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Defector

Patrick Redford

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 15: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies tries to dunk over Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Frost Bank Center on January 15, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

Ja Morant Summited Mount Wembanyama

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

19th century drawing of a physician holding death at bay.

Jamboroo

Fear Of Death Will Kill Us All

Ray Ratto

Bob Uecker walks onto the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Bob Uecker Was Just The Best

Katelyn Burns is a freelance journalist and columnist for MSNBC. She co-hosts the Cancel Me, Daddy podcast and is a co-founder of The Flytrap, a worker-owned feminist newsletter. Find her on BlueSky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/katelynburns.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/katelynburns.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737039410886000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0AGF3RbPU2rsUfV7tUou_r">@katelynburns.com</a>

Katelyn Burns

Video Games

Can Pro ‘Overwatch’ Be Brought Back To Life?

Day'Ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against Bones Hyland #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Intuit Dome on January 15, 2025.

It Doesn’t Get Any Less Essential Than Nets-Clippers

Barry Petchesky

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Ryan McLeod #71 of the Buffalo Sabres skates with the puck against Sean Walker #26 of the Carolina Hurricanes during an NHL game on January 15, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

How To Complete A Hat Trick Without Taking A Shot

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Giannis Antetokounmpo waits for a free throw.

How Serious Are The Milwaukee Bucks?

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A fire fighting helicopter drops water as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and Encino, California, on January 11, 2025. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the Los Angeles fires, spread toward previously untouched neighborhoods January 11, forcing new evacuations and dimming hopes that the disaster was coming under control. Across the city, at least 11 people have died as multiple fires have ripped through residential areas since January 7, razing thousands of homes in destruction that US President Joe Biden likened to a "war scene." (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Climate

The Future Of West Coast Wildfire Is Whiplash

Kelsey McKinney

Arts And Culture

I Believe In Ethel Cain

Megan Greenwell is the author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream, which will be published in June 2025 and is <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/bad-company-megan-greenwell?variant=43151012757538">available for preorder now</a>.

Megan Greenwell

photo of a corner of the Clevelant Museum of Art

The Wonder Of The Regional Art Museum

Albert Burneko

Hansi Flick holds a press conference for the match against Betis, corresponding to the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, in Barcelona, Spain, on January 14, 2025.

Soccer

A German Coach, The Spanish Media, And Google Translate Walk Into A Press Conference

Luis Paez-Pumar

Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest saves the shot of Diogo Jota of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at City Ground on January 14, 2025 in Nottingham, England.

Nottingham Forest Has An Iron Chin

Samer Kalaf

A recall notice on a case of Boar's Head products.

Life's Rich Pageant

“Residual Ham Material,” And Even More Evocative Phrases From USDA Inspections Of Boar’s Head Plants

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 13: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball against Zach Edey #14 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at Toyota Center on January 13, 2025 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

The Basketball Is Really Good Right Now

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Kathryn Xu

‘The Artist’s Way’ Week 1: Our Hands Hurt

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 29: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets looks on during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York.

Funbag

End Play-Clock Abuse!

SS Lazio mascotte eagle Olimpia with the falconer Juan Bernabe on the pitch after the Serie A TIM match between SS Lazio and US Lecce - Serie A TIM at Stadio Olimpico on January 14, 2024 in Rome, Italy.

Lazio Fires Fascist Falconer For Posting Penis Implant Pictures

Ashwin Rodrigues is a <a href="https://ashwinrodrigues.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ashwinrodrigues.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1736881844399000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2gTYrT5B9gKSQ8eCIDai5A">freelance writer</a> and Arsenal supporter living in New York. His work has been featured in GQ, Fast Company, Vice, Wired and other publications.

Ashwin Rodrigues

An Arsenal fan wearing a shirt that reads "Mr. Gooner"

A Tale Of Two Gooners

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 13: Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC Wild Card Playoff at State Farm Stadium on January 13, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.

Sam Darnold Found His Destiny. It Was In The Toilet

The Philadelphia 76ers' home arena in South Philly.

76ers Not Moving Across Town After All

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Washington Commanders Kicker Zane Gonzalez (47) kicks the game winning field goal during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Washington Commanders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 12, 2025 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Kickers Live Their Lives For All To See

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 10: Head coach Doug Christie of the Sacramento Kings reacts during the first half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 10, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

Doug Christie Gives The Surprising Kings The Freedom To Be Good

Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024.

Mike McCarthy, Who Couldn’t Escape The Cowboys, Escapes The Cowboys

Isaiah Collier huddles with fellow Jazz players.

Isaiah Collier Screws Up, Enrages Teammate, Forces Utah Jazz To Win A Basketball Game

Antoine E. Davis is an incarcerated journalist in Washington State. He is a licensed pastor for Freedom Church of Seattle, and Inside Director of Organizing for Look2Justice, an organization that provides civic education to system-impacted communities and works to pass sentence and policy-reform legislation. His writing has been published by Christianity Today, The Guardian, Plough Magazine, The Appeal, and more. Follow him on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/antoineedavis">@antoineedavis</a>.