15 Comments
User's avatar
A Sarcastic Prophet's avatar

This is bad. Gambling brings out the worst in us. Like the human desire to dictate unrelated individual outcomes like the roll of a die as part of some mythological Law of Probabilities. How many times have I heard that from friends who gamble? Efficient Market Hypothesis as some bringer of truth by replacing discussion and subjectivity? Very bad. Betting on famine in Gaza? Very bad and disgusting.

Expand full comment
Jan F's avatar

WTF Why? Money. Didn’t think supposedly respected (any left?) news organizations were openly grifting. Must be the example of our supposed president.

Expand full comment
Signe K.'s avatar

This is really frightening, and another indicator that Big Brother is running the game. As a retired mental health counselor, I am also saddened by yet another invitation for gamblers to throw away money, to get hooked (and it's often young males who fall for this) and lose their shirts. Terrible idea all around.

Expand full comment
HM Haskins's avatar

So long CNN & CNBC. I remember you when.

Expand full comment
Joseph Mangano's avatar

Are we really betting on whether famine will be declared in Gaza, among other life-and-death matters? As someone who follows sports, I'm besieged as it is by ads for betting. If this isn't evidence of a gambling problem, I don't know what is.

Expand full comment
Charlie Cooper's avatar

Thanks for this really great analysis, Judd! Now, can you predict how long before cable and streaming providers require us to pay our bills using crypto?

Expand full comment
Diane Brine's avatar

This is more dumbing down of society. First, reduce support for education; then simplify news and events; result in pliable people who cannot think on their own; voters easily swayed. Dictatorship!

Expand full comment
Teresa Baustian's avatar

That’s not “engaging” with information. Engaging would be taking actual action: calling a senator, aiding disaster victims and so on. Not gambling…

Expand full comment
Mark's avatar

Regrettably, billionaires already control the “news” so in some way, this is only more of what we’ve been experiencing for the past 10 (+) years. Global warming? Fake news. Vaccines? Deadlier than the virus. I could go on but why bother?

Expand full comment
Neale Adams's avatar

If we want to see this stirred up, let’s be sure these outfits must provide tax winners data to all users an 1099 info to IRS.

Expand full comment
JOEL's avatar

So, if I’m understanding Kalshi correctly, I can place a bet (an enormous sum) on Fraud Criminal Trump dying from a massive heart attack before the end of his second term?

Expand full comment
Clay Bennett's avatar

Kalshi has been spamming Reddit with tasteless advertising. Its presence, even in a cistern of shitposting, is offensive.

Expand full comment
Robert Spottswood, M.A.'s avatar

Hm...

This is ringing some bells.

It was 2003 when former Reagan advisor John Poindexter was caught proposing a stock market based on predicting wars, tragedies and terrorism events.

So people could make money on predicting them. And others by manipulating them....

Here's the Guardian coverage at that time:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/02/usa.julianborger

Poindexter was excoriated by congress and went down in flames.

Thanks for your coverage of this new (news) incarnation and the nauseating example using Gaza.

Maybe CNN will follow up?

Expand full comment
Allen's avatar

I saw this movie called "Idiocracy" once but now I feel like I'm living it.

Expand full comment
Adam W. Barney's avatar

Kalshi honestly seemed kind of fun and innovative when it first launched a few years ago, but then quickly as an early try I realize the darkness that was probably hiding below the surface there. Now that seems like it’s becoming reality. 😩

Expand full comment