:root {
  --maroon: #8B0000;
  --maroon-light: #a00000;
  --gold: #C8952A;
  --ink: #1a1a1a;
  --ink-mid: #333333;
  --ink-light: #555555;
  --paper: #f9f6f0;
  --paper-warm: #f4f0e8;
  --white: #ffffff;
  --col-rule: 1px solid #1a1a1a;
}

*, *::before, *::after { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }

body {
  background: var(--paper);
  color: var(--ink);
  font-family: 'Source Serif 4', Georgia, serif;
  font-size: 16px;
  line-height: 1.6;
}

a { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; }
a:hover { color: var(--maroon); }

/* ── TICKER ── */
.ticker {
  background: var(--maroon);
  color: #fff;
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 12.5px;
  font-weight: 600;
  letter-spacing: .06em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  padding: 0;
  overflow: hidden;
  display: flex;
  align-items: stretch;
  height: 34px;
}
.ticker-label {
  background: var(--gold);
  color: var(--ink);
  padding: 0 16px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  flex-shrink: 0;
  letter-spacing: .1em;
  font-weight: 700;
  font-size: 11px;
}
.ticker-wrap { overflow: hidden; flex: 1; display: flex; align-items: center; }
.ticker-track {
  display: flex;
  gap: 60px;
  animation: ticker 40s linear infinite;
  padding-left: 40px;
  white-space: nowrap;
}
.ticker-track span::before { content: '◆  '; color: var(--gold); }
@keyframes ticker { from { transform: translateX(0) } to { transform: translateX(-50%) } }

/* ── MASTHEAD ── */
.masthead {
  background: var(--white);
  border-bottom: 3px double var(--ink);
  padding: 16px 0 12px;
  text-align: center;
}
.masthead-inner { max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 20px; }
.masthead-meta {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 11px;
  letter-spacing: .08em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--ink-light);
  margin-bottom: 8px;
  border-bottom: var(--col-rule);
  padding-bottom: 8px;
}
.masthead-flag {
  font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif;
  font-size: clamp(40px, 6vw, 76px);
  font-weight: 900;
  letter-spacing: -.02em;
  line-height: 1;
  color: var(--ink);
  margin: 4px 0 4px;
}
.masthead-flag a { color: inherit; }
.masthead-flag span { color: var(--maroon); }
.masthead-tagline {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 11px;
  letter-spacing: .3em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--ink-light);
  margin-bottom: 4px;
}

/* ── NAV ── */
.site-nav {
  background: var(--ink);
  border-bottom: 3px solid var(--gold);
}
.site-nav ul {
  max-width: 1200px;
  margin: 0 auto;
  padding: 0 20px;
  list-style: none;
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}
.site-nav ul li a {
  display: block;
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 13px;
  font-weight: 600;
  letter-spacing: .12em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: #e0d8cc;
  padding: 12px 20px;
  transition: background .15s, color .15s;
}
.site-nav ul li a:hover,
.site-nav ul li.current-menu-item a,
.site-nav ul li.current-cat a {
  background: var(--maroon);
  color: #fff;
}

/* ── CONTAINER ── */
.container { max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 20px; }

/* ── HERO GRID ── */
.hero { background: var(--white); padding: 24px 0 0; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ink); }
.hero-grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 1.8fr 1fr;
  grid-template-rows: auto auto;
  border: var(--col-rule);
}

/* Main hero story */
.hero-main { grid-row: 1 / 3; border-right: var(--col-rule); display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
.hero-main-img { height: 340px; overflow: hidden; background: #c8b89a; }
.hero-main-img img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; transition: transform .4s; }
.hero-main-img:hover img { transform: scale(1.03); }
.hero-main-body { padding: 20px 24px 24px; flex: 1; }

/* Side stories */
.hero-side-a { border-bottom: var(--col-rule); padding: 16px 18px; }
.hero-side-b { padding: 16px 18px; }
.side-img { height: 130px; overflow: hidden; margin-bottom: 10px; background: #ddd; }
.side-img img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; }

/* Typography */
.kicker {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 10.5px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .18em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--maroon);
  display: inline-block;
  border-bottom: 2px solid var(--maroon);
  padding-bottom: 1px;
  margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.hero-hed {
  font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif;
  font-size: clamp(22px, 2.8vw, 34px);
  font-weight: 700;
  line-height: 1.15;
  margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.hero-hed a:hover { color: var(--maroon); }
.dek { font-size: 14.5px; line-height: 1.65; color: var(--ink-mid); margin-bottom: 14px; }
.byline {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 11px;
  letter-spacing: .06em;
  color: var(--ink-light);
  text-transform: uppercase;
}
.byline strong { color: var(--ink); }
.side-hed {
  font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif;
  font-size: 16px;
  font-weight: 700;
  line-height: 1.25;
  margin-bottom: 7px;
}
.side-hed a:hover { color: var(--maroon); }
.side-dek { font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.55; color: var(--ink-mid); }

