Margin Of Error

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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

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Ray Ratto

Washington Commanders logo displayed on a phone screen and photo of Donald Trump taken on June 25 in The Hague displayed on a laptop screen in the background. It's a photo illustration.

Washington Commanders And Donald Trump Photo Illustrations

Donald Trump Is Trying To Extort The Washington Commanders Into Making It 1989 Again

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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

From left, American real estate developer Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000.

Trump, Knauss, Epstein, & Maxwell At Mar-A-Lago

Collective Amnesia

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Brandy Jensen

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Bills Week

William F. Buckley’s Bill Never Came Due

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Tom Ley

What Are The Epstein Files, And How Much Should You Care About Them?

<p><a href="http://pjmaciak.substack.com">Phillip Maciak</a> is the TV critic at <em>The New Republic</em> and the author of <em>Avidly Reads Screen Time</em>. He&#8217;s working on a book about dad culture.</p>


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Phillip Maciak

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Cultural Capitulation

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Barry Petchesky

The Space Shuttle Discovery, aboard a specially modified NASA Boeing 747, flies over the Washington, DC, April 17, 2012, as seen from Arlington, Virginia. NASA is transferring the Shuttle, which completed 39 missions and spent 365 days in space, to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo by Saul LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

US-SPACE-SHUTTLE DISCOVERY

The “Big Beautiful Bill” Is Trying To Steal A Space Shuttle


<p>Hallie Lieberman is a historian and journalist. She’s the author of <em>Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy</em>, and is currently working on a book on the history of gigolos. Her writing has appeared in <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>Washington Post</em>, Vice, and BuzzFeed News, among other publications.</p>


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Hallie Lieberman

President Donald Trump delivers remarks before signing the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order in the East Room at the White House on February 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. The executive order, which Trump signed on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, prohibits transgender women from competing in women’s sports and is the third order he has signed that targets transgender people.

President Trump Signs No Men In Women’s Sports Executive Order

Politics

How Trans Prisoners Are Dealing With The Trump Administration’s Attacks

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Albert Burneko

Elon Musk account on X displayed on a phone screen with a Grok header

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The Machines

Elon Musk’s Idiot Chatbot Turns Into An Explicit Nazi

<p>Asher Elbein is <a href="https://www.asherelbein.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.asherelbein.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1712179533443000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2CJ0U-vHMdK0s6sOdzlGGF">a journalist and fiction writer</a> based in Austin, Texas. Among other places, his work has appeared in The New York Times, Scientific American, Undark Magazine, Audubon, and Texas Monthly.</p>


Asher Elbein

alligator

Why Do Fascists Dream Of Alligators?

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Samer Kalaf

New York Times Seeks Buyouts Before Imposing Layoffs

Journalismism

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

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Kelsey McKinney

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Climate

The Floodwaters Are Rising

Donald Trump looks up at the new flag on the south lawn of the White House on July 06, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Totally Petty

Dave McKenna

U.S. Vice President JD Vance shows off his shamrock themed socks as he delivers remarks at a St. Patrick's Day breakfast for Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the vice president's residence on March 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. Martin is visiting the United States for the Irish leader's annual St. Patrick's Day visit where he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and attend a St. Patrick's Day lunch with congressional leaders.

Vice President Vance Hosts Irish Taoiseach Martin For St Patrick’s Day Breakfast

Life's Rich Pageant

Is JD Vance Irish? Be Careful Who You Ask

Gillibrand And Schumer Along With 9/11 First Responders Discuss HSS Head RFK Jr.’s  Handling Of The World Trade Center Health Program

Kirsten Gillibrand Has A Racist Meltdown Over Zohran Mamdani On Public Radio

New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) (L) is joined by fellow mayoral candidate Brad Lander during an election night gathering

mamdani-lander-nyc

The Politics Of Fear Don’t Work Against A Candidate Who Isn’t Scared

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


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Diana Moskovitz

A protester holds a backwards American flag outside of Dodger Stadium during a protest against the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and ICE immigration raids on June 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Dodgers/ICE Protests

The Dodgers Are Disappointing The People Who Want To Love Them The Most

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David Roth

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo addresses the media following a speech at an event for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on June 22, 2025 in New York City.

Andrew Cuomo Campaigns For Mayor Of New York

Andrew Cuomo Is A Future Of The Democratic Party

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.

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No Time For Theatrics

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


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Alex Shultz

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks to press after voting on the nomination of Michael Duffey to be Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on June 02, 2025 in Washington, DC. Senators returned to Capitol Hill on Monday after the Memorial Day Holiday recess.

Senators Return To Capitol Hill After Memorial Day Holiday Recess

Nobody Wants To Talk About John Fetterman And Buzz Bissinger’s Pricey Memoir Project

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Israel Daramola

Photo from the No Kings protest in Los Angeles.

NO KINGS Immigration Protest shows all races protesting ICE raids of Trump Administration feature colorful signs in downtown Los Angeles, CA.

So What Is It Gonna Take?

<p>Joe Flynn is a writer based in the D.C. area.</p>


Joe Flynn

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks. He looks like a photographic negative and is grimacing. Skin the color of a hot dog.

Agriculture Secretary Rollins Holds Make America Healthy Again Event With HHS Secretary Kennedy

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Will Not Let My Daughter Be

A small group of demonstrators protests outside the entrance of Dodger Stadium on the night of the team's June 19 game.

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Policing

The Dodgers Can’t Sit This Moment Out


<p>charismatic megafauna (they/them)</p>


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 27: Former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) employees terminated after the Trump administration dismantled the agency collect their personal belongings at the USAID headquarters on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. Thousands of (USAID) workers who have been fired or placed on leave have been given a 15 minutes window to clear out their workspace after the Trump administration, under the guidance of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), shuttered the agency.

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Interviews

Meet The Civil Servants Under Attack By The Trump Administration

President Trump, sitting alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and First Lady Melania Trump, observe U.S. Army tanks traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue, during a celebration of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary on Flag Day, June 14, 2025.

250 Military Parade Coverage

Against The Day

Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., speaks during a rally outside National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration headquarters to oppose the recent worker firings, in Sliver Spring, Md., on Monday, March 3, 2025

mcclain delaney

Weenie Centrist Legislator Faceplants Hard At Weekend Protest Event