July 1, 2026

Title: STUFFED CRUST

Constructor: Faren Roth

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• CRUCIVERBALIST (15A: Crossword enthusiast (aka you!))
• CRUSHED IT (33A: Did a top-notch job)
• CORPORATE TRUST (56A: It might manage a company's assets)

STUFFED CRUST: Each theme answer is surrounded by (STUFFED into) the word CRUST: CRUCIVERBALIST, CRUSHED IT, and CORPORATE TRUST.

And now a word from our constructor:

Faren: I was very excited to put AMTRAK in this puzzle! I love going on their long distance trains. I’ve been on two cross country train trips that included Empire Builder, California Zephyr, and the Cardinal. I hope to go on Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle next! I also enjoyed fitting in TACO TRUCKS and OPTICAL illusions as well.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• INCAN (51A: Like the quariwarmi) Quariwarmi were androgynous INCAN shamans. In the INCA Empire, Quariwarmi (the word translates to "man-woman" in Quechuan languages) were men who dressed in women's attire (from the time they were children); they were considered non-binary (third-gender). The Quariwarmi attended to the INCAN dual-gendered god known as Chuqui Chinchay, the deity of the water.
• ANT (53A: Insect that evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors) It's true – scientists believe that ANTs evolved from wasps. I am not a fan of ANTs. Logically, I can admire their extraordinary strength, and the ingenuity of leaving a trail for their fellow ANTs to find a food source. However, most of my experiences with ANTs are trying to get them to not invade my kitchen. This does not predispose me to think kindly of them. I suppose I can be thankful, however, that they no longer have wings.
• MVP (13D: Award for ice hockey defenseman Caroline Harvey at the 2026 Olympics) Caroline Harvey is a professional ice hockey player. She plays for theVancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Caroline Harvey is also a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team. The U.S. team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and as the clue informs us, she was named MVP for the Olympics.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• MOE (5A: "Calvin and Hobbes" bully) Calvin and Hobbes is a comic strip by Bill Waterson. The comic's main characters are six-year-old Calvin and his stuffed tiger companion, Hobbes. MOE is a bully who attends Calvin's school. 
• CRUCIVERBALIST (15A: Crossword enthusiast (aka you!)) CRUCIVERBALIST is a fancy word for someone who creates or solves crossword puzzles. This is a fabulous theme answer!
• CSI (20A: Forensics franchise) CSI, which stands for Crime Scene Investigation, is a franchise of TV shows about the work of forensic scientists. The original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV show aired from 2000-2015, and was set in Las Vegas. The show's four spin-offs are CSI: Miami (2002-2011), CSI:NY (2004-2013), CSI: Cyber (2014-2015), and CSI: Vegas (2021-2024). The franchise also includes comics, novels, and video games.
• THRUM (23A: Engine's hum) THRUM is a fun word to say. It's nearly onomatopoeic (which is another fun word to say!).
• IRIS (27A: It helps a pupil see the light?) This is an excellent question mark clue. The IRIS is the part of the eye that defines eye color. The IRIS also controls the size of the pupil. When the IRIS contracts, the size of the pupil decreases, letting in less light. When the IRIS relaxes, the size of the pupil increases, letting in more light. 
• LOCKE (37A: Philosopher John to whom the concept "Revolt is the right of the people" is often attributed) John LOCKE (1632-1704) was an English philosopher and physician. In his Two Treatises of Government, published in 1689 (it was originally published anonymously), John LOCKE argued that the only legitimate governments are those that have the consent of the people. If a government acts against the interests of the people, LOCKE argued, the people could revolt. He viewed the right to revolt as a safeguard against tyranny.
• SAAG (41A: ___ paneer) SAAG is a South Asian dish made with leafy greens such as spinach. It is often served as SAAG paneer, accompanied by fresh cheese made from cow or buffalo milk.
