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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

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth leaves a meeting with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) with his wife Jennifer Rauchet as he continues to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on December 5, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Margin Of Error

What Makes A Scandal

David Roth

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees arrives to the stadium before the Opening Day game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Juan Soto Got Super-Duper-Mega Paid

Justin Ellis

Actor Timothee Chalamet answers questions on a press tour.

This Is So Stupid

SHOCKER: This Handsome Actor Is In Fact A Ball-Knower

Luis Paez-Pumar

Moises Caicedo of Chelsea is fouled by Yves Bissouma of Tottenham Hotspur leading to a penalty which is scored by Cole Palmer of Chelsea to make it 2-2 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 08, 2024 in London, England.

Soccer

Never Doubt Tottenham’s Inability To Capitalize On Chaos

Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 08, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Racing

Lando Norris Kept His Cool Until The End

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is taken off the field on a medical cart in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsat Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

NFL Quietly Drops Latest Investigation Into Sexual Assault Allegations Against Deshaun Watson

Ben Tippett

China’s chess grandmaster Ding Liren (R) and India’s chess grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju (L) compete during the start of the FIDE World Chess Championship in Singapore on November 25, 2024.

Chess

Ding Liren Is Putting Up A Fight

Israel Daramola

The Lions Will Live Or Die Off Chance

Patrick Redford

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on October 29, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Jonathan Kuminga Makes His Case

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


Nicholas Russell

Arts And Culture

‘The Village’ Still Has Questions To Ask

Kathryn Xu

Shoppers walk past an MLB store during the National Day Golden Week holiday at Raffles City Chongqing on October 5, 2024, in Chongqing, China.

In Search Of A Phillies Hat In Chinese MLB Stores

Tom Ley

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half at Intuit Dome on December 01, 2024 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Math Is Catching Up To The Nuggets

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<div>Casey Taylor is a writer living and working in Pittsburgh. He is currently writing a book for St. Martin&#8217;s Press about cannabis religions, Haile Selassie I, and the Cold War in the Caribbean. He also writes a free newsletter called <a href="https://weedchurch.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://weedchurch.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1709306863919000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mVH2xiID6S0zvlyj6yHco">Weed Church</a> covering foolish spiritual things that occur to him. His work has appeared in The New Republic, WIRED, New York Magazine, and a sports blog he can’t currently recall the name of. You can <a href="mailto:caseyt7@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> him if you’d like.</div>
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Casey Taylor

The crowded work bench of New York tattooist Charlie Wagner in the 1940's. (Photo by FPG/Getty Images)

How Do You Preserve Tattoo History When Skin And Memory Fail?

Lauren Theisen

Goldie Hawn eating popcorn in movie theater in a scene from the film 'Foul Play', 1978.

Defector Up All Night

You Must Know The Popcorn Trick

C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans adjusts his helmet in close-up before taking the field for Houston's game against Jacksonville on December 1, 2024.

Podcasts

That AFC South Feeling, With Rivers McCown

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Hailey Van Lith #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs goes to the basket against the Houston Christian Huskies in the second half at Schollmaier Arena on November 5, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas.

College Basketball

Hailey Van Lith Is Getting Her Groove Back At TCU

Michigan Wolverines defensive back Rod Moore (9) walks on the field holding a Michigan flag with his teammates after the game against the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 30, 2024, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH.

College Football

The Games Will Always Matter

Ray Ratto

A screengrab of the Toronto Tempo's new logo as seen on a Canadian news program.

WNBA

They’re Really Going With “Toronto Tempo”

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 02: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on December 02, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Lakers Cannot Stop Embarrassing Themselves

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


Chris Thompson

“Do Not Wear Dad’s DIY Sneakers” Is A Lesson Lonzo Ball Learned The Most Painful Possible Way

<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

Climate activists of Extinction Rebellion wearing masks of company CEOs including LVMH's Bernard Arnault (2nd L) Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg (C), Microsoft founder Bill Gates (2ndR) and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson (R) take part in a demonstration in Berlin on April 13, 2023. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

Jamboroo

The Price Of The American Dream Is Now $1 Billion

Samer Kalaf

Joe Biden holds a copy of The Hundred Years' War On Palestine by Rashid Khalidi.

Politics

The Next History Book On Palestine Will Have Joe Biden In It

Barry Petchesky

OSHAWA, ON - DECEMBER 5: Stuffed animals get ready for the annual Teddy Bear toss between the Kingston Frontenacs and Oshawa Generals in an OHL game at the Tribute Communities Centre on December 5, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

Top NHL Prospect Suspended For Disrespecting Teddy Bears

Tafara Gapare #6 of the Maryland Terrapins dunks the ball

Ohio State Suffers Most Brutal Loss Since Saturday

Detail view of the captain's arm band worn by Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Newcastle United FC at Selhurst Park on November 30, 2024 in London, England.