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I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: A Port on the Salton Sea

Pretty much every week, we get an e-mail or two from readers who pooh-pooh the headline theme as unserious, annoying, a waste of time, etc. And we get hundreds of e-mails from readers endeavoring to decipher the theme. We also get e-mails from folks who note that they don't always send us a message, but they still try to solve the puzzle. The message indicated here, by the data, seems clear.

On occasion, we choose a theme that readers particularly appreciate. So it was this week, as a great many respondents (multiple hundreds) expressed their appreciation for our (backdoor) tribute to someone who clearly had a great many fans. Here, courtesy of reader W.M. in Livonia, MI, is the solution:

This week's theme is all Val Kilmer movies, may he rest in peace:

The Trade War: Trump's Tariff Plan Is Top Secret!

Whiskeyleaks: IG Turns up the Heat on Hegseth

Another Look, Part I: The Doors Look to Be Opening for the Democrats

Another Look, Part II: Booker Is a Real Genius

Election News: Spanberger, Adams Know How the Game Is Played

I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: A Tombstone for Nobody

This Week in Schadenfreude: A Look at the Super Week Elon Musk Just Had

This Week in Freudenfreude: The Saint Goes Marching In

Kilmer also starred in The Salton Sea, from the headline for this item.

Here are the first 50 readers to crack the code:

M.B. in Albany, NY
G.M.K. in Mishawaka, IN
K.F. in Berea, KY
M.J. in Oakdale, MN
D.L. in Uslar, Germany
C.J.R. in Boston, MA
D.E. in High Springs, FL
G.K. in Hillsborough, NJ
M.Z. in Sharon, MA
R.C. in Eagleville, PA
B.H. in Southborough, MA
N.H. in London, England, UK
R.M. in Concord, NH
J.G. in Truro, England, UK
G.W. in Avon, CT
A.S. in Fairfax, VA
J.N. in Zionsville, IN
J.R.A. in St. Petersburg, FL
B.B. in Bedford, MA
J.D. in Charlotte, NC
E.P. in Plainville, CT
W.M. in Livonia
T.K. in Kirkwood, MO
M.K. in Long Branch, NJ
G.M. in Gaithersburg, MD

M.M. in Dunellen, NJ
J.R. in Harrogate, England, UK
N.S. in Fayetteville, NY
A.J. in Silver Spring, MD
K.R. in Austin, TX
R.D. in Cheshire, CT
R.H.O. in Portland, ME
P.S. in Atlanta, GA
W.L. in Springfield, MO
M.T. in Wheat Ridge, CO
D.D. in Highland Park, IL
D.K. in Bethesda, MD
J.R. in Harrogate, England, UK
L.W. in Nashville, TN
S.R. in Robbinsville, NJ
P.Q. in Metuchen, NJ
J.D. in Greensboro, NC
D.L. in Plumas County, CA
B.B. in Avon, CT
J.U. in Chicago, IL
K.H. in Golden, CO
A.A. in Branchport, NY
D.C. in Jacksonville, FL
S.L. in St. Louis, MO
M.W. in Northbrook, IL

The 50th correct response was received at 5:52 a.m. PT on Friday. And incidentally, the two hints we gave, namely "We ♥ Toxic Waste" and "We're your huckleberry" are references, respectively, to a t-shirt that Kilmer wore in Real Genius and to Kilmer/Doc Holliday's catchphrase in Tombstone.

This week's theme appears in every headline, and relies on one word in each case. It's in the Trivial Pursuit category "Fine Dining" (which appeared in the Food and Drink edition, released in 1993). As to a hint, we would note that anyone who has a lot of experience with bungholes will have a big advantage.

Send your guesses to comments@electoral-vote.com, with subject "April 11 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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