| 100% | SMOG | 4 | Fog that has combined with excessive smoke in the air, often leading to a lot of lung diseases |
| 33% | SMOG | 4 | Combination of fog and smoke, a leading cause of lung diseases in polluted regions |
| 31% | TAHOE | 5 | California freshwater lake with a name that translates to "edge of the lake" in Washoe |
| 30% | TSA | 3 | Org. that has to deal with a lot of baggage |
| 30% | PARIS | 5 | "From hell to breakfast in ___," idiom with the French capital that means "go through a wide range of experiences" |
| 29% | RODEO | 5 | There are a lot of bucks to be had in one |
| 29% | TOOMUCHTOOSOON | 14 | A lot to deal with right out of the gate |
| 29% | THETORTURED | 11 | With 35-Across, 2024 album that led to a new era in the Eras Tour |
| 29% | MWA | 3 | Fraternal org. founded in 1883, now with over 740,000 members, that was to protect families after the death of a breadwinner. (abbr.) |
| 29% | BLARNEY | 7 | — Castle, stronghold in County Cork, Republic of Ireland, housing a stone said to endow those who kiss it with the gift of flattery |
| 28% | ENDZONE | 7 | Area that sees lots of spikes, in a way...and a feature in each answer to the six starred clues |
| 28% | STARIN | 6 | "It takes a lot of talent to ___ such a movie" (play the lead part): 2 wds. |
| 28% | ALA | 3 | State that has a small border with the Gulf of Mexico: Abbr. |
| 28% | OXEN | 4 | Ones with a lot of pull in the agricultural world? |
| 28% | TAMPABAY | 8 | Team that has a tankful of rays in the back of its ballpark |
| 28% | STARRED | 7 | To have appeared as the lead in a movie or play |
| 28% | ONERUN | 6 | Kind of lead a closer often has to protect |
| 28% | RBG | 3 | Initials of the person who said "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you" |
| 27% | COG | 3 | ___ in the machine, phrase associated with machines that means "small part of a large organization" |
| 27% | ACRO | 4 | Prefix with "yoga" to mean the practice that involves a lot of lifting |
| 27% | IRONS | 5 | You might have a lot of them in the fire |
| 27% | ODES | 4 | Poems that often have "to a" in the title |
| 27% | JUSTICEGINSBURG | 15 | Subject of this puzzle, who once said "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you" |
| 27% | OZONELAYER | 10 | Shielding region in the stratosphere, that has a hole thanks to human activities: 2 wds. |
| 27% | EDINBURGH | 9 | A town in Indiana that shares its name with the capital of Scotland |
| 27% | IKEA | 4 | Company that was the first in the U.S. to air a TV ad with a gay couple (1994) |
| 27% | PENNY | 5 | "A ___ saved is worth two in the bush," example of 50a that encourages being content with what you have |
| 27% | LIKABLE | 7 | Having the qualities of someone you might want to get a beer with, say |
| 27% | NOR | 3 | Country that takes a lot of medals in the Winter Olympics: Abbr. |