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Defector

David Roth

Mayor Eric Adams during a ceremony as Composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is given the key to the city.

Politics

To Restore Public Trust, New York Mayor Eric Adams Must Do A Kickflip

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

Dan McQuade

Yankee fans react SHOCKED to a squirrel on the outfield wall. Four guys, three really shocked the other kind of just looking at his phone.

Squirrel Terrifies Yankees Fans

Lauren Theisen

Carolina Hurricanes mascot Stormy and Victor E. Green of the Dallas Stars

All Right, Which Of You Clowns Is Going To Make A Comeback?

Barry Petchesky

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 23: in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 23, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Stars Are Burning Out

Ray Ratto

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 23: Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with Jonah Heim #28 after throwing a 6-1 complete game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Don’t Look Now But The Rangers Might Be Good

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 23: Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball ahead of Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals at Kaseya Center on May 23, 2023 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Celtics Live To Disappoint Another Day

Giri Nathan

LeBron James talks to press after the Lakers' Western Conference Finals loss to the Nuggets

LeBron Compliments Nikola Jokic’s Big Basketball Brain And Contemplates Retirement

Laura Wagner

Hugo Gaston of France reacts during his match against Dane Sweeny of Australia during day 5 of the Danube Upper Austria Open 2023, part of the ATP Challenger Tour on May 11, 2023 in Mauthausen, Austria.

Tennis

Tennis Player Fined For Desperate Extra-Ball Shenanigans That Everyone Saw

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

SAN FERNANDO, PHILIPPINES - JUNE 18: Customers queue at a McDonald's restaurant during the launch of the BTS Meal on June 18, 2021 in San Fernando, Pampanga province, Philippines. Long queues formed in several McDonald's restaurants in the Philippines as fans of the K-pop group BTS flocked to order the newly launched and wildly popular BTS themed meals. The limited edition celebrity meal "BTS Meal", a collaboration between the fastfood giant and BTS, will be made available in 49 countries. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Funbag

What’s The Least Fulfilling Line To Stand In?

The Panthers Finally Have The Big-Game Bob They Paid For

Kelsey McKinney

Birdfector

This Is A Public Service Announcement For Every Bird

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A member of the Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence participates in a Pride event.

Dodgers Reverse Course, Apologize For Taking Marco Rubio Seriously

Israel Daramola

Nikola Jokic Is The Best And Everyone Will Just Have To Accept It

Patrick Redford

Moments after disaster, when Bettio crashes.

Cycling

The Giro d’Italia Has Turned Into A Hazardous Slog

Trevor Bauer pulls a face after giving up a first-inning dinger against a Japanese minor-leaguer.

Things We Actually Like

Heartwarming: Trevor Bauer Is Getting Lit Up In Japan

The ‘Succession’ Misery Index: Life Isn’t Nice, It’s Contingent

College Football

Shemy Schembechler Experiences Sudden Change Of Heart About Slavery After Short-Lived Michigan Job

A car rides on a Roomba as bears scurry away

Video Games

My Car Has Legs And Bears Are Cheering For Me

Joe Mazzulla Looks Totally Lost Out There

Albert Burneko

Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr. reacts to being sent off against Valenica CF after incidents of racism from fans

La Liga

La Liga’s Racism Problem Boils Over

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 21: Chandler Stephenson #20 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal against the Dallas Stars in Game Two of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 21, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Golden Knights Have The Edge No Matter The Score

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Charles P. Pierce is a writer at Esquire and the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.
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Charles P. Pierce

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during Round 3 Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics on May 17, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jimmy Butler Is A Good College Player In Reverse

Luis Paez-Pumar

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets react after a three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of game 3 of a Western Conference finals NBA playoff basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 20, 2023.

Nikola Jokic Was There When It Mattered Most

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

Diana Moskovitz

Chris Pine attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Paramount Pictures' and eOne's "Dungeons &amp; Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" at the Regency Village Theatre on March 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Very Short Debates

Is Chris Pine, Who Along With Patty Jenkins Joined The WGA Picket Line And Brought Empanadas, The Best Hollywood Chris? A Very Short Debate

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat exchanges words with Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.