Round 1- Immigration

How has the government shutdown affected border security?

Is border security a national security emergency?

What changes in the current practices would have a significant effect or border security?

What lessons did we learn from the most recent “caravan” to reach the US/Mexico border?

What actions to enhance border security are most likely to receive bipartisan support?

What are the major weaknesses in current US Immigration policy?

Are US Immigration policies examples of institutional racism?

Why is the focus on Muslim immigration now receiving less attention?

Should undocumented immigrants have access to government-subsidized health care?

Should immigrants be automatically deported if convicted of a felony?

Round 2- It’s what we call the news

Do shows like “Real Time With Bill Maher” and “Last Week Tonight” have a positive affect US voter
behavior?

Was the coverage of the Covington High School student incident ultimately fair?

Is it essential for Facebook to increase public trust in its information security practices or is Facebook so
imbedded in culture that it doesn’t really matter?

How can news media outlets increase public trust in the accuracy of their reports?

Where do people who say they mistrust media get most of their information?

Is real time fact checking a realistic expectation from the media?

Is investigation of wrongdoing of a public official justified, even if the original source of the accusation is
questionable?

If President Trump’s tweets are already widely-read, does media coverage of them serve any purpose?

Will media coverage be more helpful or harmful for women seeking the Presidency?

How can the media be motivated to value being accurate over being first?
Round 3- Politics

Are establishment Democrats a bigger impediment to progressive reform than Republicans?

Will political violence escalate in the lead up to the 2020 election?

How will Kelly Knight Craft fare as the US ambassador to the UN?

Will foreign policy undermine the presidential aspirations of Bernie Sanders?

Should Beto O'Rourke forgo a presidential bid to challenge John Cornyn in 2020?

How is identity politics shaping the race for the Democratic presidential nomination?

Will Bernie Sanders thrive as a frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination?

Will "Trump fatigue" outweigh issue-based positions in the 2020 election?

Beyond name recognition, what are Joe Biden's strengths as a potential 2020 candidate?

Is the Democratic Party's 'big tent' approach creating a circus it can't control?

Semifinals- Pop Culture

Should the NCAA pay college athletes?

Will the US ever possess a true high-speed rail network?

How has a work requirement impacted Medicaid services in Arkansas?

Are House concerns about Trump administration plans to sell nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia
justified?

How can colleges improve the graduation rate of Pell Grant recipients?

How can the US win the space race of the 21st century?

Should minors be allowed to seek vaccinations without parental consent?

Should David Pecker face a criminal investigation for extortion?

How is Chief Justice John Roberts defying expectations?

Would a Medicare-for-All program improve health care in the United States?

Finals- Economics and Business

Will the Green New Deal be a raw deal for the US economy?

How will lower-than-expected tax refunds impact the US economy?

How must Apple evolve to remain globally competitive?

Will the U.S. farm economy be able to survive another year of Chinese tariffs?

Are Trump’s deregulation policies driving U.S. economic growth or are there other forces at work?

Will we see a surge in the cryptocoin market in 2019?

How will the “go green” movement change the fast food industry in 2019?

What is driving the cost of college up and what can congress do to provide some relief?

What can be done to curb the rising price of prescription drugs?

Does a “wealth tax” have a chance of passing either chamber of congress?