Just. Kidding. !!

Agree with your analysis, but reiterate:

1) Had he not left-in the context - those allusions you mention.

2) He might.. have (successfully) made the same statement, with the 'race' SYMBOL used, even - as a Forceful illustration of the consequences of the ignorant use of 'statistics' (a pandemic that; as long as I've been around the planet.) If he didn't Realize That :-0 -- then he's dumber than a neo-post.)

3) BUT NOT WITHOUT some primer! of the sort synthesized here.
Not a lot of words - just a few Clear Ones: a fucking Preamble.
As in,

say what you are going to do;
do it.
say what you (tried to do) did.

prologue
log
postlude