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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Justin Kluivert of AFC Bournemouth celebrates scoring his team's third goal and his hat-trick during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and AFC Bournemouth at St James' Park on January 18, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Soccer

Justin Kluivert Has Finally Arrived

<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

Semaglutide (GLP-1) weight-loss drug Wegovy, made by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which are designed to treat type 2 diabetes, but are widely known for their effect on weight loss. Picture date: Wednesday October 16, 2024.

Funbag

GLP-1 Agonists: The Defector Review

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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

Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Melania Trump.

Margin Of Error

Welcome Home

Ray Ratto

Manchester United's Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in Manchester. He looks pretty sad.

No One Thinks Less Of Manchester United Than Its Manager

Soraya Roberts

An image of a carriage approaching a moonlit castle, from Nosferatu

Arts And Culture

When Did The Moving Image Stop Moving?

Barry Petchesky

VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 18: Conor Garland #8 of the Vancouver Canucks checks Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of their NHL game at Rogers Arena on January 18, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Connor McDavid Has Three Games To Think About What He’s Done

Israel Daramola

College Football

Ohio State’s Comeback Tour Ends With A Championship

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to throw under pressure from defensive end Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 25-22 in overtime.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Jan. 20: Passing Through

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens drops a pass on a two-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York.

The Ravens Will Just Have To Stew In Their Failure

Samer Kalaf

A pile of Rams and Eagles players in the snow.

Eagles Win, Despite Their Best Efforts

Dave McKenna

Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin smile after beating the Lions in the divisional round.

The Commanders Are Happy To Be Here, And Happier To Beat Down The Lions


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

A white piece of paper with the Packers, NFL Wild Card, and Eagles logos at the top. Written below in pen are drive charts for each team.

These Are The Items Your Dedicated Eagles Sicko Needs For A Game

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs the ball after a reception against the Houston Texans during the AFC Divisional Playoff game

The Chiefs Are Experts In Demoralization

David Lynch Was The Artist of Our Time

An Eagles fan yells at Packers fans at the game

A Thorough Analysis Of This Latest Philly Sports Fan Bullshit

Patrick Redford

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers attempts to drive past Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center on January 16, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

The Thunder Articulate A Philosophy Of Pressure

The building of the Washington Post newspaper headquarter is seen on K Street in Washington DC on May 16, 2019.

Journalismism

The Familiarity And Sadness Of Watching The Washington Post Go To Hell

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket around Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

What Could Possibly Be The Problem With More Cavaliers-Thunder?

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Under The Influence

TikTok Users Learn The Internet Isn’t Forever

Tom Ley

Announcements

Transactions, January 17


<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

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.

We Need A New Deal To Save Local Journalism

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)

What’s Mike Tomlin’s Standard Now?

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.

Politics

The Trans Sports Ban Portends Something Much Darker

David Roth

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