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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

Giri Nathan

Journalismism

NBA Reporter Fired After Accurately Describing Charlie Kirk’s Beliefs

Samer Kalaf

The scene after shots were fired at an appearance by Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Politics

This Is Who Charlie Kirk Was


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 04: Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on after being ejected from the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on September 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He's walking with his hands behind his back, in a midnight green uniform with white pants, his helmet off and a white bandana around his head. He's on the left side of the photo, and to the rest of him is green grass.

Washington Post Editorial Board: Football

Albert Burneko

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on September 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Setting Aside The Incorrect Claim About Herd Immunity

Israel Daramola

Arts And Culture

Hurricane Katrina Showed How Quickly It Can All Fall Apart

Patrick Redford

An Airbus Helicopter H145M of the Hungarian Air Force uses an infrared trap over the Danube River in Budapest during an air show as part of the celebrations marking the Hungarian national day on August 20, 2025. Hungary marks the 1,025th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state, established by the first king of Hungary, Stephen I.

Capital

22-Year-Old Has It All Figured Out

Alex Sujong Laughlin

(Original Caption) First mass produced receiver for home entertainment, 1921. Photograph.

The Future Of Podcasting Is Here, And It Sucks

Kelsey McKinney

Starving Palestinians including women and children holding pots wait to receive food distributed by a charity organization as Israel continue to block humanitarian aid from reaching the Gaza Strip on August 10, 2025.

The Free Press Reports Gaza’s Starving Children Have Pre-Existing Condition Of Being Bombed By Israel

David Roth

David Brooks making a surprised face while being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on the OWN Netwrok.

David Brooks: Wearing A Mets Hat Might Just Save Our Democracy

Ray Ratto

A ESPN Monday Night Football television camera prior to an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 26, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

ESPN Now Partially Owned By Biggest League It Reports On

Brandy Jensen

The front of the New York Times building on 8th Avenue during sunset

The New York Times Clarifies That A Starving Child In Gaza Also Needs Medical Care

Luka Doncic dunks the ball as a member of the Dallas Mavericks

Men’s Health Article Hallucinates Luka Doncic With A 42-Inch Vertical

The New York Times Had To Work With A Eugenicist So They Didn’t Get Scooped By A Bigot

Jim Spanfeller Somehow Worse At Writing Than Running A Media Company

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.

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.

Update: The Washington Post Is Still Dying

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

Toward A Theory Of Kevin Roose

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


Chris Thompson

Each William Langewiesche Disaster Story Was An Event In Itself

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.

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.

What Do You Do About A Declining President?


<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

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.

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.

The Machines

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

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

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.