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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

‘Vidcom’ de Cannes

Under The Influence

TikTok Users Learn The Internet Isn’t Forever

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Tom Ley

Great Perfecting Printing Press

Announcements

Transactions, January 17

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

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Diana Moskovitz

An aerial view of a street in the Eaton fire. The entire street is burned and decimated. It looks like a bomb went off. A sole person walks down the empty steet.

Eaton Fire aerial view

Journalismism

We Need A New Deal To Save Local Journalism

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

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Women's Basketball

Unrivaled Could Be A New Solution To The WNBA’s Old Problems

<div dir="ltr">Dom Cosentino is a writer in Brooklyn who takes Pittsburgh sports way too seriously.</div>
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Dom Cosentino

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on prior to an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens

What’s Mike Tomlin’s Standard Now?

Michael is a writer who has worked with The Atlantic, The New Yorker, WIRED, Vox, The New York Times, and other publications. His first book, The Other Olympians, which uncovers the stories of several European athletes who transitioned gender in the 1930s, is now available for purchase.

Michael Waters

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (C) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-VA) (L) raise their hands when asked if they know a transgender woman during an event to celebrate the House passing The Protection Of Women And Girls In Sports Act outside the U.S. Capitol on April 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden has promised to veto the legislation, which defines sex as 'based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth' and would ban all transgender women and girls from competing in female school sports.

House GOP Members And Female Athletes Mark Passage Of The Protection Of Women And Girls In Sports Act

Politics

The Trans Sports Ban Portends Something Much Darker

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David Roth

An Enchanted Tools robot called the Mirokai is displayed during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show CES in Las Vegas.

U.S.-LAS VEGAS-CES-ROBOTS

Podcasts

The Future Feels Like The Raiders, With Ed Zitron

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Patrick Redford

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 15: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies tries to dunk over Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Frost Bank Center on January 15, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies v San Antonio Spurs

Ja Morant Summited Mount Wembanyama

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

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Drew Magary

19th century drawing of a physician holding death at bay.

Drawing of Two Figures Warding off Death

Jamboroo

Fear Of Death Will Kill Us All

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Ray Ratto

Bob Uecker walks onto the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

League Championship Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Milwaukee Brewers – Game One

Bob Uecker Was Just The Best

Katelyn Burns is a freelance journalist and columnist for MSNBC. She co-hosts the Cancel Me, Daddy podcast and is a co-founder of The Flytrap, a worker-owned feminist newsletter. Find her on BlueSky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/katelynburns.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/katelynburns.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737039410886000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0AGF3RbPU2rsUfV7tUou_r">@katelynburns.com</a>

Katelyn Burns

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Video Games

Can Pro ‘Overwatch’ Be Brought Back To Life?

Day'Ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against Bones Hyland #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Intuit Dome on January 15, 2025.

Brooklyn Nets v Los Angeles Clippers

It Doesn’t Get Any Less Essential Than Nets-Clippers

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Barry Petchesky

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Ryan McLeod #71 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck against Sean Walker #26 of the Carolina Hurricanes during an NHL game on January 15, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

Carolina Hurricanes v Buffalo Sabres

How To Complete A Hat Trick Without Taking A Shot

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Chris Thompson

Giannis Antetokounmpo waits for a free throw.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Jan. 2025

How Serious Are The Milwaukee Bucks?

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

A fire fighting helicopter drops water as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and Encino, California, on January 11, 2025. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 11 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

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Climate

The Future Of West Coast Wildfire Is Whiplash

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Kelsey McKinney

Moonlight Scene

Arts And Culture

I Believe In Ethel Cain

Megan Greenwell is the author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream, which will be published in June 2025 and is <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/bad-company-megan-greenwell?variant=43151012757538">available for preorder now</a>.

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Megan Greenwell

photo of a corner of the Clevelant Museum of Art

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The Wonder Of The Regional Art Museum

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Albert Burneko

Hansi Flick holds a press conference for the match against Betis, corresponding to the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, in Barcelona, Spain, on January 14, 2025.

Hansi Flick

Soccer

A German Coach, The Spanish Media, And Google Translate Walk Into A Press Conference

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest saves the shot of Diogo Jota of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at City Ground on January 14, 2025 in Nottingham, England.

Nottingham Forest FC v Liverpool FC – Premier League

Nottingham Forest Has An Iron Chin

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Samer Kalaf

A recall notice on a case of Boar's Head products.

Popular Deli Meat Maker Boar Head’s Recalls 7 Million Pounds Of Meat After Listeria Outbreak

Life's Rich Pageant

“Residual Ham Material,” And Even More Evocative Phrases From USDA Inspections Of Boar’s Head Plants

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 13: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball against Zach Edey #14 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at Toyota Center on January 13, 2025 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies v Houston Rockets

The Basketball Is Really Good Right Now

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Kathryn Xu

Smoker writing in her diary 1969

‘The Artist’s Way’ Week 1: Our Hands Hurt

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 29: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets looks on during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York.

New York Jets v Buffalo Bills

Funbag

End Play-Clock Abuse!

SS Lazio mascotte eagle Olimpia with the falconer Juan Bernabe on the pitch after the Serie A TIM match between SS Lazio and US Lecce - Serie A TIM at Stadio Olimpico on January 14, 2024 in Rome, Italy.

SS Lazio v US Lecce – Serie A TIM

Lazio Fires Fascist Falconer For Posting Penis Implant Pictures

Ashwin Rodrigues is a <a href="https://ashwinrodrigues.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ashwinrodrigues.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1736881844399000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2gTYrT5B9gKSQ8eCIDai5A">freelance writer</a> and Arsenal supporter living in New York. His work has been featured in GQ, Fast Company, Vice, Wired and other publications.

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