June 29, 2026

Title: CO-WORKERS

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• CUSTOMS OFFICER (16A: Airport agent who checks declarations)
• CRANE OPERATOR (38A: Pro hoisting steel beams at a job site)
• CHURCH ORGANIST (59A: Musician in a choir loft)

CO-WORKERS: Each theme answer is a WORKER with the initial C.O.: CUSTOMS OFFICER, CRANE OPERATOR, and CHURCH ORGANIST.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• CAM (37A: Feature of a Furbo, for short) Furbo is an interactive pet CAM. The devices have two-way audio and live video streaming capabilities. Some Furbos even have treat-tossing capabilities to allow absent pet owner to interact with their pet.
• INCAS (1D: People ruled by Atahualpa) Atahualpa (1502-1533) was the last emperor of the INCA Empire. He ruled the INCAS from 1532 until the Spanish conquest of the INCA Empire in 1533.
• RAYA (23D: Dating app hidden in "gray area") It's not surprising for me to not know about a dating app. After all, back when I was dating there were no apps at all! But as I learned more about RAYA, I realized that this particular dating app doesn't particularly want everyone to know about it. You might say its publicity is in a "gray area." RAYA is a dating app aimed at celebrities. You have to apply to use the app, and whether or not you are accepted (only 8% of applicants are) is up to an exclusive committee's vote (and is dependent on the number of Instagram followers you have). 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• NYU (20A: Manhattan sch. attended by Idina Menzel) Idina Menzel has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Drama from New York University's (NYU's) Tisch School of the Arts.
• SUCRE (22A: One of Bolivia's capitals) The landlocked South American country of Bolivia has two capitals, SUCRE and La Paz. SUCRE is the constitutional and judicial capital and La Paz is the administrative capital.
• STAR (24A: Symbol on Chile's flag) and PESO (51A: Currency in Chile) Chile's flag features a single white STAR in a blue square located on the top left corner of the flag. The lower half of the flag is red, and the upper half – to the right of the blue square – is white. Chile uses the Chilean PESO as its currency.
• CRANE OPERATOR (38A: Pro hoisting steel beams at a job site) The other day my husband and I were biking by a construction site where a CRANE was in use. And I wondered, "How do CRANE OPERATORs practice their job?" It seems like there's not a lot of room for error.
• ERHU (42A: Fiddle in Chinese folk music) An ERHU is a string instrument with two strings. Like a fiddle, it's played with a bow. The ERHU is believed to have evolved from instruments made in China during the Tang Dynasty in the 600s to 900s.
• PURR (48A: Kitty's sound of bliss) and CATS (54A: Housemates who leave litter everywhere) The litter everywhere is definitely a downside of having CATS. But then they PURR and your heart melts and it's all worth it. Here's a photo of my CAT, Willow, blissfully supervising me while I work.

• TET (4D: Biggest festival in Vietnam) It's been a few months since we've seen TET in the puzzle, so here's a reminder that TET, also known as the Vietnamese New Year, celebrates the arrival of spring based on the Vietnamese calendar.
• ONE (17D: 50/50) This is a sneaky clue! Any number divided by itself is, of course, ONE.
• TEMPURA (25D: Crispy Japanese dish often dipped in tentsuyu) TEMPURA is a dish of seafood and vegetables that are battered lightly and deep-fried. (It's delicious!) Tentsuyu sauce is a condiment made of dashi (stock), mirin (rice wine), and shōyu (soy sauce).
• ARAB (36D: Ethnic identity of many Emiratis) Emiratis are the people of the United ARAB Emirates.
• FTC (52D: Org. enforcing antitrust laws) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a U.S. government agency responsible for the enforcement of antitrust laws. The FTC is also charged with promoting consumer protection.
• ARTS (55D: Bonsai and saikei) Bonsai is the Japanese ART of cultivating small trees. Saikei is a Japanese ART that emerged from bonsai. Saikei is the ART of creating tray landscapes using miniature living trees, soil, rocks, water, and other vegetation.
• IGBO (57D: Nigerian people) The IGBO people are indigenous to several states in Nigeria. Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea also have IGBO communities.
• COB (59D: Inner ear?) The COB is the inner part of an ear of corn, of course, not a human ear.
• Other clues and answers I especially enjoyed:
• RIDE (14A: Space Mountain or Splash Mountain)
• SLOSH (32A: Move through a puddle)
• AIR (56A: Half the contents of a chip bag, seemingly)
• COCONUT RICE (27D: Common side for curry)

The key to this theme is to parse the title not as CO-WORKERS, but as C. O. WORKERS. That's fun. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this superb puzzle.

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