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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

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns speaks with Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 28, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Nov. 17: The Struggle Is Real

Ray Ratto

Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles walk off the field after the game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dan Campbell Kept Asking The Same Question, And The Eagles Kept Saying No

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

A bunch of Washington Commanders tackle a Miami Dolphin.

Say What You Want, Miami Just Won’t Quit

Albert Burneko

Chefector

The Key To Making A Bad Lasagna Is Being A Big Dumb Jerk

A bunch of South Carolina Gamecocks stand around looking dumb and confused as a Texas A&M guy celebrates a touchdown.

College Football

How Not To Football

Dave McKenna

Chris Eubank Jr (left) and Conor Benn during the weigh-in at York Hall, London. They are staring each other in the face while surrounded by cameras.

Boxing

Like Fathers, Like Sons: Benn-Eubank Jr. Fight Fuels Family Feuds

Giri Nathan

Boston, MA - November 12: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla high fives guard Payton Pritchard in the second quarter. The Celtics played the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on November 12, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Boston Sports Franchise Removes The Phrase “White Power” From Its Website

Patrick Redford

Jeffrey Epstein and Alan Dershowitz discuss something.

Capital

Jeffrey Epstein Was The Unofficial Advice Columnist For The Elites

Defector Staff

The cast of Our Gang/The Little Rascals singing, circa 1930.

Staff Chat

The Time To Chat With The Defector Staff Is Once Again Upon Us

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson speaks at the press conference introducing head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey on January 27, 2025.

Woody Johnson Is Sick Of Everyone Knowing What A Lousy Workplace He Oversees

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.

Drew Magary

Food

At Long Last, I Have Perfected My Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Alex Sujong Laughlin

The Bad News Is There’s No More Money, But That’s Also The Good News

We’re Nearing The Finish Line Now

Tom Ley

Luis Rubiales and editor Gonzalo Sichar speak during the presentation of "Matar a Rubiales"on November 13, 2025, in Madrid, Spain. The former president of the RFEF presents his book "Matar a Rubiales" in which he tells his version of events about the non-consensual kiss to Jenni Hermoso.

Life's Rich Pageant

Luis Rubiales Egged By Uncle Who Is Also Named Luis Rubiales

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Even By His Lofty Standards, Nikola Jokic Is On One

Kelsey McKinney

The tent from The Great British Bake Off.

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Says “Pooh-Pooh” To The Grand Finale

David Roth

This December 16, 2016 photo illustration taken in Washington, DC. shows the definition for the word "Surreal" in a copy of the Webster's Desktop Dictionary.

Podcasts

The Man Who Defined “Sheeple,” With Stefan Fatsis

Jamboroo

Pips Understands The True Joy Of Puzzle-Solving

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

a female spider next to a funnel-shaped hole in a web

Creaturefector

Drop Whatever You’re Doing Right This Instant, There’s Big Spider Web News

Julie Kliegman is a writer and editor in Queens, New York. They wrote <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/mind-game-9798216378051/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/mind-game-9798216378051/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1763134080975000&amp;usg=AOvVaw15Dx3xf4fCxIqYQnD4bF_R">Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes</a>. Their next book, the biography Finding Renée Richards, is due out in August 2026. Kliegman’s work has also appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post, Bookforum, Slate, The Ringer, Texas Monthly, Vulture, BuzzFeed News, and The Verge.

Julie Kliegman

art of a swimmer with their head half above water

Swimming

What Does A Great Trans Athlete Deserve?

Hannah Hidalgo #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish takes the court before a game against the Chicago State Cougars at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on November 9, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana.

College Basketball

It Should Be Illegal To Unleash Hannah Hidalgo On The Akron Zips

Mark Asch

Arts And Culture

‘Bugonia’ Makes A Crash Landing

From left, American real estate developer Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000.

Politics

Newly Released Jeffrey Epstein Emails Claim That Donald Trump “Knew About The Girls”

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Center on November 10, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

This Is Not The Start Cooper Flagg Wanted

Lauren Theisen

San Jose Sharks forward Collin Graf (51) beats Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson (32) for the game-winning goal