Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Can you guess why people are placing such huge impossible bets on the next presidential election?



My guess, grasping at straws, was that it was bots, but there's this:
One theory from Polymarket traders that Barron’s spoke to focuses on a cryptocurrency token that Polymarket is expected to mint and distribute to its users sometime this year. Those traders have theorized that total trading activity may be a factor in deciding the number of tokens received. Taking cheap bets on a Kardashian presidency would be a way to boost that metric.
...
On Kalshi, a rival platform, trading volume on the presidential election winner market is concentrated among the favorites.
In other gambling news:





(I think this is still just a theory)

"Drake’s Publicity Stunt Brings Ice, Blowtorches and Headaches to Toronto"










NYT:
“Large numbers of individuals have gathered to attempt to melt the ice using flammable liquids and open flames in an uncontrolled environment, which results in an immediate threat to life,” 
...
This was the second disruption in Toronto in less than a week connected to Drake’s album rollout.

Residents in a north Toronto neighborhood were rattled by a loud explosion in a park

The official Mandalorian and Grogu poster looks like a loving satire Brandon Bird would make, but without fully committing to the bit

New official poster for #TheMandalorianAndGrogu created by Matt Ferguson! 🎨 @mattferguson.bsky.social

[image or embed]

— The Star Wars Underworld (@theswu.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM


Those little flying vehicles are apparently some super obscure 80's toy I've never seen before (and a sign this movie is made by and for people that are too steeped in Star Wars nostalgia):





Related, I tried watching the new Darth Maul series--I stopped watching early in the first episode, and then tried episode 6 because I'd heard it was good, but it felt like nothing more than a collage of moments from other Star Wars product. Why wouldn't Disney think AI could make something similar? (Support Brandon Bird)

404 Media is having a 30% off merch sale

Support some great reporters.