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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

Lauren Theisen

A exterior view of the Palace Theatre at the opening night of "West Side Story" on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on March 19, 2009

Year In Review

The Best And The Most Of My 2025 In Theater

Israel Daramola

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

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

Dan McQuade

Corporate office, maybe mid-2010s style. Two women are walking in the background, and in front of them is a digital display about Charlie Duncan, case number 1016897, and how she's rude, deceptive, and a general menace.

Arts And Culture

Defector Watches A Christmas Movie: ‘She’s Making A List’

Tom Ley

Puka Nacua doing an antisemtic dance with Adin Ross

Puka Nacua Did An Antisemitic Little Dance [Update]

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jennifer Gardiner #12 of the Vancouver Goldeneyes is congratulated after scoring a goal during the second period of their PWHL game against the Ottawa Charge at Pacific Coliseum on December 16, 2025 in Vancouver, Canada.

PWHL

The Vancouver Goldeneyes Are Already Built To Win

Albert Burneko

Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford screaming "No wire hangers!" in 'Mommy Dearest' (1981).

Journalismism

Who Can Imagine Why Anyone Would Want To Cut This Lovely Mom Out Of Her Life?

Giri Nathan

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses with his trophy next to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Splits With His Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

Dave McKenna

Terence Crawford reacts after defeating Canelo Alvarez for the Undisputed &amp; Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Championship at Allegiant Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Fights

With Nothing And Nobody Left To Conquer, Terence Crawford Retires

Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates scoring a goal in the third period against the Calgary Flames

Macklin Celebrini Is Must-See TV

The States Of Pro Wrestling In 2025

Brandy Jensen

American Cant

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

Jae Towle Vieira

Podcasts

Nothing Says Love Like A Family Heirloom Fight

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

Hater's Guide

The 2025 Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog

Patrick Redford

LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 13: A view of dense fog over Interstate Highway 580 (I-580) and wind turbines in Livermore, California, United States on December 13, 2025. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Climate

What Is The Tule Fog, And Will It Ever Go Away?

Defector Staff

American director, producer, and actor Rob Reiner gestures near a camera while crew members surround him outdoors on the set of his film, 'North.'

Defector’s Favorite Rob Reiner Credits

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with her team after defeating the New York Liberty during Game Four of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center on October 18, 2023 in New York City. The Aces defeated the Liberty 70-69. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Why WNBA Owners Cheated To Help Their Players

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 02: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets goes to the basket against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Ball Arena on April 02, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

A Unifying Theory Of European Hoopers, With Tom Krell

Dan Schindel

Interviews

Filmmaker Ian Bell On ‘WTO/99’ And The Legacy Of The Battle In Seattle

The Apple Mail application icon is seen on an iPhone home screen in Warsaw, Poland on March 3, 2021.

Funbag

Push Notifications Were Made To Imprison You

Sabretooth, the mascot of the Buffalo Sabres falls to the ice after allowing plenty of intermission goals to youth hockey players on March 5, 2008 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York.

The Sabres Finally Got Sick Of Kevyn Adams

<div dir="auto">Liz Cook is a freelance writer and recipe developer based in Kansas City. Her work appears in places like Serious Eats, Eater, the BBC, and Condé Nast Traveler. She also writes the experimental food newsletter <a href="https://haterade.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Haterade</a>. </div>

Liz Cook

The entrance to 1587 Prime, a steakhouse that… looks like a steakhouse

Food

Two Nights Playing With Fire At Patrick Mahomes And Travis Kelce’s Steakhouse

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers guards against Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of a game at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 14, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Mike Christy/Getty Images)

LeBron James And The Lakers Benefit From The Duality Of Dillon Brooks

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 06: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers runs down court during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Rocket Arena on December 06, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 99-94. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Cleveland Cavaliers Situation Is Alarming

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The front entrance of the Washington Post's offices in D.C.

Law Enforcement Teams Up With Washington Post To Make A Mess Of Investigation Into Brown University Shooting

CBS News Hitches Its Wagon To These Two Duds

A Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals fan are seen prior to a game at Paycor Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. There is snow all around them.

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