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 handiwork)* 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)
(comfy 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.
Good crossword. Utterly depressing solve though.
Thanks both. I have this in the Marmite category, and if I reveal I knew not of any of the referenced US politicians, nor MILLER (unless it’s Windy) for that matter, perhaps you’ll know what aftertaste it left. A result partly of avoiding all things politics UK or abroad as much as I can. On a lighter note (there were so few in the puzzle) the reference to Barnsley in the clue for TYKE reminded me of the Monty Python sketch “Working Class Playwright” including the immortal line “you go ponsing off to Barnsley”.
This did make me smile. Although there is an understanding here that it’s good to avoid politics, if you’re going to ignore that, you might as well do it properly. And they did. Congratulations for that. Having said that, I had no chance of success for reasons discussed by others above. Favorite (sorry) today was AMORTISING for sheer simplicity.
Well done both
Thanks for the blog, dear twencelas, and thanks to those who have left a comment.
I try to offer a range of subject matter in my themed puzzles and not everyone is going to like every one of them. I do accept that for many people the crossword is a haven which provides shelter against the elements and I hope those solvers will still tune in again. For anyone who found this a bit over the top all I can say is it’s a good job you didn’t see the original version I submitted to Eimi…
best wishes to all, Rob/Knut
My critical comment which was neither abusive nor inaccurate has not got past the censor. This was a terrible crossword woth obscure answers clued by anagrams ( amongst many failings). This crossword would never, ever have been accepted by The Times.
Hi @Oxoma
Since I also set puzzles for The Times, I can tell you that you are absolutely right.
I know I am and you know the reaction this crossword would have received from The Times solvers
@Oxoma I beg to differ with your comment at 13. It was abusive in my opinion – reread your last sentence and you should agree. This is the first time I have ever deleted a comment presented for moderation – free speech is a cornerstone of my philosophy of life. Thanks for rewording your views subsequently.
@Oxoma I hate to point out the obvious, but there isn’t much published in the Independent that would appeal to Times readers and vice versa. Perhaps head to the Times in future? Personally, this was right up my street – thanks Knut!
Twencelas, I don’t agree. It was accurate and I repeat my opinion that this was a terrible crossword with a lot of poor clues.
Karol, thank you for your advice. How very patronising of you.