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Defector

Patrick Redford

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 11: Yoko Tawada, Japanese writer poses during portrait session held on May 11, 2006 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ulf Andersen/Getty Images)

Arts And Culture

Yoko Tawada Is A Genius In Any Language

Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi takes a nap next to his yellow jersey as the Tour de France cyclists had a day off 05 July 1952 in the mountain resort of L'Alpe d'Huez. Coppi had become the overall leader, the day before, after winning the stage from Lausanne (Switzerland) to L'Alpe d'Huez. Coppi never relinquished the lead and went on to capture his second Tour de France after winning in 1949. (Photo by STAFF / AFP) (Photo by STAFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Cycling

How Cycling Solved Sleep

A large bitcoin guy regards the world they will take over

Politics

What World Does Bitcoin Want To Build For Itself?

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Dallas Wings celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Valkyries during game two of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at College Park Center on September 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

WNBA

Arike Ogunbowale Knows It’s All About Buckets

A bookshelf set up on the streets of Manosque, France, with uneven shelves that bend and curve, overflowing with books.

Podcasts

Why The Book Thief Risked It All To Scam The Publishing World

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 27: Gold medalist Brandon McNulty and Team United States (C) celebrates with teammates during the medal ceremony after the 99th UCI Road World Championships Montreal 2026 - Men Elite Road Race a 273.4km one day race from Brossard to Montreal on September 27, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Team USA Won Brandon McNulty A World Championship With A Tactical Masterclass

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Conservative YouTuber and influencer Nick Shirley records during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on exposing fraud in Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. CEO of O’Keefe Media Group James O'Keefe and Acting Vice-President of Policy and Government Affairs at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette also testified about various fraud schemes uncovered across the U.S. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

Government By Influencer, With Eamon Whalen

David Ellison at the "Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)" Los Angeles Premiere held at Village Theatre on May 06, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Capital

States Roll Over And Show Bellies To Paramount, Will Allow Warner Bros. Merger

CHESTER, PA - SEPTEMBER 09: Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan #6 is shown before the game between the Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati on September 9th, 2026 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Soccer

Cavan Sullivan And The USMNT’s Future Are Here

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 28: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 134-109. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Zoomer Cultural Exchange Hour, With ‘State Of The League’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Andrew Ross Sorkin speaks with FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried during the New York Times DealBook Summit in the Appel Room at the Jazz At Lincoln Center on November 30, 2022 in New York City. The New York Times held its first in-person DealBook Summit since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with speakers from the worlds of financial services, technology, consumer goods, private investment, venture capital, banking, media, public relations, policy, government, and academia. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

We’re Still Living In The World Sam Bankman-Fried Made

Giri Nathan

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Kathryn Xu

Elena Rybakina R of Kazakhstan celebrates during the awarding ceremony for the women's singles final match between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo by Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Tennis

The Defector Tennis Desk Takes Stock Of The U.S. Open

See The Algorithm’s Dark Gleam In The Hunter Biden-Andrew Callaghan Crypto Scam Email Whoopsie

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 04: Fans cheer after Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeated Yibing Wu of China in their Men's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Honey Deuce McBride, With Giri Nathan

Head coach Mike McDonald of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with fans during the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl LX victory celebration and parade at Lumen Field on February 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Interviews

How NFL Teams Avoid The Great Big Middle

Announcements

‘Only If You Get Caught’ Returns Next Week

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Nets 123-117. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Perfect Spiritual Fit Between NBA Player And NBA City Achieved

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 4: Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Balmer cheers on his team before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Intuit Dome on February 4, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images) 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.

Journalismism

How Do We Make Sense Of ESPN Duffing Its Big Clippers Scoop?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer hands Kawhi Leonard his jersey as he and Paul George are introduced at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, 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. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

NBA Crushes Clippers After Kawhi Leonard Investigation

Italy's Lorenzo Sonego returns the ball to Germany's Alexander Zverev during the men's singles first round tennis match on day three of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 1, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Interminable U.S. Open Night Sessions Are Bad For Everyone Except Me

TORONTO, ONTARIO - MAY 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors high fives rapper Drake during game four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on May 21, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Canada Vs. America, With Jake Bittle

Kalshi's logo appears on a smartphone placed on a reflective surface, with a blurry betting curve projected in the background in Creteil, France, on March 9, 2026, during a major scandal and $54 million lawsuit concerning bets related to recent strikes in Iran. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Gambling

Kalshi Lawsuit Pits States Against Trump Family’s Corruption Machine

Reds Week

Who Needs Life On Mars When It Has Glacial Spiders?

Lauren Theisen

Rachelle Hampton

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Ray Ratto

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 22, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Defector Music Club Gets Back Together For Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)