Category: U.S. Extemp Page 6 of 55

On May 23, 2022

1. How should the U.S. use international institutions to achieve its foreign policy goals?
2. What steps should the Biden administration be taking to prevent a major COVID-19 wave in the fall?
3. Is the U.S. providing too much military aid to Ukraine?
4. What role, if any, should the United States play in helping to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in North Korea?
5. Is John Fetterman the future of the Democratic Party?
6. Should the U.S. enact compulsory voting?
7. What lessons should public schools learn from the 2021-2022 school year?
8. Does the U.S. need a Disinformation Governance Board?
9. Will Elon Musk withdraw his bid to buy Twitter?
10. If the Supreme Court refused to recognize a right to privacy, what impacts would that have on American jurisprudence?

NSDA Nationals USX R&D from Prepd: Entitlements & Health Care

On May 19, 2022

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.

Over the next month and a half, Extemp Central will provide R&Ds on the topic areas for the 2022 NSDA National Tournament. USX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Thursday and IX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Friday. This is meant to help extempers assemble resources to prepare for the competition in Louisville. This week we tackle USX topic area #3 on entitlements and healthcare.

The history of U.S. entitlements is a 230-year record of continuous expansion and liberalization, writes John F. Coganhttps://t.co/yUhForIuoP

— Wall Street Journal Opinion (@WSJopinion) January 8, 2022

Up to 14M people could lose Medicaid coverage when health emergency ends: study https://t.co/OXMGU5NAp8 pic.twitter.com/JoWoP0P5rX

— The Hill (@thehill) May 10, 2022

If we adopt Medicare for All without remaking the bureaucracy, we will perpetuate the perverse core of our medical system and its world-leading inefficiency.https://t.co/pAxeGx1OOR

— The Nation (@thenation) May 12, 2022

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of May 16-22, 2022

On May 16, 2022

1. Will the Buffalo shootings become the impetus for greater gun control measures in the United States?
2. Does the recent collapse of cryptocurrency markets highlight the need for more federal regulation of the industry?
3. Could higher taxes on the wealthy solve America’s inflation problem?
4. What should California do with its record budget surplus?
5. How should the Biden administration respond to the recent baby formula shortage?
6. Which competitive Senate race should Democrats “punt” for the 2022 midterms?
7. Will Texas’ power woes hinder Governor Greg Abbott’s re-election hopes?
8. Is it in America’s best interest for Sweden and Finland to join NATO?
9. What steps can be taken to depoliticize the judicial branch?
10. How should the U.S. respond to China’s growing nuclear arsenal?

NSDA Nationals USX R&D from Prepd: U.S. Education

On May 12, 2022

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.

Over the next month and a half, Extemp Central will provide R&Ds on the topic areas for the 2022 NSDA National Tournament. USX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Thursday and IX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Friday. This is meant to help extempers assemble resources to prepare for the competition in Louisville. This week we tackle USX topic area #2 on education.

More recognition, flexible schedules, and better pay are among the keys to improving teacher morale, a panel of education experts said in a candid discussion about a “profession in crisis.” #TeacherTwitter https://t.co/YN2JsS84S8

— Education Week (@educationweek) May 10, 2022

Opinion: We can’t afford not to pay for undocumented immigrants’ education https://t.co/a8oqgMyMCI

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) May 10, 2022

NEW: Black and Hispanic Americans, those with less education are more likely to fall out of the middle class each year https://t.co/unR8iBttdQ pic.twitter.com/gSoXL16rpd

— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) May 10, 2022

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of May 9-15, 2022

On May 9, 2022

1. Will public outcry cause the Supreme Court to change its suspected opinion in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization?
2. Is the Federal Reserve to blame for America’s current inflation woes?
3. If Roe v. Wade is overturned this summer, can that minimize Democratic losses in the midterm elections?
4. Is Ohio a winnable Senate race for Democrats this November?
5. If President Biden runs for re-election in 2024, should he choose a different running mate?
6. Should the American Bar Association scrap the LSAT?
7. What would be the implications of the Supreme Court overturning Plyler v. Doe?
8. Should the U.S. provide military assistance to the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan?
9. Will California’s water conservation measures work?
10. Should U.S. intelligence agencies provide targeting assistance to the Ukrainian military in its war with Russia?

NSDA Nationals USX R&D from Prepd: Arts, Entertainment & Society

On May 5, 2022

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.

Over the next month and a half, Extemp Central will provide R&Ds on the topic areas for the 2022 NSDA National Tournament. USX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Thursday and IX topic areas will have R&Ds posted on Friday. This is meant to help extempers assemble resources to prepare for the competition in Louisville. This week we tackle USX topic area #1 on arts, entertainment and society.

The Oscars were a queasy spectacle that underlined doubts about the function of the Academy Awards.https://t.co/CYVakASmXL

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) April 28, 2022

U.S. arts, entertainment, and recreation total revenue was $85.6B (seasonally adjusted) in fourth quarter 2021, up 53.3% from fourth quarter 2020, and up 14.5% from fourth quarter 2019. #CensusEconData #QSS pic.twitter.com/gZZAVpcYWW

— U.S. Census Bureau (@uscensusbureau) March 15, 2022

In recent years, entertainment executives have vowed to make a genuine commitment to diversity, but are routinely criticized for falling short. Now studios are turning to consultants to make sure their movies or shows don’t raise any cultural red flags. https://t.co/YzKG7RV03y

