The NYT puzzles now frequently feature Gen Z slang, advocate less stodgy language, and make more current cultural references, so I am trying to fold that into more of my puzzles. I didn't start with an idea -- just a desire to work more current answers and clues into the puzzle. I began by tinkering with a grid and cycling through some 15 letter answers, which is how I landed on
36A36AEuphemism for 27 Down
[---------------] and its partner,
27D. I also added a late alteration and toiled awhile over the top section of the puzzle to make
19A19AOlivia Rodrigo ballad
[--------------] work. This allowed me to make another current pop culture reference.
43D43D"The Simpsons" character known for his mocking laugh
[------] and
54D54DPam's replacement at Dunder Mifflin
[----] are not exactly current, but current-ish as well as from personal favorites of mine. - CD