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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

Patrick Redford

Michael Porter Jr. Is The Incredibly Dumb Man For An Incredibly Dumb Moment

Kathryn Xu

Andruw Monasterio #14 of the Milwaukee Brewers doused with liquid after the game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Milwaukee Brewers Weird (Nerd Version)

Luis Paez-Pumar

Players, match officials and fans take part in a minute's silence as a fan mosaic depicting "DJ20" is displayed in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England

Soccer

Diogo Jota Will Never Walk Alone

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Ice Cube makes an angry face while lost in an emptied WeWork.

Defector At The Movies

Twelve Minutes Of Ice Cube Stumbling Around An Empty Office In An Escalating Panic Almost Redeems The Rest Of ‘War Of The Worlds’

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Podcasts

Erika Learns To Sing

Lauren Theisen

Life Lessons

Seeking Closure At Planet Hollywood, Where My Life Once Exploded

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos shakes hands with Bo Nix #10 prior to an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

Why Your Team Sucks

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Denver Broncos

Ray Ratto

William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds first base after hitting a two run homer against the New York Mets at American Family Field on August 10, 2025 in Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Brewers Are Baseball’s Weirdest Winners

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks up the pitcher's mound in the fourth inning during a game against the Cleveland Guardians at PNC Park on April 19, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Aug. 18: Musical Arrangement


<p>Corey Atad is a freelancer writer based in Toronto with an unhealthy Air Bud obsession.</p>


Corey Atad

Zohran Mamdani smiling with a megaphone in the park

Politics

Selling Zohran

David Roth

David Brooks making a surprised face while being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on the OWN Netwrok.

Journalismism

David Brooks: Wearing A Mets Hat Might Just Save Our Democracy


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 01: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears fumbles the ball as he is sacked by DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter at Cowboys Stadium on October 1, 2012 in Arlington, Texas.

Life's Rich Pageant

Bears Fan Who Spent $12,107 On A Jay Cutler Card: “I Don’t Want To Spend $12,107 On A Jay Cutler Card”

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Puja Patel is a writer, editor, and curator who has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork and <em>Spin</em>, a culture editor for Deadspin, and a columnist for MTV and the <em>Village Voice</em>. Her work has appeared in publications such as the <em>New Yorker</em>, <em>Harper&#8217;s Bazaar</em>, and <em>Rolling Stone,</em> among others. She serves on the advisory board of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and Building Beats, a nonprofit organization that provides music education to underserved youth across New York City and Los Angeles.</div>
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Puja Patel

Mods Asleep

Months, Ranked

Brandy Jensen

Joni Mitchell posed in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1972

A Playlist For Being Chill About Your Crush

The Cringiest Love Songs That Make Us Cry

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

<p>Amy Phillips is the former Executive Editor of Pitchfork. She has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Village Voice, and many other publications. A Philadelphia native, she currently lives in Brooklyn.</p>


Amy Phillips

Amy at 14 in her childhood bedroom (L) / Amy's daughter as a baby in that same room (R).

Living Through This, Again

<p>Bobby Finger is the co-host of Who? Weekly and the author of the novels <i>The Old Place</i> and <i>Four Squares</i>. His third novel will be released next summer.</p>


Bobby Finger

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift talk on a podcast.

Two Showgirls In Love: Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift Have A Chat

Defector Staff

The Worst Songs We Love So Much

Head Coach Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks challenges the referee during the first quarter of a game

Why Your Team Sucks 2025: Seattle Seahawks

<p>Marian Bull is a writer, editor, and potter living in Brooklyn. She writes <a href="https://marianbull.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://marianbull.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755179401925000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1fEbhNoXERVRom7SEmVfSn">Mess Hall</a>, a cooking newsletter, and is at work on her first book.</p>


Marian Bull

Patrons dance during weekly line dancing lessons

Stud Country, Queer Line Dancing,  And The Joys Of Being In Sync

Just A Tip

Israel Daramola

2 small boys playing Street Smart video game

A Playlist Of Pop That Sounds Like My Gamer Youth

<p>Tommy Craggs is an editor and writer, late of Game Theory With Bomani Jones on HBO, Mother Jones (no relation), HuffPost, Slate, Gawker Media, and Deadspin. He&#8217;s part of the <a href="https://flaminghydra.com/">Flaming Hydra</a> cooperative of independent writers and artists, and one of the many founders of the <a href="https://www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/">Oakland Review of Books</a>.</p>


Tommy Craggs

Are We Playing It All Wrong?

Dave McKenna

Fans of Elvis Presley (1935-1977) gather to celebrate his memory during an impersonator contest in Memphis.