— NYT Business (@nytimesbusiness) April 2, 2022

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of May 2-8, 2022

On May 2, 2022

1. Has stagflation taken hold of the U.S. economy?
2. Does Bernie Sanders have too much influence on the Democratic Party?
3. Is the U.S. finished with the war on terrorism?
4. Would a cancellation of student debt improve Democrats chances in the midterm elections?
5. Is recent rhetoric by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin counterproductive to finding a solution to Russia’s war with Ukraine?
6. What role should former President Trump play in the midterm elections?
7. Is U.S. higher education in need of significant structural reforms?
8. When is the proper time for sex education to be taught in U.S. schools?
9. Does the U.S. need a Disinformation Governance Board?
10. Would Tucker Carlson be a strong presidential candidate?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of April 25-May 1, 2022

On April 25, 2022

1. Should the provisions of the 14th Amendment prevent Marjorie Taylor Greene from running for re-election this November?
2. Is a criminal indictment of former President Trump likely by the end of the year?
3. If Republicans take control of the House this November, who will be the next Speaker of the House?
4. How should the Biden administration prepare for a possible Republican takeover of Congress?
5. Should states pass legislation restricting the ability of investor groups to purchase homes?
6. Will Florida’s legislative efforts against Disney survive constitutional challenge?
7. If there is a new vacancy on the Supreme Court before the end of his term, who should Biden nominate?
8. How should Netflix respond to its latest earnings report?
9. Should the Biden administration roll back Title 42?
10. What role should the U.S. play in organizing legislative elections in Haiti?

R&D from Prepd: State Legislative Battles Over Critical Race Theory (CRT)

On April 22, 2022

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 from Prepd covers state legislative battles over critical race theory (CRT). The early months of 2022 have seen conservative states such as Texas, Florida, and Kentucky, among others, pass bills to counteract the alleged teaching of CRT in classrooms and universities. Florida recently rejected more than 40 mathematics textbooks for K-12 students because their alleged CRT content. Critics argue that the bills constitute an assault on the teaching profession, hinder the viewpoints that students can receive or argue in the classroom, and that anti-CRT forces are misinterpreting the theory and its application to score political points.

Anti-CRT laws want to ban texts about systemic racism. What about the US constitution? | Steve Phillips https://t.co/BgfasxnHVA

— The Guardian (@guardian) March 14, 2022

Analysis: DeSantis takes an anti-CRT victory lap without showing his math https://t.co/ooJevaVaGq

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 18, 2022

Florida has rejected 42 of 132 math textbooks proposed for use in public school classrooms including social-emotional learning and critical race theory, according to the state’s Department of Education.

From the New York Times. https://t.co/x3rQOzCrKv

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) April 19, 2022

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of April 18-24, 2022

On April 18, 2022

1. Has Chief Justice John Roberts lost control of the Supreme Court?
2. Does the U.S. need a better relationship with Saudi Arabia?
3. To what degree are U.S. inflation problems created by corporate conglomerates?
4. If President Biden’s approval ratings do not improve, will he face a progressive primary challenger in 2024?
5. How will New York City’s recent subway shooting affect Mayor Eric Adams policing policies?
6. If there is an economic recession, will the housing market be the first sign of trouble?
7. Should President Biden declare a climate emergency?
8. How can the U.S. counter China’s rising influence in Latin America?
9. Is Stacey Abrams political career over if she fails to win Georgia’s gubernatorial election?
10. How will anti-CRT education policies on the state level affect education in those states?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of April 11-17, 2022

On April 11, 2022

1. Will more Amazon warehouse workers follow Staten Island’s lead and unionize?
2. Is Mitt Romney posturing for a future presidential run?
3. Should U.S. newspapers bar their reporters from having personal social media accounts?
4. Will Elon Mask make significant changes to Twitter’s operations?
5. Has the Republican Party outflanked Democrats in the culture wars?
6. Does the U.S. need a better diplomatic relationship with Pakistan?
7. Should the U.S. join the International Criminal Court?
8. What is the next big tech platform after the smartphone?
9. How can the U.S. best reduce the number of children in poverty?
10. Should the U.S. adopt a four-day workweek?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of April 4-10, 2022

On April 4, 2022

1. Should Congress adopt President Biden’s budget proposal?
2. Will President Biden’s use of the strategic oil reserve bring major benefits to consumers?
3. When is comes to the January 6 investigation, is the Department of Justice moving too slowly?
4. How will new fuel economy requirements affect the U.S. automotive industry?
5. Will Sarah Palin win Alaska’s House race?
6. Should the Oscars revoke Will Smith’s Academy Award?
7. Is Eric Adams taking the right approach to fix New York City’s homeless problem?
8. Should the Biden administration lifts its transportation mask mandate?
9. What kind of “out” can the United States offer Russia so that it stops its war in Ukraine?
10. Should there be national education standards?

R&D from Prepd: President Biden’s Budget

On April 1, 2022

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 from Prepd covers President Biden’s latest budget proposal. Earlier this week the Biden administration released its yearly budget request, a package totaling $5.8 trillion. The package proposes increases in domestic spending by 7% and defense spending by 10%. It was met with anger by more progressive Democrats, upset by the growth in defense spending, police spending, and the lack of funding for school lunch programs for all students. Analysts argue that the budget proposal shows a pivot to the center by the President, who has seen more ambitious proposals such as Build Back Better fall apart in Congress.

The Biden administration’s defense budget request reveals a flawed strategy, @KoriSchake writes:https://t.co/HMJDpCW91C

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) March 29, 2022

Opinion by E.J. Dionne Jr.: Biden’s budget reflects the challenges Democrats face https://t.co/mHLnEC5mh8

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 31, 2022

Biden’s huge new defense budget has almost nothing to do with countering the threat from Russia. https://t.co/kzM9AM6cON

— Slate (@Slate) March 31, 2022

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of March 28-April 3, 2022

On March 28, 2022