17. Target of campaign finance laws: SUPER PAC. PAPER BAG. A Super PAC is a Political Action Committee that may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates. As for bags, there seems to be great debate over which is better for the environment, paper or plastic.
22. 19th-century education reformer: HORACE MANN. CAMERA BAG. According to Wikipedia, "A central theme of [Mann's] life was that 'it is the law of our nature to desire happiness.'"
34. Like a momentous event: EARTH SHATTERING. TRASH BAG. Pretty grid-spanner, right in the center.
43. Dawg and bae, e.g.: SLANG TERMS. GARMENT BAG.
54. Some of this, some of that ... and a hint to the circled squares: MIXED BAG.
Melissa here. Sam Buchbinder has appeared twice before at the corner, as a solo effort - this appears to be his first collaboration. Our dear Santa blogged this clever puzzle from Sam back in 2016. So scrabbly with *three* X's, a J, K, and Z, it's an F, Q, and V short of a pangram.
Across:
1. King canine: CUJO. Book about a 200-lb St. Bernard, diseased from a bat bite. Also a movie.
5. "The Good Wife" and "The Good Fight" network: CBS.
8. Isn't honest with: LIES TO.
14. "Moby-Dick" captain: AHAB. Not the same Ahab, but that name always makes me think of the Ray Stevens tune, "And, every evenin', about midnight, he'd jump on his camel named Clyde, and ride." The song reached number 5 on the Billboard top 40 during July 1962. Stevens has said that Clyde the camel was named after rhythm-and-blues singer Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead singer of The Drifters. There have been a number of covers, as recent as 2007. As Stevens said, the song is more than 50 years old, but that does not mean it goes over well in today's society.
15. 14-Across' yes: AYE. An expression of compliance, especially used by seamen.
16. In a fog: ADDLED.
19. Fast-food toy giveaways, typically: TIE INS.
20. Himalayan of legend: THE YETI. Did not expect the "THE" lead-in - tricky.
21. Jazz dance: STOMP. Fun!
25. Bit of election season ugliness: SMEAR.
28. In order (to): SO AS.
29. Cry bitterly: SOB.
31. Travels like a shark: SWIMS.
32. Chocolate-and-toffee bar: SKOR.
33. __ vera: ALOE.
37. Short holiday?: XMAS. Cute.
38. Bad reviews: PANS.
39. Network connections: NODES.
40. Facial spasm: TIC.
41. Set to the same time, say: SYNC.
42. Hill helpers: AIDES. My first thought was ANTS.
46. "Gilmore Girls" matriarch: EMILY. Memorable character played by actress Kelly Bishop.
47. Spirals: HELIXES.
52. Hampton Inn rival: RAMADA.
55. Flares up: BLAZES.
56. Deux divided by two: UNE. French.
57. TV drama that begins with the crash of Oceanic Flight 815: LOST.
58. Philly team: SIXERS.
59. Deux, across the Pyrenees: DOS. Spanish. "The Pyrenees region encompasses areas from the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of France and the Principality of Andorra. It is also linguistically heterogeneous. In addition to the official state languages Spanish and French, Basque, Aragonese, Catalan and Occitan are spoken."
60. Callers' links to specific depts.: EXTS. Phone extensions.
Down:
1. Support after a bad break?: CAST.
2. "Nope": UHUH. Depends on how it's parsed, I suppose. U-HUH would be yes, UH-UH would be no.
3. Mocking remark: JAPE. Unusual word.
4. Follow the leader: OBEY.
5. Hostage taker: CAPTOR.
6. Via plane: BY AIR.
7. "Just a __!": SEC.
8. Barista's decoration: LATTE ART.
9. They're not meant literally: IDIOMS.
10. Plant swelling: EDEMA. I did not know that plants could get edema.
11. Wham-O summer lawn toy that needs water: SLIP N SLIDE.
12. Base __: TEN. The decimal system. Because "dec" means 10, it uses the 10 digits from 0 to 9.
13. Pigs out (on), for short: ODS. Overdoses.
18. Go over once more: REHASH.
21. Hurries: SCOOTS.
23. With skepticism: ASKANCE.
24. "It's __ fault": NO ONE'S.
25. Hindu religious leaders: SWAMIS.
26. Medicine man in "The Princess Bride": MIRACLE MAX.
27. CPR providers: EMTS. Emergency Medical Technicians.
30. Asks for a treat, dog-style: BEGS.
31. Risquè message: SEXT.
32. Lean-to relative: SHANTY.
33. J.Lo's fiancè: AROD.
35. Sailor's telescope: SPYGLASS. Another maritime reference.
36. Strand, as in "57-Across": ENISLE.
41. Twisted Sister frontman Dee: SNIDER.
42. Some green cards?: AMEXES.
44. Elicit oohs and aahs: AMAZE.
45. Animal whose full name is from the Greek for "nose-horned": RHINO.
48. Not doing much: IDLE.
49. GameCube rival: XBOX.
50. Dawn direction: EAST.
51. LAPD ranks: SGTS.
52. TD scorers: RBS. Running backs.
53. Boxer Laila: ALI.
54. Sludge: MUD.
