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Defector

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


Chris Thompson

Merry James Wood Day To All Who Celebrate

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

esse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (R) of the United States and Juan Francisco Estrada (L) of Mexico fight during their WBC world and Ring Magazine super flyweight title bout

The Fights

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Is A Little Guy With Big Aspirations

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Katie Ledecky wins the Women's 1500 Meter Freestyle during the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials on June 19, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Crosswords

The Crossword, July 1: Crosstown Rivals

Tom Ley

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers high fives Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers after the game on December 23, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Paul George And The Sixers Have To Make This Work

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jude Bellingham of England, scores his team's first goal with a acrobatic kick during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between England and Slovakia at Arena AufSchalke on June 30, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Soccer

England Was Finally Exciting, Still Not Actually Good

Justin Ellis

The super yacht of Russian billionaire businessman and oligarch Roman Abramovich sitting in dock at the Marmaris Port in Turkey in December 2023.

This Is So Stupid

We Are Honor Bound To Commandeer Mark Zuckerberg’s Megayacht

Kelsey McKinney

jacked man with midlength hair sittting at a laptop

Arts And Culture

Why is AI Jesus So Fucking Jacked?

Bad Bunny performing on stage in Philadelphia in 2022, wearing an outfit with red shorts while sitting on a beach chair while enjoying a beverage.

Life Lessons

Fellas, Our Horrible Climate Future Demands You Wear Short Shorts

Food

It’s Pasta Salad Season, Baby!

Billy Haisley

USA's midfielder #15 Joao Lucas Cardoso and USA's goalkeeper #18 Ethan Horvath gesture after Panama's forward #17 Jose Fajardo scores his team's second goal during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament group C football match between Panama and USA at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024.

The USMNT Has Outgrown Its Manager

Alex Sujong Laughlin

New Yorkers watch the 2024 Presidential Debate between Trump and Biden in New York City, United States on June 27, 2024.

Politics

Without Fact-Checking, A Presidential Debate Is Just TV

Lauren Theisen

Macklin Celebrini sits in the stands while wearing a suit

Arrival Of The Mack

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Donald Trump and Joe Biden, looking like a couple of brain-ruined old mummies during their presidential debate.

Margin Of Error

Debate Losers

Patrick Redford

MOIRANS-EN-MONTAGNE, FRANCE - JULY 21: Yellow jersey of race leader Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Jumbo - Visma salutes White jersey of best young rider Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates at the start of stage nineteen of the 110th Tour de France 2023, a 172.8km stage from Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny / #UCIWT / on July 21, 2023 in Moirans-en-Montagne, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Cycling

This Year’s Tour de France Will Have No Paris Parade And No Precedent

Bronny James is drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Much Ado About A Worthless Pick In An Awful Draft

Rachel McAdams during curtain call for Mary Jane

Defector Up All Night

Rachel McAdams Is So Good At Playing Mothers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Rob Dillingham arrives prior to the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The New CBA Is Already Making NBA Teams Squirm

David Roth

Dave Lumley of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL Hockey game circa 1981 at the Montreal Forum.

Podcasts

Jurassic Hockey And Sticky Stuff, With Ray Ratto

The City Lives In The Earth Room

Kathryn Xu

For Maximum Efficacy You May Wish To Dilute Your Shohei Ohtani Highlight Consumption

Salomon Rondon of Venezuela celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group B match between Venezuela and Mexico at SoFi Stadium on June 26, 2024 in Inglewood, California.

Venezuela Is Making Some Noise

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (M) in action against goalkeeper Anatolij Trubin (r) of Ukraine.