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Defector

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

The President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, is welcoming the mascots Tina and Milo of the XXV Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 in Piazza Citta di Lombardia, in Milan, Italy, on February 27, 2024.

Olympics

Which Other Olympic Mascots Could Italian Stoats Tina And Milo Slaughter In Cold Blood?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate, and Jalen Duren brawl

Pistons Pissed, Hornets Stung, Beef Stew Beefs, Too

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Italy's Verena Hofer competes in the luge women's singles run 1 at Cortina Sliding Centre during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

Olympic Photographers: Stop Doing The Lugers Dirty

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

A black and white photo of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and partner Guillaume Cizeron of Team France competing in the Ice Dance - Rhythm Dance on day zero of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Figure Skating

France’s Viral Ice Dancing Team Has A Dark Backstory

Luis Paez-Pumar

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is sacked by Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II in the fourth quarter. The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks played in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on February 8, 2026.

The Patriots Offensive Line Got Obliterated

Israel Daramola

Bad Bunny Celebrated America

Albert Burneko

Italy's Stefania Constantini and Italy's Amos Mosaner compete in the curling mixed doubles round robin semi-final between USA and Italy during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 9, 2026.

The Super Bowl Could Not Compete With Tape-Delayed Olympic Curling

Dave McKenna

A man walks past The Washington Post on August 5, 2013 in Washington, DC after it was announced that Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos had agreed to purchase the Post for USD 250 million. Multi-billionaire Bezos, who created Amazon, which has soared in a few years to a dominant position in online retailing, said he was buying the Post in his personal capacity and hoped to shepherd it through the evolution away from traditional newsprint.

Journalismism

Shitty Washington Post Publisher Loses Job After Skipping Out To The Super Bowl

David Roth

SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 08: K Jason Myers (5) of the Seattle Seahawks warms up prior to the start of the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots Super Bowl LX game on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It Feels Great, Dude

Kelsey McKinney

a bright light shines through the space between a ski jumper's legs

Artificially Large Skier Penises Should Stay Legal

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets greets fans prior to the game between the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Miami, Florida

Crosswords

The Crossword, Feb. 9: Italian Class

Lauren Theisen

This Is So Stupid

Devin The Dugong Wins The Internet With The Super Bowl AI Ad Everyone Can’t Stop Talking About

Santa Clara, CA - February 8: New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye loses the ball in the fourth quarter. The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks played in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on February 8, 2026.

What An Unbelievable Fourth Quarter From Drake Maye!

Giannis Antetokounmpo Jumps In Bed With Sleazy Prediction Market

Tom Ley

Sam Darnold Is A Normal Super Bowl Champion

Ray Ratto

Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a touchdown that was called back during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.

Super Bowl LX Was The Beatdown That Will Leave No Trace

James Pearce Jr. attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on February 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

James Pearce Jr. Arrested, Charged With Aggravated Battery, Stalking

Head coach Doug Christie of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the Washington Wizards in the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on January 16, 2026 in Sacramento, California.

The Sacramento Kings Are Dedicated To Dignified Losing

USA's Lindsey Vonn takes part in the second official training for the women's downhill event ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 6, 2026.

Luck Finally Failed Lindsey Vonn

Dan McQuade and Hip-Hop the 76ers rabbit mascot.

Announcements

A Message From Dan McQuade’s Mom

Giri Nathan

Jose Alvarado #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands on the court during a NBA game

Now That Jose Alvarado’s On The Knicks, Let’s Remember Him As A Queens High School Star

Patrick Redford

What Time Does “What Time Does The Super Bowl Start?” Start?

Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the Columbia Daily Spectator. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.

Heather Wei-Xi Chen

Animals

The Westminster Dog Show’s Youngest Handlers Don’t Know If They Want To Do This Forever

Rafaela Bassili

Sara Jane Moore, the woman who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford, is shown as she leaves San Mateo County prison en route to San Francisco where she is to to appear in the US District Court, October 28th 1975.