Studies have shown that the betting sites can predict races correctly, but their ability to forecast U.S. midterm elections is an important proving ground.

© Hilary Swift for The New York Times

Betting markets like Polymarket and Kalshi have transformed America’s democracy into a new kind of casino.

© Hilary Swift for The New York Times

A Times reporter and editors discuss the challenges of sifting through what’s real and what’s not in pursuit of the news.

Unlike celebrity influencers with large followings, these creators produce a blizzard of videos for a fraction of the cost of traditional online campaigns and, in the process, shift public conversation.

© The New York Times