[nicollo]

Sorry, I simply can't digest this grammatical abuse:

The whistleblower has identified themselves to Senate investigators but asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals

Effen woke grammer.

[TBP]

Yes, but in this case, they’re trying not to reveal anything at all about the whistleblower’s identity.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That was my first thought, too, but the whistleblower is anonymous. The old construction would have been:

The whistleblower has identified themselves himself or herself to Senate investigators but asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals

While that was always awkward, at least it was grammatically correct. Before that construction, it would have been only “himself” because women weren’t in roles like that and everybody knew the masculine included both men and women, i.e., all “men.” Thanks, feminism.

[Dr. Sivana]

Effen woke grammer.

In this case, a sloppy attempt to not reveal the sex of the whistle blower. Awkward, but at least accrate, "Himself or herself" could have been employed. Of course, "himself" could have been used, understanding that it covers both sexes when the sex is unknown.