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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

AI-Powered Robot interacts with People during the Italian Tech Week 2024 at OGR Officine Grandi Riparazioni on September 26, 2024 in Turin, Italy.

Capital

Toward A Theory Of Kevin Roose

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.

Politics

This Party Sucks

Samer Kalaf

Journalismism

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

Donald Trump looking like a saggy orange bag of shit on his way onto Air Force 1 for a trip to the Middle East.

NYT Reporter: It’s Not Corruption Unless The Envelope Says “Bribe” On It

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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

President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton attend the White House State Dinner for the President of Ukraine on November 22, 1994 in Washington, D.C.

Margin Of Error

The Era Of Meek Government Is Over

The Machines

Only Kevin Roose’s Editors Despise Him More Than I Do

A mugger approaches two victims, holding out his hat, ostensibly to beg, but carrying a large club in his other hand, circa 1790. The image is captioned: 'Honest friend, I'll borrow a little silver of you. He who hath gold hath fear. He who hath none hath sorrow'.

This Is So Stupid

Not Enough People Are Taking The Wallet Inspector Seriously

Journalists raise their hands in an attempt to ask a question of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on January 31, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Look For The Helpers

First responders wearing Hazmat gear investigate a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in front of the entrance to the Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas on Jan. 01, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

How Crazy Was The Las Vegas Cybertruck Bomber?

Kelsey McKinney

Arts And Culture

The Narrative Is All That Matters

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth leaves a meeting with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) with his wife Jennifer Rauchet as he continues to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on December 5, 2024 in Washington, DC.

What Makes A Scandal

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

Media Meltdowns

What The Fuck Is A “Vaccine Skeptic”?

Workers prepare US Capitol for 2025 inauguration.

Last Time Was Lucky

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

Donald Trump makes a loony-eyed face while speaking at IAC.

Where Racism Goes To Become Rhetoric

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton waits to speak at the annual convention of the Rainbow/Push Coalition June 24, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. Clinton said Bush Administration policies make likely the need for affirmative action programs for years to come.

Can The Pundits Pivot Toward The Center?

Bigots Need Their Useful Idiots

A flyer with information about Project 2025's plan to expand oil drilling inside the United States, stapled to a pole on a city street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Who Wants To Talk About The Issues

The New York Times building is seen on September 6, 2018 in New York. - A furious Donald Trump called September 5, 2018 for the unmasking of an anonymous senior official who wrote in the New York Times that top members of his administration were undermining the president to curb his "misguided impulses." Trump asked if the unsigned op-ed could be considered treasonous, assailed the newspaper for the "gutless" piece and questioned whether the senior official it was attributed to actually existed. "TREASON?" Trump posted in response to the article entitled "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration," which claimed the president's own staff see him as a danger to the nation."Does the so-called 'Senior Administration Official' really exist, or is (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Why Did The New York Times Delete A Notorious Fraudster’s Election Take?

US President Joe Biden speaks as he hosts a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (out of frame) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2024.

What’s The Story With Joe Biden?

Who Are These Big Book Lists For?

Donald Trump and Joe Biden, looking like a couple of brain-ruined old mummies during their presidential debate.

Debate Losers

Justin Ellis

A photo of the scoreboard screen at the Target Center in Minneapolis displaying the words "Bring Ya Ass"

Whomst Has Brought The Ass?

"Motoman" robots from Japan's largest industrial robot maker Yasukawa Electric, beats a drum during a demonstration at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, 29 November 2007.

If Kevin Roose Was ChatGPT With A Spray-On Beard, Could Anyone Tell?

An NYPD officer in riot gear looms over a student protestor on the ground and appears to be gripping her arm.