It could be respect, or it could just be the realization that he could not take such actions without them coming to light, and that would likely be the death of his reputation as a serious journalists.

I think they got it right when they set up the intercept. A journalist without an editor is hard to distinguish from a blogger. Part of the editors job is to say no. Sometimes, "not yet, this isn't ready". Sometimes "no, this isn't good enough". I suppose sometimes also "no, we aren't that publication" which is more problematic.

You can never really be your own editor.

Or it could be respect. Are you going through life assuming the worst of everybody? Or this is only for a subset of Americans?

If someone quits their job in a huff because they don’t like what their boss told them, it’s not because they respect their boss. I don’t know why you think that’s a thing, but it isn’t.

Believe me, this happens all the time. You dont want to know what the non-respectful options are.

The respectful option is just doing your job, not posting internet diatribes.

You are confusing respectful with servile

You're confusing servile with having an ounce of professionalism.

It could be, as I said.