Latest news with #UniversityofKansas
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Trump's imaginary numbers, from $1.99 gas to 1,500 percent price cuts
Trump even congratulated Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas A. Collins for having an approval rating of 92 percent. In this polarized moment, it is unlikely any US political figure enjoys a figure close to that, and the White House provided no source for the claim. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Trump is hardly the first politician to toss out figures that wilt under scrutiny. But he attaches precise numbers to his claims with unusual frequency, giving the assertions an air of authority and credibility - yet the numbers often end up being incorrect or not even plausible. The bogus statistics are part of Trump's long history of falsehoods and misleading claims, which numbered more than 30,000 in his first term alone. Advertisement 'He uses statistics less as a factual statement of, 'Here is what the best data says,' and more as rhetorical construct to sell an idea,' said Robert C. Rowland, professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, who has studied Trump's rhetoric. 'I think he uses statistics as something to make whatever he is saying look better. He will choose a statistic based on what he thinks he can credibly say, and frankly, there are not strong limits on that.' Advertisement Trump has made little secret of his disdain for research and expertise. Yet he routinely reaches for numbers or statistics, often grandiose ones, when seeking to hammer home the failures of his adversaries, the grandeur of his accomplishments or the boldness of his promises. At the July 22 reception for GOP members of Congress, the president waxed expansive about his goals for the future, including a plan to cut drug prices. 'This is something that nobody else can do,' Trump said. 'We're going to get the drug prices down - not 30 or 40 percent, which would be great, not 50 or 60. No, we're going to get them down 1,000 percent, 600 percent, 500 percent, 1,500 percent.' At the same event, Trump mocked Democrats for claiming that consumer prices were rising when, he said, they were falling precipitously. 'Gasoline is … we hit $1.99 a gallon today in five different states,' Trump said, as the lawmakers applauded. 'We have gasoline that's going down to the low $2's, and in some cases even breaking that.' AAA maintains a website showing the average cost of gas in every state. None was significantly below $3 per gallon. The White House suggested that such numeric minutiae matter far less than Trump's sweeping accomplishments. 'The fact of the matter is that President Trump has delivered historic progress on America's economy, health care, foreign policy, and national security,' White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. 'He's right to tout these victories for the American people, and no amount of pointless nitpicking by the Fake News is going to change that.' Advertisement Trump tangled with numbers again last Thursday in an appearance with Federal Reserve chair Jerome H. Powell, whom he has hinted he might fire. The president complained that a renovation of two Fed headquarters buildings was expected to cost $3.1 billion, prompting Powell to shake his head and respond, 'I'm not aware of that.' Trump handed Powell a sheet of paper, saying the $3.1 billion figure number had just come out. 'You're including the Martin renovation,' Powell said, looking at the paper. 'You just added in a third building, is what that is.' Trump said, 'It's a building that's being built,' and Powell countered: 'No, it was built five years ago. We finished Martin five years ago.' Some analysts believe the misuse of numbers is growing, a reflection of an era when Americans increasingly inhabit separate realities. Ismar Volić, a mathematics professor at Wellesley College, said people often seize on numbers offered by politicians they trust as confirmation of their preexisting worldview. 'Trump is an egregious example, but it's not limited to him, nor did he invent this,' Volić said. 'It's like absolute, final, immutable truth - when you throw out a number or graph or chart statistic, people tend to believe it.' But those numbers often do not get the scrutiny they deserve, said Volić, who specializes in algebraic topology and wrote a book called 'Making Democracy Count: How Mathematics Improves Voting, Electoral Maps, and Representation.' Advertisement 'A consequence of bad math education is we are just scared of math, and therefore not in the habit of questioning it, scrutinizing it or looking at it critically,' Volić said. 'That makes it an effective tool, because anything that scares us can be used as a tactic of manipulation, and politicians absolutely know this.' Trump was also specific in the weeks before the July 3 passage of his sweeping budget bill, which extended tax cuts from his first term. If his bill did not pass, he warned on May 30: 'You'll have a 68 percent tax increase. That's a number nobody's ever heard of before. You'll have a massive tax increase.' Financial experts were predicting taxes would go up about 7.5 percent if the legislation failed - still a substantial hike but far from the 68 percent figure. The White House has declined to comment and several fact-checkers tried unsuccessfully to determine where Trump's number was coming from, speculating that Trump was conflating it with the proportion of Americans who would see their taxes go up. Republican pollster Whit Ayres said it is important to get numbers right, but that Trump is unique. 'In many ways, Donald Trump is sui generis in the way he uses numbers,' Ayres said. 