"Decoding the NYT Crossword: Dec. 21, 2023 Answers Revealed"

David Steinberg, a prominent crossword constructor and editor, presents a unique Thursday puzzle in The New York Times. The theme entries are positioned in the Downs and split between the Down answers at the top of the grid and the answers just below them. By focusing on the unshaded squares in the clues, solvers can uncover hidden words that form the theme. Steinberg, who has contributed over 100 puzzles to The Times, hints at a potential shift in his career and expresses optimism about the future of crosswords.