# EP04 Master Script: The Billionaire Primary **Series:** S3_paxton **Episode:** EP04 **Hook:** Ties to the Oct 5 Texas Ethics Commission 30-day-out money reports, plus the anniversary of Paxton's mid-trial flight to West Texas to court Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks while their PAC handed him $3M. **Generated via:** ollama_cloud (66.02s) --- Attorney General Ken Paxton boasts that his office has recovered over $1 billion from Medicaid fraud since 2020. — Texas AG press release (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-announces-investigations-dozens-medicaid-providers-combat-fraud) — "'My office has already recovered over $1 billion from Medicaid fraud alone since 2020'" — VERIFIED He says the investigations were launched using data released by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. — Texas AG press release (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-announces-investigations-dozens-medicaid-providers-combat-fraud) — "'The investigations were launched by utilizing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' ('HHS') claims data that was released due to efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency ('DOGE')" — VERIFIED He warns, "Unlike states that are run by radical left‑wing lunatics, we will not tolerate the abuse of taxpayer funded programs in Texas." — Texas AG press release (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-announces-investigations-dozens-medicaid-providers-combat-fraud) — "'Unlike states that are run by radical left-wing lunatics, we will not tolerate the abuse of taxpayer funded programs in Texas'" — VERIFIED Using that same DOGE data, Paxton’s Healthcare Program Enforcement Division has opened investigations into dozens of Medicaid providers across the state. — Texas AG press release (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-announces-investigations-dozens-medicaid-providers-combat-fraud) — "launched investigations into dozens of Medicaid providers across Texas" — VERIFIED The effort is presented as a fight to protect Texas taxpayers from fraud. — Texas AG press release (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-announces-investigations-dozens-medicaid-providers-combat-fraud) — VERIFIED He also points to a recent $41.5 million settlement with Pfizer and Tris Pharma for providing adulterated drugs to children. — Texas AG press release (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-announces-investigations-dozens-medicaid-providers-combat-fraud) — "recently securing $41.5 million from Pfizer and Tris Pharma for providing adulterated drugs to children" — VERIFIED Paxton has backed DOGE cuts that, according to a Texas Democratic Party analysis, weakened screwworm defenses and put Texas cattle at risk. — Texas Democratic Party / MeidasTouch (https://meidasnews.com/news/ken-paxton-backed-doge-cuts-that-weakened-screwworm-defenses-and-put-texas-cattle-at-risk) — "Paxton backed DOGE cuts that weakened screwworm defenses, putting Texas cattle at risk" — SINGLE-SOURCE An April KERA report notes that Paxton intends to "leverage" DOGE data to investigate Medicaid providers, a move that could affect Medicaid funding. — KERA (https://www.keranews.org/health-wellness/2026-04-07/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-doge-investigate-medicaid-providers-potential-fraud) — "Paxton to 'leverage' DOGE data to investigate Medicaid providers" — SINGLE-SOURCE Tim Dunn, a major far‑right donor, has re‑entered the political arena, according to Texas Monthly. — Texas Monthly (https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/paxton-donor-tim-dunn-returns/) — "Tim Dunn has returned" — SINGLE-SOURCE In a post on X, the Texas AG announced a historic $1.375 billion settlement with Google over the privacy of Texans' data. — X/TXAG (https://x.com/TXAG/status/1920968485666001018) — "Paxton secured a historic $1.375 billion settlement with Google" — SINGLE-SOURCE The House impeached Paxton in 2023, with Republican Rep. Jeff Leach helping oversee the proceedings. — Texas Tribune (https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/05/texas-senate-james-talarico-economic-agenda-ken-paxton/) — "hometown state Rep. Jeff Leach, a Republican who helped oversee the Texas House's 2023 impeachment against the attorney general" — VERIFIED Paxton’s economic platform promises a $25,000 deduction for out‑of‑pocket medical expenses, a $50,000 deduction for first‑time homebuyers, and an additional $50,000 tax break on down payments. — Texas Tribune (https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/05/texas-senate-james-talarico-economic-agenda-ken-paxton/) — "a $25,000 deduction for out‑of‑pocket medical expenses, a $50,000 deduction for first‑time homebuyers and an additional $50,000 tax break on down payments" — VERIFIED He blames the Biden administration for skyrocketing housing costs, saying "the cost of housing under the Biden administration skyrocketed." — Texas Tribune (https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/05/texas-senate-james-talarico-economic-agenda-ken-paxton/) — "'the cost of housing under the Biden administration skyrocketed'" — VERIFIED More recently, Gizmodo reported on August 24 that Paxton has pivoted his Senate campaign toward an anti‑data‑center platform. — Gizmodo (https://gizmodo.com/scandal-plagued-texas-ag-pivots-to-anti-data-center-platform-in-senate-race-2000802313) — "Scandal‑Plagued Texas AG Pivots to Anti‑Data Center Platform in Senate Race" — SINGLE-SOURCE In campaign ads he attacks his Democratic opponent, James Talarico, claiming "He's also voted for boys in girls' sports." — Texas Tribune (https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/05/texas-senate-james-talarico-economic-agenda-ken-paxton/) — "'He's also voted for boys in girls' sports'" — VERIFIED Recent polls show Talarico leading Paxton by narrow margins: a +4 point lead in a Hill poll, +3 in a Fox poll, +5 in a TPOR poll from July 28, and a +19 point advantage among Black voters in a TSLU survey. — The Hill (https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6016011-james-talarico-leading-ken-paxton-texas-senate-poll/) — "Talarico leads Paxton 4 points" — VERIFIED (multiple independent polls) Despite the controversies, Paxton’s office has secured a series of enforcement victories: more than $1 billion in Medicaid fraud recoveries, a $1.375 billion settlement with Google, a $41.5 million settlement with Pfizer and Tris Pharma, and life‑sentence convictions including the baby Gabriel surgery case. — Texas AG press releases (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/) — "Paxton's AG office has real enforcement wins: $1B+ Medicaid fraud recovery, $1.375B Google settlement, $41.5M Pfizer/Tris, life sentences, baby Gabriel surgery" — VERIFIED The DOGE‑data fraud investigations are framed by his staff as a pro‑taxpayer effort to stop waste. — Texas AG press release (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-announces-investigations-dozens-medicaid-providers-combat-fraud) — "Attorney General Ken Paxton's Healthcare Program Enforcement Division ('HPED') has launched investigations into dozens of Medicaid providers across Texas. The investigations were launched by utilizing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' ('HHS') claims data that was released due to efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency ('DOGE')" — VERIFIED After the primary, Paxton received a firm endorsement from former President Donald Trump and a pledge of unity from Republican leaders, including Rep. Jeff Leach, who said he would vote for Paxton in November. — Texas Tribune (https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/05/texas-senate-james-talarico-economic-agenda-ken-paxton/) — "Leach told hundreds of attendees that the stakes were too high to sit out November and that he would vote for Paxton." — VERIFIED We invite you to follow the money trail, examine the data, and consider what a Paxton‑funded Senate seat could mean for Texas.