Wulgus
8a is silver (2) inside investor (5) with a single letter at the end. Def is last 3 words.
4d def is last 4 words, and construction is 2 letter extremes on 5 letters squeeze.
COD is 23a for me too.
I'm always glad when Chris pans a homophone clue so I know it's not just my American ears. Disliked 9a as several others have already commented. Maybe we should have a clunker of the day award in this thread to go with COD.
Much as I dislike the word Positivity when it's thrown around like a cure all I don't see great reward in focusing on the negative. Hmmm. There's a song in there somewhere.