Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Fact Finding
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Fact Finding
Constructor: Catherine Cetta
Editor: Amanda Rafkin
GONG (1A: ___ bath (meditation practice that involves healing vibrations)) As is suggested by its name, a GONG bath involves being immersed in sound produced by GONGs. They are touted as promoting deep relaxation and stress relief, as well as enhanced creativity.
ETTA (9A: "Tell Mama" singer James) "Tell Mama" is the title song from ETTA James' seventh studio album, released in 1968. The song was one of the biggest hits of ETTA James' career, but in her 2003 memoir, the singer confessed that she never cared for the song.
OREO (13A: Cookie with a Double Stuf variety) Our crossword friend OREO is making its first June appearance and its 14th appearance of 2025.
APES (14A: Bonobos and orangutans) Bonobos are an endangered species of great APE that live in an area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Orangutans are a red-haired species of great APE that spend most of their time in trees. They are found in Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia.
LITTLE CAT FEET (19A: Metaphor for fog's silent arrival, in a Carl Sandburg poem) "Fog" is a poem by Carl Sandburg that was first published in 1916. "The fog comes / on LITTLE CAT FEET / It sits looking / over harbor and city / on silent haunches / and then moves on." My cat, Willow, says, "Hey, I have LITTLE CAT FEET!"
HOP (24A: Sock ___ ('60s dance movement)) Sock HOPs were dances that were often held in school gymnasiums. The dances earned their name because dancers were required to remove their shoes in order to avoid damaging the gyms' varnished floors. I remember going to a sock HOP when I was in junior high school. That wasn't in the '60s though – it was 1977.
ALASKA (28A: Denali's state) Denali is a mountain in the Alaskan Range and is the centerpiece of Denali National Park in ALASKA. With a summit elevation of 20,310 feet, Denali is the highest mountain in North America.
AMINO (33A: ___ acids (molecules that combine to form proteins)) Over 500 AMINO acids (organic compounds containing AMINO and carboxylic acid groups) exist in nature. Only 22 of these AMINO acids are proteinogenic, that is, incorporated into proteins as directed by the genetic code of organisms. As proteins are the building blocks of muscles, AMINO acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, are necessary for muscle growth. Hooray for science in the crossword!
IGA (48A: Tennis star Swiatek) IGA Świątek, a professional tennis player from Poland, won the French Open in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and the U.S. Open in 2022.
GOBLIN (1D: Green ___ (Spider-Man villain)) In Marvel Comics, the alias, Green GOBLIN, has been used by at least four different supervillains, the first of which was Norman Osborne. The Green GOBLIN's superpowers (and insanity) are chemically induced, the result of ingesting Goblin formula, an unstable performance-enhancing serum. The weapons used by GREEN GOBLIN resemble bats, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns.
EPIC (6D: "Beowulf," e.g.) Beowulf is an English EPIC poem dating to between 700-1000 CE. Its author is unknown. Beowulf, named for its hero, is one of the most often translated works of Old English literature.
XENA (7D: TV's warrior princess) XENA is the title character of the TV show XENA: Warrior Princess, which originally aired from 1995 to 2001. Lucy Lawless portrayed XENA.
ALEX (15D: Two-time Women's World Cup champion Morgan) ALEX Morgan is a former professional soccer player. She played for a number of teams during her career, including NWSL's San Diego Wave FC (2022-2024). ALEX Morgan also played on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, and was a part of the 2015 and 2019 World Cup-winning teams. I have previously written about her "sipping tea" goal celebration at the 2019 World Cup. Fun fact: In the 2018 movie: ALEX & Me, ALEX Morgan plays a fictionalized version of herself.
PAD (26D: ___ see ew) PAD see ew is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish. We have seen this dish a couple of times recently in clues for the word "Thai."
RARITY (43D: Black sheep or blue lobster, for example) I wasn't able to find specific data about the RARITY of black sheep, but I found a couple of sources that said a blue lobster is a one in 2 million occurrence. That is indeed a RARITY.
TAPAS (50D: Chopitos and croquetas, e.g.) TAPAS are a variety of appetizers or snacks that are popular in Spanish cuisine. Chopitos are battered and fried cuttlefish (baby squid). Croquetas are a type of fried dumpling made of a thick batter surrounding a filling.
NEMO (52D: "Finding Dory" fish) Finding Dory is a 2016 animated movie that is a sequel and a spin-off of the 2003 movie Finding NEMO.
A couple of other clues I especially enjoyed:
YELP (64A: "You stepped on my foot!" sound)
TSK TSK (8D: "I disapprove!" sound)
LITTLE CAT FEET (19A: Metaphor for fog's silent arrival, in a Carl Sandburg poem)
I CAN'T FACE IT (36A: "This is too much for me!")
INTERNET CAFE (51A: Hangout spots where customers pay for access to the web)
FACT FINDING: An anagram of the word FACT is found in each theme answer: LITTLE CAT FEET, I CAN'T FACE IT, and INTERNET CAFE.
I'll be honest – it took me a moment to FIND these FACTs. At first I was not looking for a hidden anagram theme. Once I realized that FACT, I was able to identify the scrambled FACTs: CAT/F, T/FAC, and T/CAF. Thank you, Catherine, for this enjoyable puzzle.
One more thing today: The first blog I wrote about a USA Today crossword was about the June 9, 2020 puzzle. That means today is my 5th blogiversary! I'm delighted to still be writing about the USA Today crossword, as doing so brings me great joy. I'm ecstatic (and honestly a little amazed) to now be doing so for USA Today. And I continue to be grateful for you, the readers.
USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles
Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for June 9, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Coca-Cola Company (KO) Teams Up with UMG to Launch Real Thing Records
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is one of the best stocks to buy. On June 11, Coca‑Cola announced a partnership with Universal Music Group to launch Real Thing Records (rtr), a music label to promote emerging global talent and foster greater engagement between artists and audiences. This collaboration represents Coca‑Cola's longstanding relationship with music. Adopting a genre-agnostic philosophy, rtr seeks to bring forward unique and authentic voices from around the world, positioning itself as a platform for the next generation of musical talent. The label's debut signings include Max Allais, a French-New Zealand artist, and Aksomaniac, an Indian singer-songwriter and producer. Pixabay/Public Domain Joshua Burke, Coca‑Cola's Global Head of Music & Culture, commented: 'The Coca‑Cola Company has a rich legacy, one of deep human connection and cultural resonance—breaking barriers and bringing people together across borders and generations. Real thing records is designed to unlock greater potential for artists, fans, and our brands—where creativity fuels growth, and the combined power of our network and key global music partners create value greater than the sum of its parts. It's our intention to let artists shine and give them the flexibility to develop their identities with the support of global reach and expertise. It's a long-term commitment to music—enabling us to reinvest in our programs, champion the next generation of talent, and stay rooted in what matters most: music and fandom." The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a global beverage corporation that produces and distributes carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, juices, teas, coffees, and plant-based beverages. While we acknowledge the potential of KO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Patrick Walden death: Pete Doherty pays tribute after Babyshambles guitarist dies aged 46
Babyshambles guitarist Patrick Walden has died aged 46. News of his death was announced on the rock group's social media page on Friday night (20 June). 'It is with deep regret and sadness that we share the news of Patrick Walden's death,' the band wrote. 'We feel very fortunate to have known, loved and worked with him and we kindly ask for respect and privacy during these difficult times. Peter, Drew, Mik, Adam.' Pete Doherty, who once called Walden 'the best guitar player I've ever worked with', reshared the post to his personal social media page. The indie rock band was formed by lead singer Doherty in 2003 during his hiatus from The Libertines on account of his drug use. His new group – made up of himself as frontman, drummer Gemma Clarke, Walden on guitar and Drew McConnell on bass – released hits including 'Kilamangiro', 'Delivery' and 'The Blinding'. Babyshambles were known for lyrics that touched on topics such as drug addiction, heartbreak, and isolation. The band remained active until 2014. Walden, however, left early in its tenure around 2005. While Walden continued to show up at several Babyshambles gigs following his official exit, issues with drug use halted his return. Walden co-wrote many of the band's most successful songs, including six of the 16 tracks on the band's 2005 debut album, Down in Albion, such as 'The Man Who Came to Stay'. Tributes poured in on social media for the late musician, with one fan writing: 'The best guitarist of my generation. Nobody's sounded as good since Asheton in the Stooges.' Fellow indie band, The Paddingtons, added: 'You're gonna be missed Pat, best guitarist we ever met, one of the good guys. Rest in peace mate.' One fan recounted a memorable exchange with the musician, writing: 'I'm devastated by this news. Pat was a kind soul. I remember his kind words and how he helped me after I was assaulted in Camden. An incredible musician. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.' 'He was an absolute legend and a huge part of the iconic sound of the first album and gigs around that time I was really hoping he would be part of the reunion absolutely devastating news,' said someone else. Doherty is due to perform with The Libertines on Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage in a week's time. The group's current members include Doherty, McConnell, Mick Withnall, and Adam Ficek.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Johnny Marr Reveals Real Reason He Turned Down 'Eye-Watering' Offer To Reunite With Morrissey
Music legend Johnny Marr has said there was a very simple reason he wasn't interested in getting The Smiths back together. In September 2024, former Smiths frontman Morrissey claimed that he and his former bandmate had been made a 'lucrative offer' months earlier to reunite. While he claimed that he'd been in favour of a reunion, he wrote that Marr had simply 'ignored the offer', though the man himself later insisted: 'I didn't ignore the offer – I said no.' During an interview on the podcast Stick To Football, the guitar hero confirmed: 'We [had] an offer [to reunite] recently, but I said no.' He went on to say the decision was 'a little bit about principles', adding: 'But I'm not an idiot, I just think the vibe's not right. Bad vibe.' 'It was an eye-watering amount of money,' Marr noted, but pointed out: 'I really like what I'm doing now which makes it a lot easier. I really like where I'm at. I still work, I craft, I still want to write the best song I've ever written. I want to be a better performer.' In an attempted dig at his former bandmate last year, Morrissey wrote on his official website when Marr's dismissal of a Smiths reunion was made public: 'Morrissey said Yes to the offer; Marr ignored the offer. 'Morrissey undertakes a largely sold out tour of the USA in November. Marr continues to tour as a special guest to New Order.' Morrissey has come under fire on numerous occasions in the last few years for his commentary on politics both in the UK and abroad, as well as his apparent endorsement of far-right groups and parties. Around the time that Morrissey first alleged that Marr had thrown the brakes on a Smiths reunion, the guitarist responded to one X user's calls for the group to get back together with a simple photo of a grinning Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform party, of whom the Everyday Is Like Sunday singer has previously spoken favourably. Morrissey Names 1 Reason He Wanted To Reunite The Smiths After Johnny Marr Declined 'Lucrative' Offer Morrissey Issues Furious Response After The Simpsons' Less-Than-Flattering Parody Of Him Johnny Marr Responds After Morrissey's Open Letter About Him 'Mentioning My Name In Interviews'
