Fed watchdog clears Powell-era renovation: The Independent's headline says $2.5bn, its own text says $2.018bn
The Federal Reserve's inspector general found that the renovation of two Fed buildings was mismanaged. It found no misconduct and no grounds for prosecution. The reports we hold disagree on the size of the bill. They also disagree on whether the finding is about a building or about Donald Trump.
The finding. Five reports agree that the Fed's inspector general found no misconduct and made no referral for prosecution. Reuters, The New York Times and The Independent say the project was badly run. Libération and Le Figaro say the inspector found no "motifs raisonnables" for criminal charges.
The word for the failing.
| Outlet | Verdict on management | Figure given | Names Trump |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reuters | "problems" | none | no |
| The New York Times | "poorly managed" | "nearly $2.5 billion" | no |
| The Independent | "mismanaged" | $2.5bn in headline; $2.018bn in text | no |
| Libération | report "contredit" Trump | none | yes |
| Le Figaro | none given | none | yes |
Two numbers, one bill. The Independent's text says construction costs rose from $921 million in February 2020 to $2.018 billion by December 2024. Its headline says $2.5bn, and The New York Times says "nearly $2.5 billion". Neither says what the larger figure counts.
A building or a president. The three English-language reports lead with the audit. The two French papers lead with Trump. Libération says the report contradicts "les accusations du président américain". Le Figaro says Trump "avait soutenu des poursuites pénales" against Powell.
What is not settled. We do not hold the inspector general's report itself. So we cannot say what the $2.5 billion counts, what the "problems" were, or who was responsible for them. Only one report gives dated figures, and no other report confirms them.
What this is about. The Federal Reserve's own watchdog has ruled on whether there was wrongdoing in the renovation of the Fed's Washington headquarters. The ruling also answers a political attack on the man who ran the Fed.
How it got here. The Fed is the central bank of the United States. It sets interest rates, and Congress set it up so that presidents cannot order those decisions. Its chair serves a four-year term. Donald Trump first appointed Jerome Powell, who became chair in February 2018. Joe Biden reappointed him in 2022. His term as chair ended in May 2026. Libération calls him "l'ex-président" of the Fed.
Trump returned to office in January 2025. After that he attacked Powell again and again for not cutting rates faster. In mid-2025 Trump and his allies turned to the renovation of two Fed office buildings in Washington, saying it was far over budget. That summer Powell asked the Fed's inspector general to review the project. According to Le Figaro, Trump backed criminal proceedings against Powell over how the work was run.
Who the actors are. The inspector general is an office that audits the Fed's board. It reports to Congress and can refer cases to the Justice Department. Trump is in the story because he turned the cost into a charge against Powell. Powell is in it because the project ran while he was chair.
What is at stake. The law lets a president remove a Fed governor only for cause. A finding of misconduct could have been used as that cause. A clean finding weakens any case for pushing the Fed's leaders out over something other than their rate decisions.
Where it stands. The report was published on 30 September 2026. All five outlets we hold say it found the project mismanaged but made no criminal referral.
What is being argued about
- Whether the renovation bill was $2.018 billion or $2.5 billion, and what each figure counts
- Whether 'problems', 'poorly managed' or 'mismanaged' describes what the inspector found
- Whether the finding is an audit of a building or a rebuttal of Trump's case against Powell
- What the ruling means for the Fed's independence from the White House
One finding, five headlinesSide by side
| Outlet | What the headline says | Figure | Names Trump? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reuters | "Watchdog finds problems but no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project" | none | no |
| The New York Times | "Fed's Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations" | "nearly $2.5 billion" (in text) | no |
| The Independent | "No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds" | $2.5bn in headline; $2.018bn in text | no |
| Libération | "une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n'a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell" | none | yes |
| Le Figaro | "Le gendarme de la Fed n'a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump" | none | yes |
Reuters' Portuguese-language headline says "deficiências" where its English one says "problems".
