New York Times and The Athletic workers demand company scrap Kalshi deal
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
NYT and Athletic union workers demand the company scrap a potential partnership with prediction market Kalshi.
Unionized workers at The New York Times, via a unanimous vote of the Times Guild Unit Council and The Athletic's contract action team, released a statement opposing a potential deal between The Athletic and Kalshi. The workers argue the partnership threatens journalistic independence, as prediction markets like Kalshi operate without the accountability of fact-based reporting. They cite a New York attorney general investigation that found Kalshi to be an "illegal, unlicensed gambling operation." The union calls on the company to uphold its stated commitment to journalistic independence by abandoning the deal.
What commenters are saying
Commenters largely support the union's stance, with many criticizing prediction markets and sports gambling as corrupt or harmful. Several note the irony of expecting a competent DOJ action given political connections, pointing to Donald Trump Jr.'s free stake in Kalshi. One commenter clarifies the legal distinction between insider trading in commodities versus securities markets. Another provides context that the deal is reportedly abandoned, though not due to union demands. A few skeptics argue journalism already lacks independence, but they are outweighed.