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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

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winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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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

Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and JD Vance attend the Army-Navy football game on December 14, 2024.

Trump Musk Vance

Margin Of Error

Elon Musk Takes What He Can Get

Normal Gossip: portraits

Alex Sujong Laughlin

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Journalismism

ABC’s Trump Settlement Is A Bad Omen

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Tom Ley

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 4: Police officers investigate the scene where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan near a hotel on 54th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues on December 04, 2024 in New York, United States. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in what authorities are calling a 'brazen, targeted attack' outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The masked gunman, who waited several minutes before ambushing Thompson, fired multiple times, striking him in the back and right calf. Thompson was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.

Healthcare executive gunned down in New York City in apparent ‘targeted attack’

Politics

What Comes After The Gun?

<p>Mohammed Mhawish is a Palestinian journalist and writer from Gaza. He is currently a contributing writer for <em>The Nation</em>. Mohammed, a contributor to the book <em>A Land With a People</em>, has reported for Al Jazeera, <em>The Economist</em>, MSNBC, +972 Magazine, and more. Subscribe to his newsletter <a href="https://www.mohammedmhawish.com/">here</a>.</p>


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Mohammed R. Mhawish

The rubble of the author's house in Gaza. A child's toy is visible.

mhawish-gaza-house

Stories

One Year Ago, Israel Buried Me Alive. I’m Still Clawing My Way Out.

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David Roth

A small drone flies in front of the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building as the sun rises in New York City on August 11, 2023

Sunrise in New York City

It’s Time For A Little Recreational Mental Illness In New Jersey

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Alan Kluegel

Denzel Washington looking incredibly sinister and cool in Gladiator II.

Denzel-washington-gladiator-ii

Defector At The Movies

II Decadent II Decrepit: The Politics Of ‘Gladiator II’

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.

hegseth

What Makes A Scandal

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Samer Kalaf

Joe Biden holds a copy of The Hundred Years' War On Palestine by Rashid Khalidi.

US-POLITICS-BIDEN

The Next History Book On Palestine Will Have Joe Biden In It

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO - OCTOBER 19: Brooke Slusser #10 of the San Jose State Spartans serves the ball during the first set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym on October 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

SJSU v Air Force

Bigots Don’t Know Ball

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Lauren Theisen

The Charter Building, Uxbridge, United Kingdom. Architect: dn-a architecture, 2017.

The Purpose Of A Bathroom Law


<p>Luisa Rollenhagen is a German-Argentinian freelance journalist based in Berlin. She&#8217;s written for publications such as <em>The Guardian</em>, BuzzFeed News, Deutsche Welle, and <em>GQ</em>. </p>


Profile

Luisa Rollenhagen

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 12: A parade float shows an effigy of Donald Trump holding a pair of scissors in his hand with a cut-up US flag in the shape of a swastika at the annual Rose Monday Carnival parade on February 12, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. The Mainz and Dusseldorf Rose Monday parades are known for their biting political satire. Cities in western Germany are celebrating the traditional Rhineland Carnival this week, culminating in today's Rose Monday parades. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Rose Monday Carnival Parades In Mainz And Dusseldorf

Donald Trump Is Everyone’s Problem, Even In Germany

The U.S. Supreme Court building with the low afternoon sun behind it and a pedestrian in the foreground.

SCOTUS

Lapse Of Judgment

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Kelsey McKinney

The Harvest Moon rises over the U.S. Capitol dome in 2022.

Capitol Harvest Moon

The American Nightmare Is A Rerun


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


Typing

Sabrina Imbler

WASHINGTON, DC - May 23: Laura Helmuth of The Washington Post via Getty Images poses for a portrait on Tuesday May 23, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Post Staff Portraits – Washington, DC

Science

Do Not Accept An Unscientific American

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Albert Burneko

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

RFK Jr. lookin real bad

Media Meltdowns

What The Fuck Is A “Vaccine Skeptic”?

Supporters hold "Women for Trump" signs as they watch Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speak at a campaign rally at the Santander Arena on November 04, 2024 in Reading, Pennsylvania

Republican Nominee Donald Trump Campaigns For President Across Pennsylvania

Under The Influence

It’s Safe For Lifestyle Influencers To Be MAGA Now

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Rachelle Hampton

Firefighters take a break from battling a series of brush fires on November 9, 2024 outside of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.

Wildfires In New Jersey Bring Smokey Haze To New York City

Climate

It Was Too Warm This Week

A detractor of president-elect Donald Trump protests against his policies in New York City on November 9, 2024. Their sign says "we need all of us."

US-VOTE POLITICS-TRUMP

Beyond Belief

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Billy Haisley

Fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv stage a pro-Israel demonstration at the Dam Square, lighting up flares and chanting slogans ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam, Netherlands on November 07, 2024. Maccabi fans clashed with pro-Palestinian citizens and ripped off Palestinian flags hung on the streets. In the lead-up to the Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match, several areas of Amsterdam have been designated as security risk zones.

Pro-Israel Maccabi fans stage demonstration in Amsterdam, at least ten arrests

Soccer

The Media Can’t Figure Out Why Some Racist Israeli Soccer Hooligans Were Beaten Up

WASHINGTON - AUGUST 21: Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., speaks during day three of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

2024 Democratic National Convention

The Cowards Are Already Making Plans

Workers prepare US Capitol for 2025 inauguration.

capitol

Last Time Was Lucky

<p>Nicholas Russell is a writer from Las Vegas.</p>


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Nicholas Russell

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 5: A sign points voters where to go for voting at a voting precinct at the Two Towers Condominiums, in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 5, 2024.

Presidential election in Minneapolis

After Tuesday

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Barry Petchesky

FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 06: Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump makes a speech during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, on November 06, 2024.

Republican nominee Donald Trump’s victory speech in Florida

This Place Is All Fucked Up

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Animals

Everything You Might Want To Know About Peanut, The Squirrel Star Turned MAGA Martyr

A sign reading VOTING AHEAD at an Atlanta, Ga. early voting location.

voting ahead

It’s Time To Vote