More or Less

Is one in four people in the UK disabled?

This episode explores the complexities surrounding several numerical claims made in recent public discourse. The discussion begins with an examination of the UK Chancellor's "headroom" of £9.9 billion, a figure that remained remarkably consistent despite economic fluctuations, leading to speculation about its delibera...

What’s Trump’s problem with Canada?

This episode explores President Trump's decision to impose 25% tariffs on various goods imported from Canada, challenging the conventional understanding of trade deficits. Against this backdrop, the discussion reveals that Trump's claim of a $200 billion US subsidy to Canada is inaccurate, with the actual goods defici...

Could a 2% wealth tax raise £24bn?

This episode explores the feasibility and implications of implementing a wealth tax in the UK, spurred by a claim that a 2% tax on assets over £10 million could raise £24 billion annually. Against this backdrop, the discussion delves into the complexities of defining "wealth," highlighting the need for comprehensive i...

What are the chances of an asteroid hitting earth in 2032?

This More or Less podcast episode interviews Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, about asteroid 2024 YR4 and the initial, inflated concerns regarding its potential impact on Earth. The interview details how initial calculations suggested a 3% chance of impact, causing widespre...

Why are more people claiming disability benefits?

This More or Less episode investigates the sharp rise in UK working-age health benefit claims since 2019. The episode interviews Tom Waters from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, exploring potential causes like the cost of living crisis and the Motability scheme, ultimately concluding that the reasons remain unclear d...

How did lockdown impact children?

This More or Less podcast episode investigates the long-term effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on young people in England, examining various age groups from preschoolers to university students and those entering the workforce. The analysis reveals mixed results: while some studies show a recovery in educational attainment...

What is an IQ map and can we trust them?

This podcast investigates the accuracy of an online map depicting countries' average IQ scores, revealing significant methodological flaws. The hosts interview a biostatistics PhD student and a science journalist who debunk the map's claims, highlighting the use of unreliable data sources such as small, biased samples...

DOGE, apples and irregular migrants

This "More or Less" episode fact-checks several claims, primarily focusing on the efficacy of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The episode investigates claims of massive cost savings by DOGE, revealing numerous inaccuracies and exaggerations in their reported achievements, such as misrepresenting fun...

Is there really $500bn of Rare Earths in Ukraine?

This podcast episode investigates the claim that Ukraine possesses $500 billion worth of rare earth minerals, crucial for various industries. The interview with Ellie Sacklett-Varla, a commodity price expert, reveals that while Ukraine has significant mineral resources, the $500 billion figure is likely inflated and b...

Defence Spending, Rare Earths and Trunk Truths

This More or Less podcast episode fact-checks claims surrounding the Ukraine conflict and Lent. It debunks Donald Trump's $350 billion US aid figure, revealing the actual amount and comparing it to European contributions, highlighting discrepancies in aid types (loans vs. grants). The episode also clarifies the durat...

Has the US really given Ukraine more aid than Europe?

Are 150 year olds getting social security payments?

This podcast fact-checks claims made by President Trump and Elon Musk regarding alleged fraud in the US Social Security Administration (SSA). The podcast reveals that millions of records show individuals over 100 years old, but this is due to data entry practices and missing death records, not widespread fraud. While ...

Has the US sent $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza?

This More or Less podcast fact-checks a claim by the White House Press Secretary that $50 million in US taxpayer money was used to fund condoms in Gaza, which were then used to make bombs. The podcast investigates the claim, revealing the funds were actually allocated to the International Medical Corps for field hospi...

Are black babies in the US really more likely to die under the care of white doctors?

This More or Less podcast episode investigates the misinterpretation of a study claiming black babies have a tripled chance of survival with white doctors. The interview with Harvard professor George Borjas reveals the original study failed to control for low birth weight, a crucial factor in infant mortality. Borjas...

Are quantum computers already super-powerful?

This More or Less podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Peter Leek, a quantum computing expert, to discuss a news report claiming a Google quantum chip completed a task in minutes that would take a classical computer 10 septillion years. The interview begins by explaining the fundamental differences between c...

Did Trump make billions with his meme-coin?

This news podcast investigates the veracity of claims surrounding Donald Trump's meme coin launch, reported to be worth $43 billion. The podcast features interviews with a cyber correspondent and a cryptocurrency industry researcher who debunk the exaggerated valuation, explaining the mechanics of meme coins and the f...

Can redheads handle 25% more pain than brunettes?

This interview-style podcast explores the connection between red hair and pain perception. The host interviews Professor Jeff Mogil, who discusses the MC1R gene's role in determining hair color and its surprising influence on pain sensitivity. Studies show that individuals with the MC1R gene variant (predominantly re...

Do 79% of Swedish asylum seekers go on holiday to the country they fled from?

This episode of the BBC More or Less podcast delves into the misinterpretation of a statistic suggesting that 79% of refugees in Sweden have taken vacations in their home countries. It traces this claim back to a Novus poll conducted among foreign-born individuals in Sweden, clarifying that the 79% figure pertains spec...

Numbers of the year part 2

In this episode of the More or Less podcast, listeners share compelling numbers that reveal key trends for 2024. The discussions cover critical topics such as the global average temperature surpassing 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels for the first time, the forecasted increase in the over-65 population to 1.7 bi...

Numbers of the year 2024

In this episode of the More or Less podcast, three experts dive into important statistics shaping 2024. Rukmini S. discusses India's declining fertility rate, currently at 2, and its implications for future workforce demographics and policy debates. Sir David Spiegelhalter highlights the approximately 66 elections happ...