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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

David Roth

Exhaust fumes adding to the air pollution in Santiago, Chile, in 1962.

Podcasts

Another Side Of Carbon Dioxide, With Peter Brannen

A general view of the OU logo and signage for 50 Conference Championships, 7 National Championships, and 31 Bowl Championships on June 8, 2025, on the facade of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK.

Politics

The Conservative Grievance Business Is Always Hiring

A barn near Litchfield, Connecticut. It is painted in a faded red, and there's an American flag painted on the front of it. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

A Long Weekend In “Magary Country”

Red-legged Pademelon in the rainforest, Daintree, Queensland, Australia.

A Big World Full Of Friendly Little Guys, With Nathan Thornburgh

This December 16, 2016 photo illustration taken in Washington, DC. shows the definition for the word "Surreal" in a copy of the Webster's Desktop Dictionary.

The Man Who Defined “Sheeple,” With Stefan Fatsis

A screenshot of Matt Damon getting bad news from Paddy Considine in The Bourne Supremacy. The Distraction logo is at lower left.

Pretending To Be Someone Else In An Uber, With Rohan Nadkarni

Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers turns a game-ending double play to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in Game Seven of the 2025 World Series.

The Dodgers Never Had It Made

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during Game Five of the 2025 World Series. The Distraction logo is at upper left and the light above the stadium is lovely.

I Like To Get A Solid 12 Hours

Terry Bradshaw (left) and Howie Long (right) on the set of the Fox NFL Sunday broadcast. Cleatus the Robot is in the background. Bradshaw is telling a story about texting someone he thought was Andy Reid and getting offered a chance to buy some pigs.

Terry Bradshaw: A Man I Believed To Be Andy Reid Recently Tried To Sell Me Pigs

Shohei Ohtani rs rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The Distraction logo is at upper left.

No That’s Too Good, With Justin Halpern

Kurt Suzuki, left, takes questions after being announced as the new manager of the Los Angeles Angels by General Manager Perry Minasian during a press conference at the stadium in Anaheim, CA on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. He looks kind of freaked out.

Congratulations Kurt Suzuki, You Get To Manage The Opossum House

Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner seen in a blue sweatshirt on a boat in an image from his campaign ad. He has red hair and a beard.

What Job Is A Guy With A Nazi Tattoo Qualified For?

Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on October 13, 2025 in Landover, Maryland.

The Most Difficult Job In The World, With Seth Wickersham

People walk past an installation showcasing the Riyadh Comedy Festival at Boulevard City in the Hittin neighborhood of Riyadh on October 6, 2025. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Maxing Out The Candle Budget, With Eli Yudin

Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on September 14, 2025. The Distraction logo is at upper left.

Analytics, Feel, And The Bathroom Sandwich Scenario, With Andy Behrens And Christopher Harris

Holland Roden, Joe Pantoliano, and Matthew Daddario sitting on a very Hallmark movie coach, all admiring a little Buffalo Bills ornament that Pantoliano (in a Bills hat and goatee) has received from an anonymous benefactor. It's from the trailer of Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.

The Hallmark Channel And The Buffalo Bills Encourage You To “Go For Four”

Jalen Hurts looking thoughtful after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Kansas City. The Distraction logo is at upper left.

Teaching Jalen Hurts How To Complain, With Dan McQuade

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller depart Union Station after meeting with federal law enforcement officers on August 20, 2025.

The United States Of Snitches

of the New York Mets heads to home plate to celebrate with teammates after hitting a home run for a walk off win in the bottom of the 10th against the Texas Rangers at Citi Field on September 14, 2025.

How To Go To A Mets Game

General manager Ryan Poles of the Chicago Bears looks on prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on November 17, 2024. He is scowling under a hoodie.

Management Secrets Of Assholes, And Five Years Of Defector

Mikol Furneaux(L) waves two packages of Windows 95 software in the first store in Australia to sell the product at midnight 24 August. Microsoft hopes to sell between 20 and 30 million copies of the software world wide by the end of 1995. This photo has been edited to insert Defector "Remember Some Guys" baseball cards in the image

Announcements

Relive Our Week Of Remembering The Guys Of The 21st Century

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens participates in warmups prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Fun Kind Of Bad Vs. The Boring Kind Of Good, With Mina Kimes

Defector And Immaculate Grid Present: The Guys Of The 21st Century

A screengrab from Mark Teixeira's website for his congressional run. He's holding out a baseball and grinning and wearing a tight red golf shirt. It looks like an ad for a real estate agency.

Mark Teixeira Is Ready To Do Whatever It Is Congress Guys Have To Do

Justin Jefferson wearing sunglasses and looking up and to the left, smiling widely. He's not in uniform. I put the little Defector logo up there so it looks like he's smiling at it.