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Regarding NPR's choice of words: it is in fact quite common to avoid very direct accusations in politics and news. I really doubt the author came about this for the first time ever, but rather wonder if he detested it as much each and every time earlier.

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The author is a woman; Masha is the Russian diminutive for Maria.

Is there any phonological rule that can help tell? For the last name you can check "-ov" vs. "-ova", but what about given names?

In school I knew a boy named "Misha" (so assuming I am remembering his nationality correctly) it would seem that "-sha" can go with either sex.

Diminutives are all the same, -a, -ya, -ik because of diminutive suffix replacing the ending. Full names usually end on -[y]a for women and on consonant for men. So there is no general rule, I think. (native speaker)

Edit: added -ik

The reason to avoid very direct accusations in politics in news is to keep your powder dry -- so that you can have greater impact when you truly need to do so.

The argument the author makes is exactly that this is a time where words like "lies" are necessary, and to avoid them now constitutes lying to your audience rather than avoiding inappropriate overstatement.

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