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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

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Rafaela Bassili

Nicolas Cage on a beach holding a surfboard.

thesurfer

Arts And Culture

‘The Surfer’ Mostly Sputters And Flails

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Typing

Sabrina Imbler

a photo of Chuck Sebian-Lander, a fired CFPB web manager. He is wearing a a shirt from my union, NTEU 335, and b) a lapel pin with the CFPB seal that he was given as part of a Director's award

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Interviews

An Interview With A Fired Web Content Manager At The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) (L) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) (R) speak about an alleged screenshot from the Instagram of USA Fencing board director Damien Lehfeldt during the hearing on “Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports" held by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee at the U.S. Capitol on May 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Green is holding a photo that makes it look like Lehfeldt is pointing at himself with his middle finger. Stansbury is holding up a larger capture of the same photo that shows him making a peace sign with the same hand.

House Oversight DOGE Subcommittee Holds Hearing On Protecting Women’s Sports

Politics

The DOGE Fencing Hearing Was Stupid And Pointless Even By Congressional Standards

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Tom Ley

New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges blocks a shot by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum at the end of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden.

Yes, it happened again: Celtics head to New York down 2-0 to Knicks after giving up another 20-point lead

Mikal Bridges Is Making A Meal Of The Celtics’ Mess

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Albert Burneko

A four-square of Brian Windhorst talking, with a little Windy in the middle as well

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This Is So Stupid

Allowing For Various Metaphors

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Ray Ratto

Mikal Bridges celebrates after making a three-point basket against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs.

New York Knicks v Boston Celtics – Game One

The Knicks And Maple Leafs Are Refusing To Stick To The Script

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Barry Petchesky

WINNIPEG, CANADA - MAY 7: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Dallas Stars celebrates his second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammates at the bench in Game One of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on May 7, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dallas Stars v Winnipeg Jets – Game One

On His Third Team Of The Season, Mikko Rantanen Is Second To None

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

KNUTSFORD, UNITED KINGDOM - (FILE) In this file photograph taken in March 12, 2007, a two-week-old boy eyes his new world. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announnced, April 3, 2007 that for the first time, mothers-to-be will have a guarantee that the NHS will provide them with a full range of birthing choices - including home births - and a midwife they know and trust to care for them. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

FILE Changes Announced In Maternity Services

Dadfector

I Still Know Babies

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Kelsey McKinney

display of flight board inside Newark airport

Newark Airport as travelers are facing eight straight days of massive delay

The Mess At Newark Airport Is Only The Beginning

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Davide Frattesi central midfield of Internazionale and Italy celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 6, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

FC Internazionale Milano v FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg

Soccer

Inter Survived A War For The Ages

Jasper Hutson is a lapsed journalist.

Jasper Hutson

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Fitness

Any “Halfway Decent Person” Can Join And Own Ireland’s Oldest Gym

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Lauren Theisen

Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates with teammates after a goal

Edmonton Oilers v Vegas Golden Knights – Game One

Leon Draisaitl Makes Everything Easier

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

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Jae Towle Vieira

Normal Gossip logo with cartoon characters gossiping

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Podcasts

Rolling The 20-Sided Dice On Love

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Ben Goldfarb

A bulldozer moves a pile of dirt, which features two hoofs sticking out of the top

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Capital

An Abundance Of Concrete

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Tyrese Haliburton celebrates with teammates after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers

Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese Haliburton Sure Knows How To Pick His Spots

Visual Editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell.

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Dan McQuade

A grey tabby cat with some white features on the bottom of her head in a small yurt-like cat cave. She has one paw out, and is looking at the camera.

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Animals

Oh No, It’s Another Emotional Story About My Cat!

Jayson Tatum holds up three fingers to celebrate making a three-pointer in a game in which the Celtics missed an NBA playoff–record 45 threes, and lost in overtime.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics Will Just Keep Doing This Until We Are All Driven Insane

A photo of fired EPA program analyst Amanda Cronin holding the text of Executive Order 14096

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An Interview With A Fired EPA Environmental Justice Program Analyst

My Yang right, and Pang Nhia of Minneapolis look for CD's at the Sam Goody store in City Center in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday.

Minneapolis Mn, Thursday 12/7/00 Best Buy announced  it is buying Musicland  Stores, parent of Sam Goody— My Yang right, and Pang Nhia of Minneapolis look for CD’s at the Sam Goody store in City Center in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday.(Photo By JERRY

Funbag

What’s The Worst CD You’ve Ever Purchased?

Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens sits on the bench

Baltimore Ravens v Houston Texans

Ravens Release Justin Tucker, Claim It’s A “Football Decision”

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool celebrates the teams victory and confirmation of winning the Premier League title after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

Liverpool FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC – Premier League

Trent Alexander-Arnold Gave Liverpool Everything It Needed

Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on October 21, 2017.

San Antonio Spurs v Chicago Bulls

Gregg Popovich Was Too Far Ahead To Be Patient

TORONTO, ON - MAY 5 - Referee Chris Rooney (5) blows the play dead as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) lays on the ice as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 5, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs

It Wouldn’t Be A Panthers Postseason Without A Cheap Shot By Sam Bennett

Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the fourth quarter of Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center on May 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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.

Denver Nuggets v Oklahoma City Thunder – Game One

That Was All Mark’s Dang Fault

Dave McKenna

Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue (R) punches Ramon Cardenas in the fourth round of their title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 04, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Inoue retained his titles with an eighth-round TKO.

Inoue v Cardenas

The Fights

Naoya Inoue And Ramon Cardenas Salvaged Boxing’s Meek Weekend