1. CHICAGO POLICE INSTRUCTIONS AGAINST I.C.E.

Chicago’s mayor, Brandon Johnson, ordered the city’s police officers to formally document aggressive and potentially illegal actions by federal immigration agents. The order instructs officers to make sure their body cameras capture uses of force, injuries, and key details like the name and badge number of the supervising federal officer during an operation. Police who respond to incidents involving federal agents must also report apparent violations of state or local law and refer those cases to the state’s attorney, creating a public record of how often these allegations occur. The mayor said the goal is to build evidence for possible prosecutions and to respond to recent fatal shootings involving immigration agents, including deaths in Illinois and Minnesota. The order is part of a broader conflict between Illinois leaders and the Trump administration over large immigration operations in Chicago, which the administration says target violent criminals but critics say have also swept up citizens and people without violent histories. Write a short analysis explaining what it means when a local government tries to increase “accountability” for a federal agency. In your response, describe how documentation can function as evidence, and explain why body-camera footage, written reports, and identification of supervising officers matter if a case ends up in court. Then discuss one legal or practical challenge Chicago might face when trying to investigate or prosecute federal agents, and one reason supporters might argue the order is necessary even if it creates conflict between city and federal authorities.

2. CELEBRITIES SPEAK OUT AT THE GRAMMYS

At the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, several musicians used their speeches and media interviews to support immigrants and criticize recent aggressive immigration enforcement across the country. Artists like Olivia Dean, Gloria Estefan, Kehlani, and Shaboozey connected immigration to their families’ histories and argued that many people being targeted are not criminals but community members with families and long ties to the United States. Some performers wore pins with messages like “ICE OUT” and “BE GOOD,” linking their statements to recent events and public anger about immigration tactics. The moment showed how entertainment events can become platforms for political speech, especially when artists believe an issue is urgent and personal. At the same time, these public statements can create debate about whether award shows should stay focused on music or reflect what is happening in the country. Write a short op-ed-style article that takes a clear position on this question: Should major entertainment events be used as platforms for political messages? Use details from the story to support your position, and address at least one counterargument fairly. In your article, address how celebrity speech can influence public attention, and evaluate whether that influence is mostly helpful, mostly harmful, or mixed, using at least two specific reasons.

3. UNIVERSITY CHANGES HUNDREDS OF COURSES

Texas A&M announced it will end its women’s and gender studies program and that hundreds of course syllabuses have been altered under new system policies limiting how race, gender ideology, sexual orientation, and gender identity can be discussed. University leaders said the changes were driven by low enrollment and the difficulty of keeping the program compliant with the new rules, and they said students already enrolled will still be able to finish. Supporters of the policies argue they prevent political ideology from entering classrooms and improve “academic integrity,” while critics say the policies encourage self-censorship and threaten academic freedom by pressuring faculty to avoid certain topics. The policy changes created confusion and conflict across departments, including cases where administrators questioned readings and class plans, and at least one class was canceled because the professor could not promise exactly how certain topics might arise in discussion. The situation highlights a bigger debate about who should control what is taught at public universities: professors, administrators, governing boards, or elected officials and their appointees. Write a structured reflection that answers this question: What is academic freedom, and who should have the most power to define it at a public university? In your response, explain the strongest argument that supporters of the new policies might make about oversight, transparency, and “keeping classrooms neutral.” Then explain the strongest argument that opponents might make about censorship, self-censorship, and the educational value of studying race and gender in fields like history, government, and literature. End by proposing one policy compromise that could protect open inquiry while also addressing concerns about how course content is described and taught.

4. DATA PRIVACY AND PROTESTS

In Minneapolis, immigration agents are using a mix of technology tools that can identify and track people in ways that go beyond traditional immigration enforcement. The story describes several American citizens who said ICE agents told them they were being scanned with facial recognition, even though they had not agreed to it, and in at least one case an agent addressed a volunteer observer by name despite never having met her. Current and former Homeland Security officials said the agency is using facial recognition programs, tools that monitor social media and cellphone activity, and a database that combines government and commercial information to help locate people in real time. The Department of Homeland Security would not confirm which specific tools are being used in Minneapolis, saying it does not disclose methods, while describing the technology as lawful and similar to what other law enforcement agencies use. Critics argue that when these tools are used in such an aggressive, combined way—especially around protests—they can expand government power to monitor citizens, create fear about being watched, and discourage people from exercising their rights in public. Write a short analysis explaining why surveillance technology becomes especially controversial when it affects citizens engaged in protest or observation of government activity. In your response, define what “consent” means in this context and explain why it matters even in public spaces. Then evaluate two risks raised by the story, such as mistakes in facial recognition, chilling effects on free speech, or the danger of collecting large amounts of personal data. End with one concrete rule you think should exist for government use of facial recognition in domestic operations and explain how your rule would protect rights without making law enforcement impossible.

5. UNITED NATIONS FEARS FOR FINANCIAL FUTURE

The United Nations warned that it could face financial collapse and run out of money by July if member countries do not pay their required annual dues. U.N. officials said that if funds run out, the organization might have to shut its New York headquarters by August and cancel major operations, including the General Assembly meeting where world leaders gather. The U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, sent a letter to member states saying the crisis is urgent and arguing that a long-standing financial rule leaves the organization vulnerable if countries pay late or not at all. According to a senior U.N. official, the United States accounts for the vast majority of unpaid dues, totaling billions of dollars across annual obligations and other costs like peacekeeping. The story also notes that the Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from several international organizations and has signaled reductions in some types of U.N. funding, adding to uncertainty about what happens next. Write a brief policy memo addressed to a hypothetical U.S. senator that answers this question: Should the United States pay its overdue U.N. dues in full, pay partially with conditions, or refuse to pay? Your memo should summarize what the U.N. says will happen if it runs out of money, and it should explain at least two consequences for global cooperation or U.S. interests if the U.N.’s core operations are disrupted. Then acknowledge the strongest argument from critics who say the U.N. is wasteful or ineffective and respond to it with reasoning grounded in the details from the story.