| 100% | TIK | 3 | Early last year, think tank "Peterson Institute for International Economics" called this a "Huawei-sized problem" posing a national security threat |
| 20% | ANTS | 4 | "What is this? A center for ___?!" (line from Derek Zoolander when he thought a scale model of an educational center showed its actual size) |
| 19% | BLUENIGHTS | 10 | American writer Joan Didion's 2011 memoir also called a "companion piece" to her earlier novel "The Year of Magical Thinking": 2 wds. |
| 19% | TDS | 3 | Last year James White managed to snag six of these, for short |
| 19% | EYE | 3 | Human organ whose complicated design posed a problem for Darwinism |
| 19% | TENCENTS | 8 | A call used to go out for this |
| 19% | ANNUALS | 7 | Plants that last for a single year |
| 19% | EUROLAND | 8 | Early nickname for a bloc assembled in the late 1990s |
| 19% | RUSHDIE | 7 | A fatwa was issued for this author in late 80s |
| 19% | EGGS | 4 | A pound cake recipe might call for 8 of these |
| 19% | AMBULANCE | 9 | In a medical emergency, call for this vehicle |
| 19% | MCCONNELL | 9 | This Kentucky politician last year requested a new nickname of "Grim Reaper" from his supporters |
| 18% | SUSANRICE | 9 | 2013-2017 National Security Advisor whose last name is a Texas university: 2 wds. |
| 18% | VENUS | 5 | On this planet, a day lasts longer than a year |
| 18% | DONTBESOHASTY | 13 | "Whoa now, let's think about this for a minute" |
| 18% | ROMA | 4 | Netflix film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar this year |
| 18% | NAOMI | 5 | Author Klein who wrote last year's "On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal" |
| 18% | SHOULDI | 7 | "Do you think it's a good idea for me to do this?" (2 wds.) |
| 18% | LIU | 3 | Institution that presented the George Polk Award for National Reporting to Lomi Kriel last year (abbr.) |
| 18% | WRITERSBLOCK | 12 | Problem for a wordsmith, and a clue to five figures hidden in this puzzle |
| 17% | OWL | 3 | Deficit ___ (term for an economist who doesn’t think deficits are a problem) |
| 17% | MUELLER | 7 | Special counsel who submitted a report in March earlier this year (with 20A) |
| 17% | YTK | 3 | Abbr. for a problem that became increasingly fearful as the last millennium approached |
| 17% | CORDEN | 6 | Television's James ___, who hosted a "Late Late Show" on CBS for eight years |
| 17% | JAN | 3 | New Year month to send a wish that is highlighted in this puzzle, for short |
| 17% | ESPIONAGE | 9 | Threat to national security |
| 17% | GOESDEEP | 8 | Poses a bomb threat? |
| 17% | MENACES | 7 | Poses a threat to |
| 17% | MENACED | 7 | Posed a threat to |
| 17% | IRA | 3 | $$$ for later years |