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Defector

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A black and white photo of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz walking from a plane on the tarmac with their children. The black and white Minor Dilemmas logo sits in the middle of the photo

Minor Dilemmas

Should I Take My Two-Year-Old To A Soccer Match Abroad, Or Can I Leave Him At Home?

Lauren Theisen

This picture taken on November 13, 2023 shows a view of interior of the pilot cockpit and flight deck of a Boeing 777-9 jetliner aircraft

Life's Rich Pageant

“Strong Fish Smell In Cabin,” And Other Pilot-To-Ground Texts

Patrick Redford

BERGARA, SPAIN - APRIL 11: Paul Seixas of France and Team Decathlon CMA CGM celebrates at podium as Yellow Leader Jersey and overall final race winner with the "Txapela" hat trophy during the 65th Itzulia Basque Country 2026, Stage 6 a 135.2km stage from Goizper-Antzuola to Bergara / #UCIWT / on April 11, 2026 in Bergara, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Cycling

Paul’s Here

Craig Fehrman last wrote for Defector about <a href="https://defector.com/it-never-ends-like-it-should" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://defector.com/it-never-ends-like-it-should&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1775741247521000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1R6Fh05yMdaM2z1ukPQtbb">the death of Iris</a>, his NBA-loving neighbor. His book <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/This-Vast-Enterprise/Craig-Fehrman/9781982174248">This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis and Clark</a> comes out on April 21.

Craig Fehrman

Map showing the route taken by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their first expedition from the Missouri River near St. Louis, Missouri, to the mouth of the Columbia River at the Pacific Ocean in Oregon and the return trip to St. Louis. The expedition took place from May 14, 1804 to September 23, 1806.

History

The Hardest Part Of History To Tell Is How It Felt

Ray Ratto

MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 11: Head coach Rick Bowness of the Columbus Blue Jackets handles bench duties during the second period against the Montréal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 11, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Montréal Canadiens 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The Blue Jackets Have Driven Another Coach Raving Mad

Kathryn Xu

The NJ Transit logo is seen on a train at New York City Penn Station.

Transit

World Cup Transit Is Broken Before It Has Begun

Barry Petchesky

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 06: Dianna Russini attends Chris Stapleton's Performance Live From The Fillmore New Orleans for SiriusXM and Pandora on February 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Dianna Russini Resigns From The Athletic

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 Many People Would It Take To Storm Mar-A-Lago?

Sean Kuhn

A solar farm with the Defector logo on the center spire

Announcements

Achieve Information Independence Via Defector’s Spring Sale

Luis Paez-Pumar

U.S. President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Soccer

Report: FIFA Plans To Ask Peace Prize Winner If He Would Maybe Consider Pausing Domestic Terrorism Program For One Month

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Flau'jae Johnson (L) of LSU poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (R) after being selected with the 8th pick in the first round by the Golden State Valkyries during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. 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 Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)

WNBA

Valkyries GM Declines To Explain Why She Traded Flau’jae Johnson For Two Second-Rounders

Kelsey McKinney

Arts And Culture

My Year In November 18ths

Daniil Tarasov #40 of the Florida Panthers reacts after giving up a goal to Berkly Catton #27 (not pictured) of the Seattle Kraken

It’s The NHL Playoff Preview … NOT!

Tom Ley

A side by side photo of Jorginho and Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan And Jorginho Are No Longer Beefing

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Interviews

Carolyn Swords Sees The WNBA Becoming The League She Hoped For

Albert Burneko

Politics

President, Extremely Normal Brain-Wise: Pope Weak On Crime, Also I’m Dr. Jesus Christ

Giri Nathan

Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy and finalist Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the trophy ceremony of the Men's Final on day 8 of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2026, an ATP Masters 1000 at Monte-Carlo Country Club on April 12, 2026 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France near Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Tennis

Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz Swap Places On The Mountaintop

Marc Guehi of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on April 12, 2026 in London, England.

It’s Clear To Me Now That Manchester City Must Topple Arsenal

Doc Rivers Ends Bucks Tenure That Was A Huge Waste Of Everyone’s Time

A racegoer holds an umbrella which is inside out on Grand National Day of the Randox Grand National Festival 2026 at Aintree Racecourse.

Please Enjoy These Photos Of Damp And Drunk People At An English Horse Race

Winner Team Visma - Lease a Bike's Belgian rider Wout van Aert celebrates on the podium of the 123rd edition of the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic cycling race, 258.3 km between Compiègne and Roubaix, at the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux in Roubaix, northern France, on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Wout van Aert Forever

Julian Reese of the Washington Wizards and Lachlan Olbrich #47 of the Chicago Bulls fight for the ball during the second half at Capital One Arena on April 9, 2026 in Washington, DC.

And Now It Is Time To Forget The NBA’s Regular Season

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jordan Chiles of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after her routine on the balance beam against the Utah Utes at UCLA Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, on March 14, 2026.

Crosswords

The Crossword, April 13: Call ‘Em Like I See ‘Em

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

In an aerial view, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (R) are shown in Exposition Park on March 5, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Olympics

One Angeleno’s Journey Through Olympics Ticket Madness

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to making the winning putt, on the 18th green, during the final round of Masters Tournament