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Defector

Patrick Redford

Referee Eric Lewis #42 looks on during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors during the Western Conference Semi Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBA Referee Eric Lewis Abruptly Retires Before Twitter Burner Drama Can Be Resolved

US international grandmaster Hans Niemann waits his turn to move during a second-round chess game against Jeffery Xiong on the second day of the Saint Louis Chess Club Fall Chess Classic in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 6, 2022. - Niemann said on October 5 that he "won't back down," after the chess platform chess.com reported he has "probably cheated more than 100 times" in online games. (Photo by Tim Vizer / AFP) (Photo by TIM VIZER/AFP via Getty Images)

Chess

Hans Niemann And Magnus Carlsen Announce A Reluctant Ceasefire

Team Bora ride during the first stage of the 2023 La Vuelta cycling tour of Spain, a 14,8 km team time-trial in Barcelona, on August 26, 2023. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

Cycling

The Opening Stages Of The Vuelta a España Have Been A Big Mess

The table with the chess board appears ready for the game between Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi on the first day of competition at the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament on June 17, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Miguel Pereira/Getty Images)

The International Chess Federation’s Argument For Banning Trans Women Gives The Game Away

Christian Pulisic of AC Milan during the Serie A Tim match between Bologna FC and AC Milan at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on August 21, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Defector Up All Night

Christian Pulisic Is So Back

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Mason Greenwood of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park on January 15, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

Soccer

Manchester United Changes Its Mind, Won’t Bring Back Mason Greenwood

Samer Kalaf

Chelsea Gray jumps in the air and celebrates as the Aces beat the Liberty.

WNBA

Upon Further Review, The Aces Have Not Met Their Match

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: Vlatko Andonovski, Head Coach of USA, speaks to the media in the post match press conference following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

It Is Mercifully Vlatkover

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Manchester United supporters protest against Mason Greenwood of Manchester United and the Glazers, owners of Manchester United, outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on August 14, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Manchester United Continues To Stumble Its Way Toward Reinstating Mason Greenwood

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 16: Cooper Flagg of Montverde (32) drives to the basket during the Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between Montverde Academy and Sunrise Christian on January 16, 2023 at Blake Arena in Springfield, MA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire)

Cooper Flagg Is A Real Guy That You Need To Know About

Santa Monica, CA - February 21: Passengers ride in an electric Jaguar I-Pace car outfitted with Waymo full self-driving technology in Santa Monica Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Capital

San Francisco Takes First Step Towards The Grim, Autonomous Future Of Transportation

WASHINGTON - MARCH 08: US Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas testifies before the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 8, 2007 in Washington, DC. Thomas and fellow Justice Anthony Kennedy spoke about concerns with the ongoing remodeling of the court building, the reduction of paperwork due to electronic media and the disparity of pay between federal judges and lawyers working in the private sector. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Clarence Thomas

Politics

Clarence Thomas Absolutely Loves Going On Vacations

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 26: A Northwestern Wildcats helmet is seen at Big Ten football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

College Football

If It’s Northwestern Against The World, Lay The Points

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 06: Gold medal winner Mathieu Van Der Poel of The Netherlands reacts after the 96th UCI Cycling World Championships Glasgow 2023, Men Elite Road Race a 271.1km one day race from Edinburgh to Glasgow / #UCIWT / on August 06, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

No Amount Of Pain Could Keep Mathieu van der Poel From His Masterpiece

A project engineer makes measurements on the coil form for the Baseball II superconducting magnet while his secretary records the measurements, 1972. (Photo via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).

Science

A Normal Person’s Guide To The Room-Temperature Superconductor Drama

2-time FIFA World Cup Winner and investor in NJ/NY Gotham FC emcees the World Cup Send Off for the players going to represent their countries in the 2023 FIFA World Cup after the National Women's Soccer League Match between the Chicago Red Stars and NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 25, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey.

Carli Lloyd Somehow Finds Invalid Criticism For Team That Did Everything Wrong

Media Meltdowns

Pat McAfee: My Dumb Larry Nassar Joke Is Actually Investigative Journalisms

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Christian Wood looks on during the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic during the 2023 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 8, 2023 at the Thomas &amp; Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images)

Surely Christian Wood Still Has Something To Offer

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Giri Nathan

Barry Petchesky

Cover of All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. Yellow background. Defector reads a book badge.

Defector Reads A Book

Grab A Tortilla And Come Talk About All Of Cormac McCarthy’s Pretty Horses

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 23: (L-R) Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates on second place and race winner Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Team Jumbo-Visma - Yellow Leader Jersey pose on the podium ceremony after the stage twenty-one of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 11 5.1km stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris / #UCIWT / on July 23, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The Tour de France’s Best Rivalry Will Only Get Better

A photo with added illustration of Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder, with his tongue sticking waaaaay out to the side. As in, it almost reaches his jacket collar.

Dan Snyder Officially Out As Commanders Owner, Set To Spend Rest Of Life As Anonymous Tyrant

Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on October 30, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rick Osentoski/Getty Images)

Draymond Green Is Committed To Feuding, Even With A Fake Tweet

Jumbo-Visma's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard celebrates on the podium with the overall leader's yellow jersey after winning the 16th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 22 km individual time trial between Passy and Combloux, in the French Alps, on July 18, 2023. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

Jonas Vingegaard Smoked Everyone Else In A Masterful Time Trial

SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC, FRANCE - JULY 16: Yellow jersey, race leader Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Jumbo - Visma and White jersey of best young rider Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates cross the finish line of stage fifteen of the 110th Tour de France 2023, a 179km stage from Les Gets les Portes du Soleil to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc 1379m / #UCIWT / on July 16, 2023 in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

This Is As Close As The Tour de France Has Ever Been

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 07: Players of Korea Republic huddle on the pitch prior to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group A match between France and Korea Republic at Parc des Princes on June 07, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)