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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

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On July 15

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Live Event

2019-01-01 00:15:14.989

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Anthony Davis #3 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk to their head coach Darvin Ham during their game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 03, 2024 in New York City.

Los Angeles Lakers v New York Knicks

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 23: Lines Of Business

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Ray Ratto

Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

2025 NBA Finals – Game Seven

“Deserve” Has Nothing To Do With It

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09

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Chris Thompson

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - JUNE 22: Oklahoma City Thunder players celebrate with the Larry O'Brien trophy after winning Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center on June 22, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. (Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Oklahoma City Thunder wins the NBA Finals

The Thunder Finished The Job

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Israel Daramola

Fanatics Fest NYC 2025

Houston Wins The Latest Kevin Durant Sweepstakes

Capture

Lucy Bloom

A woman buying a packet of cigarettes in a tobacconist shopin London, leaves a spare one in a cigarette collection box, which will be sent on to a hospital for wounded soldiers during the Second World War June 1940

A woman buying a packet of cigarettes in a tobacconist shopin London, leaves a spare one in a cigarette collection box,

Life's Rich Pageant

A Weak Night In La Crosse

Dave McKenna

A Washington Post logo is displayed on top of the newspaper's editorial headquarters on May 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Washington Post Exterior

Journalismism

Update: The Washington Post Is Still Dying

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Patrick Redford

Basketball: NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss victorious holding Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy with Kareen Abdul-Jabbar (L) and Bob McAdoo after winning game and series vs Boston Celtics at Boston Garden. Game 6.

Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers, 1985 NBA Finals

With The Lakers Sale, The NBA’s Old Ownership Class Is Nearly Extinct

The grounds crew covers the field with a tarp during a thunderstorm in the bottom of the ninth inning of game two of a doubleheader that is tied at 4-4 between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park on June 19, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Pittsburgh Pirates v Detroit Tigers – Game Two

Take Me Out Of The Ballpark

Photo from the No Kings protest in Los Angeles.

NO KINGS Immigration Protest shows all races protesting ICE raids of Trump Administration feature colorful signs in downtown Los Angeles, CA.

Politics

So What Is It Gonna Take?

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Kathryn Xu

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is hit by a pitch from Robert Suarez #75 of the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning.

shoheiOhtaniHBP

Every Hit-By-Pitch In The Dodgers–Padres Series, Ranked

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Kelsey McKinney

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The Great Outdoors

Get Ready For Inside Week In America

Joe Flynn is a writer based in the D.C. area.

Joe Flynn

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks. He looks like a photographic negative and is grimacing. Skin the color of a hot dog.

Agriculture Secretary Rollins Holds Make America Healthy Again Event With HHS Secretary Kennedy

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Will Not Let My Daughter Be

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Barry Petchesky

A small group of demonstrators protests outside the entrance of Dodger Stadium on the night of the team's June 19 game.

US-POLITICS-IMMIGRATION-BASEBALL-DODGERS

Policing

The Dodgers Can’t Sit This Moment Out

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

2025 NBA Finals – Game Six

The Finals Have Given Us Everything But An Ending

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David Roth

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2023 shows a closed store of Big Lots at King Square Center in Arvada, Northwest of Denver.

U.S.-ARVADA-BIG LOTS-CLOSED STORE

Podcasts

A Fine Balance Between Evil And Stupid, With Kelsey McKinney And Megan Greenwell

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Defector Staff

Denver's Juneteenth celebration is back as organizers name the event "Juneteenth 2008: The Rebirth. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States as slaves in Galveston, Texas learned that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier. Denver used to have one of the largest gatherings, and this year community leaders- including former Mayor Wellington Webb- worked to bring the festival back. There is a parade along with musical performers and entertainment for the kids. The Showstarz Cheer team perform acrobatics along the route. Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Denver’s Juneteenth celebration

Announcements

Your Juneteenth Open Thread

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 27: Former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) employees terminated after the Trump administration dismantled the agency collect their personal belongings at the USAID headquarters on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. Thousands of (USAID) workers who have been fired or placed on leave have been given a 15 minutes window to clear out their workspace after the Trump administration, under the guidance of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), shuttered the agency.

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Interviews

Meet The Civil Servants Under Attack By The Trump Administration

Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase (left) talks with guard Carla Leite (right) during the second quarter of a WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at College Park Center in Arlington, TX.

WNBA: JUN 17 Golden State Valkyries at Dallas Wings

WNBA

The WNBA Had Too Much Going On Last Night

New York Yankees Left Fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) steals second base with Los Angeles Angels Shortstop Zach Neto (9) catching the throw.

newYorkYankeesShutoutLOL

Will The Yankees Ever Score Another Run? No

In the shadows, c.1920. Private Collection. Creator: Cucuel, Edward (1875-1954).

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Arts And Culture

Books We Think You Should Read This Summer

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 23: United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino, Christian Pulisic #10, and Tyler Adams #4 on the field after playing Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League third place match at SoFi Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

United States v Canada: Third Place Match – CONCACAF Nations League

Soccer

The USMNT Is Going Nowhere

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Albert Burneko

AI-Powered Robot interacts with People during the Italian Tech Week 2024 at OGR Officine Grandi Riparazioni on September 26, 2024 in Turin, Italy.

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Capital

Toward A Theory Of Kevin Roose

William Langewiesche

Each William Langewiesche Disaster Story Was An Event In Itself

President Trump, sitting alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and First Lady Melania Trump, observe U.S. Army tanks traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue, during a celebration of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary on Flag Day, June 14, 2025.

250 Military Parade Coverage

Against The Day

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Kasperi Kapanen #42 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after losing to the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

2025 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

It’s Getting Dark In Edmonton

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