The GOP says the balloon is a “$12 hobby lobby” balloon. Meanwhile, left-wing journalist Max Blumenthal suggested Biden’s take-down orders were to “prove his manhood.” ...

Indeed, the type of balloons used by hobbyists can be had for as little as $12, the publication noted. Each AIM-9X Sidewinder missile costs up to about $400,000.

And if this is true, such balloons could be as cheap as $12, and the US may have spent hundred of thousands of dollars with the missile used to shoot it down. Sign up for the Daily Briefing.

The balloon, dubbed K9YO, was launched Oct. 10, 2022, and spent 123 days and 18 hours in flight, according to NIBBB. The balloons can cost from $12-180 each depending on the style. Read it at ...

"The descriptions of all three unidentified objects shot down Feb. 10-12 match the shapes, altitudes and payloads of the small pico balloons, which can usually be purchased for $12-180 each ...

As for the 12 balloons, they come from all over the East Coast, including Massachusetts, Florida, New Hampshire, and North Carolina, Madore said.