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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 18, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Dylan Harper Demands Your Attention

Lauren Theisen

1940s Helpful Department Store Saleswoman Holding A Dress For Ctomer Wearing A Hat With Coat And Handbag Over Her Arm

Life Lessons

How To Dress To Change Your Life

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

People take part in a No Stage For Genocide protest to demonstrate against Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria. Picture date: Saturday May 16, 2026. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)

Politics

Eurovision Is Running Out Of Time

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces handles the ball during the WNBA game between Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun on May 15, 2026, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

WNBA

Who Can Keep Up With Chennedy Carter?

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Victor Wembanyama dunks over Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams

My God, Victor Wembanyama

Ray Ratto

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MAY 18: Alex Newhook #15 of the Montréal Canadiens celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during overtime in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center on May 18, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images)

The Canadiens Must Be Blessed

Samer Kalaf

Oklahoma City Thunder mascot Bison performs during a break in play

Journalismism

Oklahoma Newspaper Deletes Column Comparing Thunder To Israel

Dave McKenna

Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey pose with Jake Paul

The Fights

Ronda Rousey And Gina Carano Deliver Shittiest Women’s MMA Fight In History

Patrick Redford

US President Donald Trump (L) meets with China’s President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of their visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15, 2026. (Photo by Evan Vucci / POOL / AFP)

Donald Trump Is Stealing Your Money

Kathryn Xu

Italy's Jannik Sinner holds the trophy after winning the men's final of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament.

Tennis

Who Will Beat Jannik Sinner?

Activists unfurl a large banner reading "SAVE AMERICA DEPORT 100+ MILLION" in the stands at Nationals Park

White Genocide Conspiracy Freaks Flee Nationals Game After Banner Stunt

Christian Koss #50 of the San Francisco Giants gets a gatorade bath after the game at Oracle Park at Oracle Park on September 8, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

Crosswords

The Crossword, May 18: One In A Million

Barry Petchesky

PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 24: Tom Dundon, Portland Trail Blazers owner, looks on before Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Moda Center on April 24, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images)

New Blazers Owner Tom Dundon Not Exactly Inspiring Confidence

Policing

Five Years After Peyton Ham’s Killing, Lawsuit Against State Trooper Who Shot Him Lives On

Tom Ley

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Pistons Did Everything Wrong

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

Diana Moskovitz

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on in the dugout during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the Los Angeles Angels on May 16, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. He has a smile on his face.

Shohei Ohtani Adds “Little League Home Run” To His Résumé

BLOCKHAUS, ITALY - MAY 15: Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike celebrates at podium as stage winner during the 109th Giro d'Italia 2026, Stage 7 a 244km stage from Formia to Blockhaus 1658m / #UCIWT / on May 15, 2026 in Blockhaus, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Cycling

Jonas Vingegaard And The Impossible Standard

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) embrace after the Spurs defeated the Timberwolves 139-109 in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals to clinch the series at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. on Friday, May 15, 2026. ]

These NBA Playoffs Have Been Fantastic

Defector Staff

Announcements

Defector Numbers Guy Sean Kuhn Called Up To Big Leagues

A picture taken on September 6, 2021 shows the reconstruction of the face of the oldest Neanderthal found in the Netherlands, nicknamed Krijn, on display at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden. - - Netherlands OUT (Photo by Bart Maat / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by BART MAAT/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Science

Would You Want This Guy As Your Dentist?

Lindsey Adler is a writer based in Brooklyn. She exclusively covered sports for a decade but has other interests, too.

Lindsey Adler

Arts And Culture

Consider The Sister

Tony Dokoupil at the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

Media Meltdowns

Tony Dokoupil Flew 8,000 Miles Just To Eat More Shit

David Roth

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs on May 12, 2026.

Podcasts

The “Too Large” Gesture, With Patrick Redford

Mark Vientos of the New York Mets attempts to force out Zach McKinstry #39 of the Detroit Tigers after a fielding error during the sixth inning at Citi Field on May 13, 2026.

Mark Vientos Just Kind Of Falling Down Tells The Story Of The Mets’ Season

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 13: Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries smiles on the side of the court during the first half of their game against the Chicago Sky at Chase Center on May 13, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)