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Defector


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A photo of Lilly the cat. She's smokey with black and white coloring, a little white bib, and green eyes. She's sitting atop a blanket atop our couch looking quite regal.

Animals

For Lilly, Always There

Luis Paez-Pumar

A general view of the Nottingham Forest logo on the side of the stadium ahead of the Premier League match at City Ground, Nottingham. Picture date: Friday December 15, 2023.

Soccer

The Premier League’s Inconsistent Financial Rules Strike Again

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - MARCH 12: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is seen during alongside other members of Senate Republican leadership during a press conference following weekly policy luncheons on March 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Funbag

How To Piss On Mitch McConnell’s Grave: A Brief Explainer

David Roth

Vice co-founders and executives Shane Smith and Suroosh Alvi looking kind of wet at the 20th Webby Awards in 2016.

Capital

The Coffee Machine That Explained Vice Media

Tom Ley

Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres looks on during the sixth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at PETCO Park on September 19, 2023 in San Diego, California.

Blake Snell’s Contract Looks Like Trouble

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Hailey Van Lith #11 and Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Lady Tigers speak against the Tennessee Lady Vols in the second quarter at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 25, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

College Basketball

Everyone’s Going To Albany To Conquer Their Demons

Ray Ratto

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOV. 20: Renel Brooks-Moon, the San Francisco Giants' PA announcer since 2000, poses for a portrait at Oracle Park on Friday, November 20, 2020, in San Francisco, Calif. Brooks-Moon, 62, was born in Oakland and is a Mills College graduate. Brooks-Moon has been using her longevity and voice to call out inequities in the hiring practices of the Giants and in Major League Baseball in general. They're listening. (Yalonda M. James/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

The Giants Are Doing All The Little Things Wrong

<p>Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.</p>


Hamilton Nolan

Callum Walsh punches Dauren Yeleussinov during their junior middleweight fight at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2024 in New York City.

The Fights

Small Nations In Big Wars

Tourists, bankers, and media converge on Wall Street on March 9, 2020 in New York City.

Crosswords

The Crossword, March 18: Boot Sequence

Rose Lobelson, Communications Associate at Sotheby's, points to an image of the Sports Illustrated cover of Wilt Chamberlain in his 'Championship Clinching' 1972 NBA Final jersey, with bandaged-hands after he broke a hand, at Sotheby's Auction House in Beverly Hills, California, on August 1, 2023. The jersey is estimated at $4 million.

Media Meltdowns

Sports Illustrated May Yet Live

Giri Nathan

Patrick Redford

Carlos Alcaraz smiles with Indian Wells trophy in front of mountains

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Found Revenge And Happiness In The Desert

Lauren Theisen

Kino Lilly Jr. (10) shoots a floater over Yale Bulldogs Forward Danny Wolf

The Ivy League Establishment Suppresses A Provocative New Idea: Brown Being Good

Albert Burneko

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a timeout as officials attempt to fix the shot clock during the second half of a game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on March 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Hey, Does Anybody Know If The Warriors-Lakers Game Is Over Yet?

Dave McKenna

Gilbert Arenas #0 of the Washington Wizards stands on the court during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 25, 2004 in Los Angeles, California.

Miserable Wizards Conjure The Ghost Of Agent Zero

Vinicius Junior left winger of Real Madrid and Brazil celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid CF at Estadio El Sadar on March 16, 2024 in Pamplona, Spain.

Get A Load Of This Outrageous Vinícius Jr. Goal

Ireland players celebrate with the trophy after their side's victory in the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Rugby

Ireland Wins Six Nations Rugby Championship While Team From Imperialist Nation Where Rugby Was Invented Finishes Way Back In Third

Defector Staff

An early, silent, "Our Gang" comedy, The Buccaneers. L-R: Andy Samuel, Mickey Daniels, Allan Cavan (adult), Mary Kornman, Joe Cobb, and Jackie Condon (sitting). (second from left) and Joe Cobb (far right).

Staff Chat

Here Is A Post In Which You Can Chat With Members Of The Defector Staff

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Maria Sakkari of Greece in action against Diane Parry of France in the fourth round on Day 11 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 13, 2024 in Indian Wells, California (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Defector Tennis Bureau Indian Wells Dispatch Day 4: The Desert Dads Are On The Loose

Billy Haisley

Atletico de Madrid player Memphis Depay celebrates his goal.. Atletico de Madrid beats Internazionale Milan in round of 16 of Champions League matchday 2 of 2 and moves on to next phase.

Memphis Depay Was Ready For His Closeup

Soraya Roberts

TV Personality Jonathan Van Ness attends the Build Series to discuss his new book "Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love" at Build Studio on September 25, 2019 in New York City.

Arts And Culture

Of Course My Favorite TV Host Is An Asshole

<div dir="ltr">
<div>Zach Buchanan has covered Major League Baseball for more than a decade, for the <em>Arizona Republic</em>, <em>Cincinnati Enquirer,</em> and most recently The Athletic. He also has been published in <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>Washington Post</em>, FanGraphs and <em>Baseball America</em>. He lives in Phoenix, where he prepares for the inevitable water crisis by living off Dr Pepper instead.</div>
</div>
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Zach Buchanan

Terry Francona’s Next Act: Arizona Hoops Superfan

Christian Hansen sitting at his desk in The Octopus Murders

The Creators Of ‘The Octopus Murders’ Are Still In Its Grasp

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

A topiary of Goofy stands with the Spaceship Earth ball in the background.

A Disney World Pervert’s Take On: The Existential War Of Investor Aggression

A beekeper works to clear bees from Centre Court which led to the temporary suspension of the match between Germany's Alexander Zverev and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in their ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters men's quarterfinal tennis match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California, on March 14, 2024.

An Interview With The Bee Hero Who Humanely Vacuumed Thousands Of Bees Out Of A Tennis Stadium

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Holger Rune of Denmark celebrates to his team bench after his three set victory against Taylor Fritz of the United States in their fourth round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 13, 2024 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)