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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

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Ice Cube makes an angry face while lost in an emptied WeWork.

Twelve Minutes Of Ice Cube Stumbling Around An Empty Office In An Escalating Panic Almost Redeems The Rest Of ‘War Of The Worlds’


<p>Corey Atad is a freelancer writer based in Toronto with an unhealthy Air Bud obsession.</p>


Corey Atad

Zohran Mamdani smiling with a megaphone in the park

Politics

Selling Zohran

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Puja Patel is a writer, editor, and curator who has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork and <em>Spin</em>, a culture editor for Deadspin, and a columnist for MTV and the <em>Village Voice</em>. Her work has appeared in publications such as the <em>New Yorker</em>, <em>Harper&#8217;s Bazaar</em>, and <em>Rolling Stone,</em> among others. She serves on the advisory board of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and Building Beats, a nonprofit organization that provides music education to underserved youth across New York City and Los Angeles.</div>
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Puja Patel

Mods Asleep

The Cringiest Love Songs That Make Us Cry

Defector Staff

The Worst Songs We Love So Much

<p>Marian Bull is a writer, editor, and potter living in Brooklyn. She writes <a href="https://marianbull.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://marianbull.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755179401925000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1fEbhNoXERVRom7SEmVfSn">Mess Hall</a>, a cooking newsletter, and is at work on her first book.</p>


Marian Bull

Patrons dance during weekly line dancing lessons

Stud Country, Queer Line Dancing,  And The Joys Of Being In Sync

<p>Tommy Craggs is an editor and writer, late of Game Theory With Bomani Jones on HBO, Mother Jones (no relation), HuffPost, Slate, Gawker Media, and Deadspin. He&#8217;s part of the <a href="https://flaminghydra.com/">Flaming Hydra</a> cooperative of independent writers and artists, and one of the many founders of the <a href="https://www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/">Oakland Review of Books</a>.</p>


Tommy Craggs

Are We Playing It All Wrong?

Dave McKenna

Fans of Elvis Presley (1935-1977) gather to celebrate his memory during an impersonator contest in Memphis.

Remembering My Elvis Death Week Pilgrimage, 35 Years Later

Brandy Jensen

Sarah Jessica Parker in 'And Just Like That...'

Arts And Culture

And Just Like That… It’s Over

Kelsey McKinney

black and white photo of woman holding book

How To Put Down Your Phone And Read A Book

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


Nicholas Russell

Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal in Eddington

Ari Aster Wants You To Take The Bait

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<p>Robert Rubsam writes fiction and nonfiction. His work has appeared in the NYT Magazine, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Baffler, and Liberties. He is a contributing writer for Commonweal Magazine.</p>
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Robert Rubsam

Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa poses for the photographer during the 81st Venice International Film Festival

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Visions Of Hell

Lady Gaga performs onstage during The MAYHEM Ball Tour at The Kia Forum on July 28, 2025 in Inglewood, California.

No Journey With Lady Gaga Is Ever Wasted

Lauren Theisen

Birch boletus - edible mushrooms on moss (Leccinum scabrum)

My Favorite Part Of ‘Anna Karenina’ Is The Guy Who Can’t Stop Himself From Talking About Mushrooms

Luis Paez-Pumar

L t r Greg Gates, Melb. Glenn Ford, Willoughby, Syd. and Joe Italiano, of Mitchum Vic, study Copy of Fantastic Four

Four Thoughts About ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’

Soraya Roberts

‘Such Brave Girls’ Wants To Trauma Bond With You

Annie Berke

‘Ugh! As If!’ Takes On The Enduring Appeal Of ‘Clueless’

black and white photo of a man with a pipe lounging with a book

How Do I Find A Non-Fiction Book I Won’t Hate?

<p>Emily Zhou is the author of <em>Girlfriends</em><i>, </i>which won the Publishing Triangle’s Leslie Feinberg Award and was nominated for a Lambda<i>. </i>She edits books at LittlePuss Press and short fiction at <em>Joyland Magazine</em><i>.</i></p>


Emily Zhou

Nerves, Nerves, Nerves

Craig Finn attends "A New York Evening With Margo Price" at The Greene Space on June 16, 2023 in New York City.