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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

Al Michaels looks at an iPhone prior to the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau on November 17, 2022.

Media Meltdowns

AI Is Now Advanced Enough To Blow Al Michaels’s Mind

Mr. Met cheers during game two of a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets at Citi Field on August 12, 2023 in New York City.

Podcasts

Mr. Met Has Fallen Down The Stairs

Gourmet specialty donuts are being displayed at a shop in Unionville, Ontario, Canada, on June 03, 2023.

100 Foods To Throw In The Garbage, With Megan Greenwell

Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann stand during a private ceremony for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on September 23, 2020

Politics

Two Bad Neighbors

Luka Doncic making a very silly WHOOO face after the Mavericks defeated the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Western Conference Finals. He's got a hat on.

Garlic Shrimp And Slovenian Timelords, With Ray Ratto

Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks during the Stanford Business, Government, and Society Forum at Stanford University in April of 2024.

The Machines

Google’s Got Nothing But Wrong Answers

Closeup view of butter roll. It's a stock photo.

The State Of The Website And The Two Types Of Butter

Luka Doncic exults/leers in the direction of Minnesota center Rudy Gobert after hitting the game three-pointer over him in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Luka's really wet-looking.

Deal With It

Paul Schrader attends the "Oh, Canada" press conference ahead of the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2024 in Cannes, France.

Staying On Paul Schrader’s Good Side, With Stephen Rodrick

A Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicle sits parked next to a garbage truck in Los Angeles.

Life's Rich Pageant

Have You Seen A Cybertruck Yet?

Harrison Butker wearing a knit cap and a cowl while warming up on the field in cold temperatures before the Chiefs' January 13, 2024 Wild Card game.

Harrison Butker Overestimates His Range

Caitlin Clark disputing a call during her first WNBA game, a loss to the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 14, 2024,

When The Planes Become Available, With Maitreyi Anantharaman

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Kelsey McKinney

Giri Nathan

Patrick Redford

A photographer of author James Baldwin smoking a cigarette.

Defector Reads A Book

Come And Sit By ‘The Fire Next Time’ With Defector Reads A Book

Carson Fulmer of the Angels looks faintly dyspeptic on the mound during an April 16 game at Tampa Bay.

It Has Seldom Been More Los Angeles Angels Than It Is Right Now

Steve Albini performs with his band Shellac at the FYF Fest in Los Angeles in 2016.

Music

Everyone Has A Steve Albini Album

A black-and-white 1970 photograph of Hall & Oates looking out the window of an apartment building, taken by Michael Ochs. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

Marriage Lore And A Song About Pissing

Willson Contreras of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts/screams after getting hit with a J.D. Martinez swing in a game on May 7, 2024.

Willson Contreras Broke His Arm In The Small Margins

Josh McRoberts of the Miami Heat attacks the hoop in a game agains the Blazers at the Moda Center in Portland in December of 2016.

Josh McRoberts Reconsidered, With Rohan Nadkarni

A group of Columbia University students, advocating for Palestinians, access the iconic Hamilton Hall building as they gather to stage a demonstration at the campus in New York, United States on April 30, 2024. Protests are sweeping college campuses across the US following a police attempt to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University, resulting in the arrest of over 100 students. Columbia University asked students on Monday to 'voluntarily disperse' amid stalled talks, threatening the students with suspension.

Journalismism

They Are Insecure For A Reason

Drake Maye wears "Draft Me" sunglasses during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Data, Romance, And The NFL Draft, With Alec Lewis

Yankees manager Aaron Boone argues with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after being ejected in the first inning of his team's game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on April 22, 2024 in New York City.

Aaron Boone Gets Ejected For Whatever Some Fan Yelled At Hunter Wendelstedt

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on April 9, 2024. I put the little Distraction logo at upper right so it looks like he's glowering at it.

We’re All Lifelong Nuggets Fans Here, With Patrick Redford

New York City Mayor Eric Adams smiles and gives a thumbs-up at an MTA event in January of 2023.

Capital

Does It Matter That AI Doesn’t Work?

Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers pitches in a game against the Yankees in May of 2010. The facial hair is outrageous.

Make Gambling Embarrassing Again, With Justin Halpern

Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco strikes a prayerful gesture after getting the last out of his no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.