The Engadget Podcast What do prediction markets like Kalshi cost us? + TikTok US stumbles
Jan 29, 2026
Karissa Bell, Engadget senior reporter covering tech policy and platforms, breaks down prediction markets and why betting on everything feels like turning reality into a casino. She also digs into TikTok US’s rocky launch, its new ownership structure, data and censorship worries, and how users reacted to feed outages and algorithm retraining.
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Think Logistics Over Physical Stores
- Use grocery-delivery logistics thoughtfully: Amazon focuses on delivery and warehouse inventories over physical stores.
- Expect continued investment in fast delivery and consolidation around efficient supply-chain models.
Documents Tie Growth To Teen Addiction
- Internal Meta documents show executives prioritized locking teens into apps, which may surface in upcoming trials.
- Those revelations could reshape legal and regulatory views on platform design and child harm.
Everything Becomes A Market
- Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket turn real-world events into granular, tradable bets and normalize gambling across topics.
- That shift creates new incentives and risks, including manipulation, insider trades, and societal effects beyond entertainment.