Sources
Reuters
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Watchdog finds problems but no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
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Reuters
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Órgão fiscalizador constata deficiências, mas não má conduta do Fed no projeto de reforma da era Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The New York Times
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The Independent
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Libération
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Le Figaro
Le Figaro
🇫🇷FR ·
newspaper · independent
Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Le Figaro →
What we have measured
Asserted, not attributed the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date ×1Asserted vs attributed The mayor's account and his opponents' charge are both attributed. ×1Asserted vs attributed The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim. ×1Attacker identified by nationality in the headline ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Reuters
Centre
estimate · not a score
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Watchdog finds problems but no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Reuters
Centre
estimate · not a score
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Órgão fiscalizador constata deficiências, mas não má conduta do Fed no projeto de reforma da era Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The New York Times
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The Independent
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Libération
Left
estimate · not a score
Libération
🇫🇷FR ·
digital ·
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Le Figaro
Centre-right
estimate · not a score
Le Figaro
🇫🇷FR ·
newspaper · independent
Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Le Figaro →
What we have measured
Asserted, not attributed the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date ×1Asserted vs attributed The mayor's account and his opponents' charge are both attributed. ×1Asserted vs attributed The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim. ×1Attacker identified by nationality in the headline ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Three figures for the renovation, in millions of dollarsChart
The first two are construction costs, as The Independent reports them. The New York Times does not say what its $2.5 billion counts.
Sources
The Independent
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The New York Times
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The Independent
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The New York Times
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The bias in this coverageBias
Two stories about one report: a building or a president
Four reports frame the finding around the Fed and its renovation. Two French-language reports make it a story about Trump and Powell, and one states flat that Trump sought to remove Powell. Only one report says what its dollar figure counts, and its headline uses a different figure from its own body.
2 reports that name Trump
2 reports that give a dollar figure
1 reports that say what the figure counts
6 reports we hold on the event
Scored without the mastheads. Where the two passes differ, both are kept.
Sources
Reuters
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Watchdog finds problems but no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Reuters
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Órgão fiscalizador constata deficiências, mas não má conduta do Fed no projeto de reforma da era Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The New York Times
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The Independent
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Libération
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Le Figaro
Le Figaro
🇫🇷FR ·
newspaper · independent
Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Le Figaro →
What we have measured
Asserted, not attributed the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date ×1Asserted vs attributed The mayor's account and his opponents' charge are both attributed. ×1Asserted vs attributed The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim. ×1Attacker identified by nationality in the headline ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Reuters
Centre
estimate · not a score
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Watchdog finds problems but no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Reuters
Centre
estimate · not a score
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Órgão fiscalizador constata deficiências, mas não má conduta do Fed no projeto de reforma da era Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The New York Times
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The Independent
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Libération
Left
estimate · not a score
Libération
🇫🇷FR ·
digital ·
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Le Figaro
Centre-right
estimate · not a score
Le Figaro
🇫🇷FR ·
newspaper · independent
Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Le Figaro →
What we have measured
Asserted, not attributed the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date ×1Asserted vs attributed The mayor's account and his opponents' charge are both attributed. ×1Asserted vs attributed The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim. ×1Attacker identified by nationality in the headline ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Claims and verdicts
true
The Federal Reserve's inspector general found no misconduct and no grounds to refer anyone for criminal prosecution over the renovation.
Five outlets report the same finding in their own words: Reuters (no misconduct), The New York Times (no referrals to the attorney general), The Independent (no criminal wrongdoing), and Libération and Le Figaro (no 'reasonable grounds' for prosecution). None of the reports we hold contradicts it.
Checked against 5 sources:
Reuters
Centre
estimate · not a score
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Watchdog finds problems but no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The New York Times
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The Independent
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
L
Libération
Left
estimate · not a score
Libération
🇫🇷FR ·
digital ·
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Le Figaro
Centre-right
estimate · not a score
Le Figaro
🇫🇷FR ·
newspaper · independent
Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Le Figaro →
What we have measured
Asserted, not attributed the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date ×1Asserted vs attributed The mayor's account and his opponents' charge are both attributed. ×1Asserted vs attributed The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim. ×1Attacker identified by nationality in the headline ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
unverified
Construction costs for the two Fed buildings more than doubled, from $921 million in February 2020 to $2.018 billion by December 2024.
Only The Independent gives these figures, and no other report confirms or disputes them. The New York Times and The Independent's own headline instead cite a project of 'nearly $2.5 billion', which appears to count something wider than construction costs alone.
Checked against 2 sources:
The Independent
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The New York Times
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
true
Trump had pressed for action against Powell over what the renovation cost.
Libération says Trump sought to push Powell out over the bill, and Le Figaro says he backed criminal proceedings against him. Only Le Figaro says prosecution specifically, and the English-language reports we hold do not mention Trump's role at all.
