1. ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE BECOMES A MAJOR WEAPON IN THE IRAN WAR

Since the war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel began, dozens of oil, gas, and energy sites across the Middle East have been damaged. These attacks matter because energy is tied directly to both daily life and the global economy: countries need oil and natural gas to produce electricity, fuel transportation, and earn money. As the strikes have spread, markets have reacted quickly, with oil prices jumping and fears growing that damaged ports, refineries, and gas export terminals could take months or even years to repair. Analysts are especially worried about Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas terminal, where officials say damage has cut into export capacity and could take years to fix. The article shows that in this war, energy facilities are not just economic assets — they have become strategic targets that can pressure governments, disrupt trade, and affect people far beyond the battlefield. Write a well-developed analytical paragraph explaining why energy infrastructure can be such a powerful target during wartime. In your response, describe at least two ways damaging oil or natural gas facilities can hurt a country or region, and use at least two specific examples from the article, such as attacks on refineries, ports, or gas terminals, to support your ideas. End by explaining whether you think attacks on energy sites mostly create military leverage, humanitarian harm, or both.

2. BORDER WALL EXPANSION SPARKS CONFLICT OVER SECURITY, LAND, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The Trump administration is moving quickly to expand the border wall across large stretches of the Southwest, including public lands, wildlife habitat, and areas near national parks. Officials say the wall, along with sensors, lights, and other technology, will improve border enforcement and help agents do their jobs more effectively. But critics argue that the project is moving ahead with little oversight because the federal government is using legal waivers to avoid many environmental reviews and protections. Local leaders, business owners, conservationists, and some Republican officials in Texas say the wall could damage tourism, disrupt communities connected across the Rio Grande, threaten sacred Indigenous sites, and block animal migration in fragile ecosystems. The article presents the expansion as more than a border-security project: it is also a fight over federal power, land use, conservation, and what kinds of places the country has a duty to protect. Write a short public comment as if you are submitting it during the federal comment period on the Big Bend plan. In your response, take a clear position on the project and include at least three concerns or priorities drawn from the article, such as border security, tourism, wildlife, sacred sites, or government oversight. Your comment should sound formal and specific, as if it were being read by federal officials deciding whether to move forward.

3. TRUMP THREATENS TO SEND I.C.E. AGENTS TO AIRPORTS

President Trump said he would send Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports as soon as Monday if Democrats did not agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security. He framed the move as a way to make airports “free and safe again” during a partial shutdown that has left Transportation Security Administration workers unpaid and airports facing delays, staffing shortages, and possible closures. But the threat was also clearly part of a political fight over immigration enforcement, as both sides remained stuck in negotiations over DHS funding and limits on federal agents. Critics warned that replacing or supplementing airport security with ICE agents could increase confusion and fear for travelers, especially because Trump said the agents would also conduct aggressive immigration arrests. The article shows how a basic public service — airport security — became tied to a larger political struggle over immigration policy, federal funding, and presidential pressure tactics. Draft a two-sided briefing note for a senator who has to respond publicly to this proposal. In one section, summarize the strongest argument supporters might make for using ICE agents at airports during the shutdown. In the second section, explain the strongest argument opponents would make against it. Then write a final recommendation of 2–3 sentences stating what the senator should say and why.

4. FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN PENTAGON PRESS RESTRICTIONS

A federal judge ruled that parts of the Pentagon’s press policy were unconstitutional, saying they violated both the First Amendment and journalists’ due process rights. The policy had required reporters to follow rules that critics said would punish normal reporting, including asking unauthorized sources for information, and it allowed the Pentagon to label journalists as security risks and take away their credentials. Several New York Times reporters had surrendered their press passes rather than sign the policy, and the judge ordered those credentials restored. In his ruling, the judge said the policy favored reporters willing to publish only information approved by Pentagon leadership and failed to clearly explain what conduct could lead to punishment. The case became part of a larger clash between the Trump administration and the press, raising serious questions about government transparency and whether officials can control how journalists gather information about military and national security matters. Write a mock judicial response in which you explain whether you would strike down this Pentagon policy or uphold it. Reference at least two parts of the policy discussed in the article, such as the ban on soliciting unauthorized information or the power to revoke credentials for vague security reasons. Your response should explain your reasoning clearly and end with a short ruling of one sentence.

5. SUPREME COURT CASE COULD END GRACE PERIODS FOR MAILED BALLOTS

The Supreme Court is preparing to hear a case that could eliminate the extra time some states allow for mailed ballots to arrive after Election Day, as long as they were sent on time. Fourteen states currently use grace periods for regular mail ballots, and even more allow extra time for certain voters, such as military or overseas citizens. Supporters of grace periods say they help protect voters from postal delays and reduce disenfranchisement, especially in rural areas or places where mail processing is slower. Opponents argue that ballots should have to arrive by Election Day to protect confidence in election results and preserve the idea of a single election day. The article shows that the case is about more than deadlines: it is also a debate over voter access, state authority, election administration, and whether changing the rules close to a major election could create confusion for millions of voters. Design a voter information box that could appear on a news website or in a civics class handout. In complete sentences, explain what a mail ballot grace period is, why some states use one, why some leaders want to eliminate it, and what voters should pay attention to if the rules change before the midterms. End with a short warning about how confusion over deadlines could affect turnout or ballot counting.