| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| This news company won a 2021 Pulitzer Prize for their work investigating the Xinjiang [[SHIN-JEE-AHNG]] internment camps. Donald Trump called this news company a “failing pile of garbage” after it leaked a 35-page memo called the "Steele dossier." A post by this news company went viral due to discussions over an ambiguously colored dress. Jonah Peretti co-founded, for ten points, what news and media company, famous for their online quizzes and for launching video series such as “Tasty” and “Worth It”? | BuzzFeed, Inc. |
| This organization, which formally disbanded in 2018, had previously killed 829 people and injured thousands more between 1968 and 2010. The 2016 novel Patria, by Fernando Aramburu, was made into an HBO miniseries in 2020 and deals with the abandonment of armed struggle by this organization. This organization was initially blamed by Spanish authorities for the 2004 Madrid train bombings until it was realized that they had been perpetrated by al-Qaeda. For ten points, name this Basque nationalist paramilitary group, best known for the 1973 assassination of Luis Carrero Blanco. | Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (or ETA; accept Basque Homeland and Liberty or Basque Country and Freedom; prompt on "Basque National Liberation Movement" and similar answers) |
| In response to conspiracy theories that this politician's government was involved in the death of Sudanese vice president John Garang, this man threatened to shut down his nation's media outlets. Currently leader of the National Resistance Movement, this man came to power after Tito Okello, who himself overthrew the then-second term prime minister Milton Obote. Bobi Wine was defeated in 2021 by this man who rose to power in 1986 after winning the Battle of Kampala. For ten points, name this current president of Uganda. | Yoweri Museveni (or Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa) |
| One creation of this author, a "scholarly adventurer in the Inner Asian tradition of Sven Hedin," is named Stilton Gaspereaux and appears in a work in which a young Archduke Franz Ferdinand attends the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. In one work by this author, Scarsdale Vibe hires a pair of gunmen to kill a follower of anarchism named Webb Traverse. The private investigator Doc Sportello appears in a work by this author set amidst the counterculture movement of the 1970s. For ten points, name this American author of Inherent Vice and Against the Day. | Thomas Pynchon (or Thomas Ruggles Pynchon Jr.) |
| This organization's Sixth Declaration was published in 2005 and pronounced its support for alter-globalization. The rejection of the San Andrés Accords by one country's government contributed to a rift between this organization and the PRD. The work Critical Thought in the Face of the Capitalist Hydra was written by this group, which is based in the state of Chiapas. Though it does have some urban support, many of the followers of this organization are indigenous inhabitants of rural areas. For ten points, identify this organization with a name inspired by a Mexican revolutionary. | Zapatistas (accept Zapatista Army of National Liberation; accept EZLN; accept Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional; prompt on "Emiliano Zapata") |
| This politician claimed that he believed "a lot of us as stakeholders are to blame" for the deaths of miners during a strike against Lonmin platinum in what became known as the Marikana massacre. This former leader of the National Planning Commission preceded Félix Tshisekedi as chair of the African Union. An alumnus of the University of Limpopo, this man went on to serve as deputy under Jacob Zuma before taking over leadership of the ANC. For ten points, name this current president of South Africa. | Cyril Ramaphosa (or Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa) |
| This director included footage of the overthrow of Mohammad Mosaddegh in a montage accompanied by Louis Armstrong’s "What a Wonderful World." Charlton Heston appeared in that film by this man while he was serving as president of the NRA. A work by Ray Bradbury inspired the title of a film by this man claiming that the media supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq. A Colorado school shooting was the subject of this man's film Bowling for Columbine. For ten points, name this film director, known for his documentaries such as Where to Invade Next and Fahrenheit 9/11. | Michael Moore (or Michael Francis Moore) |
| A prior holder of this position is married to the daughter of Infosys co-founder, N. R. Narayana Murthy. An Iraqi-born founder of the company YouGov is the current holder of this position. That man, Nadhim Zahawi, took this position after its former holder, Rishi Sunak, resigned in protest of the administration. Sajid Javid served as Business Secretary before holding this position which helps guide its country's fiscal and monetary policy. For ten points, name this position which oversees the United Kingdom's Treasury. | Chancellor of the Exchequer (accept Chancellor and Under-Treasurer of Her Majesty's Exchequer; prompt on "Chancellor") |
