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FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey announces resignation

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 25 outlets across the spectrum.

30 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey announced on Monday, via a post on X, that he is stepping down from the bureau, saying he wants to return to his family in Missouri. Bailey, the former Missouri attorney general, took the newly created co-deputy director role in September 2025, first serving alongside Dan Bongino and later with Christopher Raia after Bongino’s departure. Bailey thanked President Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve, and said he was confident Patel would continue reform efforts. Patel publicly praised Bailey’s service. His resignation is expected to take effect around October 2, roughly a year after he started. A source told the New York Post that Bailey had struggled to settle in and had been far from his family.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Bailey announced his resignation in a post on X on Monday, September 28.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. He cited wanting to return to his family in Missouri.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  3. Bailey is the former attorney general of Missouri.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  4. He served in the newly created co-deputy director role, first alongside Dan Bongino and later with Christopher Raia.

    Reported byLeftRight

  5. His departure is effective around October 2, about a year after he began the post.

    Reported byLeftCenter

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. FBI Director Kash Patel publicly thanked Bailey for his service.

    Reported byCenterRight

  2. A source told the New York Post that Bailey had difficulty settling in at the bureau and being away from his family.

    Reported byRight

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The reason for Bailey’s departure

    Bailey himself, and most outlets across the spectrum, attribute it to wanting to return to his family in Missouri. A New York Post source said Bailey had also struggled to settle into the job and being far from his family. MeidasTouch links the timing to internal turmoil, including the reassignment of counterterrorism officials over their handling of calls to Katie Miller, though it does not claim this caused the resignation.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    10 outlets · 1 opinion

    Mainstream left outlets (The Guardian, ABC News) report the resignation straightforwardly, while further-left outlets (Mother Jones, MeidasTouch) frame it critically, tying it to Bailey’s record and broader turmoil at the FBI.

    Disturbing Real Reason Kash Patel’s Deputy Quit
    The Daily BeastFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    2 outlets

    Center outlets report the resignation as straightforward news without added context or interpretation.

    FBI co-deputy director uses social media to call it quits
    Straight Arrow NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    13 outlets

    Right-leaning outlets largely echo Bailey’s own stated reason for leaving—family—while some, like the New York Post, add reporting on personal difficulties adjusting to the job.

    Delegitimizing label“Fake News”Dismisses reporting wholesale; a false claim should be identified specifically.More neutral: inaccurate report, say what is false and how you knowDisagree with this highlight?: Co-Deputy FBI Director Blasts Media 'Lies' Surrounding Reason for His Departure
    RedStateFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left8

    draconian raid“Investigations”Meltdownanti-abortion hardliner

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right7

    has struggled to respond to concerns of politicizationright-hand aidesuddenly QUITSunique role

In the outlets’ own words

  • Vague attribution

    has struggled to respond to concerns of politicizationMore neutral: has faced criticism from some lawmakers over its handling of political matters

    Attributes unspecified 'concerns' to unnamed parties without identifying who raises them.

    …- news that comes as the preeminent law enforcement agency has struggled to respond to concerns of politicization.

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    right-hand aideMore neutral: co-deputy director

    Casts Bailey's role in informal, personalized terms that imply loyalty rather than an official job description.

    Kash Patel's FBI right-hand aide suddenly QUITS after 'tumultuous' year

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Sensational language

    suddenly QUITSMore neutral: steps down

    Presents a resignation as abrupt and dramatic before establishing context, adding drama beyond the facts.

    Kash Patel's FBI right-hand aide suddenly QUITS after 'tumultuous' year

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    unique roleMore neutral: newly created role

    Frames the position as extraordinary in a way that could be seen as promotional rather than neutral description.

    FBI Deputy Director Steps Down From Unique Role While Praising Kash Patel's 'Reform'

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

Show 11 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    Right-Hand ManMore neutral: Co-Deputy Director

    Frames Bailey's role in personal, informal terms that overstate closeness rather than using his official title

    Kash Patel’s Right-Hand Man Leaves FBI

    Used byThe Daily Caller (Far Right)

  • Partisan shorthand

    Conservative FavoriteMore neutral: FBI Co-Deputy Director

    Labels Bailey's political standing in a way that frames the story around partisan approval rather than his official role

    Top FBI Official, Conservative Favorite To Leave Agency After Year On Job

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    draconian raidMore neutral: raid

    Characterizes the raid as excessively harsh without attribution, passing judgement rather than describing the event neutrally

    …director and former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey—who helped lead the draconian raid on a Georgia election center in January—has resigned from his post.

