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On February 26, 2018

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1. In the wake of new revelations, should the NCAA abandon its amateur model?
2. Should California make water restrictions permanent?
3. Would immigration reform benefit America’s agricultural sector?
4. Should more states return to paper ballots to prevent election tampering?
5. How can colleges recruit more male students?
6. Would American schools be safer if teachers were armed?
7. How will the Supreme Court rule in Janus v. AFSCME?
8. Does America’s religious right need another Billy Graham?
9. Did significant secruity failures cause the Parkland shooting?
10. To what degree does the Second Amendment protect gun ownership in the United States?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 26-March 4, 2018

On February 26, 2018

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1. Is Vladimir Putin the biggest threat to European stability?
2. Does Iraq need a new constitution?
3. Is the rise of the German far-right Angela Merkel’s fault?
4. How can the United States and Western European countries downsize Russian intrigues in the Balkans?
5. Has the British Labour Party abandoned moderation?
6. Are labor reforms helping the Mexican economy grow?
7. What role can indigenous communities play in the Latin American war on drugs?
8. Was Justin Trudeau’s trip to India a disaster?
9. Is Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism?
10. Will Syria’s most recent ceasefire hold?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 19-25, 2018

On February 19, 2018

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1. Do Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent political problems make Israel more likely to take military action against Iran?
2. Is Poland’s Holocaust legislation unwise?
3. Should technology firms do more to limit hate speech on their websites?
4. Could a reform of Iraq’s political system lessen the country’s sectarian divisions?
5. Will Zimbabwe’s next elections be “free and fair”?
6. Does the Iran nuclear deal need improvements?
7. What should be Cyril Ramaphosa’s first priorities as South African president?
8. Is France poised to take military action against Syria?
9. How can Brazil fix its ailing pension systems?
10. Is the Democratic Republic of the Congo sliding back into a major conflict?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 19-25, 2018

On February 19, 2018

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1. Will the recent wave of school shootings in America produce new gun control legislation by the end of 2018?
2. Is the FBI in need of a significant organizational shakeup?
3. Have American sports become too politicized?
4. Who will win California’s Democratic gubernatorial primary?
5. How will Puerto Rico’s ongoing problems affect the 2018 midterms?
6. Should the U.S. extradite Fethullah Gulen?
7. How can discriminatory lending practices by banks be curtailed?
8. Should vaping be banned in public spaces?
9. Has the U.S. lost its credibility to mediate the Israeli-Palestinian dispute?
10. Should Eric Holder consider a presidential run?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 12-18, 2018

On February 12, 2018

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1. Should the U.S. sever diplomatic ties with Myanmar over the treatment of the Rohingya peoples?
2. If Rex Tillerson were to resign, who should replace him?
3. Should the U.S. federal government cancel everyone’s student loan debt?
4. How can soft drink companies bolster declining sales?
5. Should John Kelly step down as White House Chief of Staff?
6. Does the GOP need to redefine conservatism to win over younger voters?
7. Can the U.S. military launch a successful limited strike against North Korea?
8. Does Trump’s nuclear plan endanger global security?
9. Which country should the U.S. aim to have the best relations with in 2018?
10. Should Trump have a military parade?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 12-18, 2018

On February 12, 2018

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1. What role should Asian nations play in the Maldives political crisis?
2. Is press freedom dying in Kenya?
3. Should Russian athletes be able to compete at the Winter Olympics under the “OAR” label?
4. Does the international community need to do more to dislodge ISIS from Libya?
5. Has Cuba made Venezuela’s political and economic crisis worse?
6. Is EU membrship bad for Eastern European countries?
7. Can India broker a peace in the Middle East?
8. Is Spain becoming ungovernable?
9. How can the international community effectively sanction North Korea?
10. What steps should the National Front take to be more competitive in the next French presidential election?

9th Annual Capital City Round Robin List

On February 7, 2018

In National Circuit News

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Over the last nine seasons, the Capital City Extemp Round Robin has attracted some of the top tier talent in the state of Texas. This year’s competition, put together by Coach Joe Uhler of Westlake High School, will take place from February 9-10 at Westlake United Methodist Church. Spencer Buckner of Lake Travis High School was the winner of last year’s competition, defeating other notable talents such as Nikhil Ramaswamy, Kate Fisher, and Katherine Hu.

