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Defector

Patrick Redford

Michael Jordan #23 of the Washington Wizards on the court during the final NBA game of his career, played against the Philadelphia 76ers at First Union Center on March 30, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Sixers won 107-87. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Podcasts

The Good Team Always Wins, With Jeremy Gordon

Tom Ley

Politics

Michele Tafoya Won’t Rest Until She Finds A Bigger And Better Way To Annoy Everyone

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

The Bride’s Last Bribery Fund

Danny Funt

Journalismism

How Bill Simmons Went All In

<a href="https://zachgozlan.info/">Zach Gozlan</a> is a data scientist, trivia ringer, and internet user based in Washington, D.C.

Zach Gozlan

Athletes stand at the Jeopardy podiums in full sports gear.

Are ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestants Really That Bad At Questions About Sports? 

Giri Nathan

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green blocks a shot by New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns in 4th quarter of 126-113 win

The Knicks Are Exuding Toilet Aromas

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

TV crews set up microphones at the House Tringale before the start of the press conference with comedian Jon Stewart on Monday, March 5, 2018, to call on OMB Director Mick Mulvaney to withdraw his proposal to separate the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) from National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) direction.

Funbag

Who Wants To Be A Hero?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Carson Beck #11 of the Miami Hurricanes lays on the ground after being hit during the fourth quarter and drawing a roughing the passer call against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

College Football

No, Carson Beck, No! What Are You Doing?! NOOOOOOO!!!!

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jimmy Butler’s Injury Thrusts Steve Kerr And Jonathan Kuminga Once More Into The Hell Of Working Together

Barry Petchesky

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - JANUARY 17: NASA's Artemis II is rolled from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 17, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA’s integrated SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission are being rolled to Launch Pad 39B ahead of the 10-day mission in February 2026, which will take the crew around the Moon and back to Earth. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Science

I Am Not Immune To The Charms Of A Really Big Moon Rocket

Ray Ratto

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on from the sideline during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

There’s No Such Thing As A Secure NFL Coaching Job

Lauren Theisen

Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers dives into across the goal line to score a touchdown during the Indiana Hoosiers versus the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game Presented by AT&T on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL

Fernando Mendoza Was Unstoppable

Head Coach Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on after the Indiana Hoosiers versus the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game Presented by AT&amp;T on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL.

It Will Never Get Better Than This

Israel Daramola

Indiana Is A Champion For College Football’s New Era

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers fights with Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic #33 of the San Jose Sharks at the Amerant Bank Arena on January 19, 2026 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

2026 Is For Fighting

Samer Kalaf

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on in the first half during the AFC Divisional Round game

Sean McDermott Stood Up For Buffalo, And Now He’ll Get Out

Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field At Mile High

Broncos Fans Have Six Days To Talk Themselves Into Jarrett Stidham

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins in the net against the Seattle Kraken at the TD Garden on January 15, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Jan. 19: Sole Cycle

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears throws the ball during an NFL divisional playoff football game on January 18, 2026 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.

The Bears’ Final Magic Trick Was Almost Enough

K'lavon Chaisson #44 of the New England Patriots tackles C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans in the first half during an AFC Divisional Playoff game

C.J. Stroud’s Nightmare First Half Dooms The Texans

College basketball betting odds on the video board at the Westgate SuperBook sports book on November 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gambling

Rigging A College Basketball Game Seems Stressful

Rashid Shaheed #22 of the Seattle Seahawks returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

The Seahawks Have A Need For Rashid Shaheed

Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens looks on from the sideline

John Harbaugh Had The Giants Rework Their Org Chart For Him

Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos looks on at half-time of the NFL football divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills

Broncos Win The Game, But Lose Their Quarterback

David Roth

Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs celebrates a hit in Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2025.