1. POLICY BILL IN CONGRESS

Republicans in Congress are working on a big bill to support President Trump’s goals. The House of Representatives and the Senate each created different versions of the bill, and now they must agree on one final version. The bill includes things like cutting taxes for businesses and families, increasing money for the military and border security, and reducing money for programs like Medicaid and food stamps. It also changes rules about how people qualify for help with health care and food, and ends tax credits for clean energy like solar panels and electric cars. Some parts of the House and Senate bills are the same, but others are different, like how much money seniors can save or how long tax breaks will last. Before the bill becomes law, both the Senate and the House have to vote on the same final version. Write a short paragraph explaining one part of the bill that you think would affect people the most—such as health care, food stamps, taxes, or clean energy. Describe why you think it matters and how it might help or hurt different groups of people. Try to use examples to support your answer.

2. VOTERS TURN OUT

Zohran Mamdani, a progressive candidate and state assemblyman from Queens, is expected to win the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. His campaign stood out by successfully energizing groups of voters who usually don’t participate in primaries, including immigrants, Muslims, and young progressives. Mamdani’s team registered tens of thousands of new voters and focused outreach efforts in multiple languages. His message centered on affordability and inclusion, and his identity as an immigrant helped him connect with many communities. Although his opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, had early support, Mamdani’s grassroots approach and viral messaging helped reshape the race. As he prepares for the general election, Mamdani faces a new set of challenges, but many of his supporters remain enthusiastic and plan to stay involved. Imagine you are a campaign volunteer helping a candidate like Zohran Mamdani who wants to inspire more people to vote. Write a paragraph describing one strategy you would use to get people in your community excited about voting. Think about how you would connect with people who don’t usually vote. Would you knock on doors? Use social media? Hold events in multiple languages? Explain why your strategy would help increase voter turnout.

3. CONTROVERSIAL RECOMMENDATION

The Trump administration’s new vaccine advisory panel, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to recommend flu vaccines for nearly all Americans—but only if the vaccines are free of thimerosal, a preservative that has been falsely linked to autism. This decision caused concern because it ignored years of scientific research showing thimerosal is safe and has not been used in most children’s vaccines since 2001. Kennedy had replaced the previous vaccine panel with members who include vaccine skeptics. Medical groups criticized the move, saying it spread misinformation and left out important scientific evidence. Experts also worry this could increase vaccine hesitancy and undermine public trust in health advice. Write a response that explains how misinformation can spread when scientific evidence is ignored. Use examples from the article, such as the decision to exclude data from the CDC about thimerosal or the panel’s focus on fears not backed by science. Then, write one suggestion for how public health leaders can make sure people get accurate information about vaccines.

4. PROTESTS IN THAILAND

In Thailand, thousands of people are protesting and asking Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to step down. The protests started after a private phone call was leaked. In the call, Paetongtarn seemed too friendly with Cambodia’s leader and appeared to speak badly about Thailand’s military. Many people think she is not doing a good job and only cares about her family, which has a long history in Thai politics. Protesters say they want a new leader who will focus on helping the country. Some people are even asking the military to take control again, which has happened before in Thailand. Paetongtarn may also be in legal trouble, and her father, a former leader, is facing a court trial. The protests show that many people in Thailand are unhappy with the current government. Imagine you are a reporter covering the protests in Thailand. Write a short news article explaining why people are upset with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and what they want to happen next. Include quotes from fictional protesters and make sure your article is fair and clear.

5. INJUNCTIONS UNDONE

The U.S. Supreme Court made a big decision about how much power judges have. The Court said that one judge can’t block a new law or rule across the whole country — they can only make decisions for the people involved in a case. This is a win for President Trump, who has been upset that judges have stopped some of his rules, like his plan to stop giving U.S. citizenship to babies born here if their parents are not citizens. However, it’s still not clear what will happen to that rule. Lower courts will decide what happens next, and it might take time. The rule could end up being used in some states but not others, which could be confusing. Some justices and politicians are worried that this decision gives the government too much power, while others say it protects the Constitution. The final decision about birthright citizenship — the right to be a citizen if you’re born in the U.S. — hasn’t been made yet. Write a paragraph explaining what birthright citizenship means and why some people support keeping it while others want to change it. Then, share your opinion: Do you think babies born in the U.S. should always be U.S. citizens? Why or why not? Use examples from the article to support your answer.