[jedmeyers]

> it should be same whether the delivered news is favorable to you/us or not

The question is usually "is it favorable to the CIA/NSA or not?".

Favorable (Vindman/Cia<mare>lla) -> whistleblower

Unfavorable (Snowden) -> leaker

[harikb]

whistleblower, working for a non-spy org, reporting what he believes to be illegal conduct to congress one one side.

second is a guy who stole secrets he wasn't even supposed to have access to, ran with it and leaked to a russian mob controlled outlet.

whatever

[jedmeyers]

> reporting what he believes to be illegal conduct to congress one one side.

“Former” cia analyst that was directly involved in the events being investigated by the administration is reporting through his friends to an associate in Congress about an “illegal” conduct. Sounds a bit more like covering up former shady deals for his political friends.