July 16, 2026

Title: A DUBIOUS PUZZLE

Constructor: Adriel W. Robles Ojeda

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• SEAFOOD BOIL (17A: That's fishy!)
• EMAIL SCAM (37A: That's phishy!)
• RUNAWAY GIN (62A: That's Phish-y!)

A DUBIOUS PUZZLE: Each theme answer is something that is fishy / phishy / Phish-y. 

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• AHI (16A: Hawaiian for "fire") I knew that the word AHI is used in Hawaii to refer to yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna. Today I learned that the Hawaiian word AHI also means "fire," and that this usage preceded the naming of the fish. (Also, it's fun to have a fish-related clue in this "fishy" puzzle.) Many years ago Hawaiian fishers gave bigeye and yellowfin tuna the name AHI because these powerful fish pulled the fishing lines so fast that the lines would smoke against the sides of their canoes.
• RUNAWAY GIN (62A: That's Phish-y!) Phish is a rock band formed in Vermont in 1983. RUNAWAY GIN is a Phish tribute band formed in 2014. They perform covers of Phish songs, adding their own improvisation (a hallmark of Phish). That is indeed Phish-y!
• ANIME (66A: Show such as "Witch Hat Atelier" or "One Piece") Witch Hat Atelier is an ANIME series that aired earlier this year. It is based on the manga series of the same name by Kamome Shirahama. The series is set in a fantasy world where magic can be performed by drawing runes with special ink. The ANIME series One Piece aired on Netflix in 2023. It is an adaptation of the manga series of the same name by Eiichiro Oda. One Piece is about the adventures of a boy named Monkey D. Luffy, and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates.
• GINSENG (13D: Root used in samgye-tang) Samgye-tang, also known as GINSENG chicken soup, is a dish in Korean cuisine that consists of a whole chicken filled with garlic, rice, jujube, and GINSENG.
• UNA (63D: Ni ___ Menos (grassroots feminist movement)) Ni UNA Menos (Spanish for "Not one [woman] less") is a grassroots feminist movement that began in Argentina in response to violence against women. In Argentina (according to this NPR article) one woman is killed every 32 hours. The movement has spread to other Hispanic American countries. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• OREO (14A: "Milk's Favorite Cookie") "Milk's Favorite Cookie" is one of OREO's official tagline. "Crossword's favorite cookie" is OREO's unofficial tagline. This is the second time we have seen OREO in the puzzle in July, and the twelfth time we've seen it this year.
• REUBEN (24A: Corned beef sandwich with Russian dressing) I've always assumed the REUBEN sandwich was named after a REUBEN, but I've never researched that. It turns out the REUBEN was named after a REUBEN, but which REUBEN it was named after is disputed. Some say the sandwich was created by (and named for) REUBEN Kulakofsy in Omaha, Nebraska. Others claim the REUBEN was created by (and named for) Arnold REUBEN in New York City. It doesn't matter to me who created the REUBEN; I'm just glad they did.
• SARA (27A: Tegan's twin) The members of the pop duo Tegan and SARA are identical twin sisters, Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin.
• TERI (32A: "Meet the Parents" star Polo) TERI Polo played the role of Pam in the movies, Meet the Parents(2000), Meet the Fockers (2004), and Little Fockers (2010).
• RNG (36A: _andom _umber _enerator) In this type of fill-in-the-blank clue, each blank represents one letter. In this case, the missing letters are RNG, for random number generator.
• TAOS (44A: Southwest art haven) TAOS, New Mexico is located in the north central part of the state. Since the late 1800s, TAOS, New Mexico has been a popular place for artists, and the area is home to many art galleries and museums.
• DESK (67A: Tiny ___ Concerts (NPR show)) I wrote about NPR's Tiny DESK Concerts last week.
• ABBY (7D: Second-highest international scorer in soccer Wambach) A member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, ABBY Wambach won the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award six times during her career. She helped the U.S. women's national soccer team win two Olympic gold medals. During her career, ABBY Wambach scored 184 goals in international soccer matches, placing her just behind Christine Sinclair of Canada, who scored 190 goals in international matches.
• TAO (8D: Mathematician and Field Medal winner Terence) Terence TAO is a professor of mathematics at UCLA, and is regarded as one of the greatest living mathematicians. He has been called the "Mozart of math." Terence TAO has won a number of awards, including a Fields Medal (described as the Nobel Prize of mathematics) and a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship. Terence TAO has authored a number of math textbooks, and writes a blog on mathematical topics. It's interesting to see both TAOS and TAO in this grid. These words look like they might be dupes, but they are completely different things.
• CALICO (10D: Tricolor feline that is almost always female) CALICO cats have a mix of three colors of fur: white, orange, and black. My cat, Willow, is a CALICO. Here's a photo of her on my desk acting like she owns it. (I mean, she does actually...)

• OH IT'S ON (12D: "Them's fighting words!") and EN GARDE (42D: Them's fighting words!) I enjoy a clue echo because when I come to the second clue, I almost always think, "Didn't I already answer this clue?" In the clue for OH, IT'S ON the clue is in quotation marks. If someone says "Them's fighting words!" it is equivalent to saying "OH, IT'S ON!" The clue for EN GARDE is not in quotation marks, but the exclamation point at the end of the clue alerts solvers to interpret the clue literally. EN GARDE is a term used in fencing to alert fencers to take their positions and prepare to fight.
• BARE (25D: ___naked Ladies (rock band)) The BAREnaked Ladies are a Canadian rock band. When the co-founders of the band, Ed Robertson and Steven Page, were in high school, they used to come up with nonsensical band names to amuse each other. BAREnaked Ladies was one of the names they came up with and eventually used. 
• OTIS (29D: ___ Spunkmeyer (baked goods distribution company)) OTIS Spunkmeyer Inc. is a baked goods distribution company founded by Ken Rawlings, whose 12-year-old daughter suggested the name of the business.
• DOLCE (30D: Sweet, in an Italian pastry shop) The Italian word DOLCE means "sweet."
• HEROINE (41D: Scout Finch or Mulan, e.g.) Scout Finch is the narrator and HEROINE of Harper Lee's 1960 book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Mulan is the title character and HEROINE of Disney's 1998 animated movie, Mulan, which is based on a Chinese legend. 
• SUNRISE (46D: Lighting up?) A question mark at the end of a clue alerts solvers to expect trickiness or wordplay. During SUNRISE, the sun provides lighting as it comes up.
• Other clues and answers I especially enjoyed:
• HAT HAIR (11D: It might be caused by wearing a helmet)
• OPE (18D: Midwestern interjection) 
• NAME (59D: It might make someone entitled, say)

I quite enjoyed this DUBIOUS PUZZLE. This is an example of a theme that is found in the clues. Thank you, Adriel, for this clever puzzle.

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