Either make it clear you are speculating about two events being connected, or get evidence that links them.

Is a whistleblower’s report speculation?

The individual is using the same reasoning as the headline. They weren't getting the fund they wanted and noticed there was a donation recently. They are speculating that that's the cause of their lack of organization support.

"whistleblower" is a journalism word meant to imply who the good guy is and endow them with credibility. Rewriting the story with "employee files complaint" doesn't hit the same.

> They weren't getting the fund they wanted and noticed there was a donation recently. They are speculating that that's the cause of their lack of organization support.

If this is really the evidence you think they're using I'd be willing to bet you didn't read their report: https://live-whistleblower-aid.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/up...

Sure, it's all anecdotal -- it is testimony, after all -- but much of it is backed up by email and text conversations. On the topic of a potential conflict of interest, what do you think about the personal relationship between Doug Elmendorf and Elliot Schrage?

A casual reader may infer the same for both words, but "following" is much stronger. If I may take some liberties with usage: Following someone to a faraway place is much more likely to involve causation than going to that same place after they do.