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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.

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Defector

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Giri Nathan

US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC on January 8, 2026. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)

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Politics

JD Vance Is A Hog That’ll Eat Any Slop

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.

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Drew Magary

Three characters in the Stranger Things finale

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Funbag

A Belated Review Of ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 (Which Sucked A Fat One)

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Lauren Theisen

Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers reacts to a second period goal by Eeli Tolvanen #20 of the Seattle Kraken at Madison Square Garden

Seattle Kraken v New York Rangers

The World’s Angriest Rangers Fans Might Be Right

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 12: &lt;&gt;at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on January 12, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Boston Celtics v Indiana Pacers

Joe Mazzulla Reacts To Celtics Loss By Only Repeating Two Words: “Illegal Screen”

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Barry Petchesky

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 12: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers takes the field before kickoff against the Houston Texans during an AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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Remember When Aaron Rodgers Was Good?

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Ray Ratto

Will Anderson Jr. #51 of the Houston Texans forces Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers to fumble the ball and Sheldon Rankins #90 of the Houston Texans returns it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NFL wild card playoff game on January 12, 2026.

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Houston Texans v Pittsburgh Steelers

The Houston Texans Ushered Aaron Rodgers Into Oblivion

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Patrick Redford

Coach John McLendon showing and discussing play strategy to the players on the chalkboard doing basketball practice in the gym. (Photo by North Carolina Central University via Getty Images)

Coach John McLendon

Podcasts

Convening The TrueHoop Ideas Summit, With Henry Abbott

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

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Chris Thompson

A bank teller window for children

This Is So Stupid

How Much Is Eight Dollars?

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Mikaylah Williams #12 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after making a basket during the second half of a game against the Texas Longhorns at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 11, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Texas v LSU

College Basketball

LSU Actually Did Not Eat Too Many Cupcakes Before Dinner

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Kathryn Xu

Amber Glenn competes in the 2026 United States Figure Skating Championships.

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Figure Skating

Amber Glenn Will Take Her Triple Axel To The Olympics

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Fans hoist Luke Duffy of Macclesfield (L) and Paul Dawson of Macclesfield onto their shoulders as they celebrate victory after the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Macclesfield and Crystal Palace on January 10, 2026 in Macclesfield, England.

Macclesfield v Crystal Palace – Emirates FA Cup Third Round

Soccer

Macclesfield’s Historic Upset Is Why The FA Cup Rules

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings is fouled while going up for a shot against Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets in the second half at Golden 1 Center on January 11, 2026 in Sacramento, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets v Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Watch: Several Teams Tainted By Proximity To Kings

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Israel Daramola

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Arts And Culture

‘Industry’ Is As Beautifully Dumb As Ever

Tommy Craggs is an editor and writer, late of Game Theory With Bomani Jones on HBO, Mother Jones (no relation), HuffPost, Slate, Gawker Media, and Deadspin. He&#8217;s part of the <a href="https://flaminghydra.com/">Flaming Hydra</a> cooperative of independent writers and artists, and one of the many founders of the <a href="https://www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/">Oakland Review of Books</a>.

Tommy Craggs

Bari Weiss seated onstage at a Free Press event in 2024.

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Journalismism

Bari Weiss Is The Symptom

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - MARCH 23: Ilia Malinin of the United States competes in the Men's Free Skating during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Centre Bell on March 23, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Joosep Martinson)

ISU World Figure Skating Championships – Montreal

Crosswords

The Crossword, Jan. 12: Shuffle Along

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Tom Ley

Screenshot 2026-01-12 at 10.37.24 AM

Sports Highlight Of The Day

The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is This ICE Goon Eating Shit

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

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Hamilton Nolan

AFC Wild Card Playoffs – Buffalo Bills v Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars Junction: Wild Card Round

Bill Kennedy explaining, to the NBC cameras, that a play was called correctly. He is making "the Bill Kennedy face."

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Everybody Loves Bill Kennedy

Foxborough, MA January 11, 2026 Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (30) recovers a fumble by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the third quarter during the AFC wild card game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots

Every Chargers Playoff Game Is A Profound Waste Of Time

Dave McKenna

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball during the AFC Wildcard Playoff game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills

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Josh Allen Endures An Ass-Kicking And Gets His First Road Playoff Win

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Samer Kalaf

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Matt Ryan Ate Dinner And Did All His Homework, So He Gets To Be President Of Football

Indiana Hoosiers running back Kaelon Black (8) runs a touchdown against Oregon during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Indiana Hoosiers running back Kaelon Black (8) runs a

College Football

Indiana Turned Oregon Into Duck Confit

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after an NFL Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Green Bay Packers v Chicago Bears

The Bears Live For The Fourth Quarter

Colby Parkinson #84 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass to score a touchdown

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Los Angeles Rams v Carolina Panthers

The Panthers Could Only Give The Rams A Good Scare

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

Palestinian Youth Chorus

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

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