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I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Curtain Time

Because of the manner in which last weekend unfolded, we only had one hint for last week's headline theme: "If you get the theme, you might also catch the conscience of the king." However, that proved to be enough. Here is the solution, courtesy of reader T.J. in London, England, UK :

The connection is that all the headlines include terms from theatre production:

Diplomacy, MAGA Style: Frustrated with His Friend Vladimir, Trump Goes Off Script

Fascism Watch, Part I: Trump Targets Act Blue

Fascism Watch, Part II: Plaintiffs, Get in Line

Fascism Watch, Part III: 2028 Merch Setting the Stage for a Third Term?

I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Berth Marks

This Week in Schadenfreude: The Economist Sets the Scene

This Week in Freudenfreude: Heading in the Right Direction

Well done, T.J., even if you did spell "theater" wrong. You Brits have got to work on your English! William Shakespeare, author of the line that provided the hint—"the play's the thing, wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king"—would never have made such an error. Especially in the original Klingon.

Of course, "Curtain Time," this item's headline, is also a theater term.

Here are the first 50 readers to get it right:

T.J. in London
A.D. in Vass, NC
J.J. in Johnstown, PA
C.B. in Lakeville, MN
R.M. in Concord, NH
J.T. in Philadelphia, PA
R.D. in Cheshire, CT
M.S. in Canton, NY
G.M.K. in Mishawaka, IN
S.K. in Ardmore, PA
D.E. in Lancaster, PA
J.H. in Flint, MI
K.M. in Ypsilanti, MI
S.J.V. in New York City, NY
T.K. in Kirkwood, MO
S.F. in Pemberton Borough, NJ
D.L. in Springfield, IL
S.D.S. in Las Vegas, NV
K.R. in Austin, TX
E.M. in Durham, NC
R.E. in Birmingham, AL
E.S. in Providence, RI
M.K. in Long Branch, NJ
P.V. in San Francisco, CA
J.N. in Zionsville, IN

J.K. in St. Paul, MN
T.F. in Craftsbury Common, VT
J.M. in St. Lawrence County, NY
C.P. in Silver Spring, MD
B.E. in Brooklyn, NY
N.H. in London, England, UK
M.H.S. in Louisville, KY
K.G.W. in Lafayette, IN
N.B. in Eagleville, PA
R.P.E.H. in London, England, UK
Z.K. in Albany, NY
T.M. in New York City, NY
J.S. in Germantown, OH
K.M. in Olympia, WA
K.F. in Berea, KY
T.T. in Conway, AR
D.S. in Layton, UT
T.K. in Half Moon Bay, St. Kitts
D.E. in High Springs, FL
A.T. in Washington, DC
D.D. in Carversville, PA
S.M. in Warren, MI
R.C. in Eagleville, PA
A.J. in Huddersfield, England, UK
H.B. in Toronto, ON, Canada

The 50th correct response was received at 5:50 a.m. PT on Friday.

For this week, the theme depends on a single word in every headline, and is in the Trivial Pursuit category Language. For a hint, we'll say that this theme certainly wasn't our first choice.

If you have a guess, send it to comments@electoral-vote.com, with subject line "May 2 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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