The "Plastic Straw Ban" (Episode: "The Fool Monty", 2010)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Plastic Straw Ban" (Episode: "The Fool Monty", 2010)

• What happened: In this episode, there’s a joke about the environmental impact of plastic, which foreshadows the global movement to reduce single-use plastic.
• Reality: In the 2010s, many cities and countries began banning single-use plastic items, including straws, as part of a growing global movement toward sustainability and environmental responsibility.