Explore daily insights on the USA TODAY crossword puzzle by Sally Hoelscher. Uncover expert takes and answers in our crossword blog.

PAGE-TURNER (Freestyle ... Some venues don't give titles to their themeless puzzles, opting to simply use "Themeless" or "Freestyle" as a title. USA TODAY has chosen to label themeless puzzles ...

Explore daily insights on the USA TODAY crossword puzzle by Sally Hoelscher. Uncover expert takes and answers in our crossword blog.

DATA (22A: It's unlimited on some phone plans) BELATED (11D: Like an after-the-fact birthday wish) ONE AM (49D: Apt time to listen to "After Midnight" by Chappell Roan) Today's title let me know ...

COOKIE POLICY (20A: Document covering how a website tracks and uses your data) BREAK BREAD (37A: Share a meal) THE MUFFIN MAN (55A: Drury Lane resident, in a nursery rhyme) HALF-BAKED: Exactly ...

As with yesterday's puzzle, "Picture Frame," figuring out today's theme requires an extra step. It is not the word ROOT that is found AROUND each theme answer; it's the ROOT vegetable, BEET.

Neville: I thought of Erik immediately when I had this idea to include REKHA SHANKAR in a puzzle, and I'm grateful for his contributions throughout the construction process. I echo his thanks to ...

JUST, MORAL, and PROPER. This made for a nice "Aha!" moment. Thank you, Jake, for this enjoyable puzzle.

FALSE STARTS: The first word (the START) of each theme answer can be paired with the word FALSE to create a new phrase: FALSE HOPE, FALSE POSITIVE, and FALSE NAME. I did not get off to a FALSE ...

That doesn't affect the theme at all, but I enjoyed seeing the progression. Thank you, Amie, for this delightful puzzle.

Jess: When I made this puzzle, I had been playing with grid art and trying out more visual themes. For this crossword, I did actually create a grid that resembled a face... resembled being the ...