Nate Silver Criticizes "Bill" Over Andrew Cuomo Bet as Political Betting Gains Traction

New York, NY – Renowned political statistician Nate Silver, founder of the now-defunct FiveThirtyEight and current proprietor of Silver Bulletin, recently voiced strong disapproval regarding a hypothetical wager on former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. In a terse social media post, Silver admonished an individual referred to as "Bill," stating, "What a fucking Karen. Bill just bet on Cuomo if you think the price is good." The comment, made on October 31, 2025, highlights the intersection of political commentary and the growing landscape of political prediction markets.

Silver, known for his data-driven election forecasts and statistical analysis, departed FiveThirtyEight in May 2023, with the platform ultimately ceasing operations in March 2025. He has since launched Silver Bulletin, his personal newsletter, and joined prediction market startup Polymarket as an advisor in June 2024. His recent activities include releasing his own election forecasting model for the 2024 U.S. elections, where he accurately predicted the outcome in 48 out of 50 states.

Andrew Cuomo, who resigned from the governorship in August 2021 amidst multiple scandals, has largely remained out of the public political arena. His post-resignation activities have included occasional op-eds and media appearances, but he has not sought a return to elected office. Any significant political bet on Cuomo at this stage would likely be considered a long-shot by most political observers.

The tweet underscores the increasing prevalence and visibility of political betting markets, which allow individuals to wager on the outcomes of political events. These platforms often attract political analysts and enthusiasts, providing an alternative metric for public sentiment and potential electoral results. Silver's involvement with Polymarket further indicates his engagement with this evolving aspect of political forecasting.

While the specific identity of "Bill" and the exact nature of the bet remain undisclosed, Silver's public rebuke suggests a strong disagreement with the perceived value or rationale behind such a wager. The use of informal and critical language by a figure of Silver's stature reflects the passionate and often contentious nature of political discourse, even within the context of statistical analysis and prediction.