The week ahead: rockets, races, and budget reconciliation

You might not know it, but the state of Indiana is famous for many things, including old talk show hosts, dead singers with... questionable legacies, and even famous actors who helped ruin Star Wars. But this Sunday, the state's most famous event, the Indy 500, will take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

A sell-out crowd of 350,000 people is expected, making it the year's largest single-day spectator sporting event. But if you're reading this, you're probably more interested in speculation than spectators, in which case you're in luck, because Kalshi's Indy 500 winner market will help keep you glued to every twist and turn (and turn, and turn, and turn) on race day.

Kalshi traders currently price Pato O'Ward, Alex Palou, and Kyle Larson as the favorites. But Scott McLaughlin, Takuma Sato, and Josef Newgarden, men who I have definitely heard of before, are also in contention.

And if trading on the race itself doesn't float your boat, you can also trade on whether or not the race will be delayed due to rain. If you'll be attending the event, consider this market as a way to hedge against bad weather disrupting your plans. And if you're not attending Sunday's race, consider it a great distraction from talking to your extended family at your aunt's Memorial Day BBQ.

Four teams are battling for a trip to the Finals, and Kalshi’s championship markets are buzzing like a Game 7 buzzer-beater. In the East, New York is out for revenge against Indiana, who eliminated them from last year's playoffs. Out West, Minnesota enters the conference finals as an underdog against Oklahoma City’s smothering defense. Every clutch shot or defensive stop ripples through futures markets. If you’re trading championship contracts, dive into matchups, track injury updates, and stay sharp — one play can flip the script.

🟢 Related markets:

SpaceX is targeting a launch window this week for Starship Flight 9 — with upgrades onboard and high hopes for a clean orbital test. It’s the first flight using a reused Super Heavy booster, plus new heat shield improvements and a planned in-space engine relight. As always, Elon Musk will likely be live-tweeting like mission control. Kalshi traders should have one eye on the launch and one on the markets — a clean flight could send space sentiment soaring, while a fiery detour might cool things off fast. One small step for reusability, one giant leap for anyone holding the right contracts.

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Unfortunately, storm season is rolling in, so it might be a good time to take a closer look at the forecasts—both meteorological and market-based. From hurricanes to tornadoes, Kalshi's weather markets provide a valuable projection of what Mother Nature might have in store for the weeks and months ahead.

🟢 Related markets:

— Front Office Sports

— Morning Brew

Today, we were supposed to make a very exciting announcement! But it's been delayed until later in the week, and now, we're not allowed to talk about it.

So instead, in honor of the Indy 500, here are several videos of an actor you probably don't remember, from some TV shows you've probably never watched, singing about a state you probably don't live in. Enjoy!

🚀 Stay ahead of the news — trade real-world events at Kalshi.com.

Follow Shannon Magiera on X: @weathershanFollow Terry Oldreal on X: @realOldTerryFollow Kalshi on X: @Kalshi

The opinions and perspectives presented in this article belong solely to the author, who is using a pseudonym and cannot trade on Kalshi. This is not financial advice. Trading on Kalshi involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. Members risk losing their cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on Kalshi is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk. Information is provided for convenience only on an "AS IS" basis. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Kalshi is subject to U.S. regulatory oversight by the CFTC.