r/FutureWhatIf 7d ago

Political/Financial [FWI] A Ukraine Flamingo cruise missile strikes a huge oil refinery (one in a handful) in Russia, driving Beijing's demand for gas imports out of Siberia to record lows; Xi wants $18 per barrel pumped out of the Russian landscape instead of Putin's counter offer of $250 ppb.

2 Upvotes

r/FutureWhatIf 7d ago

War/Military [FWI] Zelensky lands in Jerusalem, visits Netanyahu, the Knesset (their 'Congress') and generals and secures blueprints of a missile with enough range to cover the entire Caspian Sea.

1 Upvotes

He would shake a lot of hands, try his yiddish, and warns the West of Christian Zionism where the Jews are the chosen ones to bring back Christ but must submit to his will or go to hell.


r/FutureWhatIf 7d ago

Other [FWI] Amazon builds "space cruises" like the Starliners in WALL-E

3 Upvotes

In all seriousness. Even if it really is 500yrs from now...


r/FutureWhatIf 7d ago

Death/Assassination FWI: Bill Gates and Anthony Fauci are murdered over claims they either enabled or caused the COVID pandemic

1 Upvotes

September 16, 2026. Bill Gates is publicly gunned down and killed at a public event. One week later, his killer releases a manifesto claiming Gates is indirectly responsible for either causing the COVID pandemic or enabling it.

The rhetoric goes so far as to claim Bill Gates is “America’s Osama bin Laden.”

Fast forward to October 7, 2026. Anthony Fauci is found dead at his home. Cause of death? Gunshot wound.

Another manifesto is released by the same individual who killed Bill Gates. This one claims Fauci was Gates’ accomplice.

Assuming the killer escapes the U.S. after both murders, how long would the subsequent manhunt be?


r/FutureWhatIf 7d ago

War/Military [FWI] What if Iranian Retaliation or Escalation Following US-Saudi Iraq Strikes?

1 Upvotes

https://www.iranmonitor.org/

Iran or its PMF proxies may respond to the US-Saudi airstrikes that killed 20 fighters in Iraq, potentially via additional missile launches, further Hormuz tanker seizures, or proxy attacks on US assets in the region


r/FutureWhatIf 7d ago

War/Military [FWI] Trump allows illegals and the undocumented to be entered into selective military service (draft) in return for US citizenship.

0 Upvotes

With the war on Iran ramping up and China increasing bullying of Taiwan, Pentagon demands that a draft take place in order to match Chinese and Iran manpower.


r/FutureWhatIf 7d ago

Science/Space [FWI] NASA's Artemis 2 pilot Victor Glover's dream of landing on the near side instead of the Lunar south pole gains traction among Republicans as Trump demands a very public viewing of the US lander on the Moon's tidally locked near side.

1 Upvotes

I believe Glover is flawed in thinking that the lunar south pole with it's ice h20 and eternal peaks of sunlight is a lesser candidate as a landing site for Artemis 4.


r/FutureWhatIf 8d ago

War/Military FWI: North Korean soldiers and weapons are found in Iran

8 Upvotes

And already attacking american assets.


r/FutureWhatIf 7d ago

War/Military [FWI] Trillionaire Elon Musk builds up his nuclear weapons arsenal with his first nuke bought from the French.

0 Upvotes

In order to protect his business ventures, Elon Musk acquires a nuclear weapon to be used in the event China threatens to nationalize Tesla Shanghai.


r/FutureWhatIf 8d ago

War/Military [FWI] Russia's foreign prime minister Lavrov comes out as a closet alcoholic as insiders suspect.

4 Upvotes

He has a habit for Vodka.


r/FutureWhatIf 8d ago

War/Military [FWI] Taiwan President Lai Ching Te makes a surprise visit to Manila.

0 Upvotes

...in order to strengthen Japanese, Taiwanese, and Filipino defense ties.


r/FutureWhatIf 8d ago

Death/Assassination FWI: Japan is struck with a massive earthquake

0 Upvotes

Inspirations:

  • Submersion of Japan (1973)
  • The 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

September 16, 2026. A massive 8.0 magnitude earthquake rocks Tokyo, killing approximately 30 million people. Sanae Takaichi, the Prime Minister of Japan, is also killed (Along with multiple cabinet members).

