B. Open Extemp Event Prompts

Round 1 (PERS, DUO, EXT, POE, & STE)

  1. Speaker 1


    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?
    2. Will the death of “El Mencho” trigger a new wave of conflict among splinter groups?
    3. Should restoring full DHS operations be treated as an urgent national‑security priority?
  2. Speaker 2


    1. Should the U.S. raise its formal terror threat level because of potential Iran‑linked “sleeper cells” in the United States?
    2. 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?
    3. Which DHS functions are most affected by the current partial shutdown?
  3. Speaker 3


    1. How does the current DHS shutdown affect U.S. security and public safety?
    2. Is intelligence-led "smart targeting" more effective at stopping cartels than traditional military force?
    3. Was the U.S.–Israeli decision to launch leadership‑targeted strikes a strategic choice?
  4. Speaker 4


    1. Should middle‑income Americans receive expanded support to offset the rising costs created by targeted subsidies?
    2. How have modern security forces shifted from "large-scale wars" to "intelligence-led" network targeting?
    3. Are Democrats making a strategic error by continuing with the current DHS funding shutdown?
  5. Speaker 5


    1. How do federal nutrition and energy‑assistance programs shape pricing power for retailers and utilities?
    2. Can Sheinbaum’s "intelligence-led" approach successfully stabilize Mexico’s most violent regions?
    3. What are the primary objectives of Operation Epic Fury?
  6. Speaker 6


    1. Should Congress prioritize passing DHS funding given rising global security risks?
    2. In what ways is President Claudia Sheinbaum attempting to modernize Mexico’s approach to organized crime?
    3. How is the current DHS shutdown shaping the political strategies of both parties in Congress?

Round 2 (PERS, DUO, EXT, POE, & STE)

  1. Speaker 1


    1. What reforms to federal immigration enforcement agencies are Democrats demanding in exchange for ending the DHS shutdown?
    2. Is "social integration" a more effective long-term defense against extremism than increased border security?
    3. How are Iran’s recent protest movements influencing the regime’s political stability?
  2. Speaker 2


    1. Should Democrats continue to block DHS funding until new limits are placed on ICE and Border Patrol?
    2. Is "state-building" through social services more effective at ending violence than "state-security" through policing?
    3. What are the regional implications of Iran’s recent missile strikes on Gulf states that were not directly involved in the conflict?

  3. Speaker 3


    1. How are climate pressures accelerating conflict across the Sahel?
    2. What strategies are most effective at mitigating the infiltration of extremist groups into local communities?
    3. Does media framing play an outsized role in shaping how voters prioritize public safety during election years?

  4. Speaker 4


    1. Is international military assistance an effective tool for stabilizing the Sahel?
    2. Should "Design Accountability" extend beyond social media to include video game loot boxes and online gambling apps?
    3. How do federal agencies use immigration law to disrupt the manpower and logistics networks of U.S.-based gangs?
  5. Speaker 5


    1. What explains the perception of an affordability crisis in the United States?
    2. How do violent organizations—both criminal and ideological—exploit "weak states" to build their base of operations
    3. Should the Gulf Cooperation Council pursue a more formalized security partnership with the United States?

  6. Speaker 6


    1. Is the “affordability crisis” overstated?
    2. What specific design features have been identified by plaintiffs as "defectively addictive" for the adolescent prefrontal cortex?
    3. Should Israel expand its military operations to more aggressively target Iran‑backed proxy groups?

Round 3 (PERS, DUO, EXT, POE, & STE) AT HOTEL

  1. Speaker 1


    1. Should Congress take stronger action to limit corporate pricing power in concentrated industries?
    2. Can the legal system effectively regulate the "science of the human brain" without stifling technological innovation?
    3. Is Israel’s current military campaign in Lebanon sufficient to neutralize the threat of Iranian proxies?

  2. Speaker 2


    1. How have supply‑chain disruptions since 2020 contributed to permanently higher price levels?
    2. What are the primary "Product Liability" arguments currently being used in lawsuits against social media companies?
    3. Is the Iranian regime on the verge of a total domestic collapse?

  3. Speaker 3


    1. Should the U.S. expand federal support for first‑time homebuyers to address affordability concerns?
    2. Can the European Union achieve "Strategic Autonomy" while maintaining its current level of social spending?
    3. Is "Product Design" a legitimate exception to the immunity provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act?

  4. Speaker 4


    1. How would expanded federal support for first‑time homebuyers affect affordability and access for other buyers in the housing market?
    2. What structural barriers prevent the European Union from achieving full Strategic Autonomy?
    3. Should the United States treat algorithmic design as a public‑health issue rather than a free‑speech issue?

  5. Speaker 5


    1. Should Congress redesign low‑income subsidy programs to reduce unintended cost burdens on middle‑income families?
    2. What are the "See No Evil" defensive strategies currently being employed by tech CEOs in Congressional hearings?
    3. How has the legal interpretation of Section 230 changed from its inception in 1996 to the "bellwether" trials of 2026?

  6. Speaker 6


    1. How do federal subsidies for low‑income households influence overall affordability for middle‑income Americans?
    2. Should European nations prioritize military re-industrialization over climate change initiatives?
    3. 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)

  1. Speaker 1


    1. Is a negotiated political settlement still the most viable path to ending Myanmar’s civil war?
    2. How do social media algorithms accelerate the spread and normalization of extreme political views in the U.S.?
    3. What factors are shaping the Iranian regime’s current level of political stability?

  2. Speaker 2


    1. How is Myanmar’s civil war reshaping security dynamics in Southeast Asia?
    2. What factors are shaping the humanitarian crisis in Gaza today?
    3. Is online radicalization a more significant threat to American political stability than rising violent crime?

  3. Speaker 3


    1. Should outside powers support a multinational security mission in Haiti?
    2. Do major news organizations play the largest role in widening the public safety perception gap in the U.S.?
    3. Is Iran likely to move toward a more democratic political system in the coming years?
  4. Speaker 4


    1. What forces have allowed gangs to gain territorial control in Haiti?
    2. Should the return of normal social routines be considered the primary driver of falling crime rates in the U.S.?
    3. How do political campaigns and media coverage interact to shape Americans’ perceptions of crime during election cycles?

  5. Speaker 5


    1. Should Ethiopia’s post‑conflict recovery focus more on humanitarian access than political reform?
    2. Is the "Free Speech" defense used by tech companies a valid argument against the regulation of algorithmic curation?
    3. What factors explain why a majority of Americans believe crime is rising even as national data shows a record-breaking drop?

  6. Speaker 6


    1. What explains the persistence of food insecurity in post‑Tigray Ethiopia?
    2. Should the Texas state government prioritize "Operation Lone Star" style enforcement over investments in local community policing?
    3. How did pandemic‑era disruptions to daily routines contribute to the temporary spike in U.S. crime?

  7. Speaker 7


    1. Should outside powers prioritize humanitarian access over military objectives in Gaza?
    2. What strategies are Texas border communities using to maintain lower-than-average violent crime rates despite their proximity to cartel activity?
    3. Is the use of immigration enforcement to combat domestic crime a fair and effective use of government power?