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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

Luis Paez-Pumar

“Epic Party” – 24 returning players are abandoned on the islands of Fiji for a monumental 50th season, with the chance to win $1 million. The theme of the season, “In the Hands of the Fans,” quickly materializes as decisions from the fan vote swiftly and forcefully impact the game. Castaways reflect on how much they have changed since the last time they played the game. Then, an unforeseen injury during the first immunity challenge causes tribemates to rethink their attack strategy in order to support their team member, on the historic three-hour season premiere of SURVIVOR 50, Wednesday, Feb. 25 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Jeff Probst serves as host and executive producer. Pictured L to R: Emily Flippen, Cirie Fields, Christian Hubicki, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Ozzy Lusth, Savannah Louie, Joe Hunter, Rick Devens, Kamilla Karthigesu, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Charlie Davis, Dee Valladares, Tiffany Ervin, Chrissy Hofbeck, Jonathan Young, Mike White, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Aubry Bracco, Genevieve Mushaluk, Rizo Velovic, Angelina Keeley, Q Burdette, Kyle Fraser, Colby Donaldson.

I Lost My Mind Watching (Almost) All Of ‘Survivor’ In A Year

Ray Ratto

Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno in attendance for an opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 5, 2024 in Anaheim.

Arte Moreno Is Done Pretending To Care

Patrick Redford

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 12: Dallas Mavericks have officially won the in NBA Draft Lottery with 1.8% pre-lottery chance to win the pick in Chicago, Illinois, United States on May 12, 2025. San Antonio Spurs got the second pick, Philadelphia 76ers got 3rd and Charlotte Hornets got the 4th pick in the lottery. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Podcasts

Tank Me Later, With Ock Sportello And Sam Sheehan

Defector Staff

“Epic Party” – 24 returning players are abandoned on the islands of Fiji for a monumental 50th season, with the chance to win $1 million. The theme of the season, “In the Hands of the Fans,” quickly materializes as decisions from the fan vote swiftly and forcefully impact the game. Castaways reflect on how much they have changed since the last time they played the game. Then, an unforeseen injury during the first immunity challenge causes tribemates to rethink their attack strategy in order to support their team member, on the historic three-hour season premiere of SURVIVOR 50, Wednesday, Feb. 25 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Jeff Probst serves as host and executive producer. Pictured L to R. Tiffany Ervin, Dee Valladares, Ozzy Lusth, Joe Hunter, Angelina Keeley, Charlie Davis, Rizo Velovic, Christian Hubicki, Genevieve Mushaluk, Chrissy Hofbeck, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Emily Flippen, Kamilla Karthigesu, Savannah Louie, Kyle Fraser, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Rick Devens, Mike White, Cirie Fields, Aubry Bracco, Colby Donaldson, Jonathan Young, Q Burdette and Benjamin "Coach" Wade.

An Extensive And Exhaustive Player-By-Player Preview Of ‘Survivor 50’

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a screenshot of an email exchange with "Elena Ferrante", which contains six back-and-forth emails out of an exchange of 12

Life's Rich Pageant

What I Learned From My Annoyingly Long Correspondence With “Elena Ferrante”

Lauren Theisen

The U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team arrives for U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union

Olympics

The U.S. Hockey Men Spoil The Fantasy

Defector Reads A Book

Defector Wuthers Some Heights

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

Funbag

How Do I Get My Lazy Teen To Pick A College?

The author can be reached at postpostdoc@protonmail.com.

Post-Postdoc

Mech Mind automatic vending robot gives a thumbs-up after fetching beverages from a shelf at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance on July 27, 2025 in Shanghai, China.

The Machines

Something Of Moderate Size And Importance Is Happening

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

Is ‘Industry’ Losing Its Edge?

Hannah Seo

What Should Recorded Musicals Do?

Samer Kalaf

Interviews

Cherien Dabis Discusses The Challenges Of Writing, Filming, And Distributing A Palestinian Movie

Casey Wasserman speaks at a 2028 Olympics event

The Winter Olympics’ Sour Ending Was Just A Preview For Summer 2028

Dave McKenna

The Fights

One Big Punch Keeps Ryan Garcia’s Career Afloat

Tom Ley

Kash Patel watches the gold medal hockey game

Kash Patel Thinks He’s On The Team

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 1: Guest and Jeffrey Epstein attend the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Plaza Hotel on August 1, 1995 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Capital

Jeffrey Epstein And His Network Of Rich Freaks Were Obsessed With The Chiropractor

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Harry Ford #5 of the Seattle Mariners raises the celebratory team trident after the game against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on September 11, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners won 7-6 in 12 innings.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Feb. 23: It’s An Art,  Not A Science (Themeless)

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck of United States celebrates winning the gold medal during the Ice Hockey Men's Gold Medal Game match between Canada and USA on day sixteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Team USA Had The Golden Goalie

Maya Goldberg-Safir writes about women’s basketball and splits her time between Chicago and Oakland, where she was born and raised. She is the creator of <a href="https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/">Rough Notes</a>, a newsletter chronicling women’s basketball from the court, the road, and the heart.

Maya Goldberg-Safir

Women's Basketball

Cardte Hicks Played Above The Rim And Ahead Of Her Time

the ancient fish Haikouichthys, which resembles a blue noodle with four eyes

Creaturefector

Finally! An Ancient Fish That Understood Life’s Terrors

Gold medalist Loic Meillard of Team Switzerland, Silver medalist Fabio Gstrein of Team Austria and Bronze medalist Henrik Kristoffersen of Team Norway celebrate by taking a victory selfie on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's Slalom Run

It’s Time To Get Cozy At The Podium

Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates after their gold-medal win

Jack Hughes Sheds Blood And Teeth For His Country, U.S. Wins Olympic Gold

Mikhail Shaidorov Celebrated Gold By Skating In A Panda Suit

Megan Keller #5 (R) of Team United States celebrates scoring a goal with teammates Hannah Bilka #23 (C) and Hilary Knight #21 (L) in the first period during the Women's Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Czechia on Day minus one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on February 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Still Country For Old Women

Harry Krinsky is a producer and media consultant living in Brooklyn. He is the cohost of <a href="https://defector.com/tag/nothing-but-respect">Nothing But Respect</a>.

Harry Krinsky

Rich Paul stands in front of a white board