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Defector

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Podcaster Alex Cooper poses before a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 26, 2024

Journalismism

For Wondery And SiriusXM, Spending Big Isn’t The Same As Thinking Big

Food

Consider: Gatorwine

An old black and white photo of women looking around suspiciously

Under The Influence

In Snark Forums, Fans Are Haters And Haters Are Friends

A woman with long brown hair stands in an art gallery, wearing a white lace dress with a brown belt. Behind her are framed photographs on dark walls, featuring various interior scenes. She smiles, looking at the camera.

Arts And Culture

Anna Marie Tendler Trusts You’ll Know Who She’s Talking About

A woman sticks her thumb down next to a skincare product and records the scene with an iPhone (posed scene). Product tips on Instagram or Tiktok are often paid advertising. "Deinfluencers" actively advise against buying if they are not convinced of the quality.

Local Girlbosses Lose Pyramid-Shaped Business Model

Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) walks out with his wife Usha Vance to speak during a rally with running mate U.S. Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald Trump.

Politics

JD Vance, Who Loves His Wife Usha By The Way, Wants To Make Sure You Know He’s Not Racist

Kareem Maddox of the USA throws during the mens pool play match between Austria and the USA on Day 4 of the FIBA 3x3 World cup at Rathausplatz on June 2, 2023 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Andrea Kareth /SEPA.Media /Getty Images)

Olympics

How Kareem Maddox Went From Public Radio To The Olympic Stage

A trio of TikTok screenshots: "5 ways your FACE indicates Cortisol is High"; "4 SSIGNS YOUR BELLY FAT IS CAUSED BY A HORMONE IMBALANCE From a hormone nutritionist"; 6 SIGNS you may have HORMONAL IMBALANCE"

This Summer’s Hottest Ailment Is Hormone Anxiety

Wings Week

BuzzFeed Is The Reason It Can’t Sell ‘Hot Ones’

a group of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders practice outside

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: It’s Time To Unionize

Players give high-fives after the National Anthem before an NWSL match between the Portland Thorns and Kansas City Current on June 23, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.

Soccer

The NWSL Took Me Back

New Yorkers watch the 2024 Presidential Debate between Trump and Biden in New York City, United States on June 27, 2024.

Without Fact-Checking, A Presidential Debate Is Just TV

The Podcast Industry Has Learned Nothing

The words "girl's girl" appear in the Charli XCX Brat font, on a Brat-green background.

Charli XCX, Lorde, And The Trap Of The “Girl’s Girl”

Women sit under hair dryers in a Paris beauty shop, smoking and reading magazines while their hair dries.

Life Lessons

You Should Cut Your Own Hair

Kelsey McKinney


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Sabrina Imbler

A young woman in a swimsuit and sun hat poses with a drink at the edge of a pool

Announcements

The Normal Gossip Summer Guide To Eavesdropping

South African singer and songwriter Tyla arrives for the 2024 Met Gala in a Balmain gown meant to evoke sand in an hourglass. She is being helped by a procession of men in tuxedos who are holding the train of her gown in order for her to walk.

How Do You Compartmentalize The Spectacle?

Singer JoJo Siwa on the red carpet entering the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Hollywood, wearing a black and silver sequins outfit reminiscent of Gene Simmons from the band Kiss.

When You Eat Poison Long Enough, It Starts To Taste Good

A photo showing an ear bud resting on the screen of a smartphone showing the Spotify music app.

Capital

If You Love Podcasts, Dump Spotify

AMMAN, JORDAN - 1990: Following Iraq's occupation of Kuwait in August 1990, journalists from CNN waiting for an attack on Iraq by United Nations authorized military coalition force, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Amman, Jordan, on December 15, 1990. Although there were 34 member states of the coalition, the overwhelming majority of the military forces participating were from the United States and the United Kingdom. On January 17, 1991 the coalition launched a massive air campaign which began the general offensive codenamed Operation Desert Storm with more than 1,000 sorties launching per day. The Persian Gulf War ended on February 28, 1991. (Photo by Dario Mitidieri/Getty Images)

You Never Get The Full Story

A black Coach purse alongside purse restoration tools on a table.

A Purse For Whatever Woman You Want To Be

Patrick Redford

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Giri Nathan

The cover of Esther Yi's novel Y/N, featuring a woman dancing near a mirror.

Defector Reads A Book

Uncoil Your Neck, Turn Down The Cicadas, And Come Chat About ‘Y/N’ With Us

OZY Media founder Carlos Watson sitting onstage during a conversation at Carnegie Hall for an event by History Channel February 29, 2020 in New York City.

Who Is Giving Carlos Watson Money Now?

Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott standing onstage, all very normally, at a GOP primary debate in Miami.

These Debates Don’t Matter

Luis Paez-Pumar

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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

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage during Taylor Swift The 1989 World Tour Live In Los Angeles at Staples Center on August 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.