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

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On July 15

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Live Event

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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

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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

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

trump looking up

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

Politics

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

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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>


DFM New Headshot

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.

masked federal agents

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

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Barry Petchesky

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.

workers-federal

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

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Albert Burneko

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

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Weenie Centrist Legislator Faceplants Hard At Weekend Protest Event

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Lauren Theisen

No Kings Day in Charlotte

Protests Big

a photo of Mary Giovagnoli, a fired Unaccompanied Children Ombuds

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An Interview With A Fired Unaccompanied Children Ombuds

a headshot of Laura Mata López, a psychiatric nurse and doctoral student at Johns Hopkins University

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An Interview With A Psychiatric Nurse Whose Research Funding Was Cut By The Trump Administration

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Tom Ley

(L-R) U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) react during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18.

2024 Republican National Convention: Day 2

This Party Sucks

Joy Binion, formerly a social science analyst at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMSHA

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An Interview With A Terminated Analyst At The Substance Abuse And Mental Health Administration

Andrew Cuomo speaks in the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City.

andrew cuomo

Andrew Cuomo Is Garbage

Elon Musk speaks during a news conference with President Trump on May 30, 2025 inside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington.

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Donald Trump And Elon Musk Throw Day-Long Tantrums At Each Other

a photo of Patrick Kelly, a Doctoral Candidate at Brown University School of Public Health, whose NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse funded doctoral research was terminated

An Interview With A Public Health Researcher Whose Funding Was Terminated By The Trump Administration