• EDDY (65A: TwoSet Violin member Chen) Australian violinists EDDY Chen and Brett Yang, are the classical comedy duo known as TwoSet Violin. According to their website, the duo aims to make "classical music relevant to the modern generation through fun, humor and simplicity." In 2014, the pair began making YouTube videos about life as classical musicians. Their YouTube channel has over 4 million subscribers. In 2016, Brett and EDDY gave up their spots in the Sydney and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. Since that time they have been touring and performing live classical comedy.
• TACO TRUCKS (4D: Vehicles with Jarritos and tortas) Jarritos is a brand of soft drink founded in Mexico in 1950. A torta is a Mexican sandwich. And now I would like to go find a TACO TRUCK...
• IT'S COOL (10D: "Fine by me") and NOT SURE (11D: "I'm a maybe") There seems to be a little bit of debate going on here about whether IT'S COOL or I'm NOT SURE.
• APU (17D: _uxiliary _ower _nit) In this type of fill-in-the-blank clue, each blank represents one letter (rather than a longer blank indicating an answer of any length). An Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is a device commonly found on large aircraft and naval ships. The APU provides energy for functions other than propulsion. For example, an APU may provide energy for starting an engine.
• OPTICAL (38D: Kind of illusion) I do appreciate a fun OPTICAL illusion, an instance where one's visual perception differs from reality. If you'd like to go down an OPTICAL illusion rabbit hole, I recommend The Illusions Index, a site that lets you explore a number of classic types of OPTICAL illusions. (I recommend the Waterfall Illusion and the Kanizsa Triangle.)
• AMTRAK (46D: Coast Starlight operator) The Coast Starlight is the AMTRAK train service that operates between Los Angeles, California and Seattle, Washington. The entire trip takes approximately 35 hours. Like Faren, I am a fan of traveling by train. I haven't ridden the Coast Starlight route, but I have traveled on the Cardinal from Chicago, Illinois to Washington, D.C. (in 2006) and on the Empire Builder from Chicago, Illinois to Seattle, Washington (in early March of 2020 ... that was an interesting trip, as you can imagine!).
• ITT (51D: Wednesday Addams' cousin) The Addams Family is a creation of cartoonist Charles Addams. The Addams Family consists of Morticia and Gomez ADDAMS, their children Wednesday and Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Grandmama, and Cousin ITT Other characters include a butler named Lurch, Thing (a disembodied hand), Aristotle (Pugsley's pet octopus), Kitty Kat (Morticia's pet lion), and Cleopatra (a carnivorous plant). Cartoons featuring The Addams Family appeared in The New Yorker between 1938 and 1988. There have been four TV show adaptations of the Family. The first three shows, which originally aired in 1964, 1973, and 1992, were all called The Addams Family. In 1998, the fourth TV series about the FAMILY premiered, and was titled The New Addams Family. Wednesday Addams received her own TV show on Netflix in 2022, appropriately titled Wednesday. 
• ARI (58D: "thank u, next" singer, to fans) Ariana Grande – ARI to her fans – released the song "thank u, next" in 2018 as the lead single from the album of the same name. The song's music video has been viewed over 885 million times.
• TRY (59D: Rugby equivalent of a touchdown) In rugby, a TRY – the equivalent of a touchdown in football – scores five points. A TRY is scored when a player runs into the end zone carrying the ball and "touches it down" to score the TRY. Are you surprised that I knew this sports-related answer? I learned it from a previous puzzle.
• Other clues and answers I especially enjoyed:
• HAHA (12A: "i'm cackling")
• STOMPS (18A: Lets out frustration through one's feet)
• HOMER (49A: Hit that may go out of the park)

Pizza Hut is credited with popularizing STUFFED CRUST pizza, which it debuted on its menu in 1995. Although pizza is one of my favorite foods, I'm honestly not sure if I've ever had a STUFFED CRUST pizza. Perhaps I will need to seek one out in honor of this puzzle. Thank you, Faren, for this excellent puzzle.

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