Crossword Blog & Answers for June 13, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Pick Apart

Constructor: Jared Goudsmit

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Jared: I’m so stoked to see this puzzle run! Constructing today’s grid was an especially ambitious challenge for me because of those 15-letter bonus entries at 3- and 10-Down. One of my favorite aspects of USA Today puzzles is that grid designs don’t have to follow rotational symmetry, giving constructors the flexibility to make more creative choices. I’d also like to give a shout-out to 33-Down, a resource I often use when hunting for fresh new clues!

PICK APART: The word PICK is split APART and found at the ends of each theme answer: POPSICLE STICK, PITCH BLACK, and PICTURE BOOK.

The theme answers here represent each possible split of the word PICK: P/ICK, PI/CK, and PIC/K. I'm glad that Jared persevered and came up with a grid that included the grid-spanning Down answers CORPORATE LADDER (3D: Something an office worker may climb) and SMOKE AND MIRRORS (10D: Magician's trickery), as those two answers are quite nice. Thank you, Jared, for this excellent puzzle.