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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

Albert Burneko

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on September 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Politics

Setting Aside The Incorrect Claim About Herd Immunity

charismatic megafauna (they/them)

Sabrina Imbler

A CVS pharmacy store on February 28, 2025 in San Diego, California

Science

How Are You Supposed To Get The COVID Vaccine Now? An Explainer

Luis Paez-Pumar

Left half: A screenshot from Fall Guys, with the Beans running up a slipper slope. Right half: A screenshot from Among Us, with an impostor killing a crewmate.

The Backlog

‘Fall Guys’ And ‘Among Us’ Gave 2020 The Parties It Needed

Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.

Nicholas Russell

: A COVID face mask dangles from the rear-view mirror of a car

Life Lessons

Why I Keep Masking

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Aaron Rodgers Sees A Vast “Medical Industrial Complex” Conspiracy Behind People Not Liking Him

Richard Staff is a <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardStaff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weapons-grade Twitter goblin</a> and hostage of the Mets. That is his real name.

Richard Staff

Michael Hermosillo of the Angels makes a catch in foul territory during the 2020 MLB season, while a bunch of creepy stuffed teddy bears look on.

“I Almost Wished There Was Someone There To Curse At Me”: Isolation And Triumph In MLB’s Plague Season

Giri Nathan

Andrew Wiggins cradles the Warriors championship trophy.

Andrew Wiggins, At His Career Peak, Still Gripes About Getting The Vaccine

<a href="https://twitter.com/robertfoconnell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert O’Connell</a> is a writer from Kansas living in New York. His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and elsewhere.

Robert O’Connell

Craig Finn of The Hold Steady performs at Ottobar in Baltimore.

Arts And Culture

Craig Finn Returns To The Scene

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 Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 2: A model of COVID-19, known as coronavirus, is seen ahead of testimony from Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), during a US Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the plan to research, manufacture and distribute a coronavirus vaccine, known as Operation Warp Speed, July 2, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Photo by Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images)

Elder Wisdom

COVID-19: The Drew Magary Review

David Roth

Juan Soto after hitting a home run against the Marlins in September of 2021, also seemingly looking at the Distraction logo.

Podcasts

The Karkovice Identity, With Tim Marchman

Kyrie Irving Won

Tom Ley

Tennis

Novak Djokovic Gives Up The Game

Lauren Theisen

Canada's players react during the women's preliminary round group A match of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey competition players of Russia's Olympic Committee and Canada, at the Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing on February 7, 2022. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP) (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Olympics

The Canada-Russia Delay Was A Big, Familiar Clusterfuck

Aaron Rodgers, seen here on the field thinking freely during his Packers' loss to the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.

Cheer Up, Aaron Rodgers

Media Meltdowns

NYT: China Really Screwed Itself By Protecting Its People From Dying Of COVID

Maitreyi Anantharaman

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during a practice session ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 14, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.

We Have Come Full Circle On Novak Djokovic’s Visa

Novak Djokovic sits down while practicing on the grounds of the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic Scrambles To Clear Up COVID Timeline, Appears To Have Lied In Australian Court

Bernard Tomic checks his pulse during his qualifying match for the Australian Open.

Bernard Tomic Wonders If He Has COVID During Match, Complains About Lack Of Testing [Update]

Laura Wagner

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during the Davis Cup semi final against Marin Cilic of Croatia at Madrid Arena on December 03, 2021 in Madrid, Spain.

Novak Djokovic Is Loose In Australia, For Now

Patrick Redford

MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 03: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during the Davis Cup semi final against Marin Cilic of Croatia at Madrid Arena on December 03, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic Tried To Enter Australia Without Being Vaccinated And Now It’s A Big Mess [Update: Entry Denied]

Ray Ratto

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 21: A member of the Knights Guard dressed as Santa Claus and another wearing an elf hat clean the ice during the Vegas Golden Knights' game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at T-Mobile Arena on December 21, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lightning defeated the Golden Knights 4-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

What’s Worse, Bad Games Or No Games?

Report: Cole Beasley Running Around Like An Asshole

English Premier League

Premier League Managers Are Fed Up

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks on the field, masked prior to the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at AT&amp;T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)