Regional Extemp Topics

Informative Speaking Prelims

1. What is thwarting Marine Le Pen’s future political plans?

2. What regions of Texas continue to suffer from drought conditions?

3. Why is Hungary pulling out of the International Criminal Court?

4. How have recent earthquakes in Myanmar worsened the humanitarian crisis there?

5. Who were Rosie the Riveters and why were they significant?

6. How has the Ukraine conflict altered the role of NATO?

7. What factors have accounted for measles outbreaks in Texas?

8. What is behind the ousting of South Korea’s president?

9. What issues prompted the “Hands-Off” nationwide protests?

10. What has been the global fallout from President Trump’s tariffs?

11. What are the conflicting views regarding the role of the U.S. Education Department?

12. Why are Al Qaeda militants disrupting Kenya’s construction of a regional trade hub on the Indian Ocean?

13. What is the Deep Seek app?

14. What role has Qatar assumed in resolving the Gaza crisis?

15. What causes inflation?

16. What is the extent of Vietnam’s international trade partnership with China?

17. Why were NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption charges dropped?

18. With the certainty of U.S. protection no longer guaranteed, how will Germany’s role in the world change?

19. Why is the Pentagon investigating the controversy involving Defense Secretary Hegseth’s use of the Signal messaging app?

20. What are the latest legal developments in the Luigi Mangione case?

Informative Speaking Finals

1. The stock market: What is a bear market and how does it affect the economy?

2. How are tariffs likely to affect the Texas petroleum industry?

3. How has Supreme Court addressed President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act?

4. How is the United Nations responding to current developments in Gaza?

5. What factors are contributing to the popularity of Bernie Sanders among leading Democrats?

6. What has been the ongoing controversy involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

7. Why does NASA want to return to the moon?

8. How is Robert Kennedy, Jr. attempting to “make America healthy again”?

9. How has the European Union responded to U.S. tariff policy?

10. How much of President Trump’s second term Executive Orders are from Project 2025’s playbook?

11. Why are international student visas being revoked?

12. Who is helping Myanmar recover from recent earthquakes?

13. Why is Iran seeking to engage in nuclear negotiations with the United States?

14. How will recent layoffs at the Center for Disease Control impact America’s health?

15. What is the future of TikTok?

16. Regarding environmental policy, what are the primary differences in the Biden and Trump administrations?

17. What is the history of Sudan’s civil war?

18. What factors are likely to affect inflation rates in the U.S.?

19. What role is the United States taking to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict?

20. Why are elite universities in America at strong odds with the Trump administration?

Persuasive Speaking Prelims

1. Are immigrants being wrongly deported by the Trump administration?

2. Will Senator John Cornyn face a formidable primary challenge in his reelection bid?

3. Is President Xi Jinping effectively leading China?

4. Will President Trump’s tariff policy promote U.S. economic growth?

5. Is Russia a threat to Europe?

6. Does Elon Musk and his DOGE have too much access to sensitive government information?

7. Is Zimbabwe’s land seizure policy just?

8. Should there be guardrails on using Artificial Intelligence?

9. Are British political leaders contemplating a reversal of Brexit?

10. Is the First Amendment endangered on American college campuses?

11. Will Ahmed al-Sharaa bring political stability to Syria?

12. Are liberal arts programs in U.S. public schools overshadowed by emphasis on STEM curriculum?

13. Has Nayib Bukele become Central America’s most well-known leader?

14. Is Jared Isaacman qualified to lead NASA?

15. Will President Trump’s energy policy exacerbate environmental degradation?

16. Is anti-Semitic violence a growing concern in the United States?

17. Are drones the next new front in the international war on drugs?

18. Have NIL policies dramatically altered the landscape of intercollegiate athletic competition?

19. Would the United States benefit from a more isolationist foreign policy?

20. Is cloning the Dire wolf in the best interest of humanity?

Persuasive Speaking Finals

1. Is the United States one of Israel’s more loyal allies?

2. Will the United States be able to win back the trust its allies once had in it?

3. Is a conflict between Venezuela and Guyana inevitable?

4. Are DOGE cuts threatening San Antonio’s National Missions Historical Park?

5. Can the Democratic Party retake Congress in 2026?

6. Are China’s leaders convinced that they will win the trade war with the United States?

7. Should glyphosate-based herbicides be banned in the U.S.?

8. Are there disadvantages to school voucher programs?

9. Does the Paris Climate Accord play a meaningful role in addressing climate change?

10. Is semaglutide injection use a healthy way to address obesity?

11. Will the U.S. regret ceding global leadership on disaster response to China and Russia?

12. Does age discrimination exist in the United States today?

13. Were U.S. military attacks on Yemen justified?

14. Has the International Space Station outlived its usefulness?

15. Do most Americans have access to quality drinking water?

16. Is Vladimir Putin willing to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict?

17. Have U.S. airline struggles reached the crisis point?

18. Is food insecurity increasing in Ethiopia?

19. Will the Trump administration’s contract and grant denials to major universities significantly impact America’s leadership in scientific, medical and technological research?

20. Are ICE tactics eroding public trust in the law enforcement community?