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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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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.

Bari Weiss blue chair

Journalismism

Bari Weiss Is The Symptom

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

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

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Ray Ratto

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

BillKennedyScreenshot

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

josh-allen-bills-jaguars

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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Women's Basketball

Unrivaled Is A Great Source Of Unlikely Athletic Friends

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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.

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid CF – Copa del Rey

Soccer

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

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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.

Clashes erupt outside ICE facility in Minneapolis

Politics

When Everyday Life Becomes Domestic Terrorism

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Typing

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

Self-Portrait

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

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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)

NHL: NOV 14 Flyers at Senators

The Ottawa Senators Are Having A Normal One

College Football Playoff Semifinal – Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: Miami v Ole Miss

Miami Finally Wins A Fiesta Bowl

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

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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.

Rashee Rice

Ex-Girlfriend Of Rashee Rice Says She Was Abused

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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.

Kansas City Chiefs v Las Vegas Raiders – NFL 2025

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 shooting kills woman in US state of Minnesota

ICE Is Modeling Its Brutality After The IDF

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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)

Charlotte Hornets v Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder Are Mortal

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Albert Burneko

US Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat from Minnesota

Amy Klobuchar

How Hard Is It To Oppose Murder?

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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

San Jose Sharks v Los Angeles Kings

Here’s The Latest Cool Thing That Macklin Celebrini Did

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