Crossword Blog & Answers for July 4, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

Constructor: Erik Agard

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• CAP’N (14A: ___ Crunch (cereal mascot whose full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch)) I’m not sure that I knew the full name of CAP’N Crunch before reading this clue. CAP’N Crunch is the animated mascot of Quaker’s CAP’N Crunch cereal. His ship is named Guppy, and Seadog is his canine first mate.
• KYLE (18A: Selina ___ aka Catwoman) The DC comics character, Catwoman, is the alter ego of Selina KYLE. Catwoman has been portrayed in movies by Lee Meriwether in Batman (1966), Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns (1992), Halle Berry in Catwoman (2004), Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and Zoë Kravitz in The Batman (2022).
• ELMO (19A: Red Muppet) Of all the Muppets, ELMO is the one we tend to see in crosswords the most. This is the ninth time we’ve seen ELMO in the puzzle this year.
• WELCOME TO EARTH (25A: Quote from Will Smith after punching an alien in the face in “Independence Day” (1996)) In the 1996 science fiction action movie Independence Day, a powerful group of extraterrestrials are attacking EARTH. Will Smith portrays Marine pilot Captain Steven Hiller, who becomes part of a group that launches a coordinated attack on the aliens on July 4. Here’s Will Smith saying, “WELCOME TO EARTH,” in case (like me) you haven’t seen Independence Day.
• MARTINA MCBRIDE (29A: Singer of “Independence Day” (1993)) MARTINA MCBRIDE’s 1993 song, “Independence Day,” is considered her signature song. The song was honored as Song of the Year by the Country Music Association. “Independence Day” tells a story of domestic abuse. It is sung from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl whose mother is being physically abused by her alcoholic father while the people in their small town look the other way. While the girl is at the town’s parade, the mother burns down the house, killing her husband and herself. The title of the song has a double meaning, as it tells how the mother gains independence from her abuser on the fourth of July. “Now I ain’t sayin’ it’s right or it’s wrong / But maybe it’s the only way / Talk about your revolution / It’s Independence Day.”
• BEDLAM (36A: Pandemonium) and MAYHEM (7D: Pandemonium) There’s a bit of pandemonium in this puzzle. When I hit the 36-Across clue, my first thought was MAYHEM, but crossing answers soon made it clear the answer was BEDLAM. It was quite satisfying then to come across the 7-Down clue.
• AMY (42A: Author Tan) AMY Tan‘s novels include The Joy Luck Club (1989), The Kitchen God’s Wife (1991), and Saving Fish from Drowning (2005). She has also written two children’s books: The Moon Lady (1992) and The Chinese Siamese Cat (1994). AMY Tan’s most recent publication is a nonfiction book illustrated with her sketches, The Backyard Bird Chronicles (2024).
• AND (54A: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects ___ enhances the freedom of others”) In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects AND enhances the freedom of others.” Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) served as the president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. An anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison. He was influential in dismantling South Africa’s apartheid and working towards reconciliation. I appreciate the use of the common word AND here to highlight this important and thought-provoking quote.
• FREDERICK (56A: With 58-Across, statesman who asked, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” (1852)) and DOUGLASS (58A: See 56-Across) FREDERICK DOUGLASS (1818-1895) was an ORATOR (52A: 56-/58-Across, for example), social reformer, abolitionist, and statesman. He asked the question, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” in an address he made in 1852 at an Independence Day celebration. He used the speech to point out that the day was not a celebration for all, and “The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common.”
• COBALT (4D: Metallic shade of blue) Since ancient times, ores containing COBALT have been used to give a blue color to porcelain and glass. COBALT blue is one of my favorite colors, so it was fun to see this answer.
• EMANCIPATE (5D: Set free) A nice bonus answer for an INDEPENDENCE DAY puzzle.
• ACK (6D: Dismayed exclamation) and OH LORD (10D: Dismayed exclamation) This puzzle is a bit dismayed. (I feel you, puzzle.)
• TONES (21D: Features of Navajo and Gwich’in) In tonal languages, various TONES are used to distinguish the meaning of words. A single word may be said with different tones, and each tone will change the meaning of the word. The Navajo language is one of the most widely spoken Native American languages. The Gwich’in language is spoken by the Gwich’in, a First Nation / Alaska Native people. 
• WAGON (25D: “Rock me, mama, like a ___ wheel”) “Rock me, mama, like a WAGON wheel” is a line from the 2004 song “WAGON Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show. The song was written by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor.
• L.A. LAKERS (37D: LeBron and Luka’s team) The L.A. LAKERS are an NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. LeBron James has played for the L.A. LAKERS since 2018. Luka Dončić joined the L.A. LAKERS this year.
• PRESS (47D: Freedom of the ___) Freedom of the PRESS is legally protected in the United States by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
• MIDAS (49D: Mythical king with a golden touch) King MIDAS’ mythical ability to turn everything he touched into gold didn’t quite work out as he’d hoped. The tale of King MIDAS from Greek mythology is a cautionary tale to be careful what you wish for.
• ADOPT (50D: Bring home from a shelter) It has been almost 14 years since we ADOPTed our cat, Willow, and brought her home from the shelter. This lovable fluffball adds so much joy to my life.

• DST (62D: It ends in Nov.) My first thought here was actually OCT, but technically I guess October ends “with” November, not in it. Daylight Saving Time (DST), however, does end in November.
• A few other clues and answers I appreciated seeing today:
  • OUT (24A: No longer willing to participate)
  • INEPT (40A: Not very competent)
  • DARES (64A: Has the nerve)