That troublesome $9 billion fraud speculation the Republicans love to tout as if fact, not the fictional guess of a single Republican DOJ figure, which is all the figure is.

 local content - https://www.twincities.com/2026/09/14/man-accused-of-1-3-million-in-minnesota-medicaid-fraud-surrenders-to-feds/

$1.3 million is not $9 billion, keep that in mind. 

The money paragraph in the item =

 Last year, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson speculated total fraud in that period could top $9 billion in more than a dozen “high-risk programs” besides housing stabilization. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and administration officials have disputed this number.

Note the yellow highlighting Crabgrass inserted for clarity. That's it. $9 billion is a made-up number, no more, no less. Some single dude's guess. With every motivation to highball the number. Make it sing!

That is precisely what "speculated" in context means.

It is not a fact. 

SO -- Stop the bullshit, or prove $9 billion, GOP folks. Otherwise STFU, please.

Especially GOP candidates for office, integrity and truth are important.