August 23, 2025

Title: VIBE SHIFT

Constructor: Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• COGNITIVE BIAS (13A: Error in reasoning that stems from one's subjective perception)
• LA VIE BOHEME (34A: Celebratory "RENT" song with the lyric "To Sontag / To Sondheim / To anything taboo")
• YOUTUBE VIDEOS (55A: Ms. Rachel postings, e.g.)

VIBE SHIFT: Each theme contains an anagram of the word VIBE: COGNITIVE BIAS, LA VIE BOHEME, and YOUTUBE VIDEOS. 

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• YOUTUBE VIDEOS (55A: Ms. Rachel postings, e.g.) Ms. Rachel is a YouTuber and social media personality. Her YOU TUBE VIDEOS are aimed at young children and include a children's music series called Songs for Littles. Ms. Rachel is an educator, and her shows are based in childhood development research. She and her husband started producing YOUTUBE VIDEOS when their son had a speech delay, and they discovered a lack of media resources for him. In her YOUTUBE VIDEOS, Ms. Rachel wears a signature pink shirt and a headband. It's been quite some time since my children were young, so I'm just now learning about Ms. Rachel.
• BRENDA (30D: "Running Point" actress Song) Running Point is a sports comedy TV series that premiered on Netflix in February of this year. Kate Hudson portrays Isla Gordon, a reformed party girl trying to run a pro basketball team. BRENDA Song portrays Ali Lee, Isla's best friend and chief of staff of the basketball team.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SSRI (6A: Class of medication whose second "S" stands for serotonin) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs that increase the extracellular level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter with biological functions relating to mood, cognition, learning, and memory. SSRIs are used in the treatment of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.
• AMISH (11A: Some Pennsylvania Dutch speakers) Pennsylvania Dutch is a variation of German that is spoken by the Pennsylvania Dutch (an ethnic group in some regions of the U.S.), as well as some AMISH and Mennonite groups. 
• HAVA (17A: "___ Nagila") "HAVA Nagila" is a Jewish folk song. It is often the song played during the hora, a circle dance performed at some Jewish weddings. "HAVA Nagila" always reminds me of Harry Belafonte. When I was growing up my family had a Harry Belafonte record, and "HAVA Nagila" was one of the songs he sang. 
• GYRO (22A: Sandwich often served with tzatziki) In Greek cuisine, GYROs are pita-wrapped sandwiches containing meat and vegetables, and topped with tzatziki – a yogurt, cucumber sauce. 
• TIBET (31A: Home to many Sherpa people) TIBET is an autonomous region located in the southwestern part of China. The Sherpa people are a Tibetan ethnic group native to the high mountain region of the Himalayas, a mountain range in Asia. Mount Everest, Earth's highest peak, is located in the Himalayas on the TIBET-Nepal border. Many climbers who attempt to reach the peak of Mount Everest use Sherpa guides.
• LA VIE BOHEME (34A: Celebratory "RENT" song with the lyric "To Sontag / To Sondheim / To anything taboo") "LA VIE BOHÈME" is a song from the 1996 musical RENT. In the song, the characters call out ideas and symbols of bohemianism and do shout outs to things and people that inspire them. "To Sontag / To Sondheim / To anything taboo..."
• EVER (45A: Never Have I ___ (party game)) Back in 2021 when the game Never Have I EVER was mentioned in a clue, I discovered that it is, apparently, a drinking game. I've played the game many times, but never as a drinking game. (I usually played it with groups of youth and children.)
• SIRI (46A: Apple assistant originally voiced by Susan Bennett) Interestingly, when Susan Bennett recorded her voice for four hours a day every day back in 2005, she didn't know how her voice would be used. SIRI and I have a complicated relationship. I mostly use SIRI to set timers and add things to the grocery list. However, she doesn't always listen to me...
• LENA (52A: Civil rights activist Horne) LENA Horne (1917-2010) was a four-time Grammy Award-winning singer, actress, and dancer. In 1989, she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. LENA Horne was also an active civil rights advocate.
• ORCA (54A: Toothed whale that's a cosmopolitan species) A cosmopolitan species is one that is highly adaptable to a range of climactic and environmental conditions, and therefore its habitat range is widespread. ORCAs are a cosmopolitan species; there are ORCAs in every major ocean habitat on Earth. The opposite of a cosmopolitan species is an endemic or native species, one found only in a single geographic location.
• FEEL (60A: "I ___ so high school every time I look at you") "I FEEL so high school every time I look at you" is a lyric from Taylor Swift's 2024 song, "So High School." I'm so used to Amanda including Taylor Swift references in her puzzles, that if she wanted to mess with me, she could construct a puzzle without any Taylor Swift references. I would probably spend quite a bit of time looking for one!
• SETH (5D: "The Studio" co-creator Rogan) The Studio is an Apple TV+ series that premiered in March of this year. The series is a satire of the movie industry. SETH Rogen co-created the show and stars as the head of a Hollywood studio who is struggling to balance corporate demands with his desire to make quality films. 
• ISIS (9D: Egyptian fertility goddess) ISIS was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion. She was believed to help the dead enter the afterlife, and was considered to be the divine mother of the pharaoh. Eventually she came to also be associated with fertility.
• HARD SAME (12D: "That's absolutely my feeling, too") and I AGREE (14D: "That's absolutely my feeling, too") Great clue echo for these consecutive clues.
• LAVA (37D: Rolling rock?) This clue is not referencing rock music, or even a rock rolling down a hill. Rather, it's pointing at LAVA. When molten rock is underground it is referred to as magma. Once that molten rock breaks through the Earth's surface – perhaps spewed out of a volcano and rolling down the side of a mountain – it is known as LAVA.
• ESCOLA (43D: "Oh, Mary!" writer and star Cole) The Broadway show Oh, Mary! is a comedic spoof of the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. According to the show's website, "Oh, Mary! is a dark comedy about a miserable, suffocated Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln's assassination." The play was written by Cole ESCOLA, who also originated the role of Mary.
• REBEL (47D: Revolting person?) Not a person you can't stand, but a person that might be part of a revolt, that is, a REBEL.
• RODIN (49D: Beauty entrepreneur Linda) Linda RODIN established the beauty company, RODIN, in 2008. The company was acquired by Estée Lauder in 2014.
• SURF (51D: Ride the tube?) The question mark in this clue is indicating some trickiness. Not riding the tube as in taking the subway, but riding the tube inside a wave. I learned the SURF terms "drop in" and "ride the barrel" (or tube) from the March 15, 2025 crossword.
• Other clues I especially enjoyed:
• RULES (1A: "___are made to be broken")
• SCORE (10D: Board game calculation)
• DIRECT (42D: Unlike someone who beats around the bush)

This hidden anagram theme snuck up on me. Maybe I'm out of practice after a few days of freestyle puzzles! From the title, I guessed we might see the word VIBE shifting positions in the grid. Instead, the word SHIFT is indicating that the letters of the word are shiftining positions. "Aha!" Sneaky. Thank you, Amanda, for this excellent puzzle.