Does DESI 2024 confirm ΛCDM?

We demonstrate that a ∼2σ discrepancy with the Planck-ΛCDM cosmology in DESI Luminous Red Galaxy (LRG) data in the redshift range 0.4<z<0.6 with effective redshift z_eff=0.51 translates into an unexpectedly large Ω_m value, Ω_m=0.67_−0.17^+0.18. We independently confirm that this anomaly drives the preference for w₀>−1 in DESI data alone confronted to the w₀w_aCDM model. Given that LRG data at z_eff=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 Ω_m trend with effective redshift at higher redshifts. We estimate the current significance of the latter in DESI data at ∼1.8σ and comment on how it dovetails with independent observations. It is imperative to understand what makes DESI LRG data at z_eff=0.51 an outlier when it comes to Ω_m determinations.