Here are the 16 participants in this year’s Capital City Round Robin, all of which attend schools in Texas:

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of February 5-11, 2018

On February 5, 2018

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1. Should Egypt continue using Israel assistance in its fight against ISIS?
2. How can Zimbabwe fix its agricultural sector?
3. Should Turkey be expelled from NATO?
4. Is it time for Theresa May to step down as British prime minister?
5. Should the Social Democrats re-enter a coalition with Angela Merkel?
6. Is China’s influence growing in Latin America?
7. How would a closer Japanese-South Korean relationship affect East Asian geopolitics?
8. Is Uzbekistan becoming more democratic?
9. Why are UN forces struggling in Mali?
10. Should Great Britain hold another Brexit vote?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of February 5-11, 2018

On February 5, 2018

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1. Is identity politics destroying American liberalism?
2. Was Trump’s State of the Union address a success?
3. Is Amtrak in need of an overhaul?
4. Would a universal basic income be an effective way to combat poverty?
5. Should the Democrats temper their position on abortion to regain control of Congress?
6. How can Los Angeles better combat homelessness?
7. Is the DOW’s big drop a sign of bad things to come?
8. Does the Nunes memo exonerate Trump?
9. Is the Democratic Party too divided to win in 2020?
10. Does Mueller have the constitutional authority to indict Trump?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of January 29-February 4, 2018

On January 29, 2018

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1. Should an independent counsel be appointed to investigate the FBI?
2. How can public schools better fight chronic absenteeism?
3. Is a booming oil industry adding power to U.S. foreign policy?
4. Should the Justice Department take more vigorous legal action against states that have legalized marijuana?
5. Will there be a bipartisan deal on the status of “Dreamers”?
6. Should Congress pass Trump’s infrastructure plan?
7. Would the creation of a 5G wireless network aid U.S. national security?
8. Should the U.S. side with Kurdish interests in the Middle East even if that puts American interests in conflict with those of Turkey?
9. What should President Trump call for in his State of the Union?
10. Should there be regulations on social media to prevent “fake followers”?

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 29-February 4, 2018

On January 29, 2018

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1. Has Assad triumphed in the Syrian Civil War?
2. Can the use of Mexican troops in high crime areas reduce the nation’s rising homicide rate?
3. Should African nations play a role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
4. Why are African nations confronting an obesity crisis?
5. Should Grace Mugabe be arrested?
6. Is China a military threat to Australia?
7. Are West African nations prepared for the return of Ebola?
8. What grade does Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno deserve as he nears the end of his first year in office?
9. Is Juan Orlando Hernandez the legitimate president of Honduras?
10. How can Germany’s SPD return to power?

NSDA Final Round Champion Interview with Clay Owens

On January 25, 2018

In Interviews

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Clay Owens competed for Perry High School in Massillon, Ohio. He is a former Ohio state champion and won the national final round of the 2017 NSDA national tournament in International Extemp. Clay agreed to sit down with Extemp Central to discuss his career and his thoughts on extemporaneous speaking.

HotTopics: International Extemp Questions for the Week of January 22-28, 2018

On January 22, 2018

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1. Are Pope Francis’ political positions creating a significant schism within the Catholic Church?
2. Could the Olympics pave the way for a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula?
3. Should Great Britain hold a second Brexit referendum?
4. Does the EU need to do more to secure its borders?
5. Is it in India’s best interests to form a closer relationship with Israel?
6. Should African states rethink the aid that they get from China?
7. If the EU sanctions Poland, will it lose the rest of Eastern Europe to Russian influence?
8. Will Brazil embrace the left or the right in its next presidential election?
9. Can international pressure on Venezuela’s military spark the ouster of the Maduro regime?
10. Is the Taliban still a significant threat to the Afghan government?

HotTopics: United States Extemp Questions for the Week of January 22-28, 2018

On January 22, 2018