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<div>John Garrison Marks is a historian and writer who explores how Americans engage with the past. He is the author of <i><a href="https://uncpress.org/9781469693521/thy-will-be-done/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://uncpress.org/9781469693521/thy-will-be-done/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781017423627000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1jL0F6t9RI1FoZYDei0VCw">Thy Will Be Done: George Washington&#8217;s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory</a>.</i> He&#8217;s on Bluesky at <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/johngmarks.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/johngmarks.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781017423627000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0S-WpY5TzWTHvzMhKssu2S">@johngmarks.com</a>.</div>
<div></div>


John Garrison Marks

A drawing of the State of Liberty wearing a bunch of cheaply made America250 merchandise.

Life's Rich Pageant

“We Hold These Truds”: A Search For The Weirdest Piece Of America 250 Merchandise

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


Diana Moskovitz

A protester supporting transgender athletes competing in women's sports holds a transgender pride flag outside the Supreme Court on January 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. The protestor is wearing a crown similar to the Statue of Liberty.

Politics

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Bans On Trans Athletes In School Sports

Patrick Redford

TIGNES, FRANCE - JULY 26: UCI Commissaire Tour De France and Thierry Gouvenou of France TDF Race director / Stage neutralized - canceled due to snow and hail in the final 20km to finish-line / during the 106th Tour de France 2019, Stage 19 a 126,5km stage from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Tignes 2113m / TDF / #TDF2019 / @LeTour / on July 26, 2019 in Tignes, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Cycling

Why The Tour de France Route Is Different Every Single Year

Sarah Borus

Texas Rangers second baseman Cameron Cauley (27), in his major league debut, reacts after hitting a triple for his first major league hit during the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians on June 29, 2026

You’re Going To Have To Care About The AL’s Snooziest Teams

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Erling Haaland watches a ball fly over the heads of Ivory Coast players

Funbag

A Clueless Soccer Guy’s Favorite World Cup Things

Israel Daramola

What’s Going On With Brandon Aiyuk?

Tom Ley

Ronald Koeman puts his face in his hand while watching his team lose

Soccer

World Cup Recrimination Is The Best Recrimination

Sohini Desai

Colombia's singer Shakira holds the Jo'bulani football that will be used for the final of the tournament during a press conference on July 10, 2010 at Soccer City Stadium in Soweto, South Africa.

A Brief History Of The World Cup Song

Sophie Abromowitz

Life Lessons

Finding Friends, Legacy, And Leather Sluts At New Jersey’s Finest Holiday Inn

Media Meltdowns

One Of Dianna Russini’s Funny Little Stories Was A Big Fat Fib

Luis Paez-Pumar

Orlando Gill #12 of Paraguay celebrates after saving the sixth penalty by Jonathan Tah #4 of Germany in a penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Mr. Nagelsmann, Tear Down This Meat Wall!

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) looks on before the NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings on October 20, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.

Lions Cut Terrion Arnold After Judge Sets Bail In Criminal Case At $1 Million

Ray Ratto

LeBron James speaks with Stephen Curry following a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors

It’s Time To Daydream About LeBron On The Warriors

Alex Sujong Laughlin

A box of colorful friendship bracelets outside a Taylor Swift concert, the Try Hard podcast show art sits ontop of the image.

Podcasts

There Is No Simple Trick To Making Friends As An Adult

BEAUFORT, FRANCE - JUNE 14: (L-R) Paul Seixas of France and Team Decathlon CMA CGM and Isaac Del Toro of Mexico and UAE Team Emirates - XRG prior to the 78th Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026, Stage 8 a 120.1km stage from Beaufort to Plateau de Solaison - Brison 1497m / #UCIWT / on June 14, 2026 in Beaufort, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

The Tour de France Is For The Children

Lauren Theisen

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 02: San Jose Sharks mascot "S.J. Sharkie" celebrates in a Pride jersey after a win in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 2, 2026 at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Sharks Just Got A Lot Better, And Larger

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Malik Beasley Charged With Bribery, Money Laundering, And Wire Fraud In Alleged Prop-Bet Scheme

Barry Petchesky

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 28: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off single during the tenth inning of a game against the New York Yankees on June 28, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

The Yankees Had A Wretched Weekend In Boston

Maitreyi Anantharaman

American musician violist Richard O’Neill performs onstage as member of Takacs Quartet during Musica Insieme at Manzoni Theater on March 16, 2026 in Bologna, Italy.

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 29: Cooler Heads (Themeless)

Billy Haisley

Yoane Wissa of Congo DR celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Congo DR and Uzbekistan.

DR Congo Welcomes You To Africa’s World Cup

We’ve Got A Whole Jaylen Brown Situation On Our Hands

Dave McKenna

Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne of Dublin goes highest to win possession during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Dublin and Galway.

Gaelic Football

Dublin Pulls Off Comeback To Beat Galway In All-Ireland Quarterfinal

Xander Zayas throws a punch at Jaron 'Boots' Ennis during their WBO and WBA World Super-Welterweight title bout.

The Fights

Boots Ennis KOs Zayas In Brooklyn Thriller

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever passes the ball during the game against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

WNBA

Don’t Let Bored Football Fans Tell The Story Of Caitlin Clark’s Season

Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) warms up before the game against the Oakland Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 16th 2018, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.

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