| 100% | BLOW | 4 | NYT columnist Charles who tweeted "This debate is a mess" about last week's Charleston Democratic candidates' event |
| 24% | STY | 3 | This place is a mess |
| 24% | DAYBOOK | 7 | This clue is about the Elie Wiesel novel, not the portion of a week |
| 23% | STY | 3 | This is a mess! |
| 22% | ALEC | 4 | Baldwin who tweeted on November 7, 2020, “I don’t believe I’ve ever been this overjoyed to lose a job before!” |
| 22% | MAID | 4 | (2/5) "You're pointed toward a ___ (housekeeping employee) who was the last to see this priceless item..." |
| 22% | WATERGATE | 9 | All the President's Men was about this 1970s event |
| 21% | THESPADESOFJACK | 15 | "You don't have to be a gardener to dig this book about Kerouac's tools" |
| 21% | KANYEWEST | 9 | About whom Obama said "He is a jackass. But he's talented" |
| 21% | NOWHIRING | 9 | "Jobs are available" (and a 3-part hint about this puzzle's circles) |
| 20% | CSPAN | 5 | A political debate might be on this |
| 20% | PONZI | 5 | Charles for whom a scheme is named |
| 20% | JOHNOLIVER | 10 | Host of "Last Week Tonight" who was once a correspondent on "The Daily Show": 2 wds. |
| 20% | TENT | 4 | A big flap may be made about this |
| 20% | EBBETS | 6 | Charles after whom a sports field was named |
| 20% | WITS | 4 | A battle of these proves who is smartest |
| 20% | TGIF | 4 | "What a long week this was!" |
| 20% | EAMES | 5 | Charles or Ray after whom a chair is named |
| 20% | BOARDERS | 8 | These are people who rent rooms in a house |
| 20% | SHOE | 4 | There might be a spat about this |
| 20% | TWOBROTHERS | 11 | 2004 family drama film starring Guy Pearce which is about two tigers who are separated as cubs and then reunited a year later: 2 wds. |
| 20% | CAMPAIGN | 8 | A candidate trying to get elected is on this trail |
| 20% | RUSHDIE | 7 | A fatwa was issued for this author in late 80s |
| 20% | RABBITS | 7 | Watership Down is a film about these animals |
| 19% | NANCYKERRIGAN | 13 | Figure skater who was the victim of a 1/6/94 knee-clubbing but won a silver medal in the Olympics seven weeks later: 2 wds. |
| 19% | DDAY | 4 | Last year was the 75th anniversary of this notable WWII event |
| 19% | MAYA | 4 | Late poet Angelou who was honored on a 2015 postage stamp |
| 19% | DIANEARBUS | 10 | Who said "A photograph is a secret about a secret" |
| 19% | RUDOLPH | 7 | Who's depicted in this puzzle when the circled letters are connected from A to Z and back to A |
| 19% | PSYCHIC | 7 | Beings who are this know what will happen later |