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Defector

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<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
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Charles P. Pierce

LOGAN, UT - SEPTEMBER 14: Caleb Lohner #84 of the Utah Utes catches a touchdown pass over JD Drew #3 of the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their game at Maverik Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Logan, Utah.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

College Football

Football Will Live Or Die With Its Rivalries

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Sydney Colson #51 of the Las Vegas Aces drives against Cecilia Zandalasini #9 of the Minnesota Lynx in the fourth quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 21, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WNBA

A Guide To The Future Bench Heroes Of The 2024 WNBA Playoffs

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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 makes a loony-eyed face while speaking at IAC.

Margin Of Error

Where Racism Goes To Become Rhetoric

Patrick Redford

Adrian Wojnarowski on ESPN discussing trade proposals for Jerami Grant

Journalismism

What Is The Cost Of A Woj Bomb?

Barry Petchesky

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run, his 50th of the season, during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. Ohtani is now the first MLB player to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Shohei Ohtani Is Playing A Sport Of His Own

David Roth

Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) gestures as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Red Sox at Comerica Park.

Mild Card Season, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kathryn Xu

Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts in the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees.

Do Not Believe In The Seattle Mariners

Israel Daramola

Fans gather for the Vol Walk prior to kickoff between the Tennessee Volunteers and Kent State Golden Flashes

Death To The NCAA

Tennessee’s “Talent Fee” For Tickets Is The First Domino

Billy Haisley

Antonio Rüdiger of Real Madrid celebrates with team mates their team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and VfB Stuttgart at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Soccer

Real Madrid Must Learn How To Walk Before It Can Run

<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

Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at TrEver Bank Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jamboroo

Help, Help! All Of The Rich Quarterbacks Are Eating Shit!

Soraya Roberts

Arts And Culture

‘Nightbitch’ Is About A Woman Clawing Back Her Time


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

Moo Deng, a two-month-old female pygmy hippo who has recently become a viral internet sensation, reacts to a zookeeper at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province on September 15, 2024. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)

Creaturefector

Tiny Hippo Went Extinct Because It Was Not As Cute As Moo Deng, Probably

Luis Paez-Pumar

Girona's Argentine goalkeeper #13 Paulo Gazzaniga (C) concedes Paris Saint-Germain's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Girona FC at the Parc des Princes Stadium, in Paris, on September 18, 2024.

Brutally Late Goalie Boner Costs Girona In Champions League Debut

Giri Nathan

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski looks on at a Lakers game

Adrian Wojnarowski Leaves The Scoopster Life For A Job With His Alma Mater

<p>Libby Watson is a writer, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/libtron">streamer</a> and <a href="https://www.patreon.com/whatsallthisthen">podcaster</a>.</p>


Libby Watson

A sideboard-type piece of furniture with a spread of food including pork, rice, lettuce, cucumber salad, and kimchi, plus a pair of decorative plates and a lamp. Plus the Chefector logo.

Perfectly Fine Dinner Party Club

An Undefeatable Dinner, For Rising From The Ashes

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros points to his foot after grounding out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 17, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Jose Altuve Ejected For Showing Feet

Lauren Theisen

What’s A Playoff Chase Supposed To Feel Like?


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Pro Wrestling

WWE Informs Viewership Of Tyrese Haliburton

San Francisco Giants fan "McCovey Dave" Edlund, of Los Altos, wears a World Series ring on his head in McCovey Cove before Game 4 of the National League baseball championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals at AT&amp;T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Boat Guy Has Balls

Alex Morgan of USA celebrates her first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Final match between Japan and USA at the FIFA World Cup stadium Frankfurt on July 17, 2011 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Defector Reads A Book

Find A Job You Enjoy, And You’ll Never Have A Day Off In Your Life

Eric Ng leads the parade through the cubicles at Yahoo! in Sunnyvale, Calif. on May 24, 1996. Co-workers follow on bikes and roller blades. The parade was a regular, though impromptu, event at Yahoo!

Funbag

There’s No Such Thing As Wasted Time

Who’s Trending Up And Trending Down After ‘Industry’ Episodes 4-6

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Rachelle Hampton

Kelsey McKinney

four women sit at a booth in the roller rink

What Exactly Happened With The Fruity Pebbles?

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - AUGUST 10: Marc Hirschi of Switzerland and UAE Team Emirates celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 44th Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa 2024 a 236km one day race from San Sebastian to San Sebastian / #UCIWT / on August 10, 2024 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Cycling

Marc Hirschi Is Finally Flying Free Again

Dave McKenna

A general view of the DraftKings logo in the outfield during the Major League baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on June 22, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphis, PA.