Crossword Genius

A question and answer about liberal state (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alaska

'state' is the definition.
(Alaska is an example)

'a question and answer about liberal' is the wordplay.
'question' becomes 'ask' (asking a question).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'answer' becomes 'a' (abbreviation eg in Q and A).
'about' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'liberal' becomes 'l' (abbreviation).
'ask' next to 'a' is 'aska'.
'aska' after 'l' is 'laska'.
'a'+'laska'='ALASKA'

(Other definitions for alaska that I've seen before include "Coldest US state" , "Cold US state" , "Anchorage is the largest city" , "that may be baked? Not by the sun" , "Largest state of the USA" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.
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