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Defector


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

A close-up of three leg-like appendages of a green caterpillar with orange and black spots

Creaturefector

The Great Defector Leg Quiz


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

Center Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopards reacts at the courtside during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan.

A Timeline Of The Sexual Assault Allegations Against Dwight Howard

Luis Paez-Pumar

Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 collides with Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-23 during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 29, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico.

Racing

Sergio Pérez’s Season Cratered On Turn One

Lauren Theisen

A collage of QBs from this weekend's NFL games. Jaren Hall, Mitch Trubisky, Tyson Baget, Brett Rypien, Will Levis, Josh Dobbs, P.J. Walker, Tommy DeVito

Who Are These People?

Patrick Redford

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 20: High school basketball player Cooper Flagg (Montverde Academy) attends the Duke Blue Devils’ Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 20, 2023 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)

College Basketball

Knock Me Over With A Fucking Feather, Cooper Flagg Commits To Duke

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


Dan McQuade

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 29: Haason Reddick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles forces Sam Howell #14 of the Washington Commanders to fumble in the fourth quarter at FedExField on October 29, 2023 in Landover, Maryland.

Struggling Eagles Sack Sam Howell Just Once

Samer Kalaf

Palestinians in Gaza carry bodies through the street

Politics

Bearing Witness To Gaza’s Grief Shouldn’t Feel Like A Radical Act

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets in action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on September 14, 2023 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 11-1. Over his face is the Defector Crosswords logo, which is DEFECTOR CROSSWORDS in a crossword puzzle grid with other words around it, and trust me they all fit maybe definitely they do work. It's just 'part' of the full crossword puzzle.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Oct. 30: Spooky Season

Billy Haisley

Jude Bellingham player of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 28, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

Soccer

Jude Bellingham Has Already Made Madrid His Own

Barry Petchesky

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 29: Tommy DeVito #15 of the New York Giants hugs Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets after the Jets' 13-10 overtime win at MetLife Stadium on October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

You Can’t Unsee Jets-Giants

Giri Nathan

Zach LaVine prepares to shoot against the Pistons

Grim Bulls Update: Zach LaVine Scores 51 In Double-Digit Loss To Pistons

Tom Ley

Head coach Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes talk before taking on the Stanford Cardinal at Folsom Field on October 13, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado.

College Football

College Football No Longer Belongs To Deion Sanders

Zion Williamson flexes against the Knicks

Zion Williamson Eats Space For Every Meal

Evan Longoria #3 of the Arizona Diamondbacks attempts a bunt in the third inning against the Texas Rangers during Game Two of the World Series at Globe Life Field on October 28, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

The Diamondbacks Took The Rangers Back In Time For A Beating

Kelsey McKinney

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


Chris Thompson

Six perfect mini-cheesecakes, topped with black currant jelly, whipped cream, and decorative white chocolate triangles.

Chefector

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Is Ill-Tempered For Chocolate Week

People carry injured and dead Palestinians from the rubbles of buildings as civil defense teams and civilians conduct search and rescue operations after Israeli attacks on Al-Shati refugee camp of Gaza City, Gaza on October 27, 2023 as Israeli attacks continue on the 21st day on Gaza

Science

Who Is Allowed To Do Science?

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Borussia Dortmund at St. James Park on October 25, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Update: Sandro Tonali’s 10-Month Gambling Ban No Longer In Limbo

Soraya Roberts

Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in a scene from Killers Of The Flower Moon

Arts And Culture

‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ Asks You To Sit With Its Contradictions

Alex Sujong Laughlin

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage during Taylor Swift The 1989 World Tour Live In Los Angeles at Staples Center on August 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

Music

Meet Us At Midnight For ‘1989’ (Defector’s Version)

Ray Ratto

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: Max Scherzer #31 of the Texas Rangers looks on during the World Series Workout Day at Globe Life Field on October 26, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Let’s Rub It In Some More: Polling Our Miserable Philadelphians About The World Series

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: 'Cruise' driverless robot taxis are seen at a parking lot as California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) revokes its self-driving car permit and citing 'unreasonable risk to public safety' in San Francisco, California, USA on October 24, 2023. The self-driving service of 'Cruise', the autonomous vehicle company owned by General Motor, is thought to be a step towards wider commercial deployment of a long-promised autonomous alternative to ride-hailing services such as Uber or Lyft in the US. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Capital

San Francisco’s Robotaxi Fleet Halved After Horror Crash

Brais Mendez of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Real Sociedad at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on October 24, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Champions League

Real Sociedad Is Exactly What The Champions League Needs

LeBron James powers through three Suns defenders in the fourth quarter of Thursday's game.