Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.
1. Four Americans were recently kidnapped – and two later killed – in what country?
Spoiler
Mexico. Last Friday the four Americans were kidnapped in the border town of Matamoros. Gunmen fired on the vehicle the Americans were in and kidnapped them. Two of the Americans were found dead yesterday, while another two were found alive. The incident underscores some of the dangers along the U.S.-Mexican border as illegal crossings have risen significantly in recent months. However, Mexican drug and trafficking cartels historically avoid violence against Americans lest they attract the attention of U.S. authorities.
2. In order to help the solvency of Medicare, the Biden administration is prepared to pitch a tax on what?
Spoiler
Investment income. As part of the Affordable Care Act, a 3.8% investment income tax was put on Americans that earn more than $400,000 per year. The Biden administration in its next budget will seek to raise that to 5%, but concedes that the tax increase has little chance of passing Congress. President Biden’s team argues that raising the tax could generate $350 billion to $600 billion over the next decade.
3. Who did a recent intelligence report suggest was responsible for an attack on Nord Stream pipelines last year?
Spoiler
A pro-Ukrainian group or proxy. Last September, deep sea explosions caused more than $500 million in damage to the Nord Stream pipeline that link Russia and Western Europe. Although Russian forces were initially blamed for the attack, the U.S. has said that they have found no evidence that the Russian government was involved. The intelligence report left open the possibility that there could be a connection between the attack and Ukrainian government.
4. According to Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, how many Americans could be laid off if the Federal Reserve continues raising interest rates?
Spoiler
Two million. Warren made the claim when questioning Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, arguing that 5%+ inflation in the economy was more because of corporate greed and price gouging. Powell fired back that even if Warren’s argument was accurate, having a high inflation rate did workers no good either.
5. Which two candidates qualified for the Chicago mayoral runoff next month?
Spoiler
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson and former pulic school chief Paul Vallas. Mayor Lori Lightfoot did not make the runoff, becoming the first Chicago mayor to fail in a re-election bid in 40 years. Vallas is mounting a right-wing campaign on crime, while Johnson has taken a left-wing approach and been on record favoring the defunding of police. Political analysts expect the contest to be close and possibly the most racially divisive Chicago mayoral election since 1983 when Harold Washington became the city’s first Black mayor.
6. Which Democrat announced a primary challenge to President Biden last week?
Spoiler
Marianna Williamson, a spiritual adviser and bestselling self-help author. Williamson ran for president in 2020 but dropped out a month before the Iowa caucuses. In her last presidential bid, Williamson advocated for reparations for descendants of slaves and the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Peace and a Department of Children and Youth.
7. What city has recently become the focal point of Russia’s attack on Eastern Ukraine?
Spoiler
Bakhmut. Russian forces are currently trying to encircle the city and are attacking it from three directions. Fighting over the city in Ukraine’s Donbas region started last summer. Russia is pouring troops into the fight that it called up and trained last fall and Western analysts are seeing if Ukrainian defenders can hold out.
8. According to Chinese officials, how much do they expect the Chinese economy to grow this year?
Spoiler
5%. Chinese President Xi Jining’s government set the economic target at the start of the National People’s Congress. Since December, China’s government has shifted away from its old “zero COVID” approach to one that is focused on government stimuus for the economy.
9. Who was declared the winner of Nigeria’s presidential election last week?
Spoiler
Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos state. Tinubu is part of the All Progressives Congress, which is the current ruling party. He is set to take office on may 29 after winning 37% of the vote. He will be Nigeria’s first president to take office without winning a majority vote.
10. Who did President Biden recently nominate for World Bank president?
Spoiler
Ajay Banga, the former CEO of Mastercard. Banga is also the former chairman of the U.S.-India Business Council. Banga is tapped to replace David Malpass, who has been the President of the World Bank since 2019.
