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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

Patrick Redford

LE LIORAN, FRANCE - JULY 14: Quinn Simmons of United States and Team Lidl - Trek competes during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 10 a 166.6km stage from Aurillac to Le Lioran 1240m / #UCIWT / on July 14, 2026 in Le Lioran, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Cycling

Quinn Simmons Lets The Bike Speak For Him, For Better And Worse

Albert Burneko

People stand at the scene of an ICE shooting that killed a man on July 13, 2026.

Politics

ICE Brings The Occupation Home

Dave McKenna

General views around Madison Square Garden on June 30, 2026 in New York City.

James Dolan Sues Wired Magazine For Writing A Story About His Shitty Ways

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Buster Posey Sucks, But Don’t Take My Word For It

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

an orange and black burying beetle on a blade of grass

Creaturefector

Homosexually Humping Corpse-Eating Beetles Here For A Good Time, Not A Long Time

Defector Staff

Children watching a movie at the Bankside Film Theatre in London, UK, 27th July 1973. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Defector At The Movies

What’s The Worst Movie You’ve Ever Watched In A Theater?

Billy Haisley

Lionel Messi of Argentina weaves around Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham of England during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina

Soccer

The World Cup Is About Great Players And Nothing Else

David Roth

Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres makes a kind of frowny face during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on July 12, 2026 in San Diego, California.

Podcasts

A Rob Deer Mystery, With Justin Halpern

The Bucks Are Paying So Much For Gary Trent Jr. That The NBA Is Worried

Tom Ley

On the left, an english fan with his face painted withe the georgian cross. On the right, the same fan with his makeup running due to crying

It’s Time To Look At Photos Of Sad England Fans

Sarah Borus

This Is So Stupid

I Have Discovered The Final Frontier In Baseball Tinkering

LES ANGLES, FRANCE - JULY 06: Photographers at finish line during 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 3 a 195.9km stage from Granollers to Les Angles 1801m / #UCIWT / on July 06, 2026 in Les Angles, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

A Chaotic Day In The Life Of The Photographers At The Tour de France

Lauren Theisen

The Yzerplan Failed, So It’s Time For Plan Z In Detroit

Sohini Desai

Dinaw Mengestu speaks onstage during the 2026 PEN America Spring Literary Gala at American Museum of Natural History

Arts And Culture

PEN America’s “Silent Moratorium” Prompts Very Loud Criticism

Israel Daramola

Listening Habits

Who’s Afraid Of A Scammer Anthem?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lautaro Martinez #22 of Argentina celebrates with Lionel Messi #10 after scoring the team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

You Have To Kill Argentina Dead

Hassan Abo Qamar is a writer based in Gaza.

Hassan Abo Qamar

Palestinian football fans displaced from their homes, which were destroyed by Israeli military strikes, watch Belgium vs. Egypt on a giant screen at the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza.

What It’s Like To Watch The World Cup From Gaza

Colobus congensis, known locally as “likweli,” has a dramatic black face with pinkish-orange lips.

New Monkey! New Monkey! There’s A New Monkey!

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 photo shows filled champagne glasses and and the top to a wedding cake of two grooms in tuxedos holding wine glasses.

The Groom Saw You From Across The Dance Floor And Likes Your Vibe

Alexandra Tey is a writer, photographer, and birdwatcher living in Queens, New York.

Alexandra Tey

view from behind the catcher on a park ballfield as a pitch comes in and a hitter swings

The Great Outdoors

Trans Girl Baseball Makes Me A Better Woman

Maitreyi Anantharaman

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever in the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WNBA

Which Version Of The Indiana Fever Is The Real One?

Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays is hit by a pitch

The All-Star Game Was Funereal

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

A father and son buy fireworks at a stand

Minor Dilemmas

Is It Possible To Teach My Kid How To Manage Risk?

Spain’s Perfect Game Needed A Perfect Goal

Giri Nathan

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: Bam Adebayo #13 and Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat look on at the end of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Kaseya Center on March 30, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images)