John Oliver on prediction markets: ‘Betting on war is really dark’

The Last Week Tonight host dug into the rapidly expanding, poorly regulated free-for-all of ‘prediction markets’ like Kalshi and Polymarket

Is Polymarket taking bets on when

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed an executive order banning state employees from using insider info to bet on prediction market apps like Kalshi and Polymarket, warning the unregulated boom “opens the door to insider trading and abuse.”

Unregulated prediction market may endanger US national security, experts and lawmakers warn With how futures markets are structured, officials could place bets anonymously and influence combat operations to ensure they get a payout, experts say.

People all around the world were betting on the survival of US soldiers in the Iran War in the unregulated online betting platform-Polymarket.

Palantir manifesto described as ‘ramblings of a supervillain’ amid UK contract fears Alarm caused by posts of Alex Karp, tech firm’s CEO, championing US military dominance and of AI weapons

Billionaire CEO of Palantir, Alex Karp, wants the US to bring back the military draft.

The US military has been all volunteer since the Vietnam War.

Palantir got a $10 Billion contract from the US govt in 2025.

Palantir co founder Peter Thiel helped JD Vance get elected to the Senate in 2022.

Exclusive: ICE Glasses Homeland Security is making “smart glasses” to collect intelligence on Americans

The Dept of Homeland Security is developing ‘Smart Glasses’ for ICE to wear in 2027.

They will be able to secretly record, identify & match people to a database.

Apple says chief Tim Cook stepping down in September Apple has announced that Tim Cook will step down in September, handing the chief executive job to company veteran John Ternus.

Apple has announced that Tim Cook will step down in September, handing the chief executive job to company veteran John Ternus.

Canadian tourist killed in Mexico pyramid shooting A Canadian tourist was killed and six other people were wounded when a man opened fire at Mexico's Teotihuacan archaeological site, authorities said.

A Canadian tourist was killed and six other people were wounded when a man opened fire at Mexico's Teotihuacan archaeological site, authorities said

These two editorials by the Washington Post expose how the Republican Party and Democratic Party are held to completely different standards by the media.

Texas gerrymander: “Not a threat to democracy.”

Virginia gerrymander: “Power grab by Democrats.”

Trump’s DoorDash Grandma isn’t a plant — the truth is much darker Sharon Simmons made $22,000 last year — her boss made $313 million

DoorDash Grandma isn't a paid plant. (For that, you need to be paid!) Instead, her story is far worse.

She's a depressing example of how MAGA cultists have internalized the lies that justify their own oppression.

An analysis.

www.salon.com/2026/04/17/t...

MAGA wants teen births. It won't work Teen birth rates are at historic lows — and young women want to keep it that way

Republicans are getting more brazen — in rhetoric and policy — in pushing teenage girls to give birth.

The good news is that it won't work. Girls aren't going to fall for it.

An analysis.

www.salon.com/2026/04/20/m...

New Standing Room Only! Today's excerpt: Clarence Thomas is delusional.

Read and subscribe today! We're on the non-Nazi platform! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com

Music by Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Today is a good day for democracy 💥

Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, and Mike Johnson tried to rig midterms… and still took the L.

Virginia voters understood the assignment. They saw it for what it was and obliterated it.

Trump picked Kevin Warsh to head Federal Reserve after Jerome Powell steps down on May 15

Interest rates aren’t cut when there’s high inflation, high unemployment & low GDP because it causes even higher inflation.

Trump wants to drastically cut rates no matter what.

Iran has restarted its blockade in response to our ongoing blockade of their blockade of our blockade

On Monday April 20 Trump said he wouldn’t lift the blockade of US military ships blocking the Iranian ports until there was an agreement.

www.politico.com/news/2026/04/21/iran-talks-hold-over-trumps-blockade-00885019