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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.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On July 15

ten-minute-quarters-3-2-final-real-maybe (1)

Live Event

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Patrick Redford

nbadesk

Media Meltdowns

ESPN’s NBA Finals Coverage Was A Pretty Rough Watch

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Tom Scocca is the editor of <a href="http://indignity.net">Indignity</a>, a subscription-supported newsletter of news, essays, and commentary.</div>
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Tom Scocca

Masked federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on June 18, 2025 in New York City. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), NYC Comptroller and Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander and Council Member Alexa Avilés visited immigration courts to watch proceedings a day after NYC Comptroller and Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents while accompanying a person out of a courtroom as people continue to be detained following immigration court hearings.

masked federal agents

Margin Of Error

No Time For Theatrics

Dave McKenna

A Washington Post logo is displayed on top of the newspaper's editorial headquarters on May 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Washington Post Exterior

Journalismism

Update: The Washington Post Is Still Dying

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Albert Burneko

AI-Powered Robot interacts with People during the Italian Tech Week 2024 at OGR Officine Grandi Riparazioni on September 26, 2024 in Turin, Italy.

cyborg roose

Capital

Toward A Theory Of Kevin Roose

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09</p>


Profile Pic

Chris Thompson

William Langewiesche

Each William Langewiesche Disaster Story Was An Event In Itself

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David Roth

Blueberries are sold at a store in Annapolis, Maryland, on April 4, 2025. These are not the blueberries that Jon Heyman purchased for $15.99 in Manhattan.

US-TRADE-TARIFFS-DIPLOMACY

This Is So Stupid

Defector Investigates: Is Jon Heyman Paying Too Much For Blueberries?

Donald Trump holds up a printed article from "American Thinker" while accusing South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa of state-sanctioned violence against white farmers in South Africa during a press availability in the Oval Office at the White House on May 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.

trump ramaphosa

What Do You Do About A Declining President?


<p>Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

Chicago Sun Times newspapers are sold from of a dispenser near their editorial offices on May 15, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The box is yellow and people are walking around and in front of it.

Chicago Sun-Times

Journalism’s Slop Crisis Started Long Before That AI-Generated Summer Insert

Humanoid robot practices typing at the Data Collection Center of AgiBot on March 20, 2025 in Shanghai, China.

robot writer

The Machines

Chicago Sun-Times And Philadelphia Inquirer Publish Huge Summer Insert Of Pure, Uncut Chatbot Slop [UPDATE]

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Samer Kalaf

ms-rachel-elmo

The New York Times Really Asked Ms. Rachel If She’s Paid By Hamas

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Tom Ley

Russell Westbrook #4 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates after a three point basket during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena on April 29, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. 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.

Los Angeles Clippers v Denver Nuggets – Game Five

Nobody Can Do That

Donald Trump looking like a saggy orange bag of shit on his way onto Air Force 1 for a trip to the Middle East.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-DIPLOMACY

NYT Reporter: It’s Not Corruption Unless The Envelope Says “Bribe” On It

A copy of "The Onion," a satirical newspaper, is seen on a lamppost in downtown Washington, DC on November 14, 2024. The lead headline reads "America Defeats America."

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Podcasts

The State Of The Onion, With Ben Collins

Donald Trump and Terry Moran in conversation in the extremely cluttered Oval Office during an ABC News interview.

TrumpWhiteHouseInterview

Politics

Talking To The President

President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton attend the White House State Dinner for the President of Ukraine on November 22, 1994 in Washington, D.C.

bill and hillary clinton

The Era Of Meek Government Is Over

Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless on Undisputed

skip-shannon-undisputed

Seal Up The Pit That Contains Fox Sports 1

robot guy

Only Kevin Roose’s Editors Despise Him More Than I Do

<p>Alex Shultz is a journalist based in Brooklyn.</p>


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Alex Shultz

A tabloid style Sports Illustrated cover in the checkout line

Horny Sports Blogging Makes A Bewildering Return To Sports Illustrated

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Kelsey McKinney

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 09 CFP Semifinal Capital One Orange Bowl – Notre Dame vs Penn State

Patrick McAfee You Are 37 Years Old

<p>Carly Stern is an independent journalist, writer and editor based in Brooklyn. She has written for publications including The New York Times, Vox, The Guardian and The Washington Post.</p>


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Carly Stern

Carlos Watson, co-founder of Ozy Media, speaks with press after his sentencing hearing at Brooklyn Federal Court on December 16, 2024 in New York City. Watson was sentenced to almost 10 years in prison for trying to defraud investors and lenders by lying about the company’s finances after being convicted in July. Samir Rao, the other co-founder of Ozy, and Suzee Han, a former Ozy chief of staff, pleaded guilty last year to fraud charges and both cooperated in the case and testified against Watson.

Ozy Media’s Carlos Watson Sentenced In Fraud Trial

Looking For Closure At Carlos Watson’s Sentencing Hearing

lebron_mcafee

ESPN: LeBron James, On ESPN, To ESPN: “ESPN.”

Chipotle’s New Garlic Guajillo Steak is Here.

Local Man Has Far More Opinions On Fast Casual Dining Chains Than You’d Think Possible