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Defector

Giri Nathan

PARIS, FRANCE: AUGUST 11: A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States drives to the basket defended by Valeriane Ayayi #11 of Team France and Janelle Salaun #13 of Team France during the United States of America v France, Women's Basketball Gold Medal Game at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on August 11th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Olympics

The U.S. Women Win Gold In An Unfamiliar Nail-Biter

Lauren Theisen

Imane Khelif and three others pose with their medals at the Olympics

It Doesn’t Matter If The IBA Was Lying About Imane Khelif

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: Lebron James #6 and Stephen Curry #4 of Team United States celebrate after their team's win against Team Serbia during a Men's basketball semifinals match between Team United States and Team Serbia on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Steph Curry Kept The U.S. On Top

Naomi Girma #4 of Team United States celebrates victory in the Women's Gold Medal match

The USWNT Is As Golden As Ever

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


Heather Wei-Xi Chen

circa 1955: Two elementary school students complete homework assignments together, the girl has a book, 'Living By God's Law,' next to her on the table.

Announcements

The Defector Summer Interns Say Farewell

David Roth

Syssy competes during the Breaking B-Girls Round Robin Group B battle between Nicka an Syssy on Day 14 of the Olympic Games Paris.

Lost In The Olympics

Arts And Culture

Kazuo Ishiguro Is A Repetitive Genius

<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

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - MAY 28: Jamaal Williams #21 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at the New Orleans Saints Practice facility on May 28, 2024 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: New Orleans Saints

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

ans of Team Brazil hold a flag with a picture of Marta prior to the Women's Quarterfinal match between France and Brazil during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Marta’s Last Chance

Patrick Redford

Cédrine Kerbaol of France and Team CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling - White best young jersey, Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland and Team Canyon//SRAM Racing - Polka dot Mountain Jersey, Demi Vollering of The Netherlands - Yellow leader jersey and Lotte Kopecky of Belgium and Team SD Worx - Protime - Green points jersey celebrate at podium during the 2nd Tour de France Femmes 2023, Stage 8 a 22.6km individual time trial stage from Pau to Pau / #UCIWWT / on July 30, 2023 in Pau, France. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Cycling

The Tour de France Femmes Is The Perfect Post-Olympics Spectacle

USA's #11 Joel Embiid celebrates at the end of the men's semifinal basketball match between USA and Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP)

Joel Embiid’s War With The French Nears Its Conclusion

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins and Andrés Giménez #0 of the Cleveland Guardians talk as they wait for a play review during the sixth inning at Progressive Field on May 17, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Twins And Guardians Are Finally Taking Their Fight To The Field

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton waits to speak at the annual convention of the Rainbow/Push Coalition June 24, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. Clinton said Bush Administration policies make likely the need for affirmative action programs for years to come.

Margin Of Error

Can The Pundits Pivot Toward The Center?

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


Chris Thompson

The Sagging Dodgers Suddenly Have A Lot Of Company

view of 'Cats' stage pre-show from above. there's a long runway dividing the audience in two

Defector Up All Night

Defector At The Theater: A Revamped ‘Cats’ Is Better Than Ever

Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. He is very dramatically backlit, naturally.

Podcasts

Hollywood’s Dampest Era, With Chris Nashawaty

Ray Ratto

Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on before his team play against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Las Vegas Raiders

Manager Pedro Grifol of the Chicago White Sox walks back to the dugout after a pitching change during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians on July 4, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Pedro Grifol Paid The Price For Winning That One Game

Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks during a press conference at the Shelby Township Police Department on August 7, 2024 in Shelby Township, Michigan.

Politics

Men On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown

Youtube logo with a stop symbol instead of a play button

The Machines

This YouTube Trend Is Getting Increasingly More Annoying

Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is This Idiot Dog Starting A Fire

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves the stage during a commercial break as he participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections with US President Joe Biden at CNN's studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024.

Interviews

‘Know Your Enemy’ Host Matt Sitman Talks About Covering Politics Without Becoming A Hack

Kathryn Xu

Barry Petchesky

Vintage color photograph of a chimpanzee in a skirt, stupid blouse, wristwatch and boots seated at a cluttered desk in a faux office, typing on a red typewriter. (Photo by Found Image Holdings/Corbis via Getty Images)

Science

Point/Counterpoint: Monkeys Typing Shakespeare

Billy Haisley

US' forward #05 Trinity Rodman (L) and US' forward #09 Mallory Swanson (R) celebrate after US' forward #11 Sophia Smith (C) scored in the 95th minute during the women's semi-final football match between USA and Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon on August 6, 2024.

The USWNT Is Grinding Its Way Toward A Better Future

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 12: Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton walks out of the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)