Education Secretary's Math Blunder Rocks Senate Hearing

A Senate hearing on June 3, 2025, unexpectedly revealed a significant communication and knowledge gap within the US Department of Education. Secretary Linda McMahon, during questioning by Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) regarding the US's educational standing in 1979, gave an inaccurate response. Senator Mullin's question, while somewhat unclear, prompted McMahon to claim the US was "very low on the totem pole." This statement was later corrected by McMahon herself, acknowledging the US was actually ranked number one in 1979. The video, produced by MSNBC, highlights this exchange, adding commentary from Jen Psaki and underscoring the potential implications of such communication failures within the education sector. The incident also occurred against the backdrop of proposed budget cuts to the Department of Education, further emphasizing the need for clear and informed leadership. The video's brevity and use of direct quotes from the hearing make it a valuable source of information for news reporting. The apparent lack of understanding demonstrated by the Secretary of Education raises concerns about the future of education policy and funding.