Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

The Nation Puzzlers

Joshua 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.

Political Puzzling Political Puzzling

Crosswords as a bully pulpit

Oct 6, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

Puzzle No. 3255 Puzzle No. 3255

Don’t miss Kosman and Picciotto’s crossword blog, Word Salad.

Oct 2, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

Lit Parade Lit Parade

…and we mean this literally!

Sep 27, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

Puzzle No. 3254 Puzzle No. 3254

Don’t miss Kosman and Picciotto’s crossword blog, Word Salad.

Sep 25, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

Counting Words Counting Words

Sometimes a puzzle needs to cut down

Sep 21, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

Puzzle No. 3253 Puzzle No. 3253

Don’t miss Kosman and Picciotto’s crossword blog, Word Salad.

Sep 18, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

Georges Perec on Puzzles Georges Perec on Puzzles

Constraints, literary and ludic

Sep 14, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

Puzzle No. 3252 Puzzle No. 3252

Click HERE to download a printable PDF of this puzzle. And don’t miss Kosman and Picciotto’s crossword blog, Word Salad. ACROSS  1 It should be better than 20/20 for management (11)  7 Television network is more evenhanded when avoiding false start (5)  8 Smallish bra containing, say, a flower (9) 10 Idea: go to back, naked or dressed for a frat party (6) 11 Elk riled wild bird (8) 12 Social changes capturing attention—they can help you win an election (9) 14 City in Czechoslovakia (4) 17 Longing internalized by preacher (4) 18 Suburban voter shouted, “Punch her, Somerset!” (6,3) 20 Military policemen and chief of operations involved in fan’s murders (5,3) 22 Throw cold water on, to block writer (6) 24 Deranged prince led censor (3-6) 25 Gas found in Discworld? (5) 26 Easy at first: chant “om” for food (11)   DOWN  1 Silk-screen an angel on the outside of semi (9)  2 Eastern agent going north, eating meat in spread (8)  3 Polish-Estonian’s foremost countryman (4)  4 Organizing NC, RI sit-in is essential (9)  5 Sailed at sea with aspirations (6)  6 Organic hemoglobin has a role in the food chain (5)  7 Barmen teach mixing in front room (11)  9 Show guy entering ineluctably (11) 13 Davenport plunges into topic that’s arcane by definition (4,5) 15 Communication between ships and shore about excellent chart (9) 16 Bloody sacrifice, as both came unglued (8) 19 Athletic competitions, with energy, boosted prize (6) 21 Bit of Morse code uploaded in French wine region (5) 23 Fill belly with victual, ultimately! (4)   SOLUTION TO PUZZLE NO. 3251   ACROSS 1 SU(PERP)AC (caus[e] rev.) 6 rev. 9 C + ONGRESSWOMAN (newsrooms nag anag.) 11 hidden 12 [c]OSMOS + IN + G 13 pun 17 BACH + ELORSDEGREE (greed or else anag.) 18 anag. 19 C + ASKS 22 SOU(THE ASTER)L + Y 23 [s]OARED 24 ACROS[s] + TIC DOWN 2 UNCLE[ar] 3 ENN([b]U[g])I (nine anag.) 4 PER + SON(ANON)G + RAT A (rev.) 5 CASH + MERE + SWEATER 6 D + OWNS + C + ALE 7 COMANA(G)ER (camera on anag.) 8 2 defs. 10 HUB + BUB 14 RECON + QU[e]ER (crone anag.) 15 U + NEAR THE D 16 hidden 19 hidden 20 ST(Y)LI (list anag.) 21 anag.

Sep 11, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

The War Against Cliché The War Against Cliché

Trying to keep puzzles fresh

Sep 6, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

Puzzle No. 3251 Puzzle No. 3251

Don’t miss Kosman and Picciotto’s crossword blog, Word Salad.

Sep 5, 2012 / Joshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto

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