'I don't think you can use the way he uses numbers as an example for how other politicians might effectively use numbers. I will simply say that accurate numbers are a lot more compelling than inaccurate numbers.' To Trump's critics, his looseness with numbers dates to his long career as a developer and real estate mogul, when he specialized in touting his properties and, they say, often exaggerating their value and features. Advertisement In February 2024, Trump was found guilty in a civil fraud case after the New York attorney general said he had inflated his net worth by as much as $2.2 billion annually. The judge found, for example, that Trump described his luxury apartment as being 30,000 square feet when it was actually 10,996. He has appealed the verdict. Other presidents, including Joe Biden, have also been less than precise with their math on occasion, though Biden's misstatements tended to involve his personal history rather than the country's condition. He said repeatedly that he had traveled 17,000 miles with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, for example; The Washington Post Fact Checker found that figure misleading at best. Most presidents have worried that tossing out demonstrably incorrect facts or figures would hurt their credibility, Rowland, the communications professor, said. 'I was reading Reagan's speeches where he personally made notations,' Rowland said. 'You will occasionally see him write in, 'Check this data.' That is the norm for presidents … That is the opposite of what is happening now.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Legendary college basketball coach breaks his silence after being hospitalized in major health scare
University of Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self has been released from the hospital after a health scare earlier this week where he experienced heart problems. The two-time national championship winning head coach was rushed to Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Thursday after experiencing 'some concerning symptoms'. Self has since been released and is resting at home after two stents were inserted into his heart. He is expected to make a full recovery. In a statement after his release, Self said, 'I want to thank all the amazing doctors and nurses at LMH Health for the excellent care I received during my stay there. 'I feel strong and am excited to be home. Our team has had a productive summer and look forward to our batteries being recharged and prepping for this upcoming season.' MORE TO FOLLOW.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Kansas coach Bill Self admitted to hospital, has 2 stents inserted
Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self was admitted to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and had two stents inserted Thursday, the university said in a statement. 'The procedure went very well, and he is expected to make a full recovery,' KU said. 'He is in good spirits and expects to be released from the hospital soon.' Advertisement Self, 62, was transported to the hospital after he 'felt unwell and experienced some concerning symptoms,' the school said. Self had coached practice on Thursday morning, KU's final practice of the summer session. Self missed the Big 12 tournament and NCAA Tournament in March 2023 due to a heart condition. He was admitted to the emergency department at the University of Kansas Medical Center for chest tightness and balance concerns, underwent a standard heart catheterization and had two stents placed for the treatment of blocked arteries. The only other action Self has missed in his 22 seasons at Kansas came at the beginning the 2022-23 season, while serving a four-game suspension as part of the school's self-imposed penalties in the aftermath of the FBI's investigation into the underbelly of college basketball recruiting. Longtime Jayhawks assistant Norm Roberts, who retired this offseason, served as interim coach during both absences that year. This story will be updated.
CNBC
17-07-2025
- CNBC
AI can't be your therapist: 'These bots basically tell people exactly what they want to hear,' psychologist says
Increasingly, people are turning to AI chatbots like Nomi and Replika for friendship and mental health support. And teenagers in particular are leaning into this tech. A majority, 72% of teenagers ages 13 to 17 have used an AI companion at least once, according to a new report by media and tech ratings nonprofit Common Sense Media. Survey respondents said they use AI for conversation and social practice (18%), emotional or mental health support (12%) and as a friend or best friend (9%). AI can be a powerful tool, but it's no substitute for genuine human interactions, both personal and professional ones, like a therapist, psychologist and researcher Vaile Wright said on a recent episode of the "Speaking of Psychology" podcast by the American Psychological Association. "It's never going to replace human connection," she said. "That's just not what it's good at." Here's why. AI chatbots were not built to provide fulfilling, long-term interactions, experts say. "AI cannot introduce you to their network," Omri Gillath, professor of psychology at the University of Kansas, told CNBC Make It back in May. It can't introduce you to new friends or significant others and it can't give you a hug when you need one. Instead, chatbots were "built to keep you on the platform for as long as possible because that's how they make their money," Wright said of the companies that create them. They do that "on the backend by coding these chatbots to be addictive." Ultimately, a relationship with a chatbot feels "fake" and "empty" when compared to a relationship with a human, Gillath said. Therapy and companionship are the top reasons people turn to generative AI and chatbots, according to Harvard Business Review reporting. But experts warn that AI cannot — and should not — be your therapist. "These bots basically tell people exactly what they want to hear," Wright said. "So if you are a person that, in that particular moment, is struggling and is typing in potential harmful or unhealthy behaviors and thoughts, these types of chatbots are built to reinforce those harmful thoughts and behaviors." Another major weakness of this tech is that AI has knowledge, but not understanding. "An AI chatbot unfortunately knows that some legal drug use makes people feel better," Wright said. "It gives you a high and if somebody is saying I'm low and depressed, that might be advice it gives. But it doesn't understand that you don't give that advice to people in recovery from illegal drug use." That difference between knowing and understanding "is actually really critical when we're talking about the use of these for therapy."
