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Defector

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Skylar Diggins #4 of the Seattle Storm reacts during the third quarter of a 2025 Commissioner's Cup game against the Las Vegas Aces at Climate Pledge Arena on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 9: Yes, Chef!

Barry Petchesky

EDMONTON, AB - JUNE 06: Edmonton Oilers Center Connor McDavid (97) races towards the puck in the third period in game two of Stanley Cup Final Edmonton Oilers game versus the Florida Panthers on June 06, 2025 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

We Don’t Speak Connor McDavid

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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

Andrew Cuomo speaks in the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City.

Margin Of Error

Andrew Cuomo Is Garbage

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


Chris Thompson

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is defended by Andrew Nembhard.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Can Make Anyone Look Bad

Patrick Redford

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz holds the trophy after winning the men's singles final match against Italy's Jannik Sinner on day 15 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 8, 2025.

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Wins The Match Of A Lifetime

Albert Burneko

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket against Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals

If I Were The Oklahoma City Thunder, I Would Simply Sustain A Lead All The Way To The End Of Game 2

Paris, France - June 7: Coco Gauff of United States with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy after her victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the Women's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 07, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)

Coco Gauff Won’t Be Rattled

<p>Former Defector intern, now freelancer.</p>
<p>For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lucy Bloom

Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) hits an RBI single

Dillon Dingler Demonstrates Delightful Distinction

Lauren Theisen

Tony Shalhoub accepts the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for The Band's Visit onstage during the 72nd Annual Tony Awards

Staff Chat

An Experimental Staff Chat: Let’s Talk Tonys

Elon Musk speaks during a news conference with President Trump on May 30, 2025 inside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington.

Politics

Donald Trump And Elon Musk Throw Day-Long Tantrums At Each Other

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Iga Swiatek of Poland drops her racket as she stretches for a backhand against Aryna Sabalenka in the Women's Singles Semi Final match on Day Twelve of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 05, 2025 in Paris, France.

Iga Swiatek Abdicates Her Clay Throne


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

CT scan of the front of a skate, showing the hard, tooth-like denticles on its skin (shown in orange)

Creaturefector

The “Tooth Hurty” Joke Has Its Origins In Ancient, Armored Fish

, TX - MAY 29: Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer takes questions from the media after game 5 of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers on May 29, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Pete DeBoer Just Loves Making Conference Finals And Getting Fired

<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

NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks up the 16th hole during the practice round prior to the WM Phoenix Open 2025 at TPC Scottsdale on February 05, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Steelers, Aaron Rodgers Agree To 18 Weeks Of Darkness

Tom Ley

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers scores a basket with .3 seconds remaining during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 05, 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.

We Must Consider Whether The Pacers Have A Pact With Beelzebub Himself

David Roth

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Brendan Donovan (33) as seen during a Major League Baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals on May 18, 2025. Just a real Cardinals-looking guy.

Podcasts

A Residence At One Cardinal Way, With Will Leitch

Kathryn Xu

This photograph shows a TGV inoui high speed train of the French national SNCF rail company SNCF running in Nantes, western France, on April 4, 2025.

Transit

All The Trains I Rode In France

a photo of Patrick Kelly, a Doctoral Candidate at Brown University School of Public Health, whose NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse funded doctoral research was terminated

Interviews

An Interview With A Public Health Researcher Whose Funding Was Terminated By The Trump Administration

Luis Paez-Pumar

Ray Ratto

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Before You Is The Defector Mega-Preview Of The 2025 NBA Finals. Kneel!

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, 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.

Media Meltdowns

Curious, I’m No Longer Hearing Much Chatter From The Many Haters Who Claimed That LeBron James’s Podcast Would Never Become “#8 On Trending” And “#9 On Trending”

Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner (74) gets set in the first period of game one of Stanley Cup Final

Stuart Skinner Was Good Enough

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 04: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 during overtime in Game One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 04, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

These Oilers Can Take A Punch

The Dallas Wings bench reacts during the third quarter of the game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 3, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.