diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 3cb73324..3933ba53 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -57,41 +57,22 @@ Pick anything from here when relevant. Cross-cutting design notes live in
   Repro: manager calls `ask_operator`, tool result is
   `question queued (id=N)` (so the row is in sqlite), but the
   M1ND H4S QU3STI0NS section keeps showing "no pending
-  questions". Last seen with id=5. Diagnostic step landed:
-  `api_state` now warn-logs (target=`api_state`) when any of
-  its source queries fail instead of silently
-  `unwrap_or_default`-ing — next repro should print the
-  underlying error in journald and tell us whether this is
-  sqlite (likely `OperatorQuestions::pending()` row-decode
-  panic on a migrated column) or dashboard-JS-side
-  (`renderQuestions` exception). Re-investigate with the new
-  log once the bug fires.
+  questions". Last seen with id=5. Suspected paths:
+  - `OperatorQuestions::pending()` returns Err and the
+    `unwrap_or_default()` in `api_state` hides it. Surface the
+    error (warn-log) and check.
+  - serialization: a new field in `OpQuestion` (e.g.
+    `deadline_at: Option<i64>`) deserializes wrong against an
+    old row whose columns don't match the new SELECT order →
+    `row.get(N)?` panics for that row, the whole iterator
+    errors, `pending()` returns Err. Diagnose by curl
+    `/api/state | jq '.questions'` and compare with sqlite
+    counts.
+  - dashboard JS swallows a render error. Open browser console
+    and look for exceptions during `renderQuestions`.
 
 ## UI / UX
 
-- **Dashboard layout overhaul.** A 3-column attempt (swarm
-  / 0per4t0r 1n / m3ss4g3s) landed + was reverted in 74ba8a6
-  — looked worse in practice (sticky col-heads fighting the
-  banner, sub-heads too small, columns too narrow for the
-  container rows). Sections are now ordered semantically in
-  a single column (swarm bits first, then decisions, then
-  messages) which is a no-cost improvement. The bigger
-  restructure is still worth doing; next attempt should:
-  - keep current widths usable (don't crunch container
-    rows < ~36em — they have a lot inline)
-  - default the heavy-but-rare sections (kept-state, meta-
-    inputs, msg-flow history) into a collapsed `<details>`
-    so they don't dominate when empty
-  - drop the per-section banner divider lines in favour of
-    something quieter (a single border-top on the h2?)
-  - try a *masonry-ish* layout (CSS `grid-template-rows:
-    masonry` once browsers support it; or just two columns
-    where messages floats on the right at wide viewports
-    while the rest stacks left). avoid sticky headers — they
-    fought the page banner last time.
-
-
-
 - **Web UI for config repos + meta deploy log.** Browse
   per-agent proposed / applied tags
   (`proposal/* / approved/* / building/* / deployed/* /
diff --git a/hive-c0re/assets/app.js b/hive-c0re/assets/app.js
index 7b075c03..293f087d 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/assets/app.js
+++ b/hive-c0re/assets/app.js
@@ -606,23 +606,6 @@
     const root = $('approvals-section');
     root.innerHTML = '';
 
-    // Spawn request form: submitting it queues a Spawn approval that
-    // lands in this same list, so the form belongs here rather than on
-    // the containers list (the agent doesn't exist yet).
-    const spawn = el('form', {
-      method: 'POST', action: '/request-spawn',
-      class: 'spawnform', 'data-async': '',
-    });
-    spawn.append(
-      el('input', {
-        name: 'name',
-        placeholder: 'new agent name (≤9 chars)',
-        maxlength: '9', required: '', autocomplete: 'off',
-      }),
-      el('button', { type: 'submit', class: 'btn btn-spawn' }, '◆ R3QU3ST SP4WN'),
-    );
-    root.append(spawn);
-
     const history = s.approval_history || [];
     const active = localStorage.getItem(APPROVAL_TAB_KEY) || 'pending';
     const tabs = el('div', { class: 'approval-tabs' });
diff --git a/hive-c0re/assets/dashboard.css b/hive-c0re/assets/dashboard.css
index 27269eb1..bbbe441e 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/assets/dashboard.css
+++ b/hive-c0re/assets/dashboard.css
@@ -18,11 +18,50 @@ body {
   background: var(--bg);
   color: var(--fg);
   font-family: "JetBrains Mono", "Fira Code", "Cascadia Code", "Source Code Pro", monospace;
-  max-width: 70em;
+  max-width: 110em;
   margin: 1.5em auto;
   padding: 0 1.5em;
   line-height: 1.6;
 }
+.columns {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: 1.4em;
+  margin-top: 1em;
+}
+@media (min-width: 1400px) {
+  .columns {
+    grid-template-columns: 1.1fr 1fr 1fr;
+    align-items: start;
+  }
+}
+.dash-col {
+  min-width: 0; /* lets grid children shrink instead of overflowing */
+}
+.col-head {
+  position: sticky;
+  top: 0;
+  z-index: 5;
+  background: rgba(30, 30, 46, 0.92);
+  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+  margin: 0 0 0.6em;
+  padding: 0.3em 0.5em;
+  font-size: 1em;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--purple-dim);
+}
+.sub-head {
+  color: var(--cyan);
+  font-size: 0.85em;
+  letter-spacing: 0.12em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  margin: 1.6em 0 0.4em;
+  padding-bottom: 0.15em;
+  border-bottom: 1px dashed var(--border, var(--purple-dim));
+  text-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(137, 220, 235, 0.35);
+}
+.dash-col .sub-head:first-of-type {
+  margin-top: 0.4em;
+}
 .banner {
   text-align: center;
   margin: 0 0 1em 0;
@@ -52,7 +91,7 @@ h1, h2 {
   color: var(--purple);
   text-transform: uppercase;
   letter-spacing: 0.15em;
-  margin-top: 2em;
+  margin-top: 1em;
   text-shadow: 0 0 8px rgba(203, 166, 247, 0.4);
 }
 .divider {
diff --git a/hive-c0re/assets/index.html b/hive-c0re/assets/index.html
index 6af8ef76..d154610e 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/assets/index.html
+++ b/hive-c0re/assets/index.html
@@ -17,57 +17,83 @@
     <span id="notif-status" class="meta" hidden></span>
   </div>
 
