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Defector

<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

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 08: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets reacts on the field during the first half of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Funbag

Aaron Rodgers Is The Last Glory Boy Standing

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


Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 08: Xavier Legette #17 of the Carolina Panthers drops a pass while being guarded by C.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gambling

Sports Gambling Thrives On Clicks, Not Community

Albert Burneko

Ronald McDonald and Hamburglar in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This Is So Stupid

I Would Not Take My Post-Assassination Meal At An Altoona McDonald’s, But I Guess I’m Built Different

Samer Kalaf

Xavier Worthy celebrates a first down in the Chargers-Chiefs game.

The Chiefs Can Make A Last-Second Win Less Exciting Than Filing Taxes

Israel Daramola

The college football playoff logo on an ESPN camera.

College Football

We Finally Have Our College Football Playoff

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


Chris Thompson

A much younger Juan Soto celebrates a dinger in the Nationals dugout.

Juan Soto’s Megadeal Ends A Long Goodbye

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


Sabrina Imbler

A somewhat haunting magenta sphere with what appears to be a mouth and a series of spikes. this is a reconstruction of the ancient creature Saccorhytus

Creaturefector

Was This Half-Billion-Year-Old Wrinkled Sack With No Anus, Previously Believed To Be Our Earliest Ancestor, Actually A Baby Penis Worm?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs plays left field in a game against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on May 6, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 9: Added Dimension

Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after grounding out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during Game Three of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

A Guide To Yankees Fans’ Juan Soto Cope

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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

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth leaves a meeting with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) with his wife Jennifer Rauchet as he continues to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on December 5, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Margin Of Error

What Makes A Scandal

David Roth

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees arrives to the stadium before the Opening Day game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Juan Soto Got Super-Duper-Mega Paid

Justin Ellis

Actor Timothee Chalamet answers questions on a press tour.

SHOCKER: This Handsome Actor Is In Fact A Ball-Knower

Luis Paez-Pumar

Moises Caicedo of Chelsea is fouled by Yves Bissouma of Tottenham Hotspur leading to a penalty which is scored by Cole Palmer of Chelsea to make it 2-2 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 08, 2024 in London, England.

Soccer

Never Doubt Tottenham’s Inability To Capitalize On Chaos

Race winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 08, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Racing

Lando Norris Kept His Cool Until The End

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is taken off the field on a medical cart in the second quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsat Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

NFL Quietly Drops Latest Investigation Into Sexual Assault Allegations Against Deshaun Watson

Ben Tippett

China’s chess grandmaster Ding Liren (R) and India’s chess grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju (L) compete during the start of the FIDE World Chess Championship in Singapore on November 25, 2024.

Chess

Ding Liren Is Putting Up A Fight

The Lions Will Live Or Die Off Chance

Patrick Redford

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on October 29, 2024 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Jonathan Kuminga Makes His Case

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Arts And Culture

‘The Village’ Still Has Questions To Ask

Kathryn Xu

Shoppers walk past an MLB store during the National Day Golden Week holiday at Raffles City Chongqing on October 5, 2024, in Chongqing, China.

In Search Of A Phillies Hat In Chinese MLB Stores

Tom Ley

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the second half at Intuit Dome on December 01, 2024 in Inglewood, California. 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.

Math Is Catching Up To The Nuggets

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<div>Casey Taylor is a writer living and working in Pittsburgh. He is currently writing a book for St. Martin&#8217;s Press about cannabis religions, Haile Selassie I, and the Cold War in the Caribbean. He also writes a free newsletter called <a href="https://weedchurch.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://weedchurch.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1709306863919000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mVH2xiID6S0zvlyj6yHco">Weed Church</a> covering foolish spiritual things that occur to him. His work has appeared in The New Republic, WIRED, New York Magazine, and a sports blog he can’t currently recall the name of. You can <a href="mailto:caseyt7@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> him if you’d like.</div>
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Casey Taylor

The crowded work bench of New York tattooist Charlie Wagner in the 1940's. (Photo by FPG/Getty Images)

How Do You Preserve Tattoo History When Skin And Memory Fail?

Lauren Theisen

Goldie Hawn eating popcorn in movie theater in a scene from the film 'Foul Play', 1978.

Defector Up All Night

You Must Know The Popcorn Trick

C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans adjusts his helmet in close-up before taking the field for Houston's game against Jacksonville on December 1, 2024.

Podcasts

That AFC South Feeling, With Rivers McCown

Hailey Van Lith #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs goes to the basket against the Houston Christian Huskies in the second half at Schollmaier Arena on November 5, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas.