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I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Chastity

Last week, we gave two hints as to the headline theme, though the first one pretty much let the cat out of the bag. It was: "if you can't get this one, you might need to pull up your pants, or maybe to have a stiff drink." The second hint was: "a punch in the nether regions might awaken you to the answer." And now, the solution, courtesy of C.B. in Lakeville, MN:

Each clue contains a word that can precede "belt."

Trump v. Zelenskyy: The Borscht Principle

Legal News: Yet another Judge Is Not a Fan of Trump Administration Policies

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is Already Becoming an Anchor around Trump's Neck

Senate News: Walz Will Not Pursue Open Seat

Spartz Surrender: Surprise! It Wasn't about the Money

Teutonic Shift: Debating the Utility of the 5% Approach

I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Bible Rock

This Week in Schadenfreude: Musk's Face is Red

his Week in Freudenfreude: Black Ohioans Take Matters into Their Own Hands

Wasn't sure about the Schadenfreude one. It looks like you used two martial arts belts colors, if "Red" is the clue. Incidentally, this is what you get when you use Google to find "face belts."

We intended face belt, but red belt is also acceptable. And, of course, there's a chastity belt, from this headline. As to the clues, people with sagging pants and people who could use a stiff drink both need a belt, albeit in different senses of that word. And a punch in the nether regions is, of course, below the belt. Oh, and the Kennedy headline was not supposed to be part of the puzzle, but it worked anyhow, with either "anchor" or "neck."

Here are the first 50 correct respondents:

T.F. in Craftsbury Common, VT
M.Y. in San Jose, CA
K.R. in Austin, TX
R.D. in Cheshire, CT
M.J.S. in Cheshire, CT
M.W. in Altea, Spain
E.W. in Skaneateles, NY
J.N. in Zionsville, IN
W.J.J. in Kitchener, ON, Canada
J.D. in Jamaica Plain, MA
C.W. in Hamilton, NY
C.B. in Lakeville
M.M. in Dunellen, NJ
M.S. in Canton, NY
G.W. in Avon, CT
P.Q. in Metuchen, NJ
S.K. in Ardmore, PA
P.R. in Havertown, PA
G.K. in Blue Island, IL
R.A. in Chesterfield, MO
E.S. in Cincinnati, OH
Z.K. in Albany, NY
C.G. in Pittsburgh, PA
S.T. in Federal Way, WA
J.R. in Austin, TX

B.L. in Ferndale, MI
M.L. in Iowa City, IA
D.C, in Portland, OR
D.B. in Pittsboro, NC
A.C. in Kingston, MA
C.K. in Aston, PA
J.A. in Manhattan Beach, CA
B.A. in Sioux Falls, SD
J.L. in Walnut Creek, CA
L.W. in Los Angeles, CA
B.B. in Avon, CT
S.B. in Los Altos Hills, CA
T.L. in West Orange, NJ
P.W. in Tulalip, WA
L.D. in Bedford, MA
J.P. in Chandler, AZ
M.V. in Oak Park, IL
J.L.-H. in Portland, OR
M.H. in Ottawa, ON, Canada
M.T. in Wheat Ridge, CO
B.H. in Sherman Oaks, CA
M.C. in Newton, MA
J.G. in Dallas, PA
M.W in Frederick, MD
N.H. in London, England, UK

Reader T.H. in Champaign, IL also correctly points out that there is something in every headline that can be red: borscht, fan, seat, money, approach, rock, face, hands. Meanwhile, T.L. in West Orange supposes that we included "utility belt" at the instigation of reader B.W. in Gotham City.

The 50th correct response was received Sunday at 8:29 a.m. PT.

As to this week's theme, we almost went with songs—as we sometimes do—but instead decided to switch that up a little bit and go with album titles. That means that the Trivial Pursuit category, pretty much by definition, is "music." As to a hint, we'll say that while the artist did not actually end up making a headline, we got the idea for the theme after listening to the song "Life in Mono."

If you have a guess, send it to comments@electoral-vote.com with subject "March 7 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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