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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

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

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Nicholas Russell

Interviews

Natan Last Has Thought A Lot About Crosswords

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Ray Ratto

Jonathan Kuminga, at left, of the Golden State Warriors sit with fans before their game against the New York Knicks at Chase Center on January 15, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

New York Knicks v Golden State Warriors

Jonathan Kuminga Is In Basketball Purgatory

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Typing

Sabrina Imbler

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 08: U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveils the department's new dietary guidelines food chart during a policy announcement event at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on January 8, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration announced new dietary guidelines on Wednesday including an emphasis on proteins and full-fat dairy, and limits on processed foods. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Secretaries Kennedy And Rollins Celebrate New Nutrition Guidelines At HHS Headquarters

Food

In The War On Protein, We Have Been Humiliatingly Defeated By Protein

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates during the third period of an NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens on January 15, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Nobody Loves An Ex-Loser Like Buffalo

Dave McKenna

JT Toppin #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders stands on the court for "The Matador Song" after the game against the Utah Utes at United Supermarkets Arena on January 14, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas.

Utah v Texas Tech

College Basketball

Texas Tech Is Rich And Good At Everything

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Kathryn Xu

A screenshot from 'Hades II': Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld, wonders whether she will have chances to correct her earlier mistakes.

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Video Games

‘Hades II’ Is At War With Itself

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Giri Nathan

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Rich Paul talks with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on January 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies v Los Angeles Lakers

Media Meltdowns

LeBron’s Agent Openly Suggests A Trade For The Lakers On His Podcast

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David Roth

Masked ICE agents and demonstrators face off as protests broke out following the shooting of a Venezuelan man by a Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 14, 2026.

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Podcasts

What It’s Like When ICE Invades Your City, With Arif Hasan

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Morocco players celebrating winning the semi-final on penalties during the Africa Cup Of Nations Semi-final match between Nigeria and Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.

Nigeria v Morocco – Semi-final – Africa Cup Of Nations

Soccer

Morocco Outlasted Nigeria In A Battle Of Africa’s Finest

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.

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Drew Magary

Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on at the line of scrimmage during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 21, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Pittsburgh Steelers v Detroit Lions – NFL 2025

Jamboroo

Fuck The Fourth-Down Bluff

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Lauren Theisen

The Ottawa Senators celebrate a goal during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers

NHL: JAN 14 Senators at Rangers

The Three Words That Best Describe The New York Rangers Are As Follows: Stink, Stank, Stunk

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Albert Burneko

A single bullet hole can be seen on the driver’s side of the windshield of a vehicle that a woman was shot and killed in by federal officers on Portland Ave. in Minneapolis, Minn. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) killing, Minneapolis, January 2026

Journalismism

CBS News Is The Trump Administration’s New Laundromat

Federal Agents arrest a man during an Immigration Enforcement Operation in Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN, U.S., January 13, 2026.

Immigration Enforcement Operations continue in Minneapolis

Politics

Fascists Are Pathetic

Dustin Wolf #32 of the Calgary Flames looses control of the puck as Joel Hanley #44 defends against Charlie Coyle #3 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period of the game

Calgary Flames v Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets Are The Fun Kind Of Bad Team

Stephen A. Smith attends the game between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Houston Texans v Pittsburgh Steelers

Stephen A. Smith Attributes Outstanding NFL Performance To The Late Charlie Kirk

Jae Towle Vieira [they/them] works as a producer for Normal Gossip. Their fiction has been published in The Normal School, New England Review, Carve Magazine, Passages North, Fairy Tale Review, and elsewhere.

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Jae Towle Vieira

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Mom Crimes And Other International Laws

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Patrick Redford

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Capital

Let Your Buyers Become Your Criers When You Pull The Rug Out From Beneath The Table Of Success

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Tom Ley

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CBS Anchor Tony Dokoupil Is Stuck In An Endless Loop Of Humiliation

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 08: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Washington Huskies during the 2024 CFP National Championship game at NRG Stadium on January 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Michigan defeated Washington 34-13. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

2024 CFP National Championship – Michigan v Washington

How Michigan’s Man On The Inside Got Caught

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

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Chris Thompson

Giannis booing

Giannis Antetokounmpo Is Curdling

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Barry Petchesky

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Music

‘The Disintegration Loops’ Are Music’s Loveliest Death

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Billy Haisley

Xabi Alonso head coach of Real Madrid and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez greet after the Spanish Super Cup final match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid: Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid Cuts Down Its Fall Guy

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Israel Daramola

Pittsburgh Steelers v Cleveland Browns – NFL 2025

The Steel Curtain Finally Falls On Mike Tomlin

Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo looks on during the NFL Wild Card game between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on January 11th, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

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