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Delegitimizing label

    “Investigations”More neutral: investigations

    Scare quotes around a factual description imply the investigations were illegitimate or a pretext

    FBI Deputy Chief Overseeing Election “Investigations” Suddenly Quits

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    MeltdownMore neutral: controversy

    Exaggerates an internal personnel matter as a dramatic collapse without evidence of one

    Top Trump FBI Chief Quits After Katie Miller Meltdown

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    anti-abortion hardlinerMore neutral: an outspoken opponent of abortion rights

    Characterizes Bailey’s views with a loaded label rather than a neutral description of his policy positions.

    2 has been an anti-abortion hardliner oddly preoccupied with the earning potential of aborted fetuses.

    Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    oddly preoccupied with the earning potential of aborted fetusesMore neutral: has argued in legal filings about the economic effects of abortion access

    Uses a sarcastic, mocking characterization of Bailey’s legal arguments rather than a neutral summary.

    2 has been an anti-abortion hardliner oddly preoccupied with the earning potential of aborted fetuses.

    Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

  • Partisan shorthand

    pro-abortionMore neutral: abortion-rights supporters or supports legal abortion

    Implies enthusiasm for abortion rather than support for its legality.

    …Andrew Bailey was still the attorney general of Missouri, he tried to thwart a pro-abortion rights constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot by arguing that “aborting unborn…

    Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    Anti-Abortion ZealotMore neutral: anti-abortion hardliner

    Labels Bailey with a pejorative term that pre-judges his views rather than describing his positions neutrally.

    A Leading Anti-Abortion Zealot Just Quit the FBI

    Used byMother Jones (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    Ousts Counterterror ChiefsMore neutral: reassigns counterterror chiefs

    ‘Ousts’ implies a forced removal with negative connotation rather than a neutral description of reassignment.

    Kash Patel’s FBI Ousts Counterterror Chiefs, Then Loses Its No.

    Used byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

  • Delegitimizing label

    Fake NewsMore neutral: inaccurate report or say what is false and how you know

    Dismisses reporting wholesale; a false claim should be identified specifically.

    Fake News: Co-Deputy FBI Director Blasts Media 'Lies' Surrounding Reason for His Departure

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

10 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Bailey’s role overseeing election-related investigations
  • the co-deputy director structure and Bongino’s earlier exit
  • Bailey’s record as Missouri attorney general
  • broader FBI leadership turmoil, including the removal of counterterrorism officials

Leaves out

  • the New York Post’s source claiming Bailey struggled to settle in

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 11 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    Disturbing Real Reason Kash Patel’s Deputy Quit

    A stunning rift inside the FBI has been exposed, with sources saying Andrew Bailey’s abrupt exit as Kash Patel’s deputy stemmed from a bitter breakdown in their relationship. …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from The Daily Beast
  • The IndependentLeft

    Top Trump FBI appointee Andrew Bailey abruptly quits after just one year

    Throughout his brief period as deputy director, Bailey largely maintained a low public profile

    Read at The Independent (opens in a new tab)
  • MeidasTouchFar Left

    Kash Patel’s FBI Loaded verb“Ousts Counterterror Chiefs”‘Ousts’ implies a forced removal with negative connotation rather than a neutral description of reassignment.More neutral: reassigns counterterror chiefsDisagree with this highlight?, Then Loses Its No. 2

    Andrew Bailey will leave the bureau on October 2 after investigators who found no terrorism nexus in calls to Katie Miller were stripped of their Washington leadership posts.

    Read at MeidasTouch (opens in a new tab)
  • ABC NewsLeft

    FBI co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey resigns

    Federal Bureau of Investigation co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey is resigning from the bureau to spend time with his family, he announced in a post on social media.

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)
  • The GuardianLeft

    FBI co-deputy director Andrew Bailey steps down amid agency shake-up

    Bailey, who oversaw some of Trump’s election crackdown investigations, to resign about a year after assuming role Andrew Bailey, a deputy director of the FBI who has been overseeing some of Trump’s election-related investigations, will step down from his position approximately …

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)
  • CBS NewsLeft

    Top FBI official Andrew Bailey resigns

    Bailey was originally brought in to help ease tensions between former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino.

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    Andrew Bailey to step down as co-deputy director of the FBI

    Andrew Bailey, who joined the FBI as a co-deputy director, announced he would be stepping aside from his role at the bureau. NBC News' Ryan Reilly has details on the announcement and his work under FBI Director Kash Patel.

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)
    1 more from NBC News
  • The Washington PostLeft

    Andrew Bailey, No. 2 at FBI, resigns in latest shake-up at bureau

    Bailey, the former Missouri attorney general, was hired for the leadership role about a year ago.

