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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.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

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Journalismism

ABC’s Trump Settlement Is A Bad Omen

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Tom Ley

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 4: Police officers investigate the scene where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan near a hotel on 54th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues on December 04, 2024 in New York, United States. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in what authorities are calling a 'brazen, targeted attack' outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The masked gunman, who waited several minutes before ambushing Thompson, fired multiple times, striking him in the back and right calf. Thompson was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.

Healthcare executive gunned down in New York City in apparent ‘targeted attack’

Politics

What Comes After The Gun?

Mohammed Mhawish is a Palestinian journalist and writer from Gaza. He is currently a contributing writer for The Nation. Mohammed, a contributor to the book A Land With a People, has reported for Al Jazeera, The Economist, MSNBC, +972 Magazine, and more. Subscribe to his newsletter <a href="https://www.mohammedmhawish.com/">here</a>.

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Mohammed R. Mhawish

The rubble of the author's house in Gaza. A child's toy is visible.

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Stories

One Year Ago, Israel Buried Me Alive. I’m Still Clawing My Way Out.

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Chris Thompson

Donovan Mitchell dunks.

Dare To Believe In The Cleveland Cavaliers

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kiyomi McMiller does a spin move during a game against Wagner

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College Basketball

Kiyomi McMiller’s Gorgeous Spin Move Has Graduated To College

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Amad Diallo of Manchester United scores their side's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC at Etihad Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City FC v Manchester United FC – Premier League

Soccer

Manchester City So Deep In Hell That It Can’t Even Beat Manchester United

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

Dead house fly

Creaturefector

Who Was The Fly Who Died In My House?

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Patrick Redford

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 30: Dylan Harper #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs out the court before their game against the Texas A&amp;M Aggies during the Players Era Festival basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 30, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aggies defeated the Scarlet Knights 81-77. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Players Era Festival: Texas A&M v Rutgers

Dylan Harper Is Big-Time

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Kathryn Xu

Devin Williams #38 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers a ninth inning pitch.

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Yankees Make Big Moves To Rebuild Juan Soto In The Aggregate

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Israel Daramola

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 15, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Kansas City Chiefs v Cleveland Browns

Even With Patrick Mahomes’s Injury, The Chiefs Feel Inevitable

On the Cime de la Bonette climb during stage 19 of the 2024 Tour de France cycling race, from Embrun to Isola 2000 (144,6 km), in France, on Friday 19 July 2024.

CYCLING TOUR DE FRANCE 2024 STAGE 19

Crosswords

The Crossword, Dec. 16: Lost At Sea

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Barry Petchesky

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 15: Linebacker Nick Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos jumps backwards into the end zone for a pick six touchdown as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and quarterback Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts look on during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on December 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts v Denver Broncos

The Colts Gave Away Their Season

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Ray Ratto

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook #4 runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions

We’ll Take As Much Bills-Lions As You’ve Got

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.

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Drew Magary

A bunch of Cardinals sit in their pointy white hats in a screengrab from Edward Berger's 2024 film Conclave.

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Defector At The Movies

The Ending Of ‘Conclave’ Was Cheap And Stupid

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David Roth

A small drone flies in front of the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building as the sun rises in New York City on August 11, 2023

Sunrise in New York City

It’s Time For A Little Recreational Mental Illness In New Jersey

Travis Hunter University of Colorado cornerback/wide receiver puts his tongue on the Trophy during the Heisman Trophy press conference at the Marriott Marquis on December 14, 2024.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 14 Heisman Trophy Ceremony

College Football

Travis Hunter Wins Heisman, Hopefully Won’t Become Like His Coach

Defensive tackle Landon Robinson #96 of the Navy Midshipmen celebrates a sack against the Army Black Knights during the first half of 125th America's Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen.

Army v Navy – 125th America’s Game

Navy Consecrates Football’s Year Of The Fat Guy With Decisive Fake Punt

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Hannah Hidalgo Plays Like A Woman Possessed

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Billy Haisley

Memphis Depay of Corinthians celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Brasileirao 2024 match between Corinthians and Bahia at Neo Quimica Arena on December 3, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Corinthians v Bahia – Brasileirao 2024

Memphis Depay Was Made For Brazil

Coffee

This Is So Stupid

I Lost My Coffee

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Alan Kluegel

Denzel Washington looking incredibly sinister and cool in Gladiator II.

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II Decadent II Decrepit: The Politics Of ‘Gladiator II’

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

North Carolina Tar Heels Present New Football Coach Bill Belichick

It’s A Good Time Be One Of Bill Belichick’s Lackeys

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Lauren Theisen

Still from Carmelita Tropicana. A person in sunglasses and a person in leather holding a neon plunger interrogate a man tied to a chair.

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Arts And Culture

‘Give Me Carmelita Tropicana!’ Seizes The Full Potential Of The Theater

Matthew Stafford hands the ball to Kyren Williams against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. It is a low-angle shot and raining as hell.

Los Angeles Rams v San Francisco 49ers

That Was Just Awful

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Ben Tippett

India's grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju (R) reacts after winning against China's chess grandmaster Ding Liren in game 14 of the 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore on December 12, 2024. The 18-year-old became "the YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION in history", said the International Chess Federation in a post on social media platform X, after Ding resigned in a thrilling endgame that had been expected to end in a draw.

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Chess

Gukesh D Unleashed The Zugzwang To Become The Youngest World Chess Champion In History

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