New York Times Editorial Board Member Mara Gay and MSNBC’s Brian Williams are being questioned about a mathematical breakdown of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s campaign.
On Thursday, Gay appeared on “The Eleventh Hour” with Williams, where they discussed Bloomberg’s campaign and an interesting tweet circulating on Twitter.
The tweet read, “Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. The U.S. Population, 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million and have had lunch money left over.”
Gay and Williams both agreed the numbers raised concerns. “It’s an incredible way of putting it,” Williams said.
Gay also echoed Williams’ sentiments. “It’s an incredible way of putting it,” It’s true. It’s disturbing.”
Check out the interview clip.
MSNBC’s Brian Williams reads a tweet: "Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. U.S. Population, 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million"
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) March 6, 2020
NYT Editorial Board Member Mara Gay: “It’s an incredible way of putting it. It’s true. It’s disturbing”
It's $1.53 per person pic.twitter.com/dIiwCESgh8
However, Twitter users were concerned for a different reason. The person who posted the original tweet criticized Bloomberg’s campaign based on incorrect math.
Many have tweeted their reactions to the mathematical oversight offering a correct answer to the equation. When $500 million is divided between 327 million people, each person would only around $1.53 — nothing near $1 million.
One Twitter user offered the same breakdown. He tweeted, “So [MSNBC] just put that tweet up seriously that said that Bloomberg spent $500 million and there are 300 million people in the U.S. so that means he could have given everyone in the U.S. a million dollars. Come on Brian Williams. It’s $1 and change.”
So @msnbc just put that tweet up seriously that said that Bloomberg spent $500 million and there are 300 million people in the U.S. so that means he could have given everyone in the U.S. a million dollars. Come on Brian Williams. It’s $1 and change.
— Michael Salfino (@MichaelSalfino) March 6, 2020
Check out some of the other reactions:
MSNBC’s Brian Williams reads a tweet: "Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. U.S. Population, 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million"
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) March 6, 2020
NYT Editorial Board Member Mara Gay: “It’s an incredible way of putting it. It’s true. It’s disturbing”
It's $1.53 per person pic.twitter.com/dIiwCESgh8
This is the stupidest thing that has ever aired on television. Congratulations to all involved. pic.twitter.com/vARi9yQ0Bv
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 6, 2020
MSNBC’s Brian Williams: "Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. U.S. Population, 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million"
— Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) March 6, 2020
NYT Ed. Board’s Mara Gay: “It’s an incredible way of putting it. It’s true. It’s disturbing”
Paging @AndrewYang pic.twitter.com/uidqYGmYDI
In wake of the debate over the figures, Mekita Rivas —author of the original tweet and Washington Post writer— has made her Twitter account private. Her bio now says, “I know, I’m bad at math.”
MSNBC’s “The Eleventh Hour” also tweeted an apology for the “bad math.”
Tonight on the air we quoted a tweet that relied on bad math. We corrected the error after the next commercial break and have removed it from later editions of tonight’s program. We apologize for the error.
— 11th Hour (@11thHour) March 6, 2020
“Tonight on the air we quoted a tweet that relied on bad math. We corrected the error after the next commercial break and have removed it from later editions of tonight’s program. We apologize for the error,” the tweet read.