Endowment (@CarnegieEndow) September 22, 2021

Balance is needed between the hard power of AUKUS and the collaboration and rules-based competition with China that are required for climate diplomacy and trade https://t.co/yddCnaUr2p

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) September 23, 2021

“Raising the costs for major Indo-Pacific powers of going to war is in Indonesia’s interests, but not if that means China has greater maritime capabilities which threaten Indonesia or are used in grey-zone operations.” Read @SecurityScholar on #AUKUS: https://t.co/ZbQWbkdFsm

— Brookings FP (@BrookingsFP) September 23, 2021

R&D: The California Recall Election (2021)

On September 17, 2021

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D covers Tuesday’s California recall election. Governor Gavin Newsom survived the recall effort, with 64% of voters (as of the time of this writing) voting “No” to his ouster. Republican Larry Elder won the most votes on the second ballot question of who would replace Newsom if the recall was successful. Some analysts argue that the results bode well for a Democratic midterm strategy of connecting Republican candidates to former President Donald Trump.

California voters and Newsom’s political allies stepped up to defend the governor from the GOP-led recall, delivering a win that paves the way to his reelection next year. https://t.co/t89v3KmncB

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) September 16, 2021

Now that the dust has settled and (most of) the ballots counted, here are a few thoughts (from Hoover fellow @billwhalenCA) on what transpired in California earlier this week and a recall election that failed to oust Governor Gavin Newsom from office: https://t.co/6KzEnGaGym

— Hoover Institution (@HooverInst) September 16, 2021

How much did the 2021 recall election cost?

California lawmakers agreed to spend at least $276 million in the most recent state budget to cover the costs, but some elections officials have estimated the final tab will be closer to $300 million.https://t.co/tj4Ha2ltAE

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) September 16, 2021

R&D from Prepd: Brazilian Politics

On September 10, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D is on recent developments in Brazilian politics. President Jair Bolsonaro recently called on his supporters to gather in the capital of Brasilia to express their support for his administration and protest the actions of the nation’s Supreme Court. Brazil will not have a presidential election until fall, but observers fear that Bolsonaro is riling up his base to challenge the result of that election. There were also fears that Bolsonaro’s backers would try to overrun the Supreme Court building, which would be Brazil’s version of the January 6 Capitol riot in the United States.

Tuesday’s protests across Brazil demonstrated that President Bolsonaro may be too weak to stage a coup, but he is still strong enough to remain in power and produce a permanent constitutional crisis. @OliverStuenkel writes in @AmerQuarterly: https://t.co/ZhdH9BqXFn

— Carnegie Endowment (@CarnegieEndow) September 9, 2021

Brazil’s next presidential election is 13 months away, but already President Jair Bolsonaro has set out on a path that puts him on a collision course with democracy. https://t.co/Mpyo0KYrqP

— World Politics Review (@WPReview) September 5, 2021

Protests called by President Jair Bolsonaro for Brazil’s independence day turned out peaceful. But reasons for deep worry remain, @hoganem tells “The Intelligence” https://t.co/wB1C9J9zCx

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) September 8, 2021

R&D from Prepd: Hurricane Ida

On September 3, 2021

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D is on Hurricane Ida. The category four hurricane made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday afternoon, knocking out power for one million residents and creating a great deal of damage in New Orleans. Thus far it has caused at least fifty deaths and more than $15 billion in property damage. Ida is the second-most powerful hurricane to hit Louisiana, trailing only Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

What saved human lives in Louisiana was real infrastructure. The low death toll in Louisiana this week is a revealing but cautionary American success story, writes @DanHenninger https://t.co/DSJPTzabQK

— WSJ Editorial Page (@WSJopinion) September 2, 2021

As many as 25,000 utility workers from 38 states are headed to Louisiana as part of a massive effort to restore power after Hurricane Ida https://t.co/sOea0gZ6Cq

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 2, 2021

Can Hurricane Ida move public opinion on climate change?https://t.co/GDVX8rqiRW

— TIME (@TIME) September 2, 2021

R&D from Prepd: Canada’s Elections

On August 27, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D is on Canada’s elections. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a snap election last week in a bid to win a governing majority and secure the votes necessary to enlarge COVID-19 relief and pass climate change legislation. Currently, Canada’s Liberal Party, which Trudeau leads, is ruling with a plurality of votes in the Canadian parliament. The elections are scheduled for September 20.