-  <!-- swarm: live containers, dormant state, meta input bumps that
-       affect the whole swarm. -->
-  <h2>◆ C0NTAINERS ◆</h2>
-  <div class="divider">══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════</div>
-  <div id="containers-section">
-    <p class="meta">loading…</p>
-  </div>
+  <div class="columns">
+    <!-- ── SW4RM ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+         Live + dormant agents, plus the operator-driven knobs that
+         change the swarm itself: spawn-new-agent form, meta flake
+         input bumps.
+    ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+    <section class="dash-col" aria-labelledby="col-swarm">
+      <h2 id="col-swarm" class="col-head">◆ SW4RM ◆</h2>
 
-  <h2>◆ K3PT ST4T3 ◆</h2>
-  <div class="divider">══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════</div>
-  <div id="tombstones-section">
-    <p class="meta">loading…</p>
-  </div>
+      <h3 class="sub-head">containers</h3>
+      <div id="containers-section">
+        <p class="meta">loading…</p>
+      </div>
 
-  <h2>◆ M3T4 1NPUTS ◆</h2>
-  <div class="divider">══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════</div>
-  <p class="meta">select inputs to <code>nix flake update</code> in <code>/meta/</code>. selected agents rebuild in sequence after the lock bump; manager learns each outcome via the usual <code>rebuilt</code> system event.</p>
-  <div id="meta-inputs-section">
-    <p class="meta">loading…</p>
-  </div>
+      <h3 class="sub-head">kept state</h3>
+      <div id="tombstones-section">
+        <p class="meta">loading…</p>
+      </div>
 
-  <!-- operator decisions: things waiting on you. -->
-  <h2>◆ M1ND H4S QU3STI0NS ◆</h2>
-  <div class="divider">══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════</div>
-  <div id="questions-section">
-    <p class="meta">loading…</p>
-  </div>
+      <h3 class="sub-head">spawn agent</h3>
+      <form method="POST" action="/request-spawn" class="spawnform" data-async>
+        <input name="name"
+               placeholder="new agent name (≤9 chars)"
+               maxlength="9" required autocomplete="off">
+        <button type="submit" class="btn btn-spawn">◆ R3QU3ST SP4WN</button>
+      </form>
 
-  <h2>◆ P3NDING APPR0VALS ◆</h2>
-  <div class="divider">══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════</div>
-  <div id="approvals-section">
-    <p class="meta">loading…</p>
-  </div>
+      <h3 class="sub-head">update meta inputs</h3>
+      <p class="meta">checkbox per input; submitting runs <code>nix flake update</code> in <code>/meta/</code> and rebuilds affected agents (sequentially).</p>
+      <div id="meta-inputs-section">
+        <p class="meta">loading…</p>
+      </div>
+    </section>
 
-  <!-- messages: broker traffic + the compose box that produces it. -->
-  <h2>◆ 0PER4T0R 1NB0X ◆</h2>
-  <div class="divider">══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════</div>
-  <div id="inbox-section">
-    <p class="meta">loading…</p>
-  </div>
+    <!-- ── 0PER4T0R 1N ───────────────────────────────────────────
+         Things waiting on the operator to decide — questions the
+         manager surfaced via ask_operator and config-change
+         proposals from the manager's request_apply_commit / spawn.
+    ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+    <section class="dash-col" aria-labelledby="col-operator-in">
+      <h2 id="col-operator-in" class="col-head">◆ 0PER4T0R 1N ◆</h2>
 
