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In the whirlwind of news that feels like it’s been scripted by the ghost of George Carlin, Kayleigh McEnany has given the world another “Wait, what?” moment. As the spokesperson renowned for her razor-sharp defenses of President Trump, McEnany made a mathematical gaffe so glaring during a press briefing that it could have spawned a new branch of absurdist math. This article from HuffPost not only captures this sitcom-worthy slip-up but also dives into the implications of distributing misinformation from such a high and influential podium.
The Breakdown
- Press Briefing or Math Class Gone Wrong?
- During what should have been a routine press briefing, McEnany attempted to defend Trump’s economic claims with numbers that seemed to have been picked from a hat—or maybe from a parallel universe where 2+2=5. The result was less convincing proof and more proof of needing a calculator.
- During what should have been a routine press briefing, McEnany attempted to defend Trump’s economic claims with numbers that seemed to have been picked from a hat—or maybe from a parallel universe where 2+2=5. The result was less convincing proof and more proof of needing a calculator.
- Numbers Are Hard, But This?
- Even second graders giggled as McEnany’s math mishap unfolded. When trying to quantify Trump’s success, she ended up tangling percentages and statistics like a Christmas light fiasco in July. It’s one thing to be wrong; it’s another to be confidently wrong on national television.
- Even second graders giggled as McEnany’s math mishap unfolded. When trying to quantify Trump’s success, she ended up tangling percentages and statistics like a Christmas light fiasco in July. It’s one thing to be wrong; it’s another to be confidently wrong on national television.
- McEnany’s Alternative Facts
- Much like advisor Kellyanne Conway’s infamous “alternative facts,” McEnany introduced the world to “alternative math,” a new way of solving problems where the answers are whatever you want them to be, regardless of common sense or high school math.
- Much like advisor Kellyanne Conway’s infamous “alternative facts,” McEnany introduced the world to “alternative math,” a new way of solving problems where the answers are whatever you want them to be, regardless of common sense or high school math.
- The Twitter-sphere Erupts
- It didn’t take long before Twitter became an arena of mathematicians and comedians alike, each taking their turn to skewer McEnany’s numerical nonsense. If nothing else, at least she united both STEM workers and satirists in collective face-palming.
- It didn’t take long before Twitter became an arena of mathematicians and comedians alike, each taking their turn to skewer McEnany’s numerical nonsense. If nothing else, at least she united both STEM workers and satirists in collective face-palming.
- Teachable Moments or Teachable Blunders?
- If there’s a silver lining, it’s perhaps that educators across the country now have a new “What not to do” clip for their statistics classes. If you can’t be a good example, then you have to be a horrible warning, as the saying goes.
- If there’s a silver lining, it’s perhaps that educators across the country now have a new “What not to do” clip for their statistics classes. If you can’t be a good example, then you have to be a horrible warning, as the saying goes.
The Counter
- Math Is Overrated, Anyway
- Who needs accurate numbers when you have charisma? If history’s told us anything, it’s that charm and bold claims have shaped empires—or at least reality TV shows.
- Who needs accurate numbers when you have charisma? If history’s told us anything, it’s that charm and bold claims have shaped empires—or at least reality TV shows.
- Numbers Schmumbers
- In a post-fact era, who’s to say that numbers can’t be more flexible? Today’s 30% might feel more like 60% tomorrow; it’s all about perspective!
- In a post-fact era, who’s to say that numbers can’t be more flexible? Today’s 30% might feel more like 60% tomorrow; it’s all about perspective!
- The Art of Misinformation
- If you can’t convince them with facts, dazzle them with bewildering percentages. It’s not misinformation; it’s math-magination!
- If you can’t convince them with facts, dazzle them with bewildering percentages. It’s not misinformation; it’s math-magination!
- Educational Slip-Ups
- Consider this a public service announcement reminding us all to double-check our work. McEnany is just out there, making real-world algebra problems more relatable.
- Consider this a public service announcement reminding us all to double-check our work. McEnany is just out there, making real-world algebra problems more relatable.
- All Publicity Is Good Publicity
- Surely, any press is good press, right? Even if the world is chuckling at your expense, they’re still talking about you, and in the end, isn’t that what really matters?
- Surely, any press is good press, right? Even if the world is chuckling at your expense, they’re still talking about you, and in the end, isn’t that what really matters?
The Hot Take
Clearly, the solution to preventing such faux pas isn’t just better education (although, dear Zeus, let’s start there). It’s about fostering a political culture where accuracy is celebrated over sensationalism. Imagine a utopian government where press briefings are so factual and straightforward that they’re downright boring.
A place where advisors double-check their data and possibly even understand it. Where integrity and truth outweigh the frantic scramble to support indefensible statements with even less defensible mathematics. Laugh all we want, folks, but the real joke seems to be on us if we keep accepting this level of discourse.
Source: OOPS! Kayleigh McEnany Gets Quick Math Lesson After Awkward Trump Blunder
