2016: Obama's successor takes White House (not Biden).
2017: Iran Crisis: Achmeninajad wins a new term from the incumbent, widely accused of being a "placeholder" for him in the vein of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Widespread revolts crushed with military power; U.S. response weak, due to worries of upsetting ongoing "Nuclear Freeze" negotiated in 2013.
2018: U.S. Congress elects Democratic super-majority.
2019: Uprising in Iran reaches fever pitch; Iranian president launches dirty bomb attack on Tel Aviv, blames terrorists. War begins. Iranian government ousted, multinational army occupies Iran. U.S. President blamed for poor handling of crisis.
2020: Obama's successor defeated in landslide by President Ryan, who promises a "tough crackdown" on Islamist militants in Iran and elsewhere. U.S. Congress gains Republican super-majority.
2021: FAIRTAX Bill passed--a comprehensive tax reform bill that simplifies the U.S. tax code, largely passing the burden of social services onto states. Federal income tax rates plummet.
2022: Mighty Eagle Bill passed--allowing the U.S. Military to privatize limited-term military engagements. Massive cutbacks in official military enrollment over next few years, as money shifts toward corporate security contractors.
2023: America's Prosperity act passed--repeals federal minimum wage, automatically passes current labor protections onto states, which may change them as they see fit.
2023: President Ryan assassinated by religious extremists.
2024: President Ryan's successor soundly defeated by Democratic challenger. U.S. House shifts to solid Democratic majority.
2025: "The Real Deal" bill stalls in the Senate--meant to restore progressive tax code, remove exemptions on certain types of income favored by the wealthy--deemed "unrealistic" for citizens of states currently levying high state taxes for social programs.
2026: Iran withdrawal date passes without implementation; ongoing conflicts with "rogue" private military units escalate. Recall election grants Democratic party control of the Senate--late vote passes the Peace Act, cancelling all funding to private military contractors.
2028: After years of conflict with rogue paramilitary units, U.S. troops fully recalled from Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Control of Senate restored to Republican party, House majority slims.
2030: Looming election seen as referendum on President's handling of rogue military units, regulatory powers, tax reforms.
Supreme Court
2013: Smith vs State of Texas: Supreme Court rules 5-4 that states have the right to limit abortion rights in cases unrelated to rape, incest, or health of the mother.
2014: Williams vs State of North Carolina: same-sex marriage bans ruled unconstitutional.
2015: Obama nominates 2 new justices.
2016: Citizens United vs the United States: court rules that "special insertion" advertisements are not protected speech; only traditional advertisements are allowed for political purposes. (Fading traditional media considered "irrelevant" to campaign advertisement; direct spending on campaign ads plummets)
2017: North American Alliance of Free Enterprise vs State of California: court rules that states have the right to deny corporations the provisions of personhood.
2018: Drake vs State of Illinois: court rules that imprisonment is a "cruel and unusual punishment" for use of illicit drugs, recommends that monies be put to use in rehabilitiation programs. Widely cited as precedent for decriminalization of drug use in many states.
2021: President Ryan nominates 2 new justices.
2023: Angels' Choir Evangelic Church vs the United States: court rules that the FAIRTAX act, which removes the exemptions of religious organizations generating over $1M in annual revenue, is legitimate. Several large churches begin fragmenting into smaller denominations.
2024: City of Berkeley vs the United States: court rules that limitations on the category of energy use are unconstitutional; precedent prevents localities and states from limiting the sale of vehicles or appliances based on energy type (i.e. fossil fuel vs. renewable).
2025: State of California vs ATLAS Corporation: court rules that governments cannot set limits on corporate investments and control, majority report declares that "trust-busting is obsolete".
2026-2028: Ryan's successor nominates 3 new justices.