/* ── SECTION DIVIDER ── */
.section-rule { display: flex; align-items: center; margin: 28px 0 18px; }
.section-rule-label {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 11px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .22em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  background: var(--ink);
  color: var(--paper);
  padding: 5px 16px 4px;
  white-space: nowrap;
}
.section-rule-line { flex: 1; height: 2px; background: var(--ink); }

/* ── STORY CARDS — 4 col bottom row ── */
.four-col {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  border: var(--col-rule);
  border-right: none;
  border-bottom: none;
  background: var(--white);
  margin-bottom: 28px;
}
.story-card {
  border-right: var(--col-rule);
  border-bottom: var(--col-rule);
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
}
.story-card-img { height: 150px; overflow: hidden; background: #ddd; }
.story-card-img img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; transition: transform .35s; }
.story-card:hover .story-card-img img { transform: scale(1.05); }
.story-card-body { padding: 12px 14px 16px; flex: 1; display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
.story-card-hed {
  font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif;
  font-size: 15px;
  font-weight: 700;
  line-height: 1.28;
  margin-bottom: 7px;
  flex: 1;
}
.story-card-hed a:hover { color: var(--maroon); }
.story-card-excerpt { font-size: 12.5px; color: var(--ink-mid); line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 8px; }
.story-card-meta {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 10.5px;
  color: var(--ink-light);
  letter-spacing: .06em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  padding-top: 8px;
  border-top: 1px solid #ddd;
  margin-top: auto;
}

/* ── 3 COLUMN MIDDLE ROW ── */
.three-col {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  border: var(--col-rule);
  border-right: none;
  border-bottom: none;
  background: var(--white);
  margin-bottom: 28px;
}

/* ── QUOTE BANNER ── */
.quote-banner {
  background: var(--maroon);
  color: #fff;
  padding: 28px 40px;
  text-align: center;
  margin: 4px 0 28px;
  position: relative;
  overflow: hidden;
}
.quote-banner::before {
  content: '❝';
  position: absolute;
  left: 16px; top: 6px;
  font-size: 80px;
  opacity: .1;
  font-family: Georgia, serif;
  line-height: 1;
}
.quote-text {
  font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif;
  font-size: clamp(15px, 2vw, 21px);
  font-style: italic;
  line-height: 1.55;
  max-width: 800px;
  margin: 0 auto 8px;
}
.quote-attr {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 11px;
  letter-spacing: .15em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  opacity: .75;
}

/* ── CATEGORY SECTION ── */
.cat-section { background: var(--white); padding: 0 0 8px; margin-bottom: 28px; border: var(--col-rule); }
.cat-section-header {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: space-between;
  padding: 10px 16px;
  border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ink);
  background: var(--ink);
}
.cat-section-title {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 13px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .2em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--paper);
}
.cat-section-more {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 11px;
  letter-spacing: .1em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--gold);
}
.cat-section-more:hover { color: #fff; }
.cat-section-grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  border-top: none;
}
.cat-card {
  border-right: var(--col-rule);
  border-bottom: var(--col-rule);
  padding: 14px;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
}
.cat-card:last-child { border-right: none; }
.cat-card-hed {
  font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif;
  font-size: 14.5px;
  font-weight: 700;
  line-height: 1.28;
  margin-bottom: 6px;
}
.cat-card-hed a:hover { color: var(--maroon); }
.cat-card-meta {
  font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif;
  font-size: 10.5px;
  color: var(--ink-light);
  letter-spacing: .05em;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  margin-top: auto;
  padding-top: 6px;
}

/* ── STATS BAR ── */
.stats-bar {
  background: var(--ink);
  color: #e0d8cc;
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
  text-align: center;
  border: var(--col-rule);
  margin-bottom: 28px;
}
.stat-item { padding: 18px 16px; border-right: 1px solid #333; }
.stat-item:last-child { border-right: none; }
.stat-num { font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: 700; color: var(--gold); line-height: 1.1; }
.stat-label { font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5px; letter-spacing: .1em; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 4px; opacity: .7; }
.stat-sub { font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 9.5px; opacity: .4; margin-top: 2px; }

