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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.

Defector

Patrick Redford

LE GRAND BORNAND, FRANCE - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Audrey Cordon-Ragot of France and Team Human Powered Health and a general view of the peloton competing during the 3rd Tour de France Femmes 2024, Stage 7 a 166.4km stage from Champagnole to Le Grand Bornand 1265m / #UCIWWT / on August 17, 2024 in Le Grand Bornand, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Cycling

How Team Tactics Shape The Tour de France, And Vice Versa

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

A long white mall hallway with empty storefronts and a sign for an AMC movie theater in the distance

Capital

A Mall I Loved Is Going Pitch Black

Soraya Roberts

Hanif Kureishi attends the press night after party for "The Buddha Of Suburbia" at the Barbican Centre on October 29, 2024 in London, England.

Defector Reads A Book

Hanif Kureishi Writes Himself Anew In ‘Shattered’

David Roth

A worker stocks food items at a Whole Foods Market grocery store in Manhattan on December 17, 2024.

Podcasts

Like A Bat In The Supermarket

Kathryn Xu

Brad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Damson Idris, co-star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, stand for thr national anthem on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain.

Defector At The Movies

‘F1: The Movie’ Is Great If Your Favorite Part Of Racing Is All The Corporate Logos

Raphael Orlove is a freelance writer and editor with a few events under his belt as a rally co-driver. You may have seen his work on Robb Report, Road &amp; Track, Jalopnik, or the briefly-aired Car vs America TV show if you have a very extensive cable subscription.
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Raphael Orlove

Racing

Meet The Crew Whose Job Is To Keep Rally Fans From Getting Themselves Killed

Ray Ratto

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown looks on from the sideline in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center on December 22, 2024 in Sacramento, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Knicks Backed Their Way Into A Good Coach

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Promo still from the 1961 Film The Children's Hour

Interviews

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back: Michael Koresky On Hollywood’s Queer History

Defector Staff

Announcements

Take Defector’s 2025 Reader Survey

The pack of the Tour de France cross a railway line during a stage of the Great Loop, in July 1933. (Photo by STF / AFP) (Photo credit should read STF/AFP via Getty Images)

How To Watch Cycling

Giri Nathan

Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates his three-point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter at Target Center on March 30, 2025 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)

Malik Beasley Had His Wages Garnished By His Former Dentist

Former Defector intern, now freelancer.
For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.
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Lucy Bloom

A family group shot of three children, two women and a cigarette smoking man gathered around and standing on top of a car roof parked on an wide street, several houses in the background, America, circa 1925.

History

A People’s History Of Climbing On Cars

UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 18: Red Panda performs during halftime of a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Connecticut Sun on May 18, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

WNBA

Get Well Soon, Red Panda

Barry Petchesky

El Segundo, CA - May 15: Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland meets with Joel Edmundson, Jordan Spence and Warren Foegele at Toyota Sports Performance Center on May 15, 2025 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Kings Did Their Free Agency Shopping At A Bin Store

Dave McKenna

U.S. Vice President JD Vance shows off his shamrock themed socks as he delivers remarks at a St. Patrick's Day breakfast for Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the vice president's residence on March 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. Martin is visiting the United States for the Irish leader's annual St. Patrick's Day visit where he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and attend a St. Patrick's Day lunch with congressional leaders.

Life's Rich Pageant

Is JD Vance Irish? Be Careful Who You Ask

Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts from the court after an apparent injury during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum on April 27, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Bucks And Damian Lillard End Their Brief, Forgettable Relationship

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.

Drew Magary

Democratic mayoral candidates (L/R) City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, city Comptroller Brad Lander, state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, former city Comptroller Scott Stringer and former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson participate in the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater on June 12, 2025 in New York City. Seven candidates will be participating in the final debate before the Democratic primary election for mayor.

Funbag

All I Want Is To Live In A World Where People Talk Normal

Lauren Theisen

Wilyer Abreu #52 of the Boston Red Sox dives into home on an inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday, June 30, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Wilyer Abreu Hit It To The Most Fun Spot In Fenway

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 04: Managing and principal partner Jimmy Haslam of the Cleveland Browns looks on during Cleveland Browns OTA offseason workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 04, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Ohio Caves To The Haslams, Tells Cleveland To Eat Dirt

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

Owen Lewis

A Lot Can Go Wrong While Attempting A Speed Record On Mount Everest

Kelsey McKinney

It Feels So Good To Be A Robber

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 24: A 5-story Titanosaurus towers over Rockefeller Center to promote the film "Jurassic World: Rebirth" on June 24, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Liao Pan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

Arts And Culture

Just Give Me Some Normal Damn Dinosaurs

SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 28: Aaron Ekblad #5 celebrates his goal with Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amerant Bank Arena on April 28, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Aaron Ekblad;Brad Marchand

The Panthers Are Bringing Back All Their Guys

Maitreyi Anantharaman

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks to the crowd before the game between the Washington Mystics and the Minnesota Lynx at Carefirst Arena on June 24, 2025 in Washington, DC.

The WNBA And Its Expansion Fees Are Getting Bigger

US wrestler CM Punk greets the fans before his match against against John Cena for the undisputed WWE Championship during the King of the Ring event at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on June 28, 2025.