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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.

Defector

Kelsey McKinney

Climate

The Floodwaters Are Rising


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

A cat on a fake baseball card. He's grey and little and next to a keyboard. There is a wood border around the card, with the Toledo Mud Hens logo in the corner, and a Defector logo in the other corner, and WEBLEY: Toledo Mud Hens

Creaturefector

The Newest Toledo Mud Hen Is A Purrfect Midseason Addition

<p>Alexandra Tey is a writer, photographer, and birdwatcher living in Queens, New York.</p>


Alexandra Tey

Life's Rich Pageant

The Anti-Fascist Power Of Trans Women Wrestling In Nacho Cheese

<p>Becky Ferreira is a science reporter based in Ithaca, N.Y. She writes <a href="https://www.404media.co/author/becky/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.404media.co/author/becky/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1740083778769000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3_mk31dNhas5lklZb38a6k">The Abstract</a>, a weekly science column for 404 Media. Her book <em>First Contact</em>, about the search for alien life, <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/becky-ferreira/first-contact/9781523527755/">is available now.</a></p>


Becky Ferreira

Sun over dying Earth. Illustration of the Sun, around 5 billion years in the future, heating a dying Earth. The oceans have evaporated, leaving salt-encrusted rocks. The Moon is seen passing in front of the massively swollen Sun. This stage of the Sun's life, known as its red giant stage, will begin when the Sun exhausts the hydrogen fuel in its core. It will then begin burning hydrogen in a shell surrounding the core, causing the Sun to expand. The expanding Sun will engulf the inner planets, and possibly the Earth. If the Earth survives this stage of the death of the Sun, it will freeze as the Sun collapses into a white dwarf star.

Science

Are You Team Fiery Sun Death Or Team Lifeless Husk?

Samer Kalaf

Journalismism

Jim Spanfeller Somehow Worse At Writing Than Running A Media Company

Ray Ratto

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez (4), left, with GM Mike Rizzo during the second day of full squad workouts at the Nationals training facility on February 22, 2023 in West Palm Beach, FL. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Mark Lerner Stops Neglecting The Nationals Long Enough To Fire Everyone

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Summer McIntosh is interviewed by NBC Sports Nicole Auerbach after winning the Women's 400 Meter Individual Medley Final on Day 3 of the TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont at FMC Natatorium on March 07, 2025 in Westmont, Illinois

Crosswords

The Crossword, July 7: Tennis, Anyone?

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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

Donald Trump looks up at the new flag on the south lawn of the White House on July 06, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Margin Of Error

Totally Petty

Kathryn Xu

Third placed Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber sprays Champagne on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain.

Racing

239th Time’s The Charm For Nico Hülkenberg

Barry Petchesky

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 26: Baseball: World Series, Chicago White Sox A,J, Pierzynski (12) and Bobby Jenks (45) victorious after winning Game 4 and series vs Houston Astros, Houston, TX 10/26/2005 (Photo by John Biever/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X74496 TK4)

Bobby Jenks Made The Most Of A Short Time

Luis L. Ortiz #45 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on from the dugout during the game against the Athletics.

The Suspect Pitches In MLB’s Gambling Investigation Of Luis Ortiz Look Not Great

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 05: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees kneels in the outfield during the game between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, July 5, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

It’s Been That Kind Of A Week For Aaron Judge And The Yankees

LHASA, CHINA - OCTOBER 23: Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) streaks across the sky on October 23, 2024 in Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region of China. (Photo by Jiang Feibo/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

A Comet From Another Solar System Is On Its Way

Defector Staff

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 20: A hawker advertises a hot dog at the San Francisco Giants home opener at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. on April 20, 1965. The opener was attended by 37,784 fans. (Photo by Howard Erker/MediaNews Group/Oakland Tribune via Getty Images)

Defector Up All Night

Your Fourth Of July Open Thread

Patrick Redford

SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHATEAUX, FRANCE - JULY 17: (L-R) Jonas Vingegaard Hansen of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike - Polka dot Mountain Jersey, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - Yellow Leader Jersey, Biniam Girmay of Eritrea and Team Intermarche - Wanty - Green Sprint Jersey, Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin - Deceuninck and Thomas Gachignard of France and Team TotalEnergies prior to the 111th Tour de France 2024, Stage 17 a 177.8km stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Superdevoluy 1500m / #UCIWT / on July 17, 2024 in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Cycling

Your Guide To The 2025 Tour de France

LE GRAND BORNAND, FRANCE - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Audrey Cordon-Ragot of France and Team Human Powered Health and a general view of the peloton competing during the 3rd Tour de France Femmes 2024, Stage 7 a 166.4km stage from Champagnole to Le Grand Bornand 1265m / #UCIWWT / on August 17, 2024 in Le Grand Bornand, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

How Team Tactics Shape The Tour de France, And Vice Versa

A long white mall hallway with empty storefronts and a sign for an AMC movie theater in the distance

Capital

A Mall I Loved Is Going Pitch Black

Soraya Roberts

Hanif Kureishi attends the press night after party for "The Buddha Of Suburbia" at the Barbican Centre on October 29, 2024 in London, England.

Defector Reads A Book

Hanif Kureishi Writes Himself Anew In ‘Shattered’

David Roth

A worker stocks food items at a Whole Foods Market grocery store in Manhattan on December 17, 2024.

Podcasts

Like A Bat In The Supermarket

Brad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Damson Idris, co-star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, stand for thr national anthem on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain.

Defector At The Movies

‘F1: The Movie’ Is Great If Your Favorite Part Of Racing Is All The Corporate Logos

<p>Raphael Orlove is a freelance writer and editor with a few events under his belt as a rally co-driver. You may have seen his work on Robb Report, Road &amp; Track, Jalopnik, or the briefly-aired Car vs America TV show if you have a very extensive cable subscription.</p>
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Raphael Orlove

Meet The Crew Whose Job Is To Keep Rally Fans From Getting Themselves Killed

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown looks on from the sideline in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center on December 22, 2024 in Sacramento, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Knicks Backed Their Way Into A Good Coach

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


Nicholas Russell

Promo still from the 1961 Film The Children's Hour

Interviews

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back: Michael Koresky On Hollywood’s Queer History

Announcements

Take Defector’s 2025 Reader Survey

The pack of the Tour de France cross a railway line during a stage of the Great Loop, in July 1933. (Photo by STF / AFP) (Photo credit should read STF/AFP via Getty Images)