Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Plot Twist

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Plot Twist

Constructor: Emily Biegas

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• RTS (31A: Some NFL linemen) RTS here stands for right tackles. I kind of knew this, but since I'm aware of my lack of sports knowledge, I just waited and let the crossing answers fill this one in.
• EVIL (58A: CBS procedural involving demons) EVIL is a CBS TV series that aired from 2021-2024. The show revolves around three individuals – a forensic psychologist, a Catholic seminarian, and a technology contractor – who are hired by the Catholic Church to investigate supernatural happenings.
• NON (47D: ___pareil capers) I know what NONpareils are, the colorful sprinkles used to decorate baked goods. And I know what capers are, the edible flower buds of the caper bush (also known as Flinders rose), which are often pickled. But I had not encountered the combination of these two words. NONpareil capers are the smallest commercially available capers, and are considered the best in flavor and texture. The word "NONpareil" is French for "has no equal" or "not the same."

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• HOPI (15A: Pueblo Revolt people) The HOPI are one of several indigenous groups of people known as Pueblo people because they lived in villages. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 is also known as Popé's Rebellion. The Pueblo people revolted against the Spanish colonizers in Santa Fe de Nuevo México, an area larger than present-day New Mexico. The Pueblo Revolt succeeded in driving the Spanish out of the province, though the absence of the Spaniards only lasted 12 years. I have previously written about the HOPI tribal council designating August 10 as Pueblo Revolt Day.
• CELEBRATE (18A: Join friends for a special birthday dinner, say) This is such a fun, feel-good answer. It lifted my spirits as I filled it in. My husband and I have been invited to two 95th birthday parties this month, which feels quite amazing. Definitely a milestone to CELEBRATE!
• SMALL POTATOES (20A: Insignificant in the grand scheme of things) The use of the phrase "SMALL POTATOES" to refer to something of relative insignificance originated in the U.S. in the 1800s. When POTATOES were being harvested, the SMALL ones would get tossed aside. Thus, SMALL POTATOES came to describe something not as important.
• HAN SOLO (22A: Chewbacca swore a life debt to him) In the Star Wars universe, Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk. Chewbacca swore a life debt to HAN SOLO (essentially swearing to stay by his side no matter what) after HAN saved Chewbacca from captivity by the Galactic Empire. I found a Screen Rant article that goes into more detail, if you're interested.
• SALLY (27A: Novelist Rooney) SALLY Rooney is the author of four books to date: Conversations with Friends (2017), Normal People (2018), Beautiful World, Where Are You (2021), and Intermezzo (2024). Her first two books were adapted into TV miniseries. I am – for a rather obvious reason – always delighted to see SALLY Rooney make an appearance in the crossword.
• ANTS (39A: Myrmecologist's subject) Myrmecologist is a big word you can put in your back pocket and bring out to impress (or annoy...) your friends when there's a lull in the conversation.
• ORES (40A: Items that can be smelted in Stardew Valley) Stardew Valley is a role-playing video game first released in 2016. Players assume the role of a character taking over their grandfather's farm in the titular Stardew Valley. Players can socialize with townspeople, grow crops, raise livestock, smelt ORES, and participate in activities such as cooking, crafting, and fishing.
• THOUGHT POLICE (52A: Antagonists in George Orwell's "1984") George Orwell's cautionary tale 1984 (also seen as Nineteen Eighty-Four) was first published in 1949. In the novel, the THOUGHT POLICE are the secret POLICE who use omnipresent surveillance and criminal psychology to consistently monitor citizens in order to arrest those who have committed "THOUGHTcrime" (THOUGHTs unapproved by the authoritarian regime).
• PERENNIAL (55A: Plant that grows back each year) As the clue informs us, PERENNIALs grow back every year. This is in contrast to their counterparts, annuals, which need to be replanted every year. I tend to be a lazy gardener, so I am a big fan of PERENNIALs.
