Across:
7. Pride earnt - one outed got beaten up and yet published again (9)
8. see 13
9. Originally zero out of hundred, it's recorded in table as thirty (4)
10. Finished with getting mad and put at risk (10)
12. Ominous figure with cryptic hint about exotic tree (8)
13,8. Moth-chewed serpent with new intelligence (mostly new), he promoted 3 in a new world (6 5)
14. Fast rider's core 7 across? (7)
16. By historic fabrication, made these colonists coy? (7)
19,25. Come to accept second batch of five points in 1776 treatise of 13 8 (oft 7, with many a 4) advocating 3 of the 12 21 from 16 24! (6 5)
21. Lands conquered once soil cultivated (8)
23. Some of the top brass unfortunately reset after MAGA leader elected (10)
24. Right usually lack erudite leaders in authority... (4)
25. see 19
26. ...hence Americans with intelligence lean left (9)
Down:
1. Enjoy wrapping ridiculous lies in superficial research (6)
2. Pimp supporting doctor? (8)
3. Where one must sink or swim (heartless!) finally free in economic sense? (12)
4. Kids learn this at school in grade which varies (7)
5. Outdoor setting's look and smell (6)
6. Keep scan, having broken bones (8)
11. After a rut & an upheaval, starts to live in small town in country trying to "keep it real" (12)
15. Eliminated princess in car crash, as one discourages such nuisances (8)
17. Curly growths captivating doctor, strangely silent (8)
18. Layer of eggs, "chook" (originally "hen") eats half of loaf (7)
20. O.J. drunk with bubbly maid... mood's bad & sinking every second (6)
22. Strangely silent recruit (6)
Solution:
=R=P=I=R===G=K=|
REPRINTED=PAINE|
=L=O=D=A===Z=E=|
ZINC=ENDANGERED|
=S=U=P=I=A=B=C=|
THIRTEEN=THOMAS|
===E=N=G=U===P=|
ASTRIDE=BRITISH|
=C===E=E=A=E===|
COMMON=COLONIES|
=U=I=C=H=I=D=N=|
TRUMPETERS=RULE|
=G=O===L=T=I=I=|
SENSE=SOCIALIST|
=S=A===N=C=S=T=|
Name:  884 - Sink or Swim
Author: by BenDR

Annos-Across:
7. *(PRIDE E(a)RNT)
9. Z(ero) IN C
10. END(ANGER)ED
12. *TREE in *HINT
13,8. THOM + ASP + AI + NE(w)
14. (f)AST RIDE(r)
16. Composite anagram ... BRITISH + COY = *( BY HISTORIC )
19,25. COM(MO NSENS)E
21. *(ONCE SOIL)
23. TRUMP + *RESET
24. acrostic
26. SO + CIA + LIST
Annos-Down:
1. *LIES in R(esearc)H
2. PRO CURER
3. ( IN DE(e)P END ) + E N C E , &lit
4. *( IN GRADE )
5. GAZE + BO
6. *( KEEP SCAN )
11. rev( A RUT AN ) + acrostic LISTIC
15. (di)SCOUR(a)GES
17. DR in *SILENT
18. E C + HE(LO)N
20. alternate letters ( MaId MoOdS bAd )
22. *SILENT
Defs-Across:
7. published again
9. it's recorded in table as thirty
10. put at risk
12. Ominous figure
13,8. he promoted 3 in a new world
14. across
16. these colonists
21. Lands conquered
23. Some of the top brass
24. authority
26. left
Defs-Down:
1. Enjoy
2. Pimp
3. Where one must sink or swim (heartless!) finally free in economic sense?
4. Kids learn this at school
5. Outdoor setting
6. bones
15. such nuisances
17. Curly growths
18. Layer
20. O.J. drunk with bubbly
22. recruit