EP 192: Kalshi CEO: The Debate Over Gambling, Markets & Politics

Prediction markets have quickly become a major force shaping conversations around elections, sports, the economy, and breaking news. But as platforms like Kalshi grow in popularity, so do questions about whether they are fundamentally different from gambling — and whether they should exist at all. In this episode, Mosheh sits down with Kalshi co-founder and CEO Tarek Mansour for an in-depth conversation about the company's rapid rise and the controversy surrounding it. Kalshi is a sponsor of Mo News, but this interview was conducted independently, with no advance review of questions and no topics off limits. Mosheh presses him on some of the toughest questions submitted by the Mo News audience, including concerns about gambling addiction, market manipulation, insider trading, youth participation, and whether prediction markets provide real value to society. The conversation explores the origins of Kalshi, how prediction markets work, and why Mansour believes they can be a powerful tool for forecasting the future. We also talk about how the platform works with law enforcement and regulators. They also discuss the growing legal and political battles over prediction markets, why some states are trying to ban them, how the gambling industry is fighting them, how Kalshi differentiates itself from sportsbooks and other betting platforms. Whether you're a Kalshi user, a skeptic, or simply curious about one of the fastest-growing trends in finance and politics, this conversation offers a deeper look at the debate surrounding prediction markets and their future. Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.