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Defector


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 29: Haason Reddick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles forces Sam Howell #14 of the Washington Commanders to fumble in the fourth quarter at FedExField on October 29, 2023 in Landover, Maryland.

Struggling Eagles Sack Sam Howell Just Once

Samer Kalaf

Palestinians in Gaza carry bodies through the street

Politics

Bearing Witness To Gaza’s Grief Shouldn’t Feel Like A Radical Act

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets in action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on September 14, 2023 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 11-1. Over his face is the Defector Crosswords logo, which is DEFECTOR CROSSWORDS in a crossword puzzle grid with other words around it, and trust me they all fit maybe definitely they do work. It's just 'part' of the full crossword puzzle.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 30: Spooky Season

Billy Haisley

Jude Bellingham player of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 28, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

Soccer

Jude Bellingham Has Already Made Madrid His Own

Barry Petchesky

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 29: Tommy DeVito #15 of the New York Giants hugs Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets after the Jets' 13-10 overtime win at MetLife Stadium on October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

You Can’t Unsee Jets-Giants

Giri Nathan

Zach LaVine prepares to shoot against the Pistons

Grim Bulls Update: Zach LaVine Scores 51 In Double-Digit Loss To Pistons

Tom Ley

Head coach Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes talk before taking on the Stanford Cardinal at Folsom Field on October 13, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado.

College Football

College Football No Longer Belongs To Deion Sanders

Zion Williamson flexes against the Knicks

Zion Williamson Eats Space For Every Meal

Evan Longoria #3 of the Arizona Diamondbacks attempts a bunt in the third inning against the Texas Rangers during Game Two of the World Series at Globe Life Field on October 28, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

The Diamondbacks Took The Rangers Back In Time For A Beating

Kelsey McKinney

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


Chris Thompson

Six perfect mini-cheesecakes, topped with black currant jelly, whipped cream, and decorative white chocolate triangles.

Chefector

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Is Ill-Tempered For Chocolate Week


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

People carry injured and dead Palestinians from the rubbles of buildings as civil defense teams and civilians conduct search and rescue operations after Israeli attacks on Al-Shati refugee camp of Gaza City, Gaza on October 27, 2023 as Israeli attacks continue on the 21st day on Gaza

Science

Who Is Allowed To Do Science?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Borussia Dortmund at St. James Park on October 25, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Update: Sandro Tonali’s 10-Month Gambling Ban No Longer In Limbo

Soraya Roberts

Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in a scene from Killers Of The Flower Moon

Arts And Culture

‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ Asks You To Sit With Its Contradictions

Alex Sujong Laughlin

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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

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage during Taylor Swift The 1989 World Tour Live In Los Angeles at Staples Center on August 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

Music

Meet Us At Midnight For ‘1989’ (Defector’s Version)

Ray Ratto

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: Max Scherzer #31 of the Texas Rangers looks on during the World Series Workout Day at Globe Life Field on October 26, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Let’s Rub It In Some More: Polling Our Miserable Philadelphians About The World Series

Patrick Redford

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: 'Cruise' driverless robot taxis are seen at a parking lot as California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) revokes its self-driving car permit and citing 'unreasonable risk to public safety' in San Francisco, California, USA on October 24, 2023. The self-driving service of 'Cruise', the autonomous vehicle company owned by General Motor, is thought to be a step towards wider commercial deployment of a long-promised autonomous alternative to ride-hailing services such as Uber or Lyft in the US. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Capital

San Francisco’s Robotaxi Fleet Halved After Horror Crash

Brais Mendez of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Real Sociedad at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on October 24, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Champions League

Real Sociedad Is Exactly What The Champions League Needs

LeBron James powers through three Suns defenders in the fourth quarter of Thursday's game.

LeBron James Advanced The Lakers A Few Of His Precious Minutes

Defector Up All Night

Carlos Boozer’s Alarming Visage Wants To Give You Betting Advice

James Harden warms up at a Sixers practice

Report: James Harden Barred From Sixers Plane By Team Security


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Staff Writer</p>


Israel Daramola

‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ Is The Latest Entry In Martin Scorsese’s History Of Evil

Lauren Theisen

Alex Ovechkin celebrates his empty net goal with Dylan Strome

October Is A Vacuum

David Roth

Evan Carter of the Texas Rangers celebrates in the clubhouse after beating the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Podcasts

Giving Home Plate The Business, With Emma Baccellieri

<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

"El Corazon Secreto" (The Secret Heart) art installation by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa is pictured at the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona on September 28, 2023, marking the World Heart Day.

Jamboroo

The Way To My Heart


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant (35) stretches during warmups before their season opener against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.