Now could be the perfect time for an election in Canada for the Liberal Party. Half of Canadians think Justin Trudeau’s government has handled the pandemic well https://t.co/Hc7imAZzrv

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) August 22, 2021

Canada halted evacuations of its citizens and vulnerable Afghans who assisted Western nations in Afghanistan. With elections around the corner, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces questions over his handling of this month’s chaos in Kabul https://t.co/kk1y9dwJFs #Elxn44 pic.twitter.com/OoLpDlcmPG

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 26, 2021

While not an attractive platform, a successful leader will need to address the international pandemic strategy, as this will be an integral part of global diplomacy.

Canada’s global pandemic strategy is missing from election dialogue#Opinion by @zchagla https://t.co/gMfhIVeFEM

— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) August 25, 2021

R&D: American Infrastructure

On August 20, 2021

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D is on American infrastructure. The Biden administration has made upgrading American infrastructure a policy priority and worked across the aisle with Republicans on a $1 trillion package in the Senate. The House has yet to vote on the legislation, but progressives are threatening to balk unless the chamber votes on President Biden’s $3.5 trillion social infrastructure package first. Passage of either bill would be a major domestic success for President Biden, but is also showing the difficulties of moving legislation in today’s partisan climate.

What’s in the U.S. Senate’s infrastructure bill?

Here’s a comparison of the plan President Biden proposed in March and the one that passed on Tuesday. https://t.co/ZffSvPfjSK

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 10, 2021

From @WSJopinion: As Biden’s approval rating falls, the President needs a win. But Congress isn’t poised to provide, as Democrats feud over the infrastructure bill and budget resolution, writes @BillGalston https://t.co/3tzfrOOioT

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 18, 2021

The bipartisan infrastructure bill includes $65 billion for internet development – some states need more help than others. https://t.co/Tv3wdDub6O

— U.S. News & World Report (@usnews) August 17, 2021

R&D from Prepd: The War in Afghanistan

On August 13, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D is on the war in Afghanistan. In 2001, the United States helped the Northern Alliance overthrow Afghanistan’s Taliban regime due to the Taliban harboring 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. Now, the United States is withdrawing its forces from the country and the Taliban has captured nearly a dozen of the country’s provincial capitals. International observers question whether the Afghan government can fight on its own and worry about how a restored Taliban regime will treat the rights of women, ethnic minorities, and political dissidents.

The West may want to forget about Afghanistan, but that won’t be possible. Of the many bad options Biden faced, he chose perhaps the worst. https://t.co/9jjZaUy8Zh

— World Politics Review (@WPReview) August 12, 2021

Ideally, America would not be withdrawing its forces from Afghanistan at all. Its rush for the exit has allowed the Taliban to drop the pretence of negotiations https://t.co/vTAszVNlFi

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) August 12, 2021

The Islamist group was in power in Afghanistan until the US led invasion in 2001https://t.co/ittpBn3iSI

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 12, 2021

R&D from Prepd: School Mask Mandates

On August 6, 2021

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

This week’s R&D is on the debate over school mask mandates. While some states like South Carolina and Texas have prohibited schools from setting mask requirements, others like California and New Mexico will require them. The fight has become a grassroots battle over local education policy going into the 2021-2022 school year.

One of the first in the U.S. to start a new school year, Arizona provides an early indication of how mask-wearing could play out across the country https://t.co/j7Xh8n2ZSy

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 4, 2021

Read more about how students are adjusting to masks in school from @melissagomez004 at https://t.co/1alTkUmAXX

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 3, 2021

Arkansas is one of a handful that blocked school districts from mandating the use of masks in schools. Within days of reopening, hundreds were quarantined. https://t.co/ERPlCfabpT

— U.S. News & World Report (@usnews) August 5, 2021

R&D from Prepd: North America & the Caribbean

On June 13, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

As part of the leadup to the 2021 National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, Extemp Central will be providing daily research & development (R&D) posts for each of the tournament’s fourteen topic areas. These will include links to important articles about each. It is hoped that these will aid in extempers preparation for this year’s national tournament.