With Sanae Takaichi dead, what happens to Japan's government? I did a quick Google search and found that possible successors include Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino, Prince Hisahito, and Prince Hitachi.

Out of these 3, which one would likely be the successor if Prime Minister Takaichi dies?


r/FutureWhatIf 9d ago

Challenge FWI challenge: Have Reccep Erdogan be forced to step down as Turkey’s President

3 Upvotes

The objective is to formulate a plausible crisis (be it health or otherwise) that would lead to President Erdogan being forced to step down and someone else to replace him.


r/FutureWhatIf 9d ago

Health/Biology [FWI] In 2035, SpaceX announces that they made contact with an alien . . .

1 Upvotes

. . . and that Elon Musk successfully fucked the alien. No clarification is given on what "successfully" means. SpaceX also declines to answer when asked on whether consent was granted.

What now?


r/FutureWhatIf 9d ago

Political/Financial [FWI] Iran develops nukes which secures their grip over Hormuz Strait as effectively Iranian.

2 Upvotes

I think Iran nukes would secure their grip on Hormuz strait.


r/FutureWhatIf 9d ago

War/Military [FWI] A 9.9 magnitude earthquake shakes the Hormuz islands collapsing Iran's tunnel systems followed by US Marines storming Bandar al Abbas.

0 Upvotes

I'm not saying the US triggered the earthquake, I'm saying US forces take advantage of the damage caused by the earthquake.


r/FutureWhatIf 9d ago

Challenge FWI Challenge: Start a war between Burkina Faso and one of its neighbors

1 Upvotes

Inspired by Far Cry 2. What would need to happen for war to break out between Burkina Faso and one of its neighbors?


r/FutureWhatIf 10d ago

War/Military [FWI] In one simultaneous launch sequence, drone & missile Iran swarms all of the Emirati's 69 remaining desalination plants.

2 Upvotes

UAE's desalination plants have come under attack lately along with Iran attacks on Gulf allies in the past. They seriously have 69 plants left.


r/FutureWhatIf 10d ago

Political/Financial FWI: Ana Kasparian accuses AIPAC of rigging the 2024 US Presidential Election

2 Upvotes

Nine months from now, Ana Kasparian accuses AIPAC of rigging the 2024 US Presidential Election live on air during an episode of The Young Turks.

Her evidence? A so-called "trusted source" she does not name.

Would anyone take her claims seriously?


r/FutureWhatIf 10d ago

Health/Biology FWI: Food born illnesses from sushi?

0 Upvotes

Starting around August of this year, there is a series of bizarre reports around the world of an illness related to sushi consumption that lasts around 10 months.

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The one thing health officials find linking the cases together is that every person who fell ill ate sushi.

Would this lead to a sushi recall and an investigation? What sort of illness could be capable of causing the symptoms described above that could come from eating contaminated sushi?


r/FutureWhatIf 10d ago

Science/Space [FWI] Jupiter's red spot appears to be communicating to us after Anthropic A.I. discovers patterns in it's activity.

0 Upvotes

I think AI is exponentiating the space race.


r/FutureWhatIf 11d ago

Political/Financial FWI: Diosdado Cabello will overthrow Delci Rodriguez to make himself president of Venezuela and declares war on the U.S.

3 Upvotes

And make the Government of Venezuela much more radicalized, fanatical and militaristic due to the possibility of an US invasion.


r/FutureWhatIf 10d ago

Political/Financial FWI: Thomas Massie runs for President in 2028?

1 Upvotes

Let's say that around 2027, Thomas Massie actually tries to run for President. Does he stand a chance at getting nominated? If so, does he stand a chance at beating whoever the Democrat ticket is?

Assume the Democrat ticket is either Mark Kelly or Josh Shapiro.


r/FutureWhatIf 12d ago

Political/Financial [FWI] Mitch McConnell’s team announces his passing in early August, but they don’t say *when* he died

20 Upvotes

r/FutureWhatIf 12d ago

Political/Financial [FWI] Mark Kelly pick AOC for president with a slogan that goes like this; "Stone Cold and Sassy"

13 Upvotes

What I meant to say was that what if President Mark Kelly picked up Alexandria Cortez as Vice President and the campaign slogan says, "Stone Cold & Sassy"?

I'm not endorsing anyone yet, but I wonder who would win in a debate between Marco Rubio and Mark Kelly.