I pulled out 28A Young newt: EFT because I didn’t know that this was a thing. I went through the puzzle thinking I’d have to fix it later, but I couldn’t imagine what the cross words would be if I’d gotten the answer wrong.
The theme of this puzzle doesn’t have to do with the longest answers or any answers!
19D Exclamation upon seeing this puzzle: THATSABIGIF. Yep, the pattern has a big IF in it.
The long answers were good, though.
3D They can rate up to 350,000 on the Scoville scale: HABANEROPEPPERS. A lot of people write Habañero rather than Habanero because jalapeño is correct and jalapeno isn’t as correct. But Habanero peppers are so called because they’re from Havana, Cuba. They’re not from Havaña, Cuba. So jalapeno is fine, jalapeño is better, Habanero is always correct, and Habañero is NEVER correct.
4D “Nevertheless … look at our current situation”: ANDYETHEREWEARE. It’s a good thing to say in an argument. Try it.
6D Grass-roots group focused on addressing climate change: SUNRISEMOVEMENT. I don’t know how effective they are with donations because Charity Navigator looks at three-year trends.
7D Difficult to understand: BEYONDONESGRASP.
11D Performer known as the “King of Latin Pop”: ENRIQUEIGLASIAS.
Finished this one in 15:04.
| Day | This Wk | Best | Average | 4-Wk Avg | Streak |
| Monday | 8:08 | 3:49 | 9:27 | 8:27 | 72 |
| Tuesday | 8:02 | 5:22 | 13:21 | 10:18 | 15 |
| Wednesday | 15:04 | 7:38 | 17:16 | 13:16 | 13 |
| Thursday | 12:12 | 28:57 | 26:20 | 12 | |
| Friday | 16:23 | 33:50 | 28:18 | 12 | |
| Saturday | 27:43 | 34:22 | 34:49 | 12 | |
| Sunday | 15:11 | 54:58 | 44:30 | 1 |