Click HERE to download a printable PDF of this puzzle.
Puzzled? No more cross words! Read Kosman and Picciotto on “Solving The Nation’s Cryptic Puzzles.” Or watch this video.
ACROSS
1 Buddy, heading west with newlywed, takes in German university town (9)
6 Mailer avoiding northern holiday celebration (5)
9 Sporting event where you’d see boats tear wildly around rod (7)
10 Good grade the night before, securing Yale student’s credit (7)
11 Interchanges tragic ending with what might happen during a breakup (12)
14 Principles of an alien minyan? (6)
15 Creator of 24 in 7 (8)
17 Quit 24 in 8 (8)
19 Shiny and grand, from a bygone era (6)
With a hostile incoming administration, a massive infrastructure of courts and judges waiting to turn “freedom of speech” into a nostalgic memory, and legacy newsrooms rapidly abandoning their responsibility to produce accurate, fact-based reporting, independent media has its work cut out for itself.
At The Nation, we’re steeling ourselves for an uphill battle as we fight to uphold truth, transparency, and intellectual freedom—and we can’t do it alone.
This month, every gift The Nation receives through December 31 will be doubled, up to $75,000. If we hit the full match, we start 2025 with $150,000 in the bank to fund political commentary and analysis, deep-diving reporting, incisive media criticism, and the team that makes it all possible.
As other news organizations muffle their dissent or soften their approach, The Nation remains dedicated to speaking truth to power, engaging in patriotic dissent, and empowering our readers to fight for justice and equality. As an independent publication, we’re not beholden to stakeholders, corporate investors, or government influence. Our allegiance is to facts and transparency, to honoring our abolitionist roots, to the principles of justice and equality—and to you, our readers.
In the weeks and months ahead, the work of free and independent journalists will matter more than ever before. People will need access to accurate reporting, critical analysis, and deepened understanding of the issues they care about, from climate change and immigration to reproductive justice and political authoritarianism.
By standing with The Nation now, you’re investing not just in independent journalism grounded in truth, but also in the possibilities that truth will create.
The possibility of a galvanized public. Of a more just society. Of meaningful change, and a more radical, liberated tomorrow.
In solidarity and in action,
The Editors, The Nation
21 Assuming liability for a footnote? (12)
25 Discussed reason at critical island beach in the Pacific (7)
26 Dog limits onset of dot-com crash (7)
27 Ugly green type (5)
28 Huge crowd you once encountered at defunct Las Vegas casino (9)
DOWN
1 Lampoon Fleischer and pet in therapy (10)
2 Gosh, son does exercises after taking up PE (2,8)
3 Deserter has to be in French asylum (7)
Get unlimited access: $9.50 for six months.
4 It could be boring to support medical professional with slow, elongated manner of speech (5)
5 Hugged Aunt Bee and ran (8)
6 Composer’s garment covering fabrication (7)
7 Mammal turning over 8 (4)
8 7 growing grass (4)
12 Notice blithering idiot occupying hotel, too (2,8)
13 Sin, to Reverend Spooner: Nana’s hair (10)
16 Arnold doubled over, clutching crooked dice (8)
18 Discharge last one in accounting and rehire? (7)
20 Brazilian city consumed by cheers for ball team (7)
22 Crazy World War II soldier with a decisive blow (5)
23 Shoot Ford model with hairpiece (4)
24 Sing off-key or communicate silently (4)
SOLUTION TO PUZZLE NO. 3461
ACROSS 1 PRO-ST(R)ATE 6 C(O)LIC[k] 9 COCO[a] NUT 10 P(H)ANT OM 11 anag. 12 [r]estore[d] anag. 14 anag. 15 RO(Y + ALBL)UE (ball anag.) 17 DEA(DLYSI)N (idyls anag.) 19 hidden 21 hidden 22 2 defs. 24 EL(IT IS)M 25 R(HOD)IUM (Muir rev.) 26 S-[u/W]-EDE 27 ONEL (rev.) + EGGED
DOWN 1 PAC(K)ED 2 “or kestrel, sweet” 3 T(ANKAR[a])D 4 ANTIC + HRIST (anag.) 5 ESP + Y 6 CHAT + TEL (rev.) 7 LATER + AL + THIN + KING 8 COMBO + VER[y] 13 B(Y + ANDL)ARGE (land anag.) 16 anag. 18 LU(DDI)TE (did anag.) 19 EARL + OBE 20 SEE + MED 23 A.M. MO
Joshua Kosman and Henri PicciottoJoshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto are The Nation’s puzzlers. To read more about Kosman, click here. To read more about Picciotto, click here. Kosman and Picciotto explain what they’re up to in “Solving The Nation’s Cryptic Crosswords” (also available as a PDF). Check out The Nation’s Current Issue page each week for the latest puzzle.