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I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Here Comes the Sun

After a bit more than a month, the headline theme is back! It's been a while, but the clues we gave for the last headline theme were: (1) "this week's puzzle is rather more similar to last week's than we would like," and (2) "every reader who solved the puzzle needed a day to do so." That first hint was not so useful, in our view, but the second one definitely was.

And now, courtesy of reader D.S. in Layton, UT, who disagrees with us about the utility of the first hint, here is the solution:

Your hint about the similarity to last week's puzzle helped tremendously. Each clue contains a word that can precede "Day."

Appointments News: You Win Some, You Lose Some—Someday

Kissing the Ring, Part I: Who Needs Red or Blue When You've Got the Green?—Green Day

Kissing the Ring, Part II: So Much for Editorial Independence—Independence Day

Deportation Watch: Trump to Change Rules of the Game—Game day (My bride's favorite)

I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Dancing in the Dark—Dark day

This Week in Schadenfreude: Lindell Can't Pay His Bills—Payday (My favorite)

This Week in Freudenfreude: Not Everybody Has Presidential Fathers—Fathers Day

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Day 8: Merry Christmas America, Part III—Christmas Day

The headline of this item, of course, has the word "Sun," which adds "Sunday" to the list.

Here are the first 50 readers to solve the puzzle:

K.R. in Austin, TX
N.H. in London, England, UK
T.K. in Half Moon Bay, St. Kitts
T.F. in Craftsbury Common, VT
S.S. in Lucerne, Switzerland
D.S. in Layton
B.K. in Mystic, CT
R.M. in Concord, NH
M.J. in Oakdale, MN
M.H. in Ottawa, ON, Canada
R.S. in Milan, OH
R.S. in Landing, NJ
D.E. in Ann Arbor, MI
J.T. in Philadelphia, PA
B.M. in Chico, CA
E.S. in Cincinnati, OH
W.M. in Livonia, MI
M.M. in Dunellen, NJ
J.N. in Zionsville, IN
M.T. in Wheat Ridge, CO
D.L. in Springfield, IL
A.D. in Vass, NC
M.W. in Altea, Spain
B.R. in Arlington, MA
S.R.G. in Grecia, Costa Rica

S.F. in Pemberton Borough, NJ
K.M. in Ypsilanti, MI
T.T. in Conway, AR
M.T. in Simpsonville, SC
D.D. in Carversville, PA
W.V. in San Jacinto, CA
P.H. in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
S.K. in Ardmore, PA
B.U. in St. Louis, MO
S.G. in Durham, NC
S.F. in Hutto, TX
M.S. in Canton, NY
J.F. in Fayetteville, NC
G.W. in Avon, CT
E.W. in Skaneateles, NY
M.L. in Iowa City, IA
P.A. in Redwood City, CA
S.S. in Santa Monica, CA
S.B. in Los Altos Hills, CA
D.B. in Pittsboro, NC
E.P. in Plainville, CT
M.W. in Frederick, MD
B.F. in Nashville, TN
J.M. in Los Angeles, CA
K.H. in Albuquerque, NM

We were surprised at the number of people who did not need the second hint.

As to this week's theme, we're doing what used to be regular, and what is now occasional: They're all song titles. That means that the theme is in the Trivial Pursuit category "music." The theme is a little tricky, but we think we've got a really good clue. Here it is:

It's an old-style
McDonalds sign, with the line 'BILLIONS AND BILLIONS SERVED.

Once you know the theme, we think you will agree this is a really good clue. Whether it's a really good clue BEFORE you know the theme is the $64 billion question. Note also that the abortion item is not part of the theme.

Send your guesses to comments@electoral-vote.com with subject line "January 24 Headlines." (Z)

This item appeared on www.electoral-vote.com. Read it Monday through Friday for political and election news, Saturday for answers to reader's questions, and Sunday for letters from readers.

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