Welcome to The Week's "What Next?" contest, an invitation to test your powers of imagination with challenges inspired by current events.
Click here for results of last week's contest: Jet Song
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
FIRST PRIZE: No one may live within 60 miles of their place of employment.
Beth Simon, Oakland, CA
SECOND PLACE: Upon criminal conviction, celebrities shall serve no more that 2 percent of their sentence.
Warren Scrivani, Raleigh, NC
THIRD PLACE: Three pre-nups and you’re out.
Tamsin & James Smith, San Francisco
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
It is illegal to arrive at any awards show in a car that is not all electric or a hybrid.
Steve Kaplan, St. Louis Park, MN
Vegan’s Law prohibits cruelty to vegetables.
Ed Post, Grand Haven, MI
Restaurants must weigh customers to determine if they qualify for high calorie meals.
Neal Gladstone, Corvallis, OR
Only vehicles with 35 mpg gas mileage or better may display environmental vanity plates and bumper stickers.
Margaret Graham, Fort Collins, CO
English is designated as the official language for all illegal drug transactions.
Otto Dreaming, Decorah, IA
Outlawed: Public demonstrations of low self-esteem.
Ellen Lowery, St. Paul, MN
Commencing next year, all surfboards must be equipped with a seatbelt.
John Mayer, Tucson, AZ
The Cougar Preservation Act provides for a refund of any state taxes paid on certain cosmetic surgeries.
Tom Heider, Maumee, OH
The California No Child Left Behind Act requires minimum competency in writing movie treatments.
Bruce Alter, Fairfax Station, VA
It shall henceforth be unlawful to question the political science expertise of any movie star or other purveyor of entertainment arts.
C. E. Case, Heber Springs, AR
Chihuahua’s heads cannot be sticking out of purses by more than 5 inches.
Natalie Larson, Wayzata, MN
California plastic surgeons are henceforth permitted to copyright their “work.’’
Paul Jacques, Los Angeles
It is illegal to marry a person of the opposite sex.
Jerome Radding, Laguna Woods, CA
It is illegal for an innocent bystander to prematurely end an exciting high speed police chase.
Ken Branco, Watertown, MA
Every theatergoer must also purchase the DVD of the movie at ticket window.
Frances Kakugawa, Sacramento, CA
Any actress refusing to appear topless in a film may and shall be banned from Hollywood.
Judith Klein, Frisco, TX
State government employees may take a two-month paid leave of absence to make a film.
Mark Uhlig, Oakland Township, MI
It is a misdemeanor to allow an avocado to reach expiration.
Chris Olson, Las Vegas
All candidates for governor must produce a birth certificate with at least five English words on it.
Edmund Conti, Raleigh NC
The term 'governator' is the official name of the head of state.
Charley Cohen, New York City
No girly-men within 500 feet of the beach.
Rosemary Geary, Tempe, AZ
Medical Methamphetamine is now legal (but only with a prescription).
Dickinson Gould, Charleston, WV
You must have at least one Academy Award to vote.
Ryan Krouse, Downers Grove, IL
-
Facial recognition vans and policingThe government is rolling out more live facial recognition technology across England
-
Dive in! The best children's books to spark a love of readingThe Week Recommends These gripping stories will keep kids hooked until the last page
-
Sudoku medium: August 13, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
