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Word Salad.
ACROSS
1 It should be better than 20/20 for management (11)
7 Television network is more evenhanded when avoiding false start (5)
8 Smallish bra containing, say, a flower (9)
10 Idea: go to back, naked or dressed for a frat party (6)
11 Elk riled wild bird (8)
12 Social changes capturing attention—they can help you win an election (9)
14 City in Czechoslovakia (4)
17 Longing internalized by preacher (4)
18 Suburban voter shouted, “Punch her, Somerset!” (6,3)
20 Military policemen and chief of operations involved in fan’s murders (5,3)
22 Throw cold water on, to block writer (6)
24 Deranged prince led censor (3-6)
25 Gas found in Discworld? (5)
26 Easy at first: chant “om” for food (11)
DOWN
1 Silk-screen an angel on the outside of semi (9)
2 Eastern agent going north, eating meat in spread (8)
3 Polish-Estonian’s foremost countryman (4)
4 Organizing NC, RI sit-in is essential (9)
5 Sailed at sea with aspirations (6)
6 Organic hemoglobin has a role in the food chain (5)
7 Barmen teach mixing in front room (11)
9 Show guy entering ineluctably (11)
13 Davenport plunges into topic that’s arcane by definition (4,5)
15 Communication between ships and shore about excellent chart (9)
16 Bloody sacrifice, as both came unglued (8)
19 Athletic competitions, with energy, boosted prize (6)
21 Bit of Morse code uploaded in French wine region (5)
23 Fill belly with victual, ultimately! (4)
ACROSS 1 SU(PERP)AC (caus[e] rev.) 6 rev. 9 C + ONGRESSWOMAN (newsrooms nag anag.) 11 hidden 12 [c]OSMOS + IN + G 13 pun 17 BACH + ELORSDEGREE (greed or else anag.) 18 anag. 19 C + ASKS 22 SOU(THE ASTER)L + Y 23 [s]OARED 24 ACROS[s] + TIC
DOWN 2 UNCLE[ar] 3 ENN([b]U[g])I (nine anag.) 4 PER + SON(ANON)G + RAT A (rev.) 5 CASH + MERE + SWEATER 6 D + OWNS + C + ALE 7 COMANA(G)ER (camera on anag.) 8 2 defs. 10 HUB + BUB 14 RECON + QU[e]ER (crone anag.) 15 U + NEAR THE D 16 hidden 19 hidden 20 ST(Y)LI (list anag.) 21 anag.
Joshua Kosman and Henri PicciottoJoshua Kosman and Henri Picciotto are The Nation’s puzzlers. To read more about Kosman, click here. To read more about Picciotto, click here. Kosman and Picciotto explain what they’re up to in “Solving The Nation’s Cryptic Crosswords” (also available as a PDF). Check out The Nation’s Current Issue page each week for the latest puzzle.