1. STATES SUE OVER FROZEN FUNDING

More than 20 states are suing the Trump administration because billions of dollars in federal education funding have been frozen. This money helps support after-school and summer programs across the country, including those at Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and public schools. These programs offer tutoring, child care, and fun learning activities to around 1.4 million children, especially those from low-income families. The government says it froze the funding to review whether the programs match the president’s priorities, but many leaders—both Democrats and Republicans—are worried that schools won’t be able to offer these programs when students return in just a few weeks. Some states have found emergency funding to keep summer programs open for now, but fall after-school programs may shut down if the money isn’t released soon. Write a paragraph explaining why after-school and summer programs are important for kids and families. What kinds of activities do these programs offer, and how do they help students learn or stay safe? Then explain how freezing the funding might affect students, parents, or teachers. Use details from the article to support your response.

2. PUBLIC BROADCASTING CUTS

Public media stations across the U.S. are scrambling to stay open after the Senate approved big budget cuts requested by President Trump. The new law removes about $1.1 billion in funding for NPR, PBS, and their local stations. That money has helped smaller stations—especially in rural places like Alaska and Mississippi—provide emergency alerts, children’s programming, weather updates, and music. Some stations say they might have to shut down completely or cut important programs, like 24-hour kids’ shows or classical music. In Alaska, one station was helping people stay safe during a tsunami warning at the same time the funding was being cut. Leaders of public media say they’ll try to find other funding, but donations likely won’t be enough to replace what was lost. The cuts could leave some communities without a trusted source of news, safety information, and educational shows. Public media includes radio and TV stations like NPR and PBS that are free for everyone to use. After reading this article, write a paragraph explaining why public broadcasting is important to communities. What kinds of programs or services might people lose if local stations close? Then, share your opinion: Do you think the government should keep helping pay for these services, or should they rely only on donations? Use at least one example from the article to support your ideas.

3. CIVIL RIGHTS ICON REMEMBERED

John Lewis, a key leader in the civil rights movement and a longtime U.S. congressman, died at age 80. As a young man, he was badly beaten by police during the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Alabama, an event that helped push Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act later that year. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis believed in nonviolent protest and worked throughout his life to fight injustice. He later served in Congress for over 30 years, where he was known for speaking out against racism and encouraging others to get into what he called “good trouble, necessary trouble.” Lewis was admired across political lines for his courage and dedication to equality. President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and many leaders praised his lifelong work to make America a fairer place. John Lewis believed that when you see something wrong, you should speak up and take action. In a paragraph, describe a time when you saw or learned about something that was unfair or unjust—either in history, in your community, or even at school. What would John Lewis encourage you to do about it? What does it mean to get into “good trouble”? Use what you learned from the article to support your ideas.

4. COLBERT SHOW CANCELLED

CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026 after more than 10 years on air. The network said the cancellation is due to financial reasons, not because of anything Colbert said. Still, the news came just days after Colbert criticized a settlement between former President Donald Trump and CBS’s parent company, leading some people — including U.S. senators — to question the timing. Colbert has been known for his sharp jokes about politics and Trump. Other late-night hosts and celebrities have shown support for Colbert, saying the decision feels political. Colbert’s show has been a popular part of late-night TV, and many fans are sad to see it go. Stephen Colbert used his show to talk about important political issues and hold leaders accountable through comedy. In your own words, explain why you think political satire (comedy that comments on politics) is important — or why you think it could cause problems. Then, choose a political or news topic you care about and write a few lines of your own “comedy monologue” or funny-but-thoughtful take on the issue, as if you were a late-night host.

5. NAME GAME

President Donald Trump said he might block a stadium deal for the Washington Commanders football team if they don’t go back to their old name, the Redskins. That name was dropped in 2020 because many people found it offensive to Native Americans. Trump also said Cleveland’s baseball team, the Guardians, should go back to being called the Indians. Both teams said they are keeping their new names and have no plans to change back. Trump’s comments are part of a bigger debate about whether sports teams should keep names and logos that some people see as racist or hurtful. Changing a team’s name can be a big deal—especially when people have strong feelings about tradition, identity, and respect. Write a paragraph explaining whether you think teams should be allowed to keep names that some people find offensive, or if it’s more important to change them to be more respectful. Use reasons and examples to support your opinion. Then, imagine you had to rename a sports team in your town—what would you call it and why?