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ACROSS

 1 Implausible ability leads to a practice: beginning to embroider footwear
(10)

 6 Principal curve (4)

 9 Ecstatic harp-disco mash-up (9)

10 Dog expectorates in your ear (5)

11 One who competes with me in Western newspaper (5)

12 European conflict to frustrate Sadat (6,3)

13 Guard cool Terminator (8)

15 Break cover, capturing independent American (6)

17 Customers originally come into downtown (6)

18 Disturbed and different in bed (8)

21 Head of security largely disregarding a young Italian (9)

22 Studies Napa’s latest in wines (5)

24 Gigantic repertoire includes pancake (5)

25 Fool around with exploratory craft pursuing character from Sophocles?
(9)

26 We came around just fine and regained consciousness (4)

27 Those working in the fields welcomed a bit of light banter (10)

DOWN

 1 Got angry as English garden deteriorated (7)

 2 Song sung at first in a tree (5)

 3 Democrat and Republican attempted to secure financial backer for
satirical film (2,11)

 4 Popular society girl, supported by Kennedy, is carrying a mortgage (8)

 5 Start to exercise when following diet site (6)

 7 I narrate badly, taking a sip of whisky (something collected in a barrel)
(9)

 8 Risks of Arizona being in challenging straits to begin with (7)

10 Historic force sent to attack London Bridge is hurt by a government
lawyer (7,6)

14 Herb’s iron rod raised a stink (9)

16 Painting some chromium on Al is absurd (4,4)

17 NBC ultimately invested in Beverly Hills 90210 or L.A. Law—that’s sure
to make money (4,3)

19 Demolish and deface poems on an ancient city (7)

20 Drive out Saudis (Pelosi’s constituents) (6)

23 Examine the books of evenly valued mint (5)

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE NO. 3428

ACROSS 1 SEUSS[i] (rev.) 4 DUCK + BILL 8 A(US)TRIA 9 A P(HAS)IC 11 E-NAME + DELL (rev.) 12 ADO + RN 13 OAT + H 14 anag. 17 REPOS (anag.) + I + TORY 19 initial letters 22 hidden 23 [d]AN(NOUN)CER 24 is cross anag. 25 MAFIOS (anag.) + I 26 F(RANK)LIN[g] 27 WHEE + L

DOWN 1 anag. 2 UPS + T + ART 3 “sore, bay” 4 D + EADLIEST (anag.) 5 C + HARD 6 BE(HE)ADED 7 LA + SHOUT 10 anag. (&lit.) 15 STRONGMA (anag.) + N 16 ASS + AS + SIN 18 PET + TIER 20 anag. 21 GUFF + AW 23 A(PR)IL