-  <h2>◆ MESS4GE FL0W ◆</h2>
-  <div class="divider">══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════</div>
-  <p class="meta">live tail — newest at the top. tap on every <code>send</code> / <code>recv</code> through the broker. compose below: <code>@name</code> picks the recipient (sticky until you @ someone else); <code>tab</code> completes.</p>
-  <div id="msgflow" class="msgflow"><span class="meta">connecting…</span></div>
-  <div id="op-compose" class="op-compose">
-    <span id="op-compose-prompt" class="op-compose-prompt">@—&gt;</span>
-    <textarea id="op-compose-input" class="op-compose-input"
-              placeholder="@agent message…  (enter sends, shift+enter newline, tab completes @-mention)"
-              rows="1" autocomplete="off"></textarea>
-    <div id="op-compose-suggest" class="op-compose-suggest" hidden></div>
+      <h3 class="sub-head">m1nd has questions</h3>
+      <div id="questions-section">
+        <p class="meta">loading…</p>
+      </div>
+
+      <h3 class="sub-head">pending approvals</h3>
+      <div id="approvals-section">
+        <p class="meta">loading…</p>
+      </div>
+    </section>
+
+    <!-- ── M3SS4G3S ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+         Broker traffic: the operator's inbox (messages addressed
+         to `operator`) and the live message flow tail. Compose
+         box at the bottom — @name picks the recipient, sticky.
+    ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+    <section class="dash-col" aria-labelledby="col-messages">
+      <h2 id="col-messages" class="col-head">◆ M3SS4G3S ◆</h2>
+
+      <h3 class="sub-head">operator inbox</h3>
+      <div id="inbox-section">
+        <p class="meta">loading…</p>
+      </div>
+
+      <h3 class="sub-head">message flow</h3>
+      <p class="meta">live tail — newest at the top; each row is one broker event. compose below: <code>@name</code> picks the recipient (sticky until you @ someone else); <code>tab</code> completes.</p>
+      <div id="msgflow" class="msgflow"><span class="meta">connecting…</span></div>
+      <div id="op-compose" class="op-compose">
+        <span id="op-compose-prompt" class="op-compose-prompt">@—&gt;</span>
+        <textarea id="op-compose-input" class="op-compose-input"
+                  placeholder="@agent message…  (enter sends, shift+enter newline, tab completes @-mention)"
+                  rows="1" autocomplete="off"></textarea>
+        <div id="op-compose-suggest" class="op-compose-suggest" hidden></div>
+      </div>
+    </section>
   </div>
 
   <footer>
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs
index c7bf632b..d26e5cd9 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard.rs
@@ -239,25 +239,6 @@ struct ApprovalView {
     diff_html: Option<String>,
 }
 
-/// Replace silent `.unwrap_or_default()` on the data sources behind
-/// `/api/state` so that whichever query degrades surfaces in journald
-/// instead of leaving the operator staring at an empty list. The
-/// dashboard still degrades to a sensible default value; the warn
-/// is just the diagnostic breadcrumb the old code swallowed.
-fn log_default<T, E>(what: &str, result: std::result::Result<T, E>) -> T
-where
-    T: Default,
-    E: std::fmt::Debug,
-{
-    match result {
-        Ok(v) => v,
-        Err(e) => {
-            tracing::warn!(target: "api_state", source = %what, error = ?e, "snapshot source failed; using default");
-            T::default()
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 async fn api_state(headers: HeaderMap, State(state): State<AppState>) -> axum::Json<StateSnapshot> {
     let host = headers
         .get("host")
@@ -265,36 +246,35 @@ async fn api_state(headers: HeaderMap, State(state): State<AppState>) -> axum::J
         .unwrap_or("localhost");
     let hostname = host.split(':').next().unwrap_or(host).to_owned();
 
-    let raw_containers = log_default("nixos-container list", lifecycle::list().await);
+    let raw_containers = lifecycle::list().await.unwrap_or_default();
     let current_rev = crate::auto_update::current_flake_rev(&state.coord.hyperhive_flake);
     let transient_snapshot = state.coord.transient_snapshot();
     let pending_approvals = gc_orphans(
         &state.coord,
-        log_default("approvals.pending", state.coord.approvals.pending()),
+        state.coord.approvals.pending().unwrap_or_default(),
     );
 
     let (containers, any_stale) =
         build_container_views(&raw_containers, current_rev.as_deref(), &transient_snapshot).await;
     let transients = build_transient_views(&raw_containers, &transient_snapshot);
     let approvals = build_approval_views(pending_approvals).await;
-    let approval_history = log_default(
-        "approvals.recent_resolved",
-        state.coord.approvals.recent_resolved(30),
-    )
-    .into_iter()
-    .map(history_view)
-    .collect();
+    let approval_history = state
+        .coord
+        .approvals
+        .recent_resolved(30)
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(history_view)
+        .collect();
     let tombstones = build_tombstone_views(&state.coord, &containers, &transient_snapshot);
     let port_conflicts = build_port_conflicts(&containers);
 
-    let operator_inbox = log_default(
-        "broker.recent_for(operator)",
-        state
-            .coord
-            .broker
-            .recent_for(hive_sh4re::OPERATOR_RECIPIENT, 50),
-    );
-    let questions = log_default("questions.pending", state.coord.questions.pending());
+    let operator_inbox = state
+        .coord
+        .broker
+        .recent_for(hive_sh4re::OPERATOR_RECIPIENT, 50)
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+    let questions = state.coord.questions.pending().unwrap_or_default();
 
     axum::Json(StateSnapshot {
         hostname,