February 9, 2026

Title: PUSH START

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• PUPPET SHOW (16A: Bob Baker Marionette Theater performance)
• PUBLIC SHOWERS (38A: Poolside rinse-off stations)
• PUKA SHELLS (60A: Hawaiian jewelry items)

PUSH START: The first word of each theme answer STARTs with the letters PU, and the second word in each theme answer STARTs with the letters SH. Our PUSH START phrases are PUPPET SHOW, PUBLIC SHOWERS, and PUKA SHELLS.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• PUPPET SHOW (16A: Bob Baker Marionette Theater performance) The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is the longest continuous running PUPPET theater in the U.S. To see a PUPPET SHOW at this theater, you'll need to be in Los Angeles, California, where it was founded by Bob Baker and Alton Wood in 1963. 
• IDAHO (44A: Home state of ice hockey player Hilary Knight) Professional ice hockey player Hilary Knight is a captain for the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) team, the Seattle Torrent. The IDAHO native is also the captain of the United States women's national ice hockey team, which is currently competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Hilary Knight has announced that this Winter Olympics (her fifth) will be her final Olympic Games.
• TRON (65A: "___: Ares" (2026 sci-fi film)) TRON: Ares is a 2025 sci-fi movie. It is the third installment in the TRON series, following TRON (1982) and TRON: Legacy (2010).

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• VIRGO (1A: Sixth sign of the zodiac) VIRGO is the zodiac sign for those born between August 24 and September 23.
• MISO (24A: Paste similar to doenjang) Both MISO and doenjang are made of fermented soybeans.
• SLR (42A: Canon AE-1, for one) The Canon AE-1 is a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. This particular camera was produced by Canon from 1976-1984. 
• PUKA SHELLS (60A: Hawaiian jewelry items) PUKA SHELLS are bead-like SHELLS found on the beaches of Hawaii, as well as other places. PUKA SHELLS are the shells from cone snails, which have been worn and rounded by the ocean. "PUKA" is the Hawaiian word for "hole," referencing the naturally occurring hole in these shell fragments. PUKA SHELLS are strung into necklaces, bracelets, and anklets (though imitations abound, so buyer beware). 
• USA (67A: Team ___ (Olympics powerhouse) It continues to be timely to see Olympics content in the puzzle, since the 2026 Winter Olympics is happening this month. Have you been following Team USA's progress?
• AREA (15D: Approximately 182 square kilometers, for Milan) Speaking of the 2026 Winter Olympics, they are happening in Italy, and one of the host cities is Milan.
• TOM (17D: Thumb in a fairy tale) TOM Thumb is a character in English folklore whose name refers to the fact that he's no bigger than his father's thumb. The History of TOM Thumb was published in 1621 and recounts TOM's various adventures such as being swallowed by a cow.
• OTOH (26D: "that said..., " in a text) OTOH = on the other hand
• MILD (35D: Like foods low on the Scoville scale) I have previously written about the Scoville scale, which measures the heat of chili peppers. The higher the rating, the hotter the pepper, so foods low on the Scoville scale are MILD.
• DAL (41D: ___ bhat (rice-and-lentil dish)) DAL are dried split legumes (lentils, peas, and beans), and "bhat" means "boiled rice" in a number of Indo-Aryan languages. DAL bhat is a traditional meal popular in many areas of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
• REAL ID (47D: TSA-approved driver's license) The REAL ID Act of 2005 established specific requirements for U.S. driver's licenses and ID cards. Those requirements include verification of the personal information on the IDs. Since May of 2025, a REAL ID is a requirement for U.S. domestic flights. Most states (every state except Washington) use a star symbol to indicate a REAL ID.
• STU (59D: Tommy's dad on "Rugrats") On the animated TV series Rugrats, STU Pickles is the dad. He is married to Didi, and is father to Tommy and Dil.
• URL (61D: www.olympics.com) This URL is a good one to remember if you'd like to keep track of the happenings at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• ONE (19A: 3/8+5/8)
• CLOWN CAR (10D: Overcrowded circus vehicle)
• OLD SOULS (11D: People who seem mature for their age)

PUSH START refers to a method of starting a motor vehicle with a manual transmission. The car is given an extended PUSH, and once the appropriate speed is reached the clutch is engaged to START the engine. No manual labor needed for today's PUSH START – thank goodness! Thank you, Zhouqin, for this interesting puzzle.