In this episode of "More or Less," Tim Harford and his team dissect statistical claims in the news. They begin by examining London Mayor Sadiq Khan's statements about the financial contributions of skilled migrants versus British workers, consulting expert Madeleine Sumption, who clarifies the figures and their proper context. Next, they investigate Mark Zuckerberg's assertion that the average American has fewer than three friends, using Pew Research data to reveal the statistic is misleading. Finally, they address the claim from the ZOE app that 90% of Alzheimer's cases are preventable, consulting Professor Rob Howard, who debunks the figure and provides a more realistic estimate based on Lancet Commission research. The episode concludes with a discussion about the misuse of Bayesian statistics in arguments for the existence of God, featuring philosopher Robert Prevost (not the Pope).
