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Defector

Ray Ratto

Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals gets sacked during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, at Paycor Stadium on December 1, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Cincinnati Bengals

<div>Jaime Brooks is a writer, musician, and poster who lives in Astoria, Oregon. She has written for <a href="https://thenewinquiry.com/blogs/streaming-services/">The New Inquiry</a> and has a Substack called <a href="https://jaimebrooks.substack.com/">The Seat of Loss</a>.</div>
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Jaime Brooks

Mods Asleep

What Caused The Current Country Boom?

Kathryn Xu

(L-R) Lisa, Jisoo, Rosé and Jennie of BLACKPINK perform onstage at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Has The World’s Biggest K-Pop Group Already Come And Gone?

Sarah York

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals attempts to catch a pass in the endzone in the San Francisco 49ers versus the Arizona Cardinals NFL football game at State Farm Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Arizona Cardinals

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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

The Apartheid Museum, featuring collections of photographs, documents and materials exhibited in its galleries.

Margin Of Error

Tyranny Is Managed Into Existence

Kelsey McKinney

screenshot from the movie barbie of margot robbie with the text "do you guys ever think about dying"

A Playlist To Escape The Summertime Blues 

<p>Clover Hope is a Brooklyn-based writer and author of the award-winning book <a href="https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/the-motherlode"><i>The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop</i></a>. Her writing has appeared in <i>Esquire</i>, <i>Men&#8217;s Health</i>, <i>Elle</i>, ESPN, <i>Billboard, </i>and <i>GQ</i>, among others.</p>
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Clover Hope

Screenshot from Hulu's tv series remake of 'High Fidelity'

The Trials Of Finding Love As A Music Snob

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


Sabrina Imbler

How Climate Change Is Transforming The Soundtrack Of The Natural World

Billy Haisley

Boy in a pedal car. Driving his pedal car on the pavement outside his house.

A Playlist Of Ear-Splitting Brazilian Funk Ideal For A Long Drive

Lauren Theisen

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour"

Taylor Swift Turned Me Straight

<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

Safety Jeremy Chinn #11 of the Washington Commanders deflects a pass intended for tight end Kyle Pitts #8 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, at Northwest Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Atlanta Falcons

<p>Jordan Sargent is a writer and music industry professional living in Brooklyn. His work has appeared in Gawker, Pitchfork, Slate, and more.</p>


Jordan Sargent

There Has Never Been A Better Time To Be A White Rapper

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Temi Fágbénlé #14 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts against the Las Vegas Aces in the third quarter at Chase Center on August 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Aug. 11: Lose Control

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Puja Patel is a writer, editor, and curator who has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork and <em>Spin</em>, a culture editor for Deadspin, and a columnist for MTV and the <em>Village Voice</em>. Her work has appeared in publications such as the <em>New Yorker</em>, <em>Harper&#8217;s Bazaar</em>, and <em>Rolling Stone,</em> among others. She serves on the advisory board of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and Building Beats, a nonprofit organization that provides music education to underserved youth across New York City and Los Angeles.</div>
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Puja Patel

Huddle Up, Take A Knee: It’s Puja Week

<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

Victoria Mboko of Canada reacts against Naomi Osaka of Japan during the Women's Singles Final match on day twelve of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 7, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Tennis

Victoria Mboko Is Here To Break Brains

Brandy Jensen

Shakira Austin #0 of the Washington Mystics shoots the ball against Maria Kliundikova #77 of the Minnesota Lynx in the first quarter at Target Center on August 08, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

WNBA

Why A Bunch Of Real Dicks Keep Throwing Fake Ones

Sarah Jessica Parker in 'And Just Like That...'

Arts And Culture

And Just Like That… It’s Over

Tom Ley

an old-timey family sitting around the radio

Announcements

Programming Notes

Defector Staff

Staff Chat

Well Look At That, It’s Time To Chat With The Defector Staff Again

The ballroom photo from the end of The Shining

You’re Invited To Defector’s Fifth Birthday Party And Also Some Baseball Games

Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts is sacked by Danielle Hunter #55 of the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Indianapolis Colts

black and white photo of woman holding book

How To Put Down Your Phone And Read A Book

<div>David Covucci is the editor-in-chief of <a href="https://foiaball.beehiiv.com/p/foiaball-football-for-the-people">FOIAball</a>, a new publication utilizing public records to report on college football.</div>


Dave Covucci

Sparty showing the incorrect way to lay on the field

College Football

How College Mascots Conceal Their Identity And Their Ass

The Indiana Fever down in the second half of the game against The Los Angles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

Lamest Members Of Society Claim Responsibility For WNBA Dildo-Throwing Epidemic

David Roth

Soda packaging are seen at the grocery store in Las Vegas, United States on November 17, 2023.