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Defector

<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

Life Lessons

You Can’t Be Too Careful

<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

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hugs head coach Kevin O'Connell before the NFL preseason game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings on August 10, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Minnesota Vikings

Alex Sujong Laughlin

People sit in bleachers and lawn chairs in front of a stage at sunset.

Interviews

An Interview With My Grandmother, Who Knows Everyone In Bluegrass Music

Kelsey McKinney

Two parents read a book to their child in bed

Arts And Culture

What Books Should I Buy For My Future Child?

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


Sabrina Imbler

an illustration of two bats together, one with a rat. the next panel shows the two bats biting the rat together

Creaturefector

Brother May I Have Some Rat

Patrick Redford

An Airbus Helicopter H145M of the Hungarian Air Force uses an infrared trap over the Danube River in Budapest during an air show as part of the celebrations marking the Hungarian national day on August 20, 2025. Hungary marks the 1,025th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state, established by the first king of Hungary, Stephen I.

Capital

22-Year-Old Has It All Figured Out

Israel Daramola

New Cowboys Docuseries Offers Revealing Look Up Jerry Jones’s Own Ass

Dave McKenna

The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) agents walk on patrol near Nationals Park on August 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. An increased presence of law enforcement has been seen throughout the nation's capital since U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy federal officers and the U.S. National Guard.

Politics

Notes From The D.C. Clampdown

Albert Burneko

James Dobson poses for a portrait in 2011 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

James Dobson Is Dead, Was A Monster

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings celebrates reacts to a Wings three pointer during an 81-80 Los Angeles Sparks win over the Dallas Wings at Crypto.com Arena on August 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

WNBA

Now Imagine What Paige Bueckers Could Do With Better Teammates

David Roth

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates a point against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Men’s Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 08, 2025 in Paris, France.

Podcasts

A Forehand That Sounds Like Construction Equipment, With Giri Nathan

Quarterback Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field on November 28, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Green Bay Packers

Angelina Mazza

L-R) Nihar Duvvuri, Molly Griggs, Fina Strazza, Amalia Yoo, Sadie Sink, Morgan Scott, Gabriel Ebert, Maggie Kuntz and Noah Pacht take the curtain call during "John Proctor Is The Villain" Broadway opening night at the Booth Theatre on April 14, 2025 in New York City.

The Revolution Will Be Extra-Curricular

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


Chris Thompson

Never Attempt To Bribe Me With Snacks Unless They Are The Good Snacks

Kathryn Xu

Commuters ride a SEPTA bus on October 10, 2017, in the Philadelphia, PA Suburbs.

Transit

Doomsday For SEPTA Is Bad News For Everyone

(Original Caption) First mass produced receiver for home entertainment, 1921. Photograph.

Journalismism

The Future Of Podcasting Is Here, And It Sucks

Listening Habits

Rap Music Yearns For The Good Ole Days

<p><a href="http://www.ddavisla.com"><span style="font-weight: 400">David Davis </span></a>is the author of <i>Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans From World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation</i> and <i>Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku</i>. He lives in Los Angeles.</p>
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David Davis

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - CIRCA 2000: Photographer Bruce Bennett photographers a battle between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the of the New York Islanders circa 1990 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images)

Shots

After 50 Years Of Shooting Hockey, Bruce Bennett Finds An Even Tougher Challenge: Birds

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Players of Chicago Stars celebrates with teammate Alyssa Naeher #1 after the NWSL match between Seattle Reign and Chicago Stars at Lumen Field on August 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Soccer

Alyssa Naeher Shoots And Scores, But The Chicago Stars Are Still In The Dark

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 19: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the media prior to the 2025 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The WNBA And Connecticut Sun Continue To Fight Over What A Sale Would Look Like

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


Dan McQuade

A brown leather couch covered, almost completely on the seats and up the seatbacks, with Greg Briley Topps baseball cards

Life's Rich Pageant

Here’s How A Man Accidentally Bought 10,400 Greg Briley Rookie Cards

Luis Paez-Pumar

Alexander Isak during the Pre Season Training Camp at FC Seefelder Plateau on July 14, 2025 in Innsbruck, Austria.

Alexander Isak Wants The Hell Out Of Newcastle

Barry Petchesky

Kwakho Madikwain, associate of former gang member Nicholas Mnguni, fills out a spreadsheet of purchase orders in Khayelitsha on March 13, 2025. Former gang member Nicholas Mnguni, known as Zwe in his township, left the 20 Men gang in 2017 to start his own business, producing and selling perfumes, cleaning products, and insect repellent. His business, ML Scents, has enabled him to employ 4 seasonal workers, with the hope of keeping them off the streets, and away from gang recruitment. As a former gangster, Nicholas is exempt from paying the protection fee demanded by local gangs. “Luckily, they know me, so they leave me alone, plus, I don’t want to be aggressive anymore,” he says. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)

The Machines

It Took Many Years And Billions Of Dollars, But Microsoft Finally Invented A Calculator That Is Wrong Sometimes

Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers makes a catch before the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Los Angeles Chargers

A pure black field. Nothing whatsoever is visible.

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