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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

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

Funbag

How Do I Get My Lazy Teen To Pick A College?

The author can be reached at postpostdoc@protonmail.com.

Post-Postdoc

Mech Mind automatic vending robot gives a thumbs-up after fetching beverages from a shelf at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance on July 27, 2025 in Shanghai, China.

The Machines

Something Of Moderate Size And Importance Is Happening

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

Is ‘Industry’ Losing Its Edge?

Hannah Seo

What Should Recorded Musicals Do?

Samer Kalaf

Interviews

Cherien Dabis Discusses The Challenges Of Writing, Filming, And Distributing A Palestinian Movie

Ray Ratto

Casey Wasserman speaks at a 2028 Olympics event

Olympics

The Winter Olympics’ Sour Ending Was Just A Preview For Summer 2028

Dave McKenna

The Fights

One Big Punch Keeps Ryan Garcia’s Career Afloat

Tom Ley

Kash Patel watches the gold medal hockey game

Kash Patel Thinks He’s On The Team

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 1: Guest and Jeffrey Epstein attend the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Plaza Hotel on August 1, 1995 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Capital

Jeffrey Epstein And His Network Of Rich Freaks Were Obsessed With The Chiropractor

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Harry Ford #5 of the Seattle Mariners raises the celebratory team trident after the game against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on September 11, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners won 7-6 in 12 innings.

Crosswords

The Crossword, Feb. 23: It’s An Art,  Not A Science (Themeless)

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck of United States celebrates winning the gold medal during the Ice Hockey Men's Gold Medal Game match between Canada and USA on day sixteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Team USA Had The Golden Goalie

Maya Goldberg-Safir writes about women’s basketball and splits her time between Chicago and Oakland, where she was born and raised. She is the creator of <a href="https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/">Rough Notes</a>, a newsletter chronicling women’s basketball from the court, the road, and the heart.

Maya Goldberg-Safir

Women's Basketball

Cardte Hicks Played Above The Rim And Ahead Of Her Time

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

the ancient fish Haikouichthys, which resembles a blue noodle with four eyes

Creaturefector

Finally! An Ancient Fish That Understood Life’s Terrors

Gold medalist Loic Meillard of Team Switzerland, Silver medalist Fabio Gstrein of Team Austria and Bronze medalist Henrik Kristoffersen of Team Norway celebrate by taking a victory selfie on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's Slalom Run

It’s Time To Get Cozy At The Podium

Lauren Theisen

Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates after their gold-medal win

Jack Hughes Sheds Blood And Teeth For His Country, U.S. Wins Olympic Gold

Mikhail Shaidorov Celebrated Gold By Skating In A Panda Suit

Megan Keller #5 (R) of Team United States celebrates scoring a goal with teammates Hannah Bilka #23 (C) and Hilary Knight #21 (L) in the first period during the Women's Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Czechia on Day minus one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on February 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

Still Country For Old Women

Harry Krinsky is a producer and media consultant living in Brooklyn. He is the cohost of <a href="https://defector.com/tag/nothing-but-respect">Nothing But Respect</a>.

Harry Krinsky

Rich Paul stands in front of a white board

Media Meltdowns

Rich Paul’s Podcast Was Built To Be Useless

Giri Nathan

Arif Mohd Khan of Team India reacts in the finish area after competing in the Men's Slalom Run on day ten of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Stelvio Alpine Skiing Centre on February 16, 2026 in Bormio, Italy. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Indian Skier Starts, Finishes Race

Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Patrick Dubuque

Phillippe Aumont of Team Canada pitches during Game 3 of Pool C between Team Great Britain and Team Canada at Chase Field on Sunday, March 12, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

A Season For Hope

Billy Haisley

Players of Arsenal look dejected after conceding a second goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 18, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England.

Soccer

Ohhhhhhhh, Arsenal

Kathryn Xu

Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in Women's Single Skating - Free Skating.

Alysa Liu Is Untouchable

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 19: Megan Keller #5 of Team United States celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal to win the gold medals in the overtime during the Women's Gold Medal match between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Team USA’s Gold Is Sweeter For The Struggle

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Margot Robbie's mouth, with a hand over it.

Emerald Fennell Now Going Moor-To-Moor Trying To Shock People

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 11: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center on February 11, 2026 in Houston, 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 Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

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