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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

Albert Burneko

Arts And Culture

Making A Great Fantasy Map Is An Art, And Ross Douthat Sucks At It


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Sabrina Imbler

Creaturefector

Would You Rather Have Sex Or Live Forever?

Patrick Redford

Michael Porter Jr. Again Stands Athwart History, Saying “Damn, That’s Crazy”

<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

People in the cinema auditorium with empty white screen.

Jamboroo

What Makes A Good Critic?

Lauren Theisen

Politics

Only One Michigan Senate Candidate Knows Puck

Mathias Fuelling

Books

Francis Fukuyama Is The Last Grandpa

Kelsey McKinney

Sally Rooney Stands By Her Principles

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Emily Fox (L) of USA in action against Lucia Corrales (17) of Spain

Soccer

Spain Reminds The USWNT Where They Stand

Patrick Wyman

Warhammer 40K Is Cool

1947: An altar boy kneeling at the altar of a cathedral in post-war Vienna.

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Talk To My Kid About Religion?

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between Atletico de Madrid and Manchester United at Estadio Metropolitano on October 13, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.

Manchester United Is Eating Itself Alive

Giri Nathan

New York Knicks owner James Dolan is interviewed by Ernie Johnson Jr. after his team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Punch Bowl Now More Turd Than Punch

Ray Ratto

Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after committing an error that scored Victor Mesa Jr. #25 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning in game two of the American League Championship Series on October 13, 2026. He does not look happy.

Good Baseball Isn’t Necessarily Beautiful

Podcasts

The Verdict Is In: Bo Nix Stinks

Tom Ley

Brian Flores’s Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Reveals Racist Recruiting Memo


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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

Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the New York Jets during the third quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Tyreek Hill Found Liable For Two Counts Of Battery

Birdfector

I Met The Twee Bird That Ruffled Kelly Clarkson’s Feathers

Maitreyi Anantharaman

The Atlanta Dream celebrate a 101-98 win over the New York Liberty during overtime of game two of the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs at State Farm Arena on October 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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.

WNBA

WNBA Capably Solves Logistical Problem

Kathryn Xu

Director Matt Reeves speaks with the logo from his movie "The Batman" in the background during the “The State of the Industry” and Neon Studio presentation.

This Is So Stupid

It’s Normal To Have Watched ‘The Batman’ Roughly Eight Times

Funbag

My Darkest Confession: Stone Temple Pilots Was A Great Band

What The Steve Ballmer Scandal Says About Sports Media

Samer Kalaf

Christine Brennan during an interview with Katie Couric

Journalismism

Christine Brennan Has Not Fully Lost It, According To Christine Brennan In Two Baffling Phone Calls

Jade Gu

‘Fallow’ Explores A World Where Big Tech Has Disrupted Pregnancy

Barry Petchesky

The telescopes at Maunakea sit calmly beneath a sky filled with extraordinary light. Amongst these telescopes is Gemini North, the northern member of the international Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF NOIRLab. Gemini North sits at an altitude of around 4200 meters (13,800 feet). Not only does this altitude facilitate world-class astronomical observations, but Gemini North’s nighttime Cloudcams were able to capture the extraordinary light phenomena seen on the right side of the image. The column of blue and red lights surrounded by a bright blaze of white light appears so otherworldly that it looks like it must be a special effect. This breathtaking image, however, is entirely real. It features the lightning phenomena named a red sprite. Red sprites are distinctive because of their color, and also the direction in which they strike. The red and blue lights are shooting down from 50-90 kilometers toward the top of the cloud deck. It is extremely rare to capture these phenomena on camera and even more so from this unique perspective. This image was taken on 24 July 2017.