B. Open Extemp Event Prompts
Round 1 (PERS, DUO, EXT, POE, & STE)
Speaker 1
- What do U.S. intelligence and law‑enforcement agencies say about the risk of Iran‑linked operatives or “sleeper cells” inside the United States?
- Will the death of “El Mencho” trigger a new wave of conflict among splinter groups?
- Should restoring full DHS operations be treated as an urgent national‑security priority?
Speaker 2
- Should the U.S. raise its formal terror threat level because of potential Iran‑linked “sleeper cells” in the United States?
- Will the death of "El Mencho" trigger a temporary wave of revenge and splintering, or will it lead to a lasting reduction in cartel power?
- Which DHS functions are most affected by the current partial shutdown?
Speaker 3
- How does the current DHS shutdown affect U.S. security and public safety?
- Is intelligence-led "smart targeting" more effective at stopping cartels than traditional military force?
- Was the U.S.–Israeli decision to launch leadership‑targeted strikes a strategic choice?
Speaker 4
- Should middle‑income Americans receive expanded support to offset the rising costs created by targeted subsidies?
- How have modern security forces shifted from "large-scale wars" to "intelligence-led" network targeting?
- Are Democrats making a strategic error by continuing with the current DHS funding shutdown?
Speaker 5
- How do federal nutrition and energy‑assistance programs shape pricing power for retailers and utilities?
- Can Sheinbaum’s "intelligence-led" approach successfully stabilize Mexico’s most violent regions?
- What are the primary objectives of Operation Epic Fury?
Speaker 6
- Should Congress prioritize passing DHS funding given rising global security risks?
- In what ways is President Claudia Sheinbaum attempting to modernize Mexico’s approach to organized crime?
- How is the current DHS shutdown shaping the political strategies of both parties in Congress?
Round 2 (PERS, DUO, EXT, POE, & STE)
Speaker 1
- What reforms to federal immigration enforcement agencies are Democrats demanding in exchange for ending the DHS shutdown?
- Is "social integration" a more effective long-term defense against extremism than increased border security?
- How are Iran’s recent protest movements influencing the regime’s political stability?
Speaker 2
- Should Democrats continue to block DHS funding until new limits are placed on ICE and Border Patrol?
- Is "state-building" through social services more effective at ending violence than "state-security" through policing?
- What are the regional implications of Iran’s recent missile strikes on Gulf states that were not directly involved in the conflict?
Speaker 3
- How are climate pressures accelerating conflict across the Sahel?
- What strategies are most effective at mitigating the infiltration of extremist groups into local communities?
- Does media framing play an outsized role in shaping how voters prioritize public safety during election years?
Speaker 4
- Is international military assistance an effective tool for stabilizing the Sahel?
- Should "Design Accountability" extend beyond social media to include video game loot boxes and online gambling apps?
- How do federal agencies use immigration law to disrupt the manpower and logistics networks of U.S.-based gangs?
Speaker 5
- What explains the perception of an affordability crisis in the United States?
- How do violent organizations—both criminal and ideological—exploit "weak states" to build their base of operations
- Should the Gulf Cooperation Council pursue a more formalized security partnership with the United States?
Speaker 6
- Is the “affordability crisis” overstated?
- What specific design features have been identified by plaintiffs as "defectively addictive" for the adolescent prefrontal cortex?
- Should Israel expand its military operations to more aggressively target Iran‑backed proxy groups?
Round 3 (PERS, DUO, EXT, POE, & STE) AT HOTEL
Speaker 1
- Should Congress take stronger action to limit corporate pricing power in concentrated industries?
- Can the legal system effectively regulate the "science of the human brain" without stifling technological innovation?
- Is Israel’s current military campaign in Lebanon sufficient to neutralize the threat of Iranian proxies?
Speaker 2
- How have supply‑chain disruptions since 2020 contributed to permanently higher price levels?
- What are the primary "Product Liability" arguments currently being used in lawsuits against social media companies?
- Is the Iranian regime on the verge of a total domestic collapse?
Speaker 3
- Should the U.S. expand federal support for first‑time homebuyers to address affordability concerns?
- Can the European Union achieve "Strategic Autonomy" while maintaining its current level of social spending?
- Is "Product Design" a legitimate exception to the immunity provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act?
Speaker 4
- How would expanded federal support for first‑time homebuyers affect affordability and access for other buyers in the housing market?
- What structural barriers prevent the European Union from achieving full Strategic Autonomy?
- Should the United States treat algorithmic design as a public‑health issue rather than a free‑speech issue?
Speaker 5
- Should Congress redesign low‑income subsidy programs to reduce unintended cost burdens on middle‑income families?
- What are the "See No Evil" defensive strategies currently being employed by tech CEOs in Congressional hearings?
- How has the legal interpretation of Section 230 changed from its inception in 1996 to the "bellwether" trials of 2026?
Speaker 6
- How do federal subsidies for low‑income households influence overall affordability for middle‑income Americans?
- Should European nations prioritize military re-industrialization over climate change initiatives?
- What role did whistleblowers like Frances Haugen and Arturo Bejar play in revealing the internal research of Big Tech firms?
Gold Round (PERS, DUO, EXT, POE, STE)
Speaker 1
- Is a negotiated political settlement still the most viable path to ending Myanmar’s civil war?
- How do social media algorithms accelerate the spread and normalization of extreme political views in the U.S.?
- What factors are shaping the Iranian regime’s current level of political stability?
Speaker 2
- How is Myanmar’s civil war reshaping security dynamics in Southeast Asia?
- What factors are shaping the humanitarian crisis in Gaza today?
- Is online radicalization a more significant threat to American political stability than rising violent crime?
Speaker 3
- Should outside powers support a multinational security mission in Haiti?
- Do major news organizations play the largest role in widening the public safety perception gap in the U.S.?
- Is Iran likely to move toward a more democratic political system in the coming years?
Speaker 4
- What forces have allowed gangs to gain territorial control in Haiti?
- Should the return of normal social routines be considered the primary driver of falling crime rates in the U.S.?
- How do political campaigns and media coverage interact to shape Americans’ perceptions of crime during election cycles?
Speaker 5
- Should Ethiopia’s post‑conflict recovery focus more on humanitarian access than political reform?
- Is the "Free Speech" defense used by tech companies a valid argument against the regulation of algorithmic curation?
- What factors explain why a majority of Americans believe crime is rising even as national data shows a record-breaking drop?
Speaker 6
- What explains the persistence of food insecurity in post‑Tigray Ethiopia?
- Should the Texas state government prioritize "Operation Lone Star" style enforcement over investments in local community policing?
- How did pandemic‑era disruptions to daily routines contribute to the temporary spike in U.S. crime?
Speaker 7
- Should outside powers prioritize humanitarian access over military objectives in Gaza?
- What strategies are Texas border communities using to maintain lower-than-average violent crime rates despite their proximity to cartel activity?
- Is the use of immigration enforcement to combat domestic crime a fair and effective use of government power?