The Daily Wire’s Shift to Crisis PR

The Daily Wire has made a name for itself by pointing out who’s dishonest, who’s corrupt, and identifying which countries should be our allies. However, when their sponsors find themselves in trouble, they quickly roll out a studio, a camera crew, and an entire hour to showcase their side of things.

Take, for instance, Ben Shapiro’s recent conversation with Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour. Just the day before, Utah had dismissed 14 criminal charges against the prediction-market platform and its founders, who were accused of promoting illegal gambling online. Shapiro took the opportunity to launch an hour-long interview with Mansour, effectively giving him a stage to argue that his company is actually beneficial.

I’ve often thought that introducing young men to the thrill of betting might lead to risky habits, and it’s interesting to see that Ben might think so too.

Shapiro claimed the interview was recorded only 48 hours prior to the announcement of the charges in Utah. Don’t kid yourself; it wasn’t just a matter of timing.

Prior to the charges, Utah had already filed a lawsuit against Kalshi relating to illegal betting, which means Mansour was already aware of the scrutiny the company was under.

By releasing the interview on the same day the news broke, the Daily Wire had a polished defense ready to counteract the negative headlines surrounding Kalshi.

This could certainly be a case study for crisis PR firms everywhere.

Another point of interest? Kalshi is a paid sponsor of the Daily Wire. Shapiro does mention that… which is a good practice in transparency. But, the way it was presented quickly shifts from straightforward to comical.

He then makes the case that prediction markets outperform political analysts because people financially invested have more reason to be accurate.

“Prices beat pundits,” he states, ironically positioning himself as a pundit promoting a platform that essentially functions like a sportsbook, backed by the same company funding his media network.

The irony is palpable; I wondered if the interview was meant as some kind of satirical ad, though that might be too sophisticated for the Daily Wire.

To his credit, Shapiro does address potential risks. He pushes Mansour on the issue of young individuals losing money on betting platforms, asking how Kalshi plans to reassure both the public and regulators that it’s not just another gambling venue.

Mansour recognized the concerns but insisted that Kalshi operates differently than traditional sportsbooks, where the house profits when customers lose. He pitches prediction markets as a healthier option for participants.

In essence, while young men might still lose their money, the argument is that Kalshi isn’t betting against them.

Utah’s case isn’t just some vague attack on a harmless business. An undercover investigator reportedly made 12 sports bets on Kalshi, totaling about $114.87, which the state claims breached its gambling laws.

Kalshi argues that it’s operating within federal guidelines laid down by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, but Utah insists that just labeling something a “prediction market” doesn’t magically convert gambling into legitimate finance.

I’m no expert in business, but I’ve got to say, this entire situation seems like a clever way to appeal to potential advertisers at the Daily Wire.

After all, who really needs an external PR team when you have the necessary setup, including lights and a confidently misguided host, ready to deliver promotional content?

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