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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

Samer Kalaf

Young Palestinian choir members, attending an UNRWA-funded school, sing during a performance on July 18, 2023, in Gaza City.

Journalismism

Rolling Stone Makes The Absurd Claim That Women Are Not Allowed To Sing In Gaza

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Women's Basketball

Unrivaled Is A Great Source Of Unlikely Athletic Friends

Luis Paez-Pumar

Diego Simeone head coach of Atletico de Madrid argues with Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid CF during Copa del Rey match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on January 18, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Soccer

Diego Simeone Spiced Up The Supercopa With A Bit Of Vinícius Heckling

Justin Ellis

Protestors stare down federal officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside a federal building near Minneapolis following the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.

Politics

When Everyday Life Becomes Domestic Terrorism

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci in which he looks displeased, perhaps making the face he would make if he learned that scientists were trying to grind up some ancient hair to unlock a supervision gene

Arts And Culture

Leonardo da Vinci’s Legacy Won’t Be Found In His DNA

Barry Petchesky

OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 14: Ottawa Senators Mascot Spartacat in the crowd during second period National Hockey League action between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators on November 14, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

The Ottawa Senators Are Having A Normal One

Israel Daramola

College Football

Miami Finally Wins A Fiesta Bowl

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

Rashee Rice #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands on the sidelines during an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Ex-Girlfriend Of Rashee Rice Says She Was Abused [Updated]

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

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

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

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.