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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

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Lucy Yu stands in front of her bookstore, Yu & Me Books

Podcasts

How Lucy Yu Learned To Ask For Help

Hamilton Nolan is a journalist based in New York City. Subscribe to his work at <a href="https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1687350200913000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0naFbUVOe-5ZgtPDtIM3gz">HamiltonNolan.com</a>.

Hamilton Nolan

Jaguars Junction: Week 4

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Cari Spears #23 spikes the ball during the third set of a match against the USC Trojans at Gregory Gymnasium on September 2, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 5: Overheard In New York

Patrick Redford

Kaitlyn Chen (2) blocks a shot by Mai Yamamoto (18) in the second half as the Golden State Valkyries played the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA playoffs semifinals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.

WNBA

The Valkyries Are Fighting Firepower With Frenzy

Barry Petchesky

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 04: A distraught Eagles fan is shown in fourth quarter during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams on October 4th, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Eagles Fans Demonstrate How To Get Humbled By Opposing Coaches

Tom Ley

Jackson Chourio Was Nails

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Drew Rasmussen throws a pitch in front of packed stands.

They Packed The Trop And Were Treated To A Gem

Ty France gestures at the ceiling after his fly ball is caught.

Ty France And The Padres Thwarted By Good Old Reality

Kelsey McKinney

A screenshot of the finished cake, from the show.

Food

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Lurches Unsteadily Into Cake Week

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

Ray Ratto

AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 19:  Running back Jadan Baugh #13 of the Florida Gators celebrates with team after a win over the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare stadium on September 19, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama.

College Football

It’s Time To Separate The Real Teams From The Clowns

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Cheryl Reeve of the New York Liberty reacts in the first quarter against the Minnesota Lynx during game two of the WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on September 29, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

The Too-Small Lynx Will Have To Answer Some Big Questions

David Roth

Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) (L) and Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) display a sign accusing former Special Counsel Jack Smith of meeting with Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on September 29, 2026. Everyone looks pretty pleased with themselves.

Politics

Jack Smith Did Not Conspire Against Donald Trump While Watching Steph Curry Score 60 Points In An Overtime Loss To The Hawks

Kathryn Xu

A wagon of the suspended railway Schwebebahn is pictured in Wuppertal, Germany.

Transit

The Wuppertal Schwebebahn Is Real And It Is My Friend

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 01: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers scores the first goalie goal in Rangers history against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on October 01, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Igor Shesterkin Caught His White Whale And Scored A Goalie Goal

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk holding up a shoe with a pen

Mr. Monk And The Unfinished Book

Arif Hasan co-hosts Defector&#8217;s NFL podcast, <a href="https://defector.com/tag/all-ball">All Ball</a>. He also writes about football at <a href="https://wideleft.football/">Wide Left.</a>

Arif Hasan

Jamboroo

Blitzing Is More Common Because Formations Are Becoming Tighter 

Michael Waters

Arts And Culture

Nation Of Bondholders

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mike Tomlin shows off his Minecraft city, specifically a residential building with an aquarium centerpiece on each floor.

Mike Tomlin’s ‘Minecraft’ City Is A Delight

Dan Vladar of the Philadelphia Flyers surrenders a goal during the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins as Christian Dvorak #22 looks on. Half his body is in the goal, and the puck is visible at lower right.

It’s Already Code Orange For The Philadelphia Flyers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Dallas Wings celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Valkyries during game two of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at College Park Center on September 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Arike Ogunbowale Knows It’s All About Buckets

Lauren Theisen

a small green bridge with a road for cars and a walking path

Book Excerpts That Don't Suck

A Search For Movie History In Upstate New York

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 27: A detail shot of the Wally the Green Monster home run mask in the dugout prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

When Is It OK To Wear The Wally Head?

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

Minor Dilemmas

Am I Pushing My Kids Enough To Do The Right Extracurriculars?

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

US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon attends a round table discussion hosted by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on "exposing weaponization against parents in schools" at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, DC, on June 11, 2026.