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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

1950s woman at work. A young woman is standing on a ladder in an archive with shelfes filled with folders containing documents.

Life Lessons

How Can I Hang On To My Digital Life?

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

Arts And Culture

Catapult Elizabeth Koch Into The Sun

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Paul's flatbreads, shown at the start of the technical challenge.

Food

The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Fails To Rise For Bread Week

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rubs his eye

Science

The U.S.-Funded Plan To Kill Infants In Africa By Withholding Vaccines Has Been Thwarted

Brandy Jensen

Martin Mull Was A Good Painter And A Great Documentary Subject

Ray Ratto

Detailed look at the mask worn by Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets April 4, 2026.

The Connor Hellebuyck Showdown Is About To Get Expensive For The Jets

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Rhyne Howard #10 of the Atlanta Dream steals the ball from Laeticia Amihere #3 of the Golden State Valkyries during the first half at Chase Center on June 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

WNBA

These WNBA Finals Are Made Of Steal

Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run in the seventh inning during Game Six of the American League Championship Series. He's got his hand up to his ear.

Here Comes The Fun Part

Dave McKenna

Life's Rich Pageant

Let Us Know If You’ve Seen Sponge’s Stolen Guitars

Adam Fleming Petty

Books

Brian Evenson Will Mess With Your Head

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

Jamboroo

A Cool Night

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

Giri Nathan

Defector’s Completely Decentralized NBA Season Preview Has Now Been Recentralized

Guard Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reqacts after a foul by forward Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors as guard Brandon Williams #12 of the Golden State Warriors tries seperate in the first half of a NBA playoff basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Basketball Game Interrupts Shit-Talk Session Between Luka Doncic And Yaxel Lendeborg

Culture Writer

Israel Daramola

Killer Mike on the Vic Mensa show talking all kinds of nonsense

Listening Habits

It’s Hard To Be A Rich Radical

David Roth

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during a rally with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Covelli Centre on October 12, 2026 in Youngstown, Ohio. Trump's kind of looming in the background here.

Politics

Vivek Ramaswamy Is Going After The Abusive Parent Vote

Imran Zaidi

Aaron Sorkin Wants To Pretend The Good Guys Won

Barry Petchesky

OTTAWA, Canada - OCTOBER 21: Brady Tkachuk #8 of the Florida Panthers celebrates his first period goal against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on October 21, 2026 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

Ottawa Vs. Brady Tkachuk Was Fantastic Theater

Tom Ley

The Dream Are Making Bully Ball Literal

Luis Paez-Pumar

Signage for Electronic Arts on the outside of an office building on January 31, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. EA Sports is the creator of Madden NFL 25 and College Football 25.

Video Games

BioWare Becomes First Major Casualty Of Saudi Arabia’s EA Takeover

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 13: Jordan Elliott #95 of the Tennessee Titans walks to the locker room after a preseason NFL game on August 13, 2026 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Robert Saleh Says Jordan Elliott Needs Help, Not Condemnation

Osita Nwanevu

‘Digger’ Is Smug, Cynical, And Perfectly Timed

Young boys playing flag football react after fumbling the ball during a game.

Minor Dilemmas

How Do I Stop My Kid From Crashing Out Over Trying New Activities?

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)