As spring arrives and smiles are less forced, Knut provides the entertainment.
And yes there is a theme which I find difficult to describe in polite terms – if this was 1933 a similar theme would have Adolf, Herman, Joseph, Heinrich and Ernst maybe. Instead it’s 2026 and we have a bunch of extremely right wing americans. None of whom I would feel any need to mention in polite conversation. And none of whom are on trial – yet.
Back to the crossword – my favourite clue is 27ac and for complexity of construction 3dn
Thanks Knut for a challenging puzzle – I did note that the chap who is best described by 3 of your letters and a c only got a mention in the clues. The late Janey Godley was not wrong
Key * anagram; DD double definition; underline defition; Rev. reversed
Across
7 Controversial Lady Mone – risk it spirals out of control (6,4)
(mone risk it)* = KRISTI NOEM
8 Barnsley lad visiting County Kerry (4)
Hidden counTY KErry
10 Outline paper cut, trimmed at the edges (6)
paper cut (remove edges) = APERCU
11 Top lawyer Starmer touring area where 6 happened in December (3,5)
PM (Starmer) around a (area) + Bondi (where atrocities happened in December) = PAM BONDI
12/14 Trump’s commerce secretary distributed cult handiwork (6,7)
(cult handowork)* HOWARD LUTNICK
16 Hairstyle retro Dior fashion showcases (4)
Reverse hidden diOR FAshion = AFRO
18 Second chapter provided introduction to interesting literary genre (3-2)
s(second) + c(chapter) + if (provided) + I (introduction to interesting) = of SCI FI
19 Bars leaders of ICE, nauseating Nazi scumbags (4)
first letters of ICE, nauseating Nazi scumbags = INNS
20 Unleash TV on the house? (3,4)
set (TV) + free (on the house) = SET FREE
21 “Leg over” is “end away” (2,4)
o(over) = (is end)* = ON SIDE
23 Feel nostalgia for old, old city island state (8)
miss (feel nostalgia for) + o(old) + ur (old city) + I (island) = MISSOURI
25 US political strategist, male, even more sick (6)
m(male) + iller (even more sick) = MILLER
27 Fed Dieter without hesitation? (1-3)
german (Dieter) – er (hesitation) = G-MAN
28 Buck that stops in London or Paris? (10)
Cryptic definition EURODOLLAR
Down
1/17 Comfy racists busily assuming power? Some would say that’s the MAGA way (6-7)
(cofy racists)* around p = CRYPTO FASCISM
2 Starts to take seriously appalling Russian despot (4)
Starts to take seriously appalling Russian = TSAR
3 £51 million wasted by skinflint drinks manufacturer (10)
li(51) + quid (pound) + miser (skinflint) – m (million) = LIQUIDISER
4 Marvellous pics I developed showing 7 and 11 perhaps? (10,5)
(marvellous pc I)* = COMPULSIVE LIARS
5 Religious teacher Knut’s giving mum a cuddle (4)
I (Knut’s) + mam (mum) = IMAM
6 Army detachment uncovered large towns’ wicked deeds (10)
patrol(army detachment) – pl(uncovered) + cities(large towns) = ATROCITIES
9 Material supplied by children’s families? (7)
kids(children’s) + kin (families) = KIDSKIN
13 Writing off forced migrations (10)
(migrations)* = AMORTISING
15 Swift-sounding, crazy European that fits perfectly (6-4)
Taylor (homophone of) + mad(crazy) + e(European) = TAILOR-MADE
17 See 1
22 Vance said to be cycling? He’s known for spinning records (6)
Jaydee (Vance sounds like) cycling = DEEJAY
24 Quarter regularly spent on a wee derivative (4)
qUaRtEr + a = UREA
26 Endless cash, laze around! (4)
lolly (cash) – y = LOLL
Well done Wenceslas.
What a ”tour de force” from Knut. I’ve been using cryptics to ”debrief” from the news, but at the same time aware of the disconnect. I imagine this is Knut’s way of dealing with it.
I liked the way Knut connected Lady Mone to Kristi Noem in 7ac. Good spot.
BONDI was a bit close to home for me.
MILLER was clever, but where is HEGSETH, the most dangerous man on this planet?
KIDSKIN I get it, but it was truly sickening, in the context of this puzzle.
CRYPTO FASCISM was my pick for wordplay
Good on the Independent for being open to publishing this, I think. Now to bed in a news-free zone.
(Sorry, twencelas)
My faves: APERCU, HOWARD LUTNICK, CRYPTO FASCISM, LIQUIDISER and DEEJAY.
Thanks Knut and twencelas.
knut my cup of tea, I’m afraid, since cryptic crosswords are a light-hearted sea of tranquility for me.
More of a general knowledge and current affairs test, with the solutions forcing some not very entertaining or smart wordplays.
Parts of which I found a bit off- colour. Still, it will appeal to many solvers for the skill of cramming in so many thematic elements.
Ta, K & TW
Normally I’d be annoyed about being expected to know so much US general knowledge, but I so enjoyed the righteous anger that came through this puzzle. Thanks knut and twenceslas.
IMAM would be I’M around MA I believe. I liked DEEJAY. The rest – well, what do I say… very inventive. Thanks Knut and twencelas
A couple of minor errors in the brackets for 12/14 & 1/17. Excellent blog though! A few home truths in this crossword today.