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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

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Various trinkets with a chain and padlock superimposed over them

Under The Influence

Trinket Box Purveyors Are Melting Down

Samer Kalaf

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Mike Pennel Jr. (69) before an NFL game

Journalismism

ESPN Retracts Article About NFL Player And Dead Woman In Dominican Republic

Luis Paez-Pumar

Julian Quinones #16 of Mexico is thrown in the air by team mates as they celebrate after the team's victory and progression to the Round of 16 after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.

Soccer

There’s No Team Scarier Than Mexico At The Azteca

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


Chris Thompson

Willson Contreras is restrained by like 11 different dudes.

Cade Cavalli Insists There Was Nothing Racist About Calling Willson Contreras “Boy”

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


Sabrina Imbler

KENYA - 2018/08/19: A Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Creaturefector

Gracie The Giraffe Is Back Home. Now Rich Guys Can Buy Her.

<div>John Garrison Marks is a historian and writer who explores how Americans engage with the past. He is the author of <i><a href="https://uncpress.org/9781469693521/thy-will-be-done/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://uncpress.org/9781469693521/thy-will-be-done/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781017423627000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1jL0F6t9RI1FoZYDei0VCw">Thy Will Be Done: George Washington&#8217;s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory</a>.</i> He&#8217;s on Bluesky at <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/johngmarks.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/johngmarks.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781017423627000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0S-WpY5TzWTHvzMhKssu2S">@johngmarks.com</a>.</div>
<div></div>


John Garrison Marks

A drawing of the State of Liberty wearing a bunch of cheaply made America250 merchandise.

Life's Rich Pageant

“We Hold These Truds”: A Search For The Weirdest Piece Of America 250 Merchandise


<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

A protester supporting transgender athletes competing in women's sports holds a transgender pride flag outside the Supreme Court on January 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. The protestor is wearing a crown similar to the Statue of Liberty.

Politics

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Bans On Trans Athletes In School Sports

Patrick Redford

TIGNES, FRANCE - JULY 26: UCI Commissaire Tour De France and Thierry Gouvenou of France TDF Race director / Stage neutralized - canceled due to snow and hail in the final 20km to finish-line / during the 106th Tour de France 2019, Stage 19 a 126,5km stage from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Tignes 2113m / TDF / #TDF2019 / @LeTour / on July 26, 2019 in Tignes, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Cycling

Why The Tour de France Route Is Different Every Single Year

Sarah Borus

Texas Rangers second baseman Cameron Cauley (27), in his major league debut, reacts after hitting a triple for his first major league hit during the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians on June 29, 2026

You’re Going To Have To Care About The AL’s Snooziest Teams

<p>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 <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Erling Haaland watches a ball fly over the heads of Ivory Coast players

Funbag

A Clueless Soccer Guy’s Favorite World Cup Things

Israel Daramola

What’s Going On With Brandon Aiyuk?

Tom Ley

Ronald Koeman puts his face in his hand while watching his team lose

World Cup Recrimination Is The Best Recrimination

Sohini Desai

Colombia's singer Shakira holds the Jo'bulani football that will be used for the final of the tournament during a press conference on July 10, 2010 at Soccer City Stadium in Soweto, South Africa.

A Brief History Of The World Cup Song

Sophie Abromowitz

Life Lessons

Finding Friends, Legacy, And Leather Sluts At New Jersey’s Finest Holiday Inn

Media Meltdowns

One Of Dianna Russini’s Funny Little Stories Was A Big Fat Fib

Orlando Gill #12 of Paraguay celebrates after saving the sixth penalty by Jonathan Tah #4 of Germany in a penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Mr. Nagelsmann, Tear Down This Meat Wall!

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) looks on before the NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings on October 20, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.

Lions Cut Terrion Arnold After Judge Sets Bail In Criminal Case At $1 Million

Ray Ratto

LeBron James speaks with Stephen Curry following a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors

It’s Time To Daydream About LeBron On The Warriors

A box of colorful friendship bracelets outside a Taylor Swift concert, the Try Hard podcast show art sits ontop of the image.

Podcasts

There Is No Simple Trick To Making Friends As An Adult

BEAUFORT, FRANCE - JUNE 14: (L-R) Paul Seixas of France and Team Decathlon CMA CGM and Isaac Del Toro of Mexico and UAE Team Emirates - XRG prior to the 78th Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes 2026, Stage 8 a 120.1km stage from Beaufort to Plateau de Solaison - Brison 1497m / #UCIWT / on June 14, 2026 in Beaufort, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

The Tour de France Is For The Children

Lauren Theisen

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 02: San Jose Sharks mascot "S.J. Sharkie" celebrates in a Pride jersey after a win in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 2, 2026 at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Sharks Just Got A Lot Better, And Larger

Malik Beasley Charged With Bribery, Money Laundering, And Wire Fraud In Alleged Prop-Bet Scheme

Barry Petchesky

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 28: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off single during the tenth inning of a game against the New York Yankees on June 28, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

The Yankees Had A Wretched Weekend In Boston

Maitreyi Anantharaman

American musician violist Richard O’Neill performs onstage as member of Takacs Quartet during Musica Insieme at Manzoni Theater on March 16, 2026 in Bologna, Italy.

Crosswords

The Crossword, June 29: Cooler Heads (Themeless)

Billy Haisley

Yoane Wissa of Congo DR celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Congo DR and Uzbekistan.