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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

Israel Daramola

NYFF programmer Rachel Rosen moderates a press conference with director Todd Haynes, writer/executive producer Samy Burch, producers Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, Jessica Elbaum and for "May December" during the 61st New York Film Festival at Walter Reade Theater on September 29, 2023 in New York City.

Arts And Culture

Four Days At The Flooded New York Film Festival

Soraya Roberts

Joanna Arnow in a scene from her movie, The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed

Joanna Arnow’s Time Has Arrived

David Roth

Neal and Suit talking in what could honestly be any episode of the USA series "White Collar"

Background Television Isn’t As Easy As It Looks

<p>Katharine Trendacosta writes about tech policy, the entertainment industry, pop culture, and where those things intersect. In her day job, she&#8217;s the Associate Director of Policy and Activism for the digital civil liberties nonprofit the Electronic Frontier Foundation. (Her writing here reflects her views alone and not those of EFF.) In her spare time, she writes things like this.</p>


A photo of the author, Katharine Trendacosta

Katharine Trendacosta

Members of WGA cheer at the end of their picket in front of CBS Television City on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 in Hollywood, CA. Saturday marked the fourth straight day of talks, which kicked off Wednesday with the heads of four major studios participating directly. The union and studio alliance had not announced a deal as of early Saturday evening.

Capital

The Hollywood Writers Strike Proved That Collective Action Works

<p>James Robins is an award-winning critic and historian. His work has appeared in the <i>New Republic</i>, <i>Vulture</i>, and the <i>TLS</i>, and he writes the newsletter <a href="https://thedreadnought.substack.com/">The Dreadnought</a>. He lives in London.</p>


James Robins

Walter Isaacson (right) and Elon Musk (left) speak onstage at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit back in 2014, long before Isaacson wrote a big biography of Musk.

Not Even The Patron Stooge Of Fawning Biographies Can Make Elon Musk Look Good


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

An image of a very young Krusty the Clown, wearing a kippah, standing in front of a store that sells comedy props. The store is called Yiddles.

The Best Part Of Krusty The Clown’s Judaism Is That It Doesn’t Need To Explain Itself

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


Nicholas Russell

Hey It's That Guy

Lois Smith Is Too Cool To Be Hollywood’s Grandma

Barry Petchesky

MONACO - FEBRUARY 14: Fernando Botero in Monaco on February 14, 2001 (Photo by Alain BENAINOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Fernando Botero Was Larger Than Life

Lauren Theisen

gloved hands reaching out from behind a floral curtain

‘Psychic Self Defense’ Swallows Your Mind With Curtains And Contraptions

Maria Bamford discusses her memoir "Sure, I'll Join Your Cult" with Phoebe Robinson at Symphony Space on September 05, 2023 in New York City.

I’m A Card-Carrying Member Of Maria Bamford’s Cult

Justin Ellis

A handout file photo dated 17 October 2013 made available by the Groninger Museum shows the painting "Spring Garden", the rectory garden in Nuenen in the spring by the painter Vincent van Gogh in Groningen, Netherlands. Van Gogh's work was stolen from the Singer Laren museum on 30 March 2020. The painting was on loan from the Groninger Museum. Vincent van Gogh's work "Spring Garden" stolen from the Singer Laren museum, Groningen, Netherlands - 17 Oct 2013

Life's Rich Pageant

Our Delightful Game Of Cat And Mouse Continues, My Dear Arthur

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<div dir="ltr">Brigid Christison is the founder of <a href="http://palaeopoems.com">PalaeoPoems.com</a>, a free digital anthology of palaeontology-themed poetry.</div>
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<div dir="ltr">My twitter/bluesky is @Brigidomorpha.</div>
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Brigid Christison

Animals

The Dead And The Beautiful

The ‘Slough House’ Series Lets Spies Be The Losers They Are

Only Murders In The Building -- "True Crime" - Episode 101 --Upper West Side neighbors Charles, Oliver &amp; Mabel bond over a shared love of true crime. When a fellow resident dies in their building, the trio determine to solve the mystery and record an accompanying podcast. Mabel (Selena Gomez), Oliver (Martin Short), and Charles (Steve Martin), shown.

It Takes More Than Fancy Clothes To Be The Best-Dressed Show On TV

Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann hanging out in 2004

The Boys Are Back In Movie Town

‘Bottoms’ Turns High School Into A Violent, Absurdist Playground

Felix Kent

CANADA - JULY 24: Leonard Cohen (Photo by Andrew Stawicki/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

How Do You Reconcile A Part You Hate In A Work You Love?

Jason England

Roger Goodell, Jay-Z and Blue Ivy Carter attend Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.

50 Years Later, Is There Anything Left Of Hip Hop?

Have You Seen Skyler Gisondo?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 19: Striking SAG-AFTRA members picket with striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers outside Netflix offices on July 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Members of SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's largest union which represents actors and other media professionals, have joined striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers in the first joint walkout against the studios since 1960. The strike could shut down Hollywood productions completely with writers in the third month of their strike against the Hollywood studios. Netflix reported second quarter earnings after the closing bell today.

The Hollywood Strike Forces A Reckoning For The Trades

Kathryn Xu

Screenshot from tripleS LOVElution's "Girls' Capitalism" music video, with text reading, "Rule No. 1 Don't Cry Be Rich."

TripleS And The Rise Of K-Pop Girls’ Crypto-Capitalism

20 Years Later, ‘Oldboy’ Still Lives Up To The Hype

Miami Marlins owner Jeffery Loria looks on during a game against the New York Mets at Marlins Park on June 27, 2017.

Jeffrey Loria Makes A Good Point

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

A July 17 photo of Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA, during the 'Fearless' set.