Checked against 2 sources:
L
Libération
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Le Figaro
Le Figaro
🇫🇷FR ·
newspaper · independent
Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Le Figaro →
What we have measured
Asserted, not attributed the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date ×1Asserted vs attributed The mayor's account and his opponents' charge are both attributed. ×1Asserted vs attributed The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim. ×1Attacker identified by nationality in the headline ×1
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Left
estimate · not a score
Libération
🇫🇷FR ·
digital ·
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
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Le Figaro
Centre-right
estimate · not a score
Le Figaro
🇫🇷FR ·
newspaper · independent
Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Le Figaro →
What we have measured
Asserted, not attributed the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date ×1Asserted vs attributed The mayor's account and his opponents' charge are both attributed. ×1Asserted vs attributed The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim. ×1Attacker identified by nationality in the headline ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Who wrote it
H
Howard Schneider
Reuters
Reuters
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Hedged wording
softer word for the failing: 'problems' where others say 'mismanaged' or 'poorly managed'; no one named as acting apart from the watchdog×1
Who is named as acting
The institution is cleared; no person is named, only an era×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 true
From 3 reports we hold under this byline, at
The Independent, Reuters. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating.
Their full record →
C
Colby Smith
The New York Times
The New York Times
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Figure not sourced
Gives a 90 percent chance of a rate rise without saying where the odds come from.×1
Figure unsourced
a 90 percent probability with no source for the odds×1
Lead frame
legal outcome first: the lede leads with the absence of a criminal referral, not with the cost×1
Which measure
Rounded headline cost of about $2.5 billion, with no base year or starting estimate×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
2 unverified2 true
From 35 reports we hold under this byline, at
The New York Times. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating.
Their full record →
L
Le Figaro avec AFP
Le Figaro
Le Figaro
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Asserted, not attributed
the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date×1
Asserted vs attributed
The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim.×1
Attacker identified by
nationality in the headline; the other two reports do not give it×1
Attacker identified by
nationality in the headline×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
4 misleading8 disputed27 unverified22 true
From 3012 reports we hold under this byline, at
Le Figaro. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating.
Their full record →
C
Christopher Rugaber
The Independent
The Independent
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Figure choice
the headline gives $2.5bn but the body's own figure for construction costs is $2.018bn; the two measures are not reconciled×1
Measure named
the only report that says what its figure counts and over which period: construction costs, estimate against outturn, with dates×1
What is stated about the board
the central bank is described flat as divided at its previous meeting×1
What the headline promises
the rise is settled in the headline and the piece offers to explain it rather than to contest it×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
2 unverified2 true
From 18 reports we hold under this byline, at
The Independent. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating.
Their full record →
The bylines on the reports this story is built from. Hover one for what our passes have measured on their reporting.
· 2 reports we hold carry no byline — we do not invent one.
Coverage, outlet by outlet
Reuters
Centre
estimate · not a score
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Watchdog finds problems but no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
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— independentReuters uses the mildest word, "problems", and ties the project to an era rather than to a person.
Hedged wording: softer word for the failing: 'problems' where others say 'mismanaged' or 'poorly managed'; no one named as acting apart from the watchdog — “Watchdog finds problems but no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project”
Who is named as acting: The institution is cleared; no person is named, only an era — “no Fed misconduct in Powell-era renovation project”
Read it at Reuters →
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/watchdog-finds-deficiencies-no-fed-mis…
L
Libération
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
—
Left
estimate · not a score
Libération
🇫🇷FR ·
digital ·
Fed : une inspection interne soutenue par Trump n’a pas trouvé de «motifs raisonnables» de poursuites pénales contre Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Libération →
What we have measured
Accuracy of office Calls him mayor of the département, not the town. ×1Actor label The Houthis are called 'rebels' in the report's own voice. ×1Admission and denial split Separates what the MEP admits (removing the flag) from what she denies (trampling it). ×1Affiliation named links her to a French channel ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— Libération says the report contradicts Trump, who it says tried to push Powell out over the bill.
Un rapport mis en ligne ce mercredi contredit les accusations du président américain, qui avait cherché à évincer l’ex-président de la Réserve fédérale sur la base d’une facture exorbitante de travaux de rénovation.
Who is acting: frames the finding as a rebuttal of the president; the report is said to contradict him, and his aim to remove Powell is stated flat — “contredit les accusations du président américain, qui avait cherché à évincer l’ex-président de la Réserve fédérale”
Framing: The report is framed as a rebuttal of the president, not as an audit of the project — “Un rapport mis en ligne ce mercredi contredit les accusations du président américain”
Asserted vs attributed: States flat that the president backed the inspection, with no source given — “une inspection interne soutenue par Trump”
Read it at Libération →
https://www.liberation.fr/international/amerique/fed-une-inspection-int…
The New York Times
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The New York Times
🇺🇸US ·
newspaper · independent
Fed’s Watchdog Finds No Misconduct or Illegal Activity in Costly Renovations
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at The New York Times →
What we have measured
Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— independentThe New York Times leads with the legal outcome: no referrals to the US attorney general.
