June 18, 2026

Title: MUDDY THE WATERS

Constructor: Li Ding

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• SUNFLOWER STATE (20A: Floral nickname for Kansas)
• NEWS ARTICLE (36A: Piece of reporting)
• TRUMPETER SWANS (53A: Birds with a musical name)

MUDDY THE WATERS: Each theme answer contains an anagram of the word WATERS: SUNFLOWER STATE, NEWS ARTICLE, and TRUMPETER SWANS.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• EMO (41A: Genre for The All-American Rejects) The All-American Rejects are an EMO, punk, and alt rock band formed in Oklahoma in 1999. Their fifth studio album, Sandbox, was released last month. 
• UGANDA (46D: Country with the highest density of primates in Africa) This is a fun fact about UGANDA. A landlocked country in East Africa, UGANDA is bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. UGANDA includes part of Lake Victoria (shared with Kenya and Tanzania). UGANDA has 60 protected areas, including ten national parks. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to half of the world's mountain gorillas. Kibale Forest National Park is home to 13 distinct species of primates, including chimpanzees and baboons.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SONIA (17A: Justice Sotomayor) SONIA Sotomayor has been an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court since 2009. She is the first Hispanic justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
• SUNFLOWER STATE (20A: Floral nickname for Kansas) As you might guess, Kansas earned its nickname of the SUNFLOWER STATE because of the many SUNFLOWERs that grow there. The SUNFLOWER is native to North America, and the weather in Kansas is perfect for them. SUNFLOWERs can be found growing in every county in Kansas.
• EGO (30A: "SNL" alum Nwodim) EGO Nwodim was a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 2018 to 2025. 
• SPOT (39A: Great Red ___ (storm in Jupiter's atmosphere)) The Great Red SPOT is a persistent weather feature of Jupiter and the planet's most recognizable feature. The cause of the SPOT's red-orange color is unknown. Jupiter's Great Red SPOT has been observed since 1831. The Great Red SPOT is an anti-cyclonic storm, which is similar to a hurricane on Earth. Hooray for science in the crossword!
• HEY (44A: "___ There Delilah" (Plain White T's song)) "Hey There Delilah" is a SONG recorded in 2004 by the Plain White T's. Tom Higgenson, the band's lead vocalist, wrote the SONG after meeting steeplechase and cross country runner Delilah DiCrescenzo. "Hey there, Delilah, what's it like in New York City..."
• ADELE (49A: "Someone Like You" singer) Lots of great options for earworms in this puzzle. "Someone Like You" is a song from ADELE's 2011 album, 21. "Never mind I'll find someone like you / I wish nothing but the best for you, too…"
• GIN (52A: Negroni liquor) A Negroni is an Italian cocktail made of one part each GIN, vermouth, and Campari. 
• TRUMPETER SWANS (53A: Birds with a musical name) TRUMPETER SWANS are native to North America. They are the largest species of waterfowl, with a wingspan of six to ten feet. TRUMPETER SWANS are named for their calls, which sound similar to a trumpet.
• HINGE (60A: Tinder or Bumble alternative) Tinder, Bumble, and HINGE are dating apps.
• START (66A: "___ of Something New" ("High School Musical" song)) High School Musical (2006) is a made-for-TV musical movie that originally aired on the Disney Channel. "START of Something New" is a song in High School Musical.
• OPRAH (10A: TV host with a book club) OPRAH's Book Club 2.0 launched in 2012 after the end of The OPRAH Winfrey Show in order to continue the popular Book Club. The June 2026 selection for OPRAH's Book Club is Little Wonder by Sophie Chen Keller.
• HOME RUN (12D: One of 755 hit by Hank Aaron) Hank Aaron (1934-2021) is considered one of the greatest baseball players in MLB history. He played for the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves from 1954-1974, and for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1975-1976. During his career, Hank Aaron hit 755 HOME RUNs. At the time of his retirement, this was the MLB record for career HOME RUNs. (That record is now held by Barry Bonds with 762 career HOME RUNs.)
• POET (28D: Mary Oliver, for example)  Mary Oliver (1935-2019) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning POET whose writing was often inspired by nature. What Mary Oliver poem shall I recommend you read today? Let's go with "The Summer Day." I adore the question asked by the last two lines of this poem.
• AMY (37D: "The Joy Luck Club" Author Tan) The Joy Luck Club is a 1989 book by AMY Tan. It tells the stories of four immigrant families – four mothers and their daughters – living in San Francisco. The book was adapted into a movie of the same name in 1993. 
• EXPO (55D: New York Comic Con, for one) The New York Comic Con is an annual fan convention dedicated to Western comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, and more. This year's EXPO is the 20th event and will be held October 8-11. I notice on the website that tickets for this year's New York Comic Con go on sale next week.
• Other clues and answers I especially enjoyed:
• STIMULI (45A: Some are blocked by noise-canceling headphones)
• TWO (22D: "One Fish, ___ Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish")
• INSERT (48D: Self-___ (character in a story meant to represent the author))

The word MUDDY in today's title is functioning as an anagram indicator. I caught on to the theme right away, which always makes me feel smart. Thank you, Li, for this enjoyable puzzle.

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