Canada’s Trudeau says he discussed border with Biden, but no deal https://t.co/pQw0GzpEgX pic.twitter.com/Ed36HvQcxE

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 13, 2021

Some fear that Mexico’s president may try to advance his agenda by calling for small referendums, or by going after judges https://t.co/FvU3om6Axx

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) June 13, 2021

R&D from Prepd: U.S. Foreign Policy

On June 13, 2021

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

As part of the leadup to the 2021 National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, Extemp Central will be providing daily research & development (R&D) posts for each of the tournament’s fourteen topic areas. These will include links to important articles about each. It is hoped that these will aid in extempers preparation for this year’s national tournament.

U.S. President Joe Biden is embracing an economic nationalism unheard of since the Cold War—only this time, the bogeyman is China, FP’s @michaelphirsh writes. https://t.co/py2NOKfTDL

— Foreign Policy (@ForeignPolicy) June 11, 2021

Biden’s decision reflects his foreign policy for the American middle-class paradigm, which focuses on domestic considerations over international ones. The irony, though, is that the American middle class largely doesn’t care about Afghanistan. https://t.co/XVjaKZ8GTM

— Brookings Institution (@BrookingsInst) June 7, 2021

R&D from Prepd: U.S. Economy & Business

On June 13, 2021

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

As part of the leadup to the 2021 National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, Extemp Central will be providing daily research & development (R&D) posts for each of the tournament’s fourteen topic areas. These will include links to important articles about each. It is hoped that these will aid in extempers preparation for this year’s national tournament.

U.S. jobless claims declined to a pandemic low last week, a sign companies are hesitant to lay off employees as the U.S. economy quickly recovers. https://t.co/ooV8eSVTMH

— Real Time Economics (@WSJecon) June 13, 2021

Heard on the Street: Jobs are hard to fill and wages are rising, but other factors will persuade the Federal Reserve to hold off on raising interest rates for now https://t.co/ZlZXhsAnEI

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 4, 2021

R&D from Prepd: Militaries & Armed Conflicts

On June 13, 2021

In International Extemp, R&D

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

As part of the leadup to the 2021 National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, Extemp Central will be providing daily research & development (R&D) posts for each of the tournament’s fourteen topic areas. These will include links to important articles about each. It is hoped that these will aid in extempers preparation for this year’s national tournament.

Our global conflict tracker #CrisisWatch helps decision-makers prevent deadly violence by keeping them up-to-date on 70+ conflicts and crises.

Here are some of this month’s highlights. ⇊ 🧵https://t.co/EA0c5ixL0z

— Crisis Group (@CrisisGroup) June 4, 2021

The coup has reignited conflicts between ethnic armed groups and the government, threatening to destabilize swaths of Myanmar’s borders with China, Thailand, India, and Bangladesh. https://t.co/NO2FJG2c1k

— Foreign Policy (@ForeignPolicy) June 8, 2021

R&D from Prepd: Transportation & Infrastructure

On June 12, 2021

In R&D, U.S. Extemp

Today’s R&D is brought to you by Prepd (pronounced “prepped”). Prepd is building debate technology that helps extempers and congressional debaters research, practice, and compete. Visit www.prepd.in to learn more.

As part of the leadup to the 2021 National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, Extemp Central will be providing daily research & development (R&D) posts for each of the tournament’s fourteen topic areas. These will include links to important articles about each. It is hoped that these will aid in extempers preparation for this year’s national tournament.

How the gas tax could help pay for a $1 trillion infrastructure proposal https://t.co/F0xVdifNbZ

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 12, 2021

A group of five Republicans and five Democrats reached an agreement on a proposed infrastructure spending bill https://t.co/VW9nPS24VT pic.twitter.com/5QQsQ9ZhMz

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 11, 2021

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