    Read at The Washington Post (opens in a new tab)
  • The New RepublicFar Left

    FBI Deputy Chief Overseeing Election Delegitimizing label““Investigations””Scare quotes around a factual description imply the investigations were illegitimate or a pretextMore neutral: investigationsDisagree with this highlight? Suddenly Quits

    FBI co-deputy director and former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey—who helped lead the Loaded modifier“draconian raid”Characterizes the raid as excessively harsh without attribution, passing judgement rather than describing the event neutrallyMore neutral: raidDisagree with this highlight? on a Georgia election center in January—has resigned from his post. …

    Read at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeft

    Andrew Bailey, a Deputy Director at the F.B.I., Leaves His Job

    Mr. Bailey, who was part of a three-person leadership team atop the bureau, lasted barely a year.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
  • Mother JonesFar LeftOpinion

    A Leading Loaded modifier“Anti-Abortion Zealot”Labels Bailey with a pejorative term that pre-judges his views rather than describing his positions neutrally.More neutral: anti-abortion hardlinerDisagree with this highlight? Just Quit the FBI

    For the last year, the FBI’s co-No. 2 has been an Loaded modifier“anti-abortion hardliner”Characterizes Bailey’s views with a loaded label rather than a neutral description of his policy positions.More neutral: an outspoken opponent of abortion rightsDisagree with this highlight? Sensational language“oddly preoccupied with the earning potential of aborted fetuses”Uses a sarcastic, mocking characterization of Bailey’s legal arguments rather than a neutral summary.More neutral: has argued in legal filings about the economic effects of abortion accessDisagree with this highlight?. Back when Andrew Bailey was still the attorney general of Missouri, he tried to thwart a Partisan shorthand“pro-abortion”Implies enthusiasm for abortion rather than support for its legality.More neutral: abortion-rights supporters, supports legal abortionDisagree with this highlight? rights constitutional amendment on the …

    Read at Mother Jones (opens in a new tab)

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

  • the timing of Bailey’s departure
  • the fact of his resignation announcement

Leaves out

  • Bailey’s record as Missouri attorney general
  • the co-deputy structure with Bongino and Raia

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • Straight Arrow NewsCenter

    FBI co-deputy director uses social media to call it quits

    FBI co-deputy director Andrew Bailey is leaving the agency in October after holding the post just over a year.

    Read at Straight Arrow News (opens in a new tab)
  • The HillCenter

    FBI deputy director announces he's leaving post

    FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey said Monday he is departing the bureau roughly a year after joining the Trump administration. Bailey, in a post on social platform X, thanked President Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel “for the opportunity to …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

13 outlets

Leads with

  • Bailey’s stated family reasons for leaving
  • his record on violent crime and election integrity work
  • Patel’s praise of his service
  • the co-deputy structure and Bongino’s prior departure

Leaves out

  • the FBI’s reassignment of counterterrorism officials tied to the Katie Miller case
  • Bailey’s record on abortion-related litigation as Missouri AG

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 13 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    The New York Times, Sep 28, 10:30 AM EDT

  • Center

    2 hr later

    Its first report, Sep 28, 12:31 PM EDT

  • Right

    34 min later

    Its first report, Sep 28, 11:04 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The New York TimesLeftSep 28, 10:30 AM EDT
  2. Daily MailRightSep 28, 11:04 AM EDT
  3. NBC NewsLeftSep 28, 11:16 AM EDT
  4. RedStateFar RightSep 28, 11:27 AM EDT
  5. Washington ExaminerRightSep 28, 11:28 AM EDT
  6. The Daily CallerFar RightSep 28, 11:37 AM EDT
  7. The Daily WireFar RightSep 28, 11:49 AM EDT
  8. The New RepublicFar LeftSep 28, 11:59 AM EDT
  9. The Washington PostLeftSep 28, 11:59 AM EDT
  10. The Epoch TimesFar RightSep 28, 12:22 PM EDT
  11. The HillCenterSep 28, 12:31 PM EDT
  12. The Daily BeastFar LeftSep 28, 12:36 PM EDT
  13. New York PostRightSep 28, 12:38 PM EDT
  14. CBS NewsLeftSep 28, 1:00 PM EDT
  15. The GuardianLeftSep 28, 1:07 PM EDT
  16. ABC NewsLeftSep 28, 1:35 PM EDT
  17. Fox NewsFar RightSep 28, 2:09 PM EDT
  18. The Washington TimesRightSep 28, 2:48 PM EDT
  19. TownhallFar RightSep 28, 3:15 PM EDT
  20. Breitbart NewsFar RightSep 28, 3:49 PM EDT
  21. One America NewsFar RightSep 28, 4:23 PM EDT
  22. Straight Arrow NewsCenterSep 28, 4:43 PM EDT
  23. MeidasTouchFar LeftSep 28, 7:33 PM EDT
  24. The IndependentLeftSep 29, 3:58 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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