Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is kind of tough. Some of the answers are very difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go in depth about the rules for Strands in this story. 

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: All mixed up

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Shaken and stirred.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

• BLAM, FOOT, HUMS, BLED, MODE, LOUT, MARBLE, FORD, SHED, FORE, TIRED

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

• CHAOTIC, JUMBLED, MUDDLED, SHUFFLED, SCRAMBLED

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is OUTOFORDER. To find it, start with the O that’s six letters down on the far-left row, and wind up and across.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It was a bit tricky at first, so I had to redo a few answers. Read on to solve it. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Coarse, woolen fabric often used to make jackets
Answer: TWEED

6A clue: Alternative rock band with the album «Yankee Hotel Foxtrot»
Answer: WILCO

7A clue: Perfect
Answer: IDEAL

8A clue: Americana or country
Answer: GENRE

9A clue: «Wicked cool, man!»
Answer: RAD

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Tiny bit of kindling
Answer: TWIG

2D clue: More extensive
Answer: WIDER

3D clue: Kagan on the Supreme Court
Answer: ELENA

4D clue: Birthday greeting that doesn’t require an envelope
Answer: ECARD

5D clue: Fruit company that once owned the entire island of Lanai
Answer: DOLE

In a move that will ease looming holiday travel pressures, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Sunday that it is lifting its emergency order reducing flights at 40 major US airports, paving the way for a return to normal operations beginning Monday.

The restrictions had mandated a reduction of up to 6% in flight volume at those airports. The reduction was set to increase up to 10%. The restrictions were first imposed on Nov. 7 in response to a staffing shortage among air traffic controllers during the record-breaking 43-day federal government shutdown, which ended on Nov. 12. 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the order was rescinded after a safety review team found a «steady decline of staffing-trigger events» across the National Airspace System, meaning controllers have returned to more normal staffing levels. 

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The decision matters for several reasons:

• Passenger impact: With the busy Thanksgiving travel time looming, resuming full flight schedules reduces the risk of further cancellations or delays that capacity constraints at major hubs could have caused.
• Safety assurance: The initial restrictions highlighted the severe strain on the air traffic system. Lifting them signals that key staffing metrics are back in an acceptable range.
• Industry recovery: Airlines and airports can now begin restoring full flight schedules, and repositioning aircraft and crews with fewer operational constraints, which will help to stabilize airline operations and the broader travel economy.

For travelers, the key takeaway is simple. Flights now move toward full strength, including at previously restricted hubs, such as those in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta. 

If you’re traveling this holiday season, explore CNET’s expert travel tips, including the best way to pack a carry-on and the best time to book flights for the cheapest tickets.