May 18, 2026

Title: BREAK THE SEAL

Constructors: Beth Rubin & Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• SEED CAPITAL (16A: Initial funding for a startup, often)
• SERVICE ANIMAL (37A: Dog trained to perform specific tasks, often)
• SELF-REFERENTIAL (58A: Like this clue)

BREAK THE SEAL: The word SEAL is "broken" by each theme answer: SEED CAPITAL, SERVICE ANIMAL, and SELF-REFERENTIAL.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• CLINT (21A: "Train Dreams" director Bentley) In addition to directing the 2025 movie Train Dreams, CLINT Bentley also co-wrote the screenplay. The movie is a period drama that tells about the life of Robert Granier (portrayed by Joel Edgerton), who arrived in the area around Bonners Ferry, Idaho on the Great Northern Railway as an orphaned child. The movie follows his 80 years of life as he works in railroad construction, as a logger, and as a carriage driver. 
• ORE (61A: Metallic resource in A Feast for Odin) A Feast for Odin is a board game first released in 2016. The game is set in the Viking Age and players explore territories and collect goods. This game is new to me, but the answer here was inferable, as ORE is a common resource in games (as well as a common crossword answer).
• OPERA (46D: Akhnaten," for one) Akhenaten was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned in the mid 1300s BCE. The OPERA Akhnaten, written by Philip Glass in 1983, is based on the life and religious convictions of Akhnaten. Fun fact: Music from Akhnaten appears in a fourth season episode of the TV show Stranger Things.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• GATWA (1A: "Sex Education" actor Ncuti) The TV series, Sex Education (2019-2023), follows the story of Otis, a teenager who, with a fellow classmate (Maeve), sets up a sex advice business. Otis is best friends with Eric, who comes from a religious Ghanian Nigerian family, and is openly gay. The roles of Otis, Eric, and Maeve are played by Asa Butterfield, Ncuti GATWA, and Emma Mackey, respectively. Ncuti GATWA is also known for his portrayal of the Fifteenth Doctor on the the BBC series Doctor Who, from 2023-2025.
• ARI (15A: NPR host Shapiro) This clue is perhaps most accurate with a "former" at the beginning. ARI Shapiro's 25 years at NPR, including a decade as host of All Things Considered, ended in September of last year. In addition to his work at NPR, ARI Shapiro was the host of the seventh season of the reality TV series The Mole. He also occasionally sings with the band Pink Martini. The home page of ARI Shapiro's website says, "He has been an answer in the New York Times crossword puzzle and a category on Jeopardy!" (Alas, no mention of his appearing in the USA Today puzzle.)
• ROD (18A: Word after "hot" or "shower") It's kind of fun that you can take a "hot shower," but a "hot ROD" and a "shower ROD" are unrelated things)
• NOV (20A: Diwali month (Abbr.)) Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated during the Hindu month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). During Diwali, diyas, oil lamps made from clay, are lit throughout the home and outside.
• STREAK (24A: Run out of clothes?) As someone who was a child in the 1970s, at the height of streaking in the U.S., this clue made me chuckle. It reminded me of the 1974 song by Ray Stevens, "The STREAK." As a nine-year-old, I thought this song was hysterical. (I still think it's funny, to be honest...)
• MEOW (26A: "Please turn on my laser pointer") My cat, Willow, says this is an amazing clue, and she also says, "MEOW!" I don't have a photo of Willow playing with a laser pointer, but here she is with her stuffed narwhal.

