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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

Samer Kalaf

Palestinians in Gaza carry bodies through the street

Politics

Bearing Witness To Gaza’s Grief Shouldn’t Feel Like A Radical Act

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

People carry injured and dead Palestinians from the rubbles of buildings as civil defense teams and civilians conduct search and rescue operations after Israeli attacks on Al-Shati refugee camp of Gaza City, Gaza on October 27, 2023 as Israeli attacks continue on the 21st day on Gaza

Science

Who Is Allowed To Do Science?

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors gather as they demonstrate against Israeli war on Gaza calling for a ceasefire at Sergelstorg Square in Stockholm, Sweden, October 22, 2023.

What Happens After The Rally Ends?

A man carries a child, wounded by Israeli airstrikes, into Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City

Subjugation And Dehumanization Lead To Only One Result

Ray Ratto

Steve Garvey, in the foreground, at his induction into the Legends of Dodgers Baseball inaugural class back in September of 2018. He's got sunglasses on and is clapping.

Nobody Wants Senator Steve Garvey

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a campaign event at the Los Angeles Harbor Grain Terminal on September 29, 2023 in Long Beach, California. DeSantis is scheduled to speak at the California Republican Party Fall Convention in Anaheim, California later today.

Is Ron DeSantis Wearing Hidden Platform Heels Inside His Stupid Ugly Boots? An Investigation

David Roth

The animals from Paw Patrol, or more accurately people wearing costumes of the animals from Paw Patrol, waving at the Paris premiere of the Paw Patrol movie.

This Is So Stupid

Caitlin Flanagan’s Wheels Are Spinning A Little Too Fast

Micah Herskind is an organizer, policy advocate, and writer based in Atlanta, GA.

Micah Herskind

Environmental activists hold a rally and a march through the Atlanta Forest, a preserved forest Atlanta that is scheduled to be developed as a police training center, March 4, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Intent upon stopping the building of what they have called cop city, the environmentalists were evicted from the forest in January, resulting in the killing by police of Manuel Teran, a young activist and medic.

The Stop Cop City Indictment Is An Act Of Desperation

Dave McKenna

Moron Pushing Petition To Rename Commanders Has Long History Of Being A Moron

Patrick Redford

WASHINGTON - MARCH 08: US Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas testifies before the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Capitol Hill March 8, 2007 in Washington, DC. Thomas and fellow Justice Anthony Kennedy spoke about concerns with the ongoing remodeling of the court building, the reduction of paperwork due to electronic media and the disparity of pay between federal judges and lawyers working in the private sector. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Clarence Thomas

Clarence Thomas Absolutely Loves Going On Vacations

New York City Mayor Eric Adams sitting at a literal table with some restauranteurs at the Manhattan restaurant Ali Baba. This is not the same as the figurative "table of success" at which his haters are his waiters.

A Seat At The Table Of Success

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 02: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits "The Faulkner Focus"at Fox News Channel Studios on June 02, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Things Got Ugly At RFK Jr.’s Fart Dinner

A closeup of the Qatar World Cup gold medal

Qatar’s Interest In The Washington Wizards Is The Next Step

Moms For Liberty activists rally against COVID mask mandates in Viera, Fl. in June of 2023.

The Country’s Most Unpleasant Moms Will Not Be Cowed By People Pointing Out The Big Hitler Quote On Their Newsletter

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) questions Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray about conspiracy theories related to the January 6, 2020 attack on the U.S. Capitol during a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Clay Higgins Is The Norm

<a href="https://abshippy.com/">Abdullah Shihipar</a> is a writer and public health researcher based at Brown University.

Abdullah Shihipar

L-R Kyla Bennett, PhD, JD Director, New England PEER and a local resident Tracy Stewart of Medway look over old astroturf piled up in a forested area, where it's apparently leaching PFAS chemicals into nearby water sources.

The Case Against Turf Fields

A CNN broadcaster with the chyron "What is woke?"

This Blog Has Gone Woke

Donald Trump hooting at supporters outside Mar-A-Lago in Florida in April of 2023.

So It’s A Crime Now To Have Boxes Full Of Cool Folders With Various Words Printed On Them?

Pat Robertson, Anti-Gaming Crusader And Horse Racing Enthusiast, Is Dead

Katharine Trendacosta writes about tech policy, the entertainment industry, pop culture, and where those things intersect. In her day job, she&#8217;s the Associate Director of Policy and Activism for the digital civil liberties nonprofit the Electronic Frontier Foundation. (Her writing here reflects her views alone and not those of EFF.) In her spare time, she writes things like this.

A photo of the author, Katharine Trendacosta

Katharine Trendacosta

Actor and writer Daheli Hall, left, joins WGA members as they cheer on the first day of their strike in front of Paramount Studios in Hollywood on May 2, 2023.

The Writers Are Striking For The Future Of Entertainment

Mayor Eric Adams during a ceremony as Composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is given the key to the city.

To Restore Public Trust, New York Mayor Eric Adams Must Do A Kickflip

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 18: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition annual leadership meeting on November 19, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The meeting comes on the heels of former President Donald Trump becoming the first candidate to declare his intention to seek the GOP nomination in the 2024 presidential race.

Reports: Mets Owner To Do Something Stupid

Albert Burneko

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who sucks at his job

Media Meltdowns

How Not To Interview A Transportation Secretary

Former President Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene during the 3rd round of the LIV Golf Invitational Series in July of 2022.

Who Could Mistake Tucker Carlson For Anything Else?

BOSTON - 1969: Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait in 1969 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1969 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)