Another tournament, another win for Rambam’s Rhetoric Team. This past week, seniors Yosef Harris and Yoni Pfeifer competed in the Citron March Debate Tournament in the event: Public Forum Debate (PF) and walked away with a 2–0 victory. Part of the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) circuit, students compete using nationally recognized rules and topics. Public Forum Debate is structured, arguing about real-world issues in a duo style. Two teams of two debate a single national resolution and must be prepared to argue both sides of the issue. That means before even stepping into the round, competitors spend hours researching evidence, preparing arguments, and anticipating what the other team might say. Then, once the round starts, things move quickly: speeches, rebuttals, and a lively questioning period called crossfire, where debaters challenge each other’s claims directly. The resolution debated at the tournament was: “Resolved: The Federal Trade Commission should establish a federal regulatory framework for sports betting.” When arguing the affirmative, teams had to defend the idea that federal oversight could help protect consumers from gambling addiction, predatory sportsbook practices, and financial harm associated with online betting platforms. With sports betting rapidly expanding across the United States, the argument was that a single national system might create stronger protections and close regulatory gaps between states. On the negative side, Harris and Pfeifer argued that such regulation would be unnecessary and even harmful. Their case focused on three major points. First, they argued that gambling regulation is traditionally a state responsibility, rooted in constitutional principles like the Tenth Amendment. Second, they explained that many states already have well-established gaming commissions that regulate betting markets effectively. And finally, they argued that adding a federal layer of regulation could create unnecessary bureaucracy, raising costs for sportsbooks and potentially pushing bettors toward illegal or offshore markets where there are far fewer consumer protections. As anyone who has watched a debate round knows, it isn’t just about having good arguments — it’s also about thinking quickly on your feet. During crossfire, debaters question each other directly, trying to expose weaknesses in evidence and logic. Harris and Pfeifer successfully defended their case, responded to challenges from the opposing team, and ultimately convinced the judges that their arguments carried the round, bestowing upon Rambam both wins. Congratulations to Yosef Harris and Yoni Pfeifer, and hopefully they keep up the good work and qualify for nationals in the upcoming NatQuals PF Competition this Sunday. Yosef Harris (Senior) Rambam Wins Big at Yeshiva League Model Congress! This past Sunday, the Rambam Mesivta Rhetoric Team had the privilege of competing at the Annual Yeshiva League Model Congress hosted by HAFTR High School. Throughout the day, students passionately promoted their bills and defended their beliefs on some of the most pressing issues facing our country.