Does DESI 2024 Confirm CDM?

We demonstrate that a 2 discrepancy with the Planck-CDM cosmology in DESI Luminous Red Galaxy (LRG) data at z₄₅₅ = 0. 51 translates into an unexpectedly large ₘ value, ₘ = 0. 668^+0. 180-₀. ₁₆₉. We independently confirm that this anomaly drives the preference for w₀ > -1 in DESI data confronted to the w₀ wₐCDM model. We show that redshift bins of DESI constraints allow ₘ to wiggle at the 2 level with increasing effective redshift in the CDM model. Given that LRG data at z₄₅₅ = 0. 51 is at odds with Type Ia supernovae in overlapping redshifts, we expect that this anomaly will decrease in statistical significance with future DESI data releases leaving an increasing ₘ trend with effective redshift at higher redshifts. We estimate the significance of the latter in DESI data at 1. 8 and comment on how it dovetails with independent observations. It is imperative to understand what makes DESI LRG data at z₄₅₅ = 0. 51 an outlier when it comes to ₘ determinations.