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Defector

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Close up view of the face of a blue shark showing details of the eye, mouth and sensors in it's snout. This image was taken on a baited shark dive 50 kms offshore past Western Cape.

Creaturefector

Frankly It Would Be Surprising If No Sharks Were On Cocaine

David Roth

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) exits Manhattan federal court on July 16, 2024 in New York City. Menendez and his wife Nadine are accused of taking bribes of gold bars, a luxury car, and cash in exchange for using Menendez's position to help the government of Egypt.

Politics

Robert Menendez Is Built Different

Kathryn Xu

A 3D model of Jake Cave among his teammates is contorted beyond human bounds.

MLB’s Gameday 3D Feature Turns A Walk-Off Win Into A Devil’s Dance

Patrick Redford

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 04: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is interviewed before Game Three of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The NBA’s Landmark TV Deal Shows What Matters

Billy Haisley

Tom Ley

Luis Paez-Pumar

Aitana Bonmati of Spain scores her team's first goal whilst under pressure from Sakina Karchaoui and Amandine Henry of France as Pauline Peyraud-Magnin looks on during the UEFA Women's Nations League 2024 Final match between Spain and France at Estadio La Cartuja on February 28, 2024 in Seville, Spain.

Soccer

Everything You Need To Know About The Women’s Olympic Soccer Tournament, While It’s Still Worth Knowing About

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is interviewed during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.

No Retread Is Too Disgraced For The NHL

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

This Is So Stupid

What Would You Do Right Now For A Free Beach Vacation?

Alex Shultz is a journalist based in Brooklyn. He&#8217;s a writer for <a href="https://www.hardresetmedia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hardresetmedia.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1763581679564000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07bi0TNndgTXDN2QH72s3J">Hard Reset,</a> a newsletter about tech, labor, and power.

Alex Shultz

An illustration of a guy opening his coat to display items for sale

59 Blu-Rays, A Nazi Trinket, And Everything Else I Found In A Right-Wing Senate Candidate’s Robust eBay Store

Barry Petchesky

Science

Don’t Bury Me At Biscuit Basin

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

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury during mini camp at Commanders Park in Ashburn, VA on June 12, 2024. (Photo by John McDonnell/ for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Washington Commanders

Lauren Theisen

Overexplained Lists

1990s Blockbusters I Haven’t Seen, Ranked

Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the Columbia Daily Spectator. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.

Heather Wei-Xi Chen

Arts And Culture

I Love This Painting That Looks Like Blood

Albert Burneko

A drone flies over a forest with a tree house.

Olympics

No, Canada!

Kelsey McKinney

Canada's Sanoa Dempfle-Olin takes part in a surfing training session in Teahupo'o,

Underexplained Lists

Olympic Events Most Likely To Kill Me, A Mildly Athletic Blogger

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.

Owen Lewis

Remco Evenepoel with his third-place honors at the 2024 Tour de France.

Cycling

Cycling’s Belgian Brat Just Needs To Get A Little More Deranged

President Joe Biden returns to the White House with first lady Jill Biden on July 7, 2024 in Washington, DC. Members of Congress return to Washington this week as pressure for Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee for the presidency continues to mount.

Funbag

The Gerontocracy Loosened Its Death Grip

Ray Ratto

Ellie the Elephant Mascot of the New York Liberty arrives to the arena before the Kia Skills Challenge and Starry 3 point contest on July 19, 2024.

WNBA

A Mascot Skeptic Warns Of What Comes After Ellie The Elephant

University of Miami vs. Florida State University in 'College Football 25'

Video Games

‘College Football 25’ Is As Broken As It Is Fun

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 07: Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper walks the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Why Your Team Sucks 2024: Carolina Panthers

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 25: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks out on the stage during day 1 of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2024 at Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI. (Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The 18-Game NFL Season Already Feels Inevitable

CALGARY, CANADA - FEBRUARY 25: A view of the exterior of the Scotiabank Saddledome home of the NHL’s Calgary Flames with the city skyline in the background on February 25, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

A Useful, Clear-As-Day, Couldn’t-Be-Simpler Guide To Canada’s Hockey Arenas, Places, And Centres

COL DE LA COUILLOLE, FRANCE - JULY 20: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - Yellow Leader Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 111th Tour de France 2024, Stage 20 a 132.8km stage from Nice to Col de la Couillole 1676m / #UCIWT / on July 20, 2024 in Col de la Couillole, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Tadej Pogačar Is Insatiable

Shohei Ohtani smacks a 473-foot home run.

Sunday’s Events Will Ring Out Through History

Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Australia with the winners trophy after finishing in first position during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary.

Racing

Radio Meltdowns And Secondhand Embarrassment At The Hungaroring

Dave McKenna

Dublin , Ireland - 21 July 2024; Tony Kelly of Clare scores his side's third goal during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Clare and Cork at Croke Park in Dublin.