| Before attending Wharton, SoFi CEO Anthony Noto attended this institution which was the subject of a 2020 cheating scandal involving 70 students. Home to Thayer Gate, this institution was where Barack Obama delivered a 2014 commencement speech five years after delivering a speech outside of Eisenhower Hall Theater, announcing a deployment of 30,000. In 2020, this institution unusually held a traditional football game it plays against the Naval Academy. For ten points, name this service academy for the Army. | West Point (accept United States Military Academy; accept USMA; prompt on "Army") |
| This man served as leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004 during the premiership of Atal Vajpayee. This man oversaw the national response to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks perpetrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba which killed 175 people. During this man’s premiership, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme of 2005 was passed, which helped provide a livelihood to impoverished Indian communities. For ten points, name this first Sikh prime minister of India, a member of the Indian National Congress who served from 2004 to 2014. | Manmohan Singh (prompt on "Singh") |
| The death of one leader of this country was the subject of the Mehlis report. In this country, the March 8 Alliance and the March 14 Alliance have differing positions based on whether they are aligned with a neighboring country. The Gemayel family has been prominent in the politics of this country, including a member who helped lead the Cedar Revolution after Rafic Hariri was assassinated. A political organization based in this country, with a name meaning "Party of God," promotes Shia Islamism. For ten points, name this Middle Eastern country, where Hezbollah is headquartered. | Lebanon (or Lebanese Republic; or Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah) |
| This man was implicated in the Leveson Inquiry, in a phone hacking scandal as the editor of the Daily Mirror, and won the first season of The Celebrity Apprentice. This man was fired from Good Morning Britain following a heated discussion with Alex Beresford regarding the Oprah with Meghan and Harry interview. For ten points, name this bombastic British media personality, known in the U.S. for his interviews with Donald Trump and for judging America's Got Talent. | Piers Morgan (or Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan; or Piers Stefan O'Meara) |
| Following a 2017 election, this man openly criticized his party's leader in a piece titled "No excuses! Answer new questions for the future! Clear principles!" This former Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs received 1.6 percent more votes than runner- up Armin Laschet in an election, the aftermath of which led to the formation of a traffic light coalition. Robert Habeck serves under this man, who was previously the SPD's Whip in the Bundestag. Preceded by Angela Merkel, for ten points, who is this current chancellor of Germany? | Olaf Scholz |
| During this election cycle, one candidate called its eventual victor "not intelligent enough to be president" and challenged him to a one-on-one debate after a scandal concerning an unpaid 200 million pesos in taxes. Former actor and mayor Isko Moreno ran during this election on a policy of expediting vaccine distribution to smaller islands like Cebu and Palawan. Boxer Manny Pacquiao [[PAK-ee-ao]] and Leni Robredo lost, for ten points, which election to Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. after Rodrigo Duterte was restricted by a term limit? | 2022 Filipino Presidential Elections (accept 2022 Philippines Presidential Elections; prompt on partial answers) |
| In this state, one politician convinced two-thirds of his party members to join an alliance in a move that resulted in Devendra Fadnavis becoming Deputy Chief Minister. A former rickshaw driver named Eknath Shinde was sworn in as Chief Minister of this state in June of 2022. Ten years after its foundation stone was laid by Bal Thackeray of the Shiv Sena party in this state, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link was completed in 2009. Pune is among the cities in this state where Marathi is widely spoken. For ten points, name this state of India, governed from Mumbai. | Maharashtra (prompt on "Maha"; prompt on "MH"; prompt on "India" before "Chief Minister of this state" is mentioned) |
