Same thing again defended by pundit today (5)
I believe the answer is:
ditto
'same' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'defended by pundit today' is the wordplay.
'defended by' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'DITTO' is hidden in the letters of 'pundit today'.
'thing again' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ditto that I've seen before include "couple of marks" , "Duplicate" , "Repeat the word above" , "Mark used to indicate the word above it should be repeated" , "Same again, indicated by two dots" .)