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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

Barry Petchesky

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

The Dodgers Can’t Sit This Moment Out

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


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.

Interviews

Meet The Civil Servants Under Attack By The Trump Administration

David Roth

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.

Politics

Against The Day

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

Weenie Centrist Legislator Faceplants Hard At Weekend Protest Event

Lauren Theisen

Protests Big

a photo of Mary Giovagnoli, a fired Unaccompanied Children Ombuds

An Interview With A Fired Unaccompanied Children Ombuds

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

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

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.

This Party Sucks

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

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

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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

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 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.

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

Patrick Redford

A large bitcoin guy regards the world they will take over

What World Does Bitcoin Want To Build For Itself?

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, arrives for a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen building on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Nominees Adam R. Telle, to be assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Richard L. Anderson, to be assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and Dr. Matthew C. Napoli, to be deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration, testified.

Joni Ernst Is A Piece Of Shit

Mamta Patel Nagaraja, a fired NASA associate chief scientist for exploration and research, giving a keynote at the Department of Transportation for a White House event

An Interview With A Fired NASA Associate Chief Scientist


<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

AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley competes in the girls high jump during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Clovis, California.

Youth Sports

Despite Online Outrage, The California State Track Meet Was Mostly Just A Track Meet

a headshot of Becca Beckham, a former AmeriCorps portfolio manager

An Interview With A Fired AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager

A woman wearing Save Girls Sport hat records a video of transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the girls long jump at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School on May 24, 2025 in Moorpark, California.

It’s A Great Time To Be A Pathetic Loser

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?

Police officers are seen outside the Supreme Court of the United States is seen on Thursday May 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The court is hearing arguments about lower courts' ability to block President Donald Trump's policy to end birthright citzenship.

Podcasts

Notes Of Sparkling Authoritarianism, With Jason Steinhauer

Robert Pastore

A protester waves a "Black Lives Matter" flag across the street during a demonstration at Elmira Correctional Facility

The Earned Time Act Would Bring Freedom To Those Who Need It

Anthony Santander of the Toronto Blue Jays rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels.

A Dumb New Way To Think About The Dismantling Of The Federal Government

Samer Kalaf

Journalismism

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

The obnoxious Grok logo, on a phone screen, in a hand silhouetted against a neon green background.