• ANTE (59A: Balatro level) Ah, this clue made me laugh! Balatro is a poker-themed game released in 2024. In keeping with the theme, the game's levels are referred to as ANTEs. Last fall I was chatting with a group of friends and we were sharing various means of distraction. One of my friends said, "Need a distraction? Don’t have an overly addictive personality? Play Balatro!" I don't play a lot of video games, and one of the reasons for that is that I do have a bit of an addictive personality when it comes to games. As such, I decided to skip downloading Balatro. A month later when our family got together for the holidays, my son said, "Oh, I have a game I'm going to put on your iPad!" Long story short, I have now played a "few" games of Balatro.
• NENE (60A: Hawaiian goose) The NENE, also referred to as a Hawaiian goose, is the state bird of Hawai'i. The NENE is endemic to the state, and is only found on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kaua'i, Moloka'i, and Hawai'i.
• NACL (61A: Sodium chloride, chemically) Sodium chloride, or NACL (formatted as NaCl), is also known as salt.
• MARSHA (1D: Gay liberation activist Johnson) MARSHA P. Johnson was a self-identified drag queen, performer, and activist who was a prominent figure in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. The "P" in MARSHA P. Johnson stood for "Pay It No Mind," which was MARSHA'S response when people would ask questions about her gender. 
• ICE T (5D: Rapper who plays Sergeant Fin Tutuola on "Law & Order: SVU") On Law & Order: SUV, Fin Tutuola ("Fin" is short for Odafin) is a sergeant with the New York Police Department's Special Victims Unit (SVU). ICE T joined the show in its second season. The show began its 26th season in October of last year.
• PLASMA (21D: Fourth state of matter) Solid, liquid, gas, and PLASMA are the four states of matter. PLASMA is characterized by the presence of charged particles, such as ions and electrons, which makes it electrically conductive. PLASMA is present in the universe in stars, including the Sun. Lightning and neon lights generate PLASMA. Hooray for science in the crossword!
• LLOYD (28D: "Back to the Future" actor Christopher) I saw Back to the Future in the theater when it first came out, and I knew Christopher LLOYD portrayed eccentric scientist Doc Brown. What went through my head when I read this clue was, "Oh, it's going to make me feel old to realize how long it's been since Back to the Future came out!" The movie was released in 1985; that's 40 years ago.
• ELECTRIC (36D: "___ Avenue" (1982 funk classic)  "ELECTRIC Avenue" is a 1982 song by Eddy Grant. ELECTRIC Avenue is in Brixton in South London, and is named for being the first market street to have ELECTRIC lighting. 
• ASTLEY (42D: Rick of music and memes) The last time we saw ASTLEY in the puzzle, it was clued as [Rick who you might get Rickrolled by]. That was on November 2, 2024.
• TAIPEI (43D: Taiwan's capital) I always appreciate getting a bit of geography review from solving a crossword.
• GINS (53D: Gimlet options) Gimlets are cocktails made of GIN, lime juice, and sugar.
• EVA (56D: Peron of Argentina) EVA Perón was the first lady of Argentina from 1946-1952. The 1978 musical Evita tells the story of her life.
• Some other clues I especially enjoyed:
  • DECENT (46A: "Are you ___?" ("Is it safe for me to come in?"))
  • THREE-PEAT (7D: Type of winning streak)
  • PIE (10D: ___-in-the-sky (far-fetched))
  • PEN (55D: What's mightier than the sword, in a saying)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• SMALL POTATOES (20A: Insignificant in the grand scheme of things)
• WE AIM TO PLEASE (35A: "Customer satisfaction is our goal")
• THOUGHT POLICE (52A: Antagonists in George Orwell's "1984")

PLOT TWIST: Each theme answer contains an anagram of the word PLOT: SMALL POTATOES, WE AIM TO PLEASE, and THOUGHT POLICE.

Yesterday the word "shuffle" in the title hinted at a hidden anagram theme. Today, the word "TWIST" is the hint. Picking up on this hint, I looked at the letters around the word breaks in the theme answers, and found what I was looking for: L/POT, TO/PL, and T/POL – anagrams of the word "PLOT." In addition to the fun theme, this puzzle was jam-packed with delightful answers, such that I had a hard time deciding what answers to highlight. Thank you, Emily, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
• Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers