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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

David Roth

Head coach Pete Carroll of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks with Atonio Mafi #56 prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on January 4. The Raiders actually won this one but fired Carroll shortly after.

Podcasts

That Is Way Too Much Raiders, With Kalyn Kahler

Samer Kalaf

ICE agents stand at the scene where ICE agents fatally shot a woman earlier in the day in Minneapolis.

Politics

ICE Is Modeling Its Brutality After The IDF

Patrick Redford

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 5: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder walks the floor during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Paycom Center on January 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

The Thunder Are Mortal

Albert Burneko

US Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat from Minnesota

How Hard Is It To Oppose Murder?

Lauren Theisen

Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Crypto.com Arena on January 07, 2026 in Los Angeles, California

Here’s The Latest Cool Thing That Macklin Celebrini Did

Israel Daramola

Music

Is Mainstream Rap Dead, Or Does It Need Another 2011?

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

Airplane cabin with in flight entertainment screens lit up, jetblue, New York.

Jamboroo

After The Redeye

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Which Lives Are Worthy Of The Media’s Protection?

Giri Nathan

Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks looks to shoot as Micah Robinson #5 of the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs defends

College Basketball

The Health Of Darryn Peterson’s Legs Remains A Mystery

Police tape surrounds a vehicle suspected to be involved in a shooting by an ICE agent during federal law enforcement operations on January 07, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to federal officials, the agent, “fearing for his life” killed a woman during a confrontation in south Minneapolis.

ICE Agent Kills Woman, DHS Tells Obvious, Insane Lies About It

Jake Guentzel #59 and Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate the win against the Colorado Avalanche

The Lightning Refuse To Go Away

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

Tony Dokoupil Eats Heaps Of Shit In First Week As CBS News Anchor

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

Always Bring A Climbing Rope To The Party

Ray Ratto

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh walks the field prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 4, 2026. He was fired two days after the Ravens lost.

John Harbaugh Is The Shiniest Pony On The NFL Coaching Carousel

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a laboratory mouse pokes out of a brown paper cup in a field of grass

Creaturefector

What A Week Of Freedom Can Do For A Lab Mouse

Pro Wrestling

Hiroshi Tanahashi Leaves An Unfillable Void In Japanese Wrestling

College Football

Limboed LSU Coaches Decide To Stick It Out With Ole Miss

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 27: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at State Farm Arena on December 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trae Young

Trae Young Is A Casualty Of The Changing NBA

Maitreyi Anantharaman

LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey during a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and LSU Tigers, January 4, 2025, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.

LSU Ate Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

US President Barack Obama holds up a jar of salsa while shopping at the Golden Fig food store in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 26, 2014. The store offers Minnesota produced foods and gifts. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN

Funbag

Can I Use Salsa As A Salad Dressing?

A Brief Lineage Of The NBA’s Supposed Swag Crisis, With Devon Walker

Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 2, 2026 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Former Michigan State Player Makes Too Much Of A Scene For Even Tom Izzo To Tolerate

Kathryn Xu

Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates signing his first Major League Baseball contract by holding up a sock.

This Year’s Japanese Baseball Free Agents Might Just Be Guys

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is seen in the pitlane after the sprint race ahead of the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail on November 29, 2025.

Tennis

Novak Djokovic Washes His Hands Of The Quasi-Player Union He Co-Founded

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 26: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second half of the game against the Detroit Pistonsat the TD Garden on November 26, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)