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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

Kelsey McKinney

The Harvest Moon rises over the U.S. Capitol dome in 2022.

Politics

The American Nightmare Is A Rerun

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


Sabrina Imbler

WASHINGTON, DC - May 23: Laura Helmuth of The Washington Post via Getty Images poses for a portrait on Tuesday May 23, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Science

Do Not Accept An Unscientific American

Albert Burneko

Robert F. Kennedy looking like an old shrunken russet potato at some Trump rally.

Media Meltdowns

What The Fuck Is A “Vaccine Skeptic”?

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Supporters hold "Women for Trump" signs as they watch Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speak at a campaign rally at the Santander Arena on November 04, 2024 in Reading, Pennsylvania

Under The Influence

It’s Safe For Lifestyle Influencers To Be MAGA Now

Rachelle Hampton

Firefighters take a break from battling a series of brush fires on November 9, 2024 outside of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.

It Was Too Warm This Week

David Roth

A detractor of president-elect Donald Trump protests against his policies in New York City on November 9, 2024. Their sign says "we need all of us."

Beyond Belief

Billy Haisley

Fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv stage a pro-Israel demonstration at the Dam Square, lighting up flares and chanting slogans ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam, Netherlands on November 07, 2024. Maccabi fans clashed with pro-Palestinian citizens and ripped off Palestinian flags hung on the streets. In the lead-up to the Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match, several areas of Amsterdam have been designated as security risk zones.

Soccer

The Media Can’t Figure Out Why Some Racist Israeli Soccer Hooligans Were Beaten Up

Tom Ley

WASHINGTON - AUGUST 21: Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., speaks during day three of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

The Cowards Are Already Making Plans

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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

Workers prepare US Capitol for 2025 inauguration.

Last Time Was Lucky

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


Nicholas Russell

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 5: A sign points voters where to go for voting at a voting precinct at the Two Towers Condominiums, in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 5, 2024.

After Tuesday

Barry Petchesky

FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 06: Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump makes a speech during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, on November 06, 2024.

This Place Is All Fucked Up

Animals

Everything You Might Want To Know About Peanut, The Squirrel Star Turned MAGA Martyr

A sign reading VOTING AHEAD at an Atlanta, Ga. early voting location.

It’s Time To Vote

Amos Barshad

People walk by a banner outside of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for the IPO of Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of FanDuel, on January 29, 2024 in New York City. The company, which is already on the London Stock Exchange, will be listed under the “FLUT” symbol. Wall Street observers are watching to see if an upcoming Fed announcement on rate policy and the most recent violence in the Middle East will have any effect on the markets.

Gambling

The Gambling Industry’s Cynical Play For Your Vote

They’re Saying It

Samer Kalaf

Nick Bosa appears on the Sunday Night Football postgame interview in a Make America Great Again hat

Nick Bosa Wants The Attention Without The Culpability

<p>David Gardner is a writer based in New York. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, GQ, The Ringer, and other outlets.</p>


David Gardner


<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

Taylor Swift performs onstage for night one of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on July 07, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

How Public Stadiums Keep Some Profits Private

Nate Crudster

This Is So Stupid

No Matter What Happens In This Election, Nobody Is Allowed To Get Mad At Me

<p><a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://demause.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://demause.net/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]"><em>Neil deMause</em></a><em> has covered sports economics for more publications than even he can shake a stick at. He’s co-author of the book </em><a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Field-Schemes-Stadium-Swindle-Private/dp/1567511384?ascsubtag=c9dca64cfbbd6c35085d286f4423ee39b8350b2f&amp;rawdata=%5Br%7Chttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F%5Bks%7Cgoogle%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1800657108%5Ba%7C1567511384%5Bau%7C5722120546910826704%5Bb%7Cdeadspinascsubtag%3D4eba2da0f6cc83fe1f221e8d8ca5894cd93bf2a7ascsubtag%3D33f4f2a16c1eda72859c34ee8aa577410b04a0d8&amp;tag=deadspinamzn-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga="[[&quot;Commerce&quot;,&quot;deadspin - Baseball Doesn't Need Collusion To Turn Off The Hot Stove&quot;,&quot;1567511384&quot;]]" data-amazonasin="1567511384" data-amazontag="deadspinamzn-20" data-amazonsubtag="[r|https://www.google.com/[ks|google[t|link[p|1831644811[a|1567511384[au|5722120546910826704[b|deadspin[lt|text" data-commerceready="true">Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money Into Private Profit</a><em>, and runs </em><a class="sc-1out364-0 hMndXN sc-145m8ut-0 kGbjEv js_link" href="http://fieldofschemes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-ga="[[&quot;Embedded Url&quot;,&quot;External link&quot;,&quot;http://fieldofschemes.com/&quot;,{&quot;metric25&quot;:1}]]"><em>the website of the same name</em></a><em>.</em></p>


Neil deMause

Philadelphia skyline with white puffy clouds focusing on William Penn Statue Broad Street area, Pennsylvania. (Photo by: Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Philadelphia Has A Lot To Lose On The New 76ers Arena

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


Dan McQuade

Feasterville-Trevose, PA - October 20 : Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump hands out food while standing at a drive-thru window during a campaign stop at a McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, PA on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.

Donald Trump Played Pretend In A McDonald’s I Once Knew Intimately

A big campaign sign that is just Kamala Harris's head, in front of a blue sky with scattered clouds.

The Candidates Have Nothing Left To Tell You

Justin Ellis

A look inside the offices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a sign for FEMA sits in the foreground as we see the silhouettes of people against large monitors in the background.

It’s Not The Weather Machine That Is Making Life Shittier

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (R) jumps on stage as he joins Donald Trump. You can see Musk's tummy; Trump looks kind of upset.

Check Out These Cool Moves!

A monitor shows the CBS News broadcast of the Vice Presidential Debate between US Senator and Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz in Harrisburg, PA, on October 1, 2024, at a watch party.

JD Vance Found A Debate He Couldn’t Win

Patrick Redford

Steve Ballmer speaks onstage at the Intuit Dome opening night event held at Intuit Dome on August 15, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)