/* ── NEWSLETTER ── */
.newsletter {
  background: var(--paper-warm);
  border: 2px solid var(--ink);
  padding: 28px 36px;
  text-align: center;
  margin-bottom: 28px;
}
.newsletter h3 { font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 6px; }
.newsletter p { font-size: 13.5px; color: var(--ink-mid); margin-bottom: 16px; }
.newsletter-form { display: flex; max-width: 440px; margin: 0 auto; border: 1.5px solid var(--ink); }
.newsletter-form input { flex: 1; padding: 10px 14px; border: none; background: #fff; font-family: 'Source Serif 4', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none; }
.newsletter-form button { background: var(--maroon); color: #fff; border: none; padding: 0 20px; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 11.5px; letter-spacing: .12em; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 700; cursor: pointer; transition: background .2s; }
.newsletter-form button:hover { background: var(--maroon-light); }

/* ── FOOTER ── */
.site-footer { background: var(--ink); color: #ccc; margin-top: 36px; border-top: 4px solid var(--maroon); }
.footer-top { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 2fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 28px; max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 32px 20px 24px; border-bottom: 1px solid #2a2a2a; }
.footer-brand-name { font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 900; color: #fff; margin-bottom: 8px; }
.footer-brand-name span { color: var(--gold); }
.footer-brand-desc { font-size: 12.5px; line-height: 1.6; opacity: .55; }
.footer-col-title { font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5px; letter-spacing: .15em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--gold); margin-bottom: 12px; padding-bottom: 7px; border-bottom: 1px solid #2a2a2a; }
.footer-links { list-style: none; }
.footer-links li { margin-bottom: 7px; }
.footer-links li a { font-size: 12.5px; color: #999; transition: color .2s; }
.footer-links li a:hover { color: #fff; }
.footer-bottom { max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px 20px; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: .06em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #444; }

/* ── SINGLE POST ── */
.single-wrap { max-width: 820px; margin: 36px auto; padding: 0 20px 40px; }
.single-wrap .post-kicker { margin-bottom: 10px; display: block; }
.single-wrap .post-title { font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif; font-size: clamp(26px, 4vw, 44px); font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.12; margin-bottom: 14px; }
.single-wrap .post-meta { font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 11.5px; letter-spacing: .08em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--ink-light); margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 16px; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ink); }
.single-wrap .post-thumbnail { margin-bottom: 24px; }
.single-wrap .post-thumbnail img { width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; }
.single-wrap .post-content { font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.78; }
.single-wrap .post-content p { margin-bottom: 20px; }
.single-wrap .post-content h2 { font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif; font-size: 24px; margin: 28px 0 12px; }

/* ── CATEGORY PAGE ── */
.archive-wrap { max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 28px 20px 40px; }
.archive-title { font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif; font-size: 32px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 4px; }
.archive-title span { color: var(--maroon); }
.archive-divider { height: 3px; background: var(--ink); margin-bottom: 24px; }
.archive-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); gap: 0; border: var(--col-rule); border-right: none; border-bottom: none; }
.archive-card { border-right: var(--col-rule); border-bottom: var(--col-rule); display: flex; flex-direction: column; background: var(--white); }
.archive-card-img { height: 180px; overflow: hidden; background: #ddd; }
.archive-card-img img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; transition: transform .35s; }
.archive-card:hover .archive-card-img img { transform: scale(1.04); }
.archive-card-body { padding: 16px 18px 20px; flex: 1; display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
.archive-card-hed { font-family: 'Playfair Display', Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 8px; flex: 1; }
.archive-card-hed a:hover { color: var(--maroon); }
.archive-card-excerpt { font-size: 13px; color: var(--ink-mid); line-height: 1.55; margin-bottom: 10px; }
.archive-card-meta { font-family: 'Barlow Condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: var(--ink-light); letter-spacing: .06em; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: auto; padding-top: 8px; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; }

/* ── RESPONSIVE ── */
@media (max-width: 960px) {
  .hero-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .hero-main { grid-row: auto; border-right: none; border-bottom: var(--col-rule); }
  .four-col, .three-col { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); }
  .cat-section-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); }
  .stats-bar { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); }
  .footer-top { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; }
  .archive-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); }
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
  .masthead-meta { flex-direction: column; gap: 3px; text-align: center; }
  .four-col, .three-col { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .cat-section-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .stats-bar { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; }
  .footer-top { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .archive-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .quote-banner { padding: 20px 18px; }
  .newsletter { padding: 20px 16px; }
  .newsletter-form { flex-direction: column; }
  .newsletter-form input, .newsletter-form button { padding: 10px 14px; width: 100%; }
  .site-nav ul { overflow-x: auto; flex-wrap: nowrap; }
}