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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

David Roth

Investor Bill Ackman, wearing one of those goofy headsets you can rent that play the radio broadcast, watches Emma Radacanu play at the 2021 U.S. Open in Queens, NY.

Politics

Hiding And Seeking With The New York Times

Patrick Redford

Logo for The Messenger, with letters flickering out and then going blank. First the 'h', then the 'nge', then the 'T e e r.' Blue background, white text.

Journalismism

The Messenger Is Circling The Drain

Tom Ley

Media Meltdowns

Pat McAfee Dons Formal Sleeves As He Tries To Explain Away Aaron Rodgers’s Comments About Jimmy Kimmel

Aaron Rodgers And ESPN Are A Match Made In Desperation

Giri Nathan

Year In Review

Presenting The 2023 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

The logo for Wondery's THE LEAD: STARTING FIVE

Wondery Sports Podcast Now Has An AI Host Named Striker

Kelsey McKinney

Arts And Culture

There’s So Little To Say About Taylor Swift Being Person Of The Year

A screengrab from Fox News in which Jesse Watters looks kind of impatient while talking about a Deadspin story about a child who wore a Native American headdress to a Chiefs game. The chyron reads "Male Karen Smears Young Fan As Racist."

This Is So Stupid

Why Is Your Most Conservative Family Member Screaming About A Small Boy In A Headdress?

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 1: Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics answers questions during media day during the NBA Finals on June 1, 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The State Of Basketblogging

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

The Popular Science Logo on a black background

Popular Science Ends And Science Journalism Keeps Shrinking

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

G/O Media Offloads Shuttered Jezebel To Paste Media Group

A coffee table with some Vogue magazines on it, and a Sports Illustrated on top. It's the famous "Why the University of Miami should drop football" cover but it's been edited to say "Why it's hard to play volleyball without a volleyball."

Scorn Illustrated

Barry Petchesky

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 28: Elliotte Friedman interview Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators on Hockey Fights Cancer night prior to a game against the Calgary Flames at Canadian Tire Centre on October 28, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Elliotte Friedman Is The Most Canadian Scoopster

Ray Ratto

Charissa Thompson on set of the Amazon Prime TNF pregame show prior to an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on November 2, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Charissa Thompson Decided Her Credibility Is Worth Less Than A Few Podcast Chuckles

Samer Kalaf

Premature babies are moved from their incubators to another location at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

Hamas Will Be Anywhere That Israel Wants It To Be

A.J. Hawk’s Role On ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ Seems To Be Easily Deceivable NPC

Alex Sujong Laughlin

OZY Media founder Carlos Watson sitting onstage during a conversation at Carnegie Hall for an event by History Channel February 29, 2020 in New York City.

Who Is Giving Carlos Watson Money Now?

A person holds a microphone with the Racquet Magazine logo

Racquet Magazine’s Future Up In The Air After One Cofounder Removes The Other

G/O Media Shutters Jezebel After Abandoning Sale Efforts

Lauren Theisen

The Messenger Is Speedrunning The Media Startup Life Cycle

Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia (11) gestures to fans during game four of the NLDS game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies on October 12, 2023, at Citizens Bank Park.

Reporters Are Allowed To Report

NBA reporters Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania

The Rivalry Between Woj And Shams Really Is As Imagined

Barstool Sports’s New Owner Reportedly Laying Off 100 Staffers After Purchasing Company For One Dollar

A hand holding a cracked Autostraddle logo reaches out of a pink whirlpool

Capital

Autostraddle To Be Acquired By Queer Wellness Company For Them

Israel Daramola

Michael Oher #74 of the Ole Miss Rebels stands with his family during senior ceremonies prior to a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.