• SPACE (31A: "Star Trek: Deep ___ Nine") Star Trek: Deep SPACE Nine originally aired from 1993-1999. The series centered on Deep Space NINE, a space station located adjacent to a wormhole. The leader of the Starfleet crew on the space station is Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). Star Trek: Deep SPACE Nine was the fourth series in the Star Trek franchise.
• KERI (49A: "The Diplomat" actress Russell) In the TV series The Diplomat (2023-present), KERI Russell stars as Katherine "Kate" Wyler, a U.S. diplomat unexpectedly appointed as ambassador to the United Kingdom in the midst of an emerging international crisis.
• BEY (56A: "Cowboy Carter" artist, for short) Cowboy Carter, released in 2024, is the eighth studio album by Beyoncé – BEY, for short. The album won Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Country Album.
• SELF-REFERENTIAL (58A: Like this clue) I always enjoy a SELF-REFERENTIAL clue. Very nice.
• ANORA (62A: 2025 Best Picture winner) In the movie ANORA, Mikey Madison stars as the title character, ANORA "Ani" Mikheeva, a stripper who lives in Brighton Beach, a Russian American neighborhood in Brooklyn. In addition to ANORA's Best Picture Academy Award, Mikey Madison won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
• LES (64A: French article in "Arles") Arles is a commune (a French administrative division) in southern France located on the Rhône River. This is a fun clue, because since French is spoken in Arles, LES is a French article used there. Additionally, LES is found in the word Arles. 
• SHIVER ME TIMBERS (6D: Pirate exclamation popularized by Long John Silver) Long John Silver is a fictional character in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 book Treasure Island. The main antagonist of the book, Long John Silver, is a cunning pirate with a parrot named Captain Flint. Although the phrase "SHIVER ME TIMBERS" appeared in print prior to Treasure Island, it was Long John Silver who popularized it, saying it seven times in the book. Long John Silver also says variations of the phrase, such as "SHIVER my sides" and "SHIVER my soul."
• CARNE ASADA FRIES (10D: Crispy potatoes with grilled steak, cheese, guac, etc.) CARNE ASADA FRIES, which the clue describes nicely, is a Mexican-American dish that originated in San Diego.
• STEVIE (24D: David's cynical best friend on "Schitt's Creek") I have written about the TV series Schitt's Creek (2015-2020) many times previously. Daniel Levy portrays David Rose, and Emily Hampshire portrays STEVIE Budd, who becomes David's best friend.
• SUR (29D: Big ___, California) Big SUR is a section of the California coast known for its rugged mountainous scenery. Although the area doesn't have specific boundaries, it is generally considered to include a 71 mile stretch of coastline between Malpaso Creek and San Carpóforo Creek. Big SUR is also the name of an unincorporated village in the area.
• ANI (35D: Singer-songwriter DiFranco) ANI DiFranco is a singer-songwriter, activist, and feminist icon. Her lyrics are "often autobiographical, and strongly political." All of her albums have been released on her own record label, Righteous Babe. ANI DiFranco's most recent album, Unprecedented Sh!t, was released in 2024.
• CERA (38D: "Juno" actor Michael) I saw Juno when it was released in 2007. The coming-of-age film stars Elliot Page as the title character who is pregnant. The baby's father is Juno's longtime friend, Paulie, played by Michael CERA. 
• NSA (60D: Org. nicknamed "No Such Agency") The National Security Agency (NSA) was formed in 1952. Much of the NSA's work in intelligence is clandestine, so the nickname of "No Such Agency" is apt and amusing.
• Several other clues I especially enjoyed:
• ERR (30A: Push a door that says "pull")
• THERE ARE NO RULES (3D: "Anything goes!")
• FRAT (55D: Someone might rush to get into one)

I appreciate that the SEAL is broken in the same place (and symmetrically) in each theme answer. The theme would work even if that weren't the case, but I do find the consistency appealing. The three grid-spanning vertical answers – THERE ARE NO RULES, SHIVER ME TIMBERS, and CARNE ASADA FRIES – are lovely bonuses. Thank you, Beth and Amanda, for this enjoyable puzzle.

A note about comments: I welcome your comments on the blog! For one thing it's nice to know folks are reading what I've written. My goal for this blog has always been for it to be informational, conversational, and kind. I ask that you keep those goals in mind when commenting. Unkind comments will be deleted. Note that I am more likely to delete a negative comment if it is posted anonymously. (P.S. You can point out when I make a mistake – in fact, I appreciate that so I can correct it.)