January 13, 2026

January 12, 2026

THIS:

Posted at 11:24 pm by Glenn Reynolds

BRING ON THE COLLAPSE:

Posted at 11:16 pm by Glenn Reynolds

OPEN THREAD: Monday, Monday.

Posted at 9:30 pm by Glenn Reynolds

VERONIQUE DE RUGY: The Minnesota Fraud Scandal Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg.

Minnesota is not the exception but rather the example Americans finally noticed. Medicaid fraud has been endemic at the state and federal levels for decades. Politicians haven’t done much, even with scholars and journalists raising the alarm.

Medicaid reports $543 billion in “improper payments” over the past decade, though that figure omits one of the largest sources of error: whether states correctly determined the eligibility of the individuals they enrolled and paid providers on behalf of. According to Paragon Institute calculations, this brings improper payments to $1.1 trillion over those 10 years.

Improper payments are not identical to fraud; many involve missing documentation or administrative errors. But that distinction offers little comfort considering how little money is recovered. They are also an open invitation for more abuse.

Actual fraud, meanwhile, is widespread and persistent. In 2024 alone, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units reported more than 1,151 convictions and more than $1.4 billion in civil and criminal recoveries. Federal enforcement recovers a tiny share of what is stolen. Fraud that goes undetected never appears in the data.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Medicare, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and many other welfare programs also suffer from massive fraud. The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) exchange subsidies provide another cautionary example.

Read the whole thing.

 

Posted at 9:14 pm by Ed Driscoll

WESTERN MEDIA HAS A SOPHOMORIC VIEW OF THE WORLD BECAUSE MOST OF THEM STOPPED THINKING WHEN THEY WERE SOPHOMORES:

Posted at 8:57 pm by Glenn Reynolds

THEY HAD BETTER:

Posted at 8:38 pm by Glenn Reynolds

WE HAVE A NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM:

Posted at 8:38 pm by Glenn Reynolds

CALL THE BURN UNIT:

Posted at 8:36 pm by Glenn Reynolds

OLD AND BUSTED: Walz: Harris Picked Me as VP Since ‘I Could Code Talk to White Guys.’

The New Hotness? Gov. Walz to Republicans: Expect me ‘to ride you like you’ve never been ridden.’

A day after ending his campaign for a historic third term — and possibly his political career — an animated Gov. Tim Walz offered a preview of how he plans to spend the remainder of his term: defending his record, shoring up his legacy and hammering Republicans with the abandon of a man no longer chasing votes.

“For Republicans here, I have more energy than I’ve ever had. I am committed to this state more than I’ve ever been,” Walz said. “Expect for the next 11 months for me to ride you like you’ve never been ridden to make sure you’re doing your job.”

Great moments in sound bites:

Quentin Tarantino, call your office!

 

Posted at 8:14 pm by Ed Driscoll

UGH: Vengeful Ayatollah preparing first executions of seized Iranian demonstrators as protests gain momentum & deaths mount.

Erfan Soltani, 26, was held on Saturday in a brutal crackdown by the teetering regime which has seen more than 500 protesters killed and 10,000 arrested.

t is thought he was charged with ‘waging war against God’, which is punishable by death in Iran, following his arrest in the city of Fardis, near Tehran.

Supporters say he has not been allowed legal advice and had no chance to defend himself before a verdict of death by hanging was delivered.

This is just one awful fate protestors face. They protest regardless.

Posted at 6:52 pm by Stephen Green

MAYBE BEIJING KNOWS CHANGE IS COMING:

Posted at 6:11 pm by Stephen Green

YES.

Posted at 6:08 pm by Glenn Reynolds

IRAN:

 

Posted at 5:45 pm by Ed Driscoll