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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.

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Defector

Defector's 5th Birthday Party is on September 10 in Brooklyn

5th birthday party

Birthday party 2025

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">Puja Patel is a writer, editor, and curator who has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork and <em>Spin</em>, a culture editor for Deadspin, and a columnist for MTV and the <em>Village Voice</em>. Her work has appeared in publications such as the <em>New Yorker</em>, <em>Harper&#8217;s Bazaar</em>, and <em>Rolling Stone,</em> among others. She serves on the advisory board of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and Building Beats, a nonprofit organization that provides music education to underserved youth across New York City and Los Angeles.</div>
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Puja Patel

harry etc

Mods Asleep

Months, Ranked

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Brandy Jensen

Joni Mitchell posed in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1972

Joni Mitchell

A Playlist For Being Chill About Your Crush

Children Sobbing at Concert

The Cringiest Love Songs That Make Us Cry

<p>Amy Phillips is the former Executive Editor of Pitchfork. She has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Village Voice, and many other publications. A Philadelphia native, she currently lives in Brooklyn.</p>


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Amy Phillips

Amy at 14 in her childhood bedroom (L) / Amy's daughter as a baby in that same room (R).

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Living Through This, Again

<p>Bobby Finger is the co-host of Who? Weekly and the author of the novels <i>The Old Place</i> and <i>Four Squares</i>. His third novel will be released next summer.</p>


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Bobby Finger

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift talk on a podcast.

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Two Showgirls In Love: Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift Have A Chat

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Defector Staff

Thumbs Pointing Downwards

The Worst Songs We Love So Much

<p>Marian Bull is a writer, editor, and potter living in Brooklyn. She writes <a href="https://marianbull.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://marianbull.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755179401925000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1fEbhNoXERVRom7SEmVfSn">Mess Hall</a>, a cooking newsletter, and is at work on her first book.</p>


Marian Bull

Patrons dance during weekly line dancing lessons

line-dancing

Stud Country, Queer Line Dancing,  And The Joys Of Being In Sync

Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue

Just A Tip

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Israel Daramola

2 small boys playing Street Smart video game

2 small boys playing Street Smart video

A Playlist Of Pop That Sounds Like My Gamer Youth

<p>Tommy Craggs is an editor and writer, late of <i>Game Theory With Bomani Jones</i> on HBO, <i>Mother Jones</i> (no relation), HuffPost, Slate, Gawker Media, and Deadspin. He&#8217;s part of the Flaming Hydra cooperative of independent writers and artists. <a href="https://flaminghydra.com/#/portal/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://flaminghydra.com/%23/portal/signup&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1720555755229000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0dYzV3TRg8TTAptAnFcs6h">Subscribe to the newsletter here</a>.</p>


Tommy Craggs

An orchestra rehearsal, c

Are We Playing It All Wrong?

Dave McKenna

Fans of Elvis Presley (1935-1977) gather to celebrate his memory during an impersonator contest in Memphis.

Elvis Week 1992

Remembering My Elvis Death Week Pilgrimage, 35 Years Later

<div>Jaime Brooks is a writer, musician, and poster who lives in Astoria, Oregon. She has written for <a href="https://thenewinquiry.com/blogs/streaming-services/">The New Inquiry</a> and has a Substack called <a href="https://jaimebrooks.substack.com/">The Seat of Loss</a>.</div>
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Jaime Brooks

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What Caused The Current Country Boom?

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Kathryn Xu

(L-R) Lisa, Jisoo, Rosé and Jennie of BLACKPINK perform onstage at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

2023 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival – Weekend 2 – Day 2

Has The World’s Biggest K-Pop Group Already Come And Gone?

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Kelsey McKinney

screenshot from the movie barbie of margot robbie with the text "do you guys ever think about dying"

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A Playlist To Escape The Summertime Blues 

<p>Clover Hope is a Brooklyn-based writer and author of the award-winning book <a href="https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/the-motherlode"><i>The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop</i></a>. Her writing has appeared in <i>Esquire</i>, <i>Men&#8217;s Health</i>, <i>Elle</i>, ESPN, <i>Billboard, </i>and <i>GQ</i>, among others.</p>
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Clover Hope

Screenshot from Hulu's tv series remake of 'High Fidelity'

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The Trials Of Finding Love As A Music Snob

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


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Sabrina Imbler

Adelie penguins on nests, Antarctica.

How Climate Change Is Transforming The Soundtrack Of The Natural World

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Billy Haisley

Boy in a pedal car. Driving his pedal car on the pavement outside his house.

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A Playlist Of Ear-Splitting Brazilian Funk Ideal For A Long Drive

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Lauren Theisen

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour"

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour – Toronto, ON

Taylor Swift Turned Me Straight

<p>Jordan Sargent is a writer and music industry professional living in Brooklyn. His work has appeared in Gawker, Pitchfork, Slate, and more.</p>


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