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Controversial but cheap supplement that millions already take beats dementia
Apart from helping you improve muscle growth, your protein powder may also protect your brain from decline and dementia. Researchers from the University of Kansas have found that consuming creatine as a supplement in any form can help improve memory and potentially reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Usually found in the body's muscles, creatine is an organic compound made of amino acids (simple proteins) that is also found in the brain. It is produced by the liver, pancreas and kidneys and is critical in maintaining the brain's memory, attention span, energy production and processing speed. Previous research has shown that lower levels of creatine in the brain is associated with cognitive decline. And while low creatine levels are not a direct cause of dementia, they could lead to less energy production, which may worsen a person's memory. In a new study, scientists found that patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease who took 20 grams of creatine for eight weeks showed an 11 percent increase in their brain's creatine levels and a slight increase in cognitive and memory tests. Lead author Dr Matthew Taylor, assistant professor of dietetics and nutrition at KU School of Health Professions, said: 'There has been evidence in other populations that giving a higher dose of creatine does change brain creatine levels, but seeing it change in Alzheimer's patients was really exciting. That 11 percent is a significant increase.' Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects older adults. About 7.2million people in the US 65 and older live with the condition and over 100,00 die from it annually. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that by 2050, nearly 13 million Americans will be living with the condition. Creatine supplements, typically priced about $2.40 per serving and taken by as many as 20million Americans, are usually bought by those looking to enhance athletic performance and muscle growth. They are most commonly available in both capsules and powder form. For the trial, 19 Alzheimer's patients were given 20g of creatine monohydrate, a powder they could mix into a beverage of their choice, every day for eight weeks. According to experts, the standard dose of creatine recommended for people looking to boost their muscle strength and athletic performance is 5g per day. But since natural creatine produced in the body goes to the muscles first and whatever remains trickles to the brain, researchers gave patients 20g in hopes more would travel there. The participants also underwent blood tests, MRI scans and took cognitive evaluations before taking the supplement, after four weeks and again after eight weeks to measure creatine levels and memory and cognitive improvement. Along the 11 percent increase in brain creatine levels, results showed the participant's overall cognitive abilities, including attention, memory, language, and executive functions, slightly improved. Additionally, their capacity to think logically and problem-solve also increased marginally. The participants' ability to accurately and fluently read, as well as to pay attention to a singular object also showed significant improvement. The study authors wrote: 'The cognitive improvements observed in this study are also promising, as Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease with expected decline over time. 'We hypothesized that memory and executive function, the most affected domains in Alzheimer's disease would benefit from creatine monohydrate supplementation.' Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain - which damage and kill cells. Amyloid protein molecules stick together in brain cells, forming clumps called plaques. While tau proteins twist together in fiber-like strands called tangles. The plaques and tangles block the ability of the brain's neurons to send electrical and chemical signals back and forth. Over time, this disruption causes permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's disease. While there is no clear cause of the disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and social isolation. However, the scientists involved in this study also believe that low creatine levels can cause problems with the quantity of energy produced in the brain and how the organ uses it. Low energy levels due to a lack of creatine can significantly impair cognitive processes like attention, memory, and decision-making while also affecting mood and emotional regulation. This can increase the progression of Alzheimer's disease in individuals and worsen their ability to perform basic tasks. Therefore, the 11 percent increase in brain creatine levels observed in this study provides hope for Alzheimer's patients looking to slow down the progression of their condition. It remains unknown the exact relationship between creatine and dementia. Dr Taylor noted that additional research is needed to understand how the supplement can improve cognition. This not the first time scientists have uncovered the benefits of creatine supplements on the brain. A 2018 Experimental Gerontology found that taking the supplement orally may improve short-term memory, as well intelligence and logical reasoning in healthy adults. The 2025 study was published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Intervention journal in May 2025. But creatine has also come under fire, suspected of leading to water retention, bloating and GI upset, hair loss and an increased risk of kidney damage.