| The leader of this country claimed that China and Russia are on a long-winded course toward democracy in his book The State in the Third Millennium. In 2021, the wife of the leader of this country was buried at the Cathedral of St. Florin. Hans Adam II [[the Second]] is the prince of this country and is considered the wealthiest monarch in Europe. The Swiss franc is used in this country where $40 billion in assets is held by the bank LGT. For ten points, name this small Western European country with capital at Vaduz. | Principality of Liechtenstein (or Fuerstentum Liechtenstein) |
| In 2007, one country terminated a nearly 38-year long deployment in this region, known as Operation Banner. In this region, members of the Alliance Party do not use the term ardfheis to refer to political party conferences, unlike a party once led by Gerry Adams. The Democratic Unionist Party operates in this region which is continuing to implement provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. Sometimes described as a country within the U.K., for ten points, what is this region whose County Antrim contains Belfast? | Northern Ireland (accept Tuaisceart Éireann; accept Norlin Airlann; prompt on "United Kingdom," "UK," or "Britain"; do not accept or prompt on "Ireland," "Great Britain," or "England") |
| Steven Anderson once reasoned that the victims of an event in this city were Satan worshippers, as evidenced by their decision to buy tickets to one venue in this city. Frank- Walter Steinmeier remained at a targeted venue in this city which affected another venue in this city at which the Eagles of Death Metal were performing. The Bataclan theater was targeted in this city, as was a national stadium in Saint-Denis. Carried out by ISIL, for ten points, what city was the site of November 2015 attacks on a European capital? | November 2015 Paris attacks (accept clear knowledge equivalents including Paris) |
| A member of this organization named Johnny Micheal Spann was the first American combat casualty of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Before becoming a professor at Georgetown, George Tenet served as head of this organization until 2004. An expansion of "mission centers" within this organization was undergone to address cybersecurity concerns. John Brennan once headed this organization, currently led by William J. Burns. Centered in Langley, Virginia, for ten points, what is this national security organization, sometimes considered an overseas counterpart to the FBI? | CIA (or Central Intelligence Agency; prompt on "the Agency"; prompt on "the Company") |
| In 2004, this man was appointed to the Moon, Mars, and Beyond Commission by President George W. Bush. A wrestler at Harvard, this scientist held positions at the University of Maryland and Princeton before becoming director of the Hayden Planetarium, where he advocated for the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet. For ten points, what writer and astrophysicist has appeared in a Superman comic book and on numerous television shows, including The Big Bang Theory? | Neil deGrasse Tyson |
| After a disputed election in this country, the Union for Victory Coalition initiated a boycott of Parliament which spanned 2001 and 2002. One president of this country had his impeachment overturned by its Constitutional Court and is a member of the Bektashi Order. The current chair of the Democratic Party of this country, Sali Berisha, was succeeded as prime minister by the former basketball player Edi Rama. Talks are currently underway between NATO and this country to build a naval base near its city of Durres [[DUR-us]]. For ten points, name this Balkan country north of Greece, with capital at Tirana. | Republic of Albania (or Republika e Shqiperise; or Shqiperia) |
| Athanasios Rantos claimed that a device used by this company "cannot be justified by the protection of" a component of its key products. The magazine Popular Mechanics claimed that this company engaged in "cynical deceit" through one effort. Martin Winterkorn was once CEO of this company which was found to program its TDI controls to activate solely during lab testing and allow outputs of up to 40 times more nitrogen oxides in other contexts. The subject of an emissions scandal, for ten points, what is this German automaker which manufactures the Beetle? | Volkswagen AG (accept Volkswagen Group; accept Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft; accept Volkswagen Beetle) |
| John Berman and Bernie Moreno withdrew from consideration in this election in which one ad campaign was accused of being "rife with Sinophobia" by one critic. Peter Thiel has donated over $10 million to this election, one of whose frontrunners co-founded Narya Capital with Thiel's backing. In this election, the author of a 2016 memoir explaining Appalachian values called The Hillbilly Elegy is facing off against Tim Ryan. For ten points, J.D. Vance is running in what election in a state containing Toledo and Cincinnati? | 2022 United States Senate election in Ohio (accept word forms such as Senator from Ohio or Senatorial election in Ohio; prompt on partial answers) |
