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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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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

The rostrum of the U.S. House of Representatives, with the entire chamber empty.

House Of Representatives Allows Media Rare View Of House Chamber

Margin Of Error

My Fellow Americans

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Samer Kalaf

Palestinians, who are unable to meet their basic needs due to the Israeli army's obstruction of humanitarian aid, receive a bag of flour from an aid truck that arrived at al-Rashid Street in the west of Gaza City, Gaza.

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Politics

The Status Quo In Gaza Is Death

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David Roth

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Albert Burneko

Sen. Kyrtsen Sinema (D-AZ) speaks at a news conference after the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act at the Capitol Building on November 29, 2022.

Senate Votes On Respect for Marriage Act

Point/Counterpoint: Senator Kyrsten Sinema Retires


<p>Jay Willis is a writer who covers law and democracy. His work has appeared in GQ, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. He is the editor-in-chief at Balls &amp; Strikes, an outlet for progressive commentary on the legal system.</p>


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Jay Willis

Giant portraits of the news anchors at Fox News headquarters building in New York City. Very cursed image.

Giant portraits of the news anchors at Fox News

Journalismism

Tim Burke’s Indictment Is A Political Choice Disguised As A Legal Act

nyt-building

The New York Times Ignores Intense Scrutiny Of Its Oct. 7 Report

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<div>Casey Taylor is a writer living and working in Pittsburgh. He is currently writing a book for St. Martin&#8217;s Press about cannabis religions, Haile Selassie I, and the Cold War in the Caribbean. He also writes a free newsletter called <a href="https://weedchurch.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://weedchurch.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1709306863919000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mVH2xiID6S0zvlyj6yHco">Weed Church</a> covering foolish spiritual things that occur to him. His work has appeared in The New Republic, WIRED, New York Magazine, and a sports blog he can’t currently recall the name of. You can <a href="mailto:caseyt7@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> him if you’d like.</div>
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Casey Taylor

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 27: A person holds a sign during a vigil for U.S. Airman Aaron Bushnell at the US Army Recruiting Office in Times Square on February 27, 2024 in New York City. Bushnell died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC on Sunday. In a video that was posted to a social media account showing the act, he stated that would “no longer be complicit in genocide," before pouring an unknown liquid over himself and igniting it while yelling “Free Palestine” repeatedly. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Vigil Held For U.S. Airman Aaron Bushnell Who Died After Setting Himself On Fire In Protest Of Israeli’s Actions In Gaza

Why Did Aaron Bushnell Burn?

In this photograph a group of townsfolk descend on a disciple after it was discovered that the ritual he participated in left a person dead during an Epoch Event in Toronto on August 6, 2011

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Fantasy Convention

<p>Sean T. Collins has written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture, Decider, Pitchfork, and many others. He lives with his family on Long Island.</p>


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Sean T. Collins

2023 New York City Pride Rally

Arts And Culture

Here’s To Cecilia Gentili

CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 06: Migrants cross the border to USA through Gate 36 and to be received by elements of the Border Patrol and the Texas National Guard for the processing of their request to migrate, captured from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on February 06, 2024.

Migrants cross the border to USA

The Crisis Keeps Migrating

Thomas Friedman of the New York Times doing a PBS interview

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New York Times Pays Thomas Friedman To Compare The Middle East To Bugs

<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Dennis Young is the news editor at Front Office Sports.</span></p>


Dennis Young

Marathon running holding a Palestinian flag

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Olympics

How Four Marathoners Organized A Ceasefire Protest From Across The Country

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Patrick Redford

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 28: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs (L) celebrates with Taylor Swift after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

AFC Championship – Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens

Republicans Struggle To Comprehend Nation’s Interest In NFL All-Pro And Taylor Swift

A male blue jay, perched on a branch with green foliage in the fore- and background.

Blue Jay

The Omens Are Bad

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The New York Times’ David Leonhardt Turns In A Nasty Piece Of Work

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JANUARY 17: Republican presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters at LaBelle Winery on January 17, 2024 in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. DeSantis, who finished second behind frontrunner, former U.S. President Donald Trump in this week's Iowa caucuses, is campaigning in New Hampshire ahead of that state's primary on January 23 before moving on to South Carolina on Friday. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

GOP Presidential Candidate Ron DeSantis Campaigns In New Hampshire

Nation Rejects Sweaty Pig

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


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Nicholas Russell

The Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, MA on October 25, 2021.

The Harvard Book Store

What Comes After The Post-Crisis Reading List?


<p>Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.</p>


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Diana Moskovitz

Mary Lou Retton signs a Wheaties box in 2003. By her side is her longtime coach, Bela Karolyi

Mary Lou Retton and Bela Karolyi

Gymnastics

Mary Lou Retton’s Third Act Is Her Most All-American

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Justin Ellis

New York Mayor Eric Adams speaking at Healing for Heroes Gala in Brooklyn, in front of a painting of himself

Healing For Heroes Gala

This Is So Stupid

Whodunit! Unmasking The Author Of Eric Adams’s Self-Published Book

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.

2021 US Open – Day 11

Hiding And Seeking With The New York Times

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Tom Ley

New York Mayor Eric Adams gives a thumbs up as he leaves his weekly press conference at New York City Hall on November 14, 2023. FBI agents seized the New York mayor's cell phones and other devices, his campaign lawyer said 10 November, 2023, in an apparent escalation of a federal investigation into campaign fundraising. The seizure appears to be part of a corruption investigation into whether Eric Adams' 2021 campaign conspired with Turkey's government and others.

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Eric Adams: The Beauty Of New York Is That There Are Terrorist Attacks And Also Stores That Open

Palestinians carry a list of Gaza victims during a rally amid a general strike in the occupied West Bank.

gaza-protest-west-bank

Palestinian Suffering Is Never As Urgent As The Counterfactual

Dave McKenna

A close up of Conor McGregor yelling during the filming of the TV show The Ultimate Fighter in March 2023

The Ultimate Fighter Season 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler

The Fights

Conor McGregor And The Politics Of Mean

Ron DeSantis poses with a supporter, or anyway with a guy in a baseball hat, in Newton, Iowa in December of 2023. He is smiling in a very unsettling way.

Ron DeSantis Holds His 99th Campaign Rally In Iowa

What Puts A Smile On Ron DeSantis’s Face?

Henry Kissinger looking like a little goblin while watching a Yankees fan

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Yankees Honor Least Evil Fan

Amos Barshad

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a news conference at the Fulton County Government building on August 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. A grand jury today handed up an indictment naming former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies over an alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

Georgia Grand Jury Delivers Indictment In 2020 Election Case

Who Does The RICO Case Against Young Thug Actually Serve?