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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

Storm drain on street during Tropical Storm Hilary. August 19, 2023.

Podcasts

A User Guide To Feeling Bad

Republican Vice Presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) attends the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee.

Wings Week

Donald Trump Selects His Wingman

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Brandy Jensen

Kelsey McKinney

Patrick Redford

Close-up of northern goshawk of prey perching on branch,Spain

Let Loose The Jesses And Come Discuss ‘H Is For Hawk’ With Us

Dave Lumley of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL Hockey game circa 1981 at the Montreal Forum.

Jurassic Hockey And Sticky Stuff, With Ray Ratto

Arts And Culture

The City Lives In The Earth Room

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.

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

Giri Nathan

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.