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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

Defector Staff

A photo of a bunch of old-timey green barstools with the cover of the NYRB Classics edition of Robert Coover's Universal Baseball Association in the middle and the Defector Reads A Book logo at left.

Defector Reads A Book

There Is A Whole World In ‘The Universal Baseball Association, Inc. J. Henry Waugh, Prop.’

The cast of Our Gang/The Little Rascals singing, circa 1930.

Defector Up All Night

Hey! Over Here! Come Chat With The Defector Staff

Jeff Probst and the immunity idol during the Survivor 50 season finale

And So We Arrive, Starving And Exhausted, At The Defector ‘Survivor 50’ Finale Questionnaire

Announcements

Defector Numbers Guy Sean Kuhn Called Up To Big Leagues

Hark! Follow The Sounding Of The Horns To The 2026 NBA Playoff Preview

Pictured L to R: Aubry Bracco, Genevieve Mushaluk, Christian Hubicki, Joe Hunter, Rick Devens, Dee Valladares, Cirie Fields, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Colby Donaldson, Emily Flippen, Chrissy Hofbeck, Tiffany Ervin, Kamilla Karthigesu, Jonathan Young and Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick.

Welcome To The Defector ‘Survivor 50’ Midseason Questionnaire

We Have A New Culture Newsletter

Undated group photo of the original "Our Gang."

Staff Chat

Come One, Come All, And Ask The Defector Staff Some Questions

“Epic Party” – 24 returning players are abandoned on the islands of Fiji for a monumental 50th season, with the chance to win $1 million. The theme of the season, “In the Hands of the Fans,” quickly materializes as decisions from the fan vote swiftly and forcefully impact the game. Castaways reflect on how much they have changed since the last time they played the game. Then, an unforeseen injury during the first immunity challenge causes tribemates to rethink their attack strategy in order to support their team member, on the historic three-hour season premiere of SURVIVOR 50, Wednesday, Feb. 25 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Jeff Probst serves as host and executive producer. Pictured L to R. Tiffany Ervin, Dee Valladares, Ozzy Lusth, Joe Hunter, Angelina Keeley, Charlie Davis, Rizo Velovic, Christian Hubicki, Genevieve Mushaluk, Chrissy Hofbeck, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Emily Flippen, Kamilla Karthigesu, Savannah Louie, Kyle Fraser, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Rick Devens, Mike White, Cirie Fields, Aubry Bracco, Colby Donaldson, Jonathan Young, Q Burdette and Benjamin "Coach" Wade.

An Extensive And Exhaustive Player-By-Player Preview Of ‘Survivor 50’

Defector Wuthers Some Heights

What We Loved About Dan McQuade

Austrian fortune-telling cards from a pack of 32, showing acorns, hearts, bells and leaves.

Underexplained Lists

Underexplained Predictions For 2026

31st December 1931: New Year's Eve revellers at the Piccadilly Hotel in London.

Here’s An Open Thread To Help Ring In The New Year

Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Prime Minister Goran Persson attend the Nobel Banquet at Stockholm City Hall, Sweden, 10 December 2003.

Year In Review

The Best Things We Ate In 2025

The Best Things We Read In 2025

Early gramophone in photo on Norwegian postcard of young people listening to record on a gramophone, early thirties.

The Best Things We Heard In 2025

Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931) experimenting with the first motion picture machine. B/W photo,1905.

The Best Things We Saw In 2025

Fans cheer as Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Our Favorite Sports Moments Of 2025

American director, producer, and actor Rob Reiner gestures near a camera while crew members surround him outdoors on the set of his film, 'North.'

Arts And Culture

Defector’s Favorite Rob Reiner Credits

An illustration of the back of a bus with several website logos on it

Give A Gift That Doesn’t Suck, Get A Gift That Doesn’t Suck

The Time To Chat With The Defector Staff Is Once Again Upon Us

Help Secure Our Financial Independence By Infiltrating The Great Blogger Bake Shop

Singer D'Angelo (born Michael Eugene Archer) performs on stage at the Aire Crown Theater, Chicago, Illinois, April 4, 2000.

The Defector D’Angelo Mixtape

The Blog Of The South

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates in the locker room after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 to clinch the National League West title.