A new report by the Federal Reserve’s independent inspector general concluded that a nearly $2.5 billion construction project was poorly managed but made no referrals to the U.S. attorney general.
Lead frame: legal outcome first: the lede leads with the absence of a criminal referral, not with the cost — “was poorly managed but made no referrals to the U.S. attorney general”
Which measure: Rounded headline cost of about $2.5 billion, with no base year or starting estimate — “a nearly $2.5 billion construction project was poorly managed”
Read it at The New York Times →
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/business/fed-renovations-trump-powel…
Reuters
Centre
estimate · not a score
Reuters
🇺🇸US ·
wire · independent
Órgão fiscalizador constata deficiências, mas não má conduta do Fed no projeto de reforma da era Powell
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Reuters →
What we have measured
Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— independentRead it at Reuters →
https://www.reuters.com/pt/negocio/VNP2OC3L4VKAFP3YRWOTORIXXM-2026-09-3…
Le Figaro
Centre-right
estimate · not a score
Le Figaro
🇫🇷FR ·
newspaper · independent
Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump
Open this report in The AI Times →
Read it at Le Figaro →
What we have measured
Asserted, not attributed the capture of the strait and a "lightning offensive" are stated flat, with no source and no date ×1Asserted vs attributed The mayor's account and his opponents' charge are both attributed. ×1Asserted vs attributed The capture of the strait is stated flat, as settled background to a different story, with no source and no date for the claim. ×1Attacker identified by nationality in the headline ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— independentLe Figaro is the only report to say Trump backed criminal proceedings against Powell.
L’inspection générale de la Réserve fédérale américaine (Fed) n’a trouvé aucun élément justifiant des poursuites pénales contre son ex-président Jerome Powell, dans une affaire de travaux qui a occupé pendant des mois l’esprit de Donald Trump. Le président et ex-promoteur immobilier avait jugé suspect le dérapage de la facture du chantier de rénovation du siège de la banque centrale à Washington. Il avait fini par soutenir l’ouverture d’une enquête judiciaire à l’encontre de celui qui dirigeait alors l’institution, Jerome Powell. Celui-ci avait révélé l’existence de la procédure en janvier, dé
Personalisation: the headline makes Powell the subject and Trump the actor; the institutional story drops out — “Le gendarme de la Fed n’a pas trouvé de «motifs» pour poursuivre Jerome Powell, ciblé par Donald Trump”
Who is named as acting: Makes it personal: Powell as the target and Trump as the one pursuing him — “ciblé par Donald Trump”
Read it at Le Figaro →
https://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/le-gendarme-de-la-fed-n-a-pas-trouv…
The Independent
Centre-left
estimate · not a score
The Independent
🇬🇧UK ·
digital · independent
No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds
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Read it at The Independent →
What we have measured
Accused party response Russia's side is reported as no comment. ×1A company statement about itself, taken as a "reveals" rather than "says", for a company's account of its own product ×1A count stated flat four crimes is given as a settled number in the headline, with no court, charge or jurisdiction attached ×1Actor named No actor named for the cut-short or for the clashes ×1
Outlet profile in The AI Times →
— independentThe Independent is the only report with dated figures: construction costs rose from $921 million in February 2020 to $2.018 billion by December 2024.
News World Americas No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds According to the findings, construction costs to renovate two central bank facilities more than doubled, climbing from an initial estimate of $921 million in February 2020 to $2.018 billion by December 2024 Christopher Rugaber Wednesday 30 September 2026 18:59 BST Bookmark Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover Trump blames Biden for Jerome Powell even though he appointed him Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite a
Figure choice: the headline gives $2.5bn but the body's own figure for construction costs is $2.018bn; the two measures are not reconciled — “No criminal wrongdoing in $2.5Bn Federal building renovation but it was mismanaged, watchdog finds”
Measure named: the only report that says what its figure counts and over which period: construction costs, estimate against outturn, with dates — “climbing from an initial estimate of $921 million in February 2020 to $2.018 billion by December 2024”
Which measure: Construction cost only, with both the starting estimate and the final figure dated — “climbing from an initial estimate of $921 million in February 2020 to $2.018 billion by December 2024”
Read it at The Independent →
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/fed-reserve-no-wrongd…