Wednesday Links – 11 February 2026

Food stamp fraud.

“In what some experts deem one of the largest examples of Medicare waste in history, Medicare spending on wound care products known as “skin substitutes” skyrocketed from $256 million in 2019 to over $10 billion in 2024.”

The city enjoying a Super Bowl parade:

• More than 35% of office and retail space downtown sits vacant, with even some prime waterfront properties sitting empty.
• The region lost 12,900 jobs last year, the first annual decline since the recession of 2009.
• It also has the highest inflation rate of any major metro region in the country with consumer prices soaring 29% from 2021 through 2025.

California taxes on Super Bowl players:

The quarterback for the Seahawks, Sam Darnold, faces a California tax bill exceeding $200,000, which more than cancels out the $188,000 payment he (and every other member of the Seahawks) will receive from the NFL for being the winner.

RFK, Jr: AI will outperform doctors.