| Border disputes around Piran Bay stymied attempts to bring about this event, which resulted in the affected country's renunciation of direct subsidies within its shipbuilding industry. One obstacle to this event involved the inability of foreigners to purchase land in Istria. Occurring in 2013, this event was achieved through the signing of a Treaty of Accession, making it the most recent enlargement of a certain body now containing 27 member states. For ten points, name this event in which an Adriatic country containing Split and Dubrovnik became part of a continental alliance. | Republic of Croatia joining the European Union (accept clear-knowledge equivalents; accept Republika Hrvatska in place of Republic of Croatia; accept EU in place of European Union; prompt on partial answers) |
| This country's third president suffered dioxin poisoning during his 2004 campaign, with his opponent being elected this country's fourth president before being deposed in a 2014 Revolution. In the aftermath of that revolution, rebels in this country's East declared the formation of "Novorossiya," and this country lost control of a peninsula inhabited by Tatars and Slavs. This country was the site of the Euromaidan Revolution, after which Petro Poroshenko came to power. For ten points, name this country which controls most of Crimea. | Ukraine (or Ukraina) |
| This man made a film about a man chasing an insect with his shoe, only to find out it is a miniature version of himself, in a short called Doodlebug. During the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, this man presented Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, made from the original camera negative. In 2021, it was announced that this man was to direct a film about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb. For ten points, what British filmmaker was responsible for directing The Prestige, Interstellar, and The Dark Knight trilogy? | Christopher Nolan or (or Christopher Edward Nolan) |
| In the introduction to one work, this man criticizes Simon and Schuster's publication of a book by Hunter Biden when it had refused to publish a Missouri senator's The Tyranny of Big Tech. The Long Slide was a 2021 work by this man who, with Neil Patel, founded The Daily Caller. Ted Cruz apologized for referring to the January 6 events as acts of terrorism on a show run by this former co-host of Crossfire. For ten points, name this conservative commentator and host of a namesake nighttime talk show on Fox News. | Tucker Carlson (or Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson) |
| Reporting on this good, DigDeep found that roughly $8.58 billion is lost per year through 2.2 million people's lack of access to it. Gina McCarthy headed the EPA while giving Senate testimony claiming that "there is no way my agency created [a] problem" regarding an event involving this good that occurred in Genesee County. An event centered on this good was thought to have involved a Legionella outbreak and included leaching of lead into this good in Flint, Michigan. For ten points, name this pipe-stored good, often provided by rain. | Water (or H2O; accept Flint water crisis and similar answers) |
| At least five people were killed in an attack carried out in this city at the juncture of Balo Street and a road often known as the Grand Avenue of Pera. In 2016, a suicide attack near the Obelisk of Theodosius in this city occurred less than thirty meters from a site made in the Iznik style. That attack was carried out by an ISIS supporter in the Sultanahmet district of this city close to the Blue Mosque. Often claimed by both Europe and Asia due to its location on the Bosporus. for ten points, what is this largest city in Turkey? | Istanbul |
| Once described as "fundamentally parasitic" by Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, this app was the subject of a request by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr for removal from the Google App Store. Citing a belief that the company "might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States," Donald Trump gave ByteDance 90 days to sell off assets related to the U.S. version of this app which the Taliban claimed to be "misleading the younger generation." For ten points, name this Chinese-owned, viral video- sharing app. | TikTok Pte. Ltd. (accept Douyin) |
| With Richard Rainwater, a politician from this state founded a company that merged with another company founded by HCA Healthcare. In this state, a current gubernatorial candidate was formerly the holder of the Agricultural Commissioner position for which Wilton Simpson is currently running. A former governor of this state who notably switched to the Democratic Party was Charlie Crist, who was defeated by a mere one percent in vote tally by its current junior senator, Rick Scott. For ten points, name this state where Dade County conducts mayoral elections in Miami. | Florida |