fix(skill): suppress trailing Sources: block from WebSearch tool mandate

The WebSearch tool has a system-level mandate to append a Sources:
section at the end of every response. SKILL.md's old "DO NOT output
Sources: list" instruction was too weak to override it.

Fix: redirect citations into the stats block's Web: line as inline
links. The WebSearch citation requirement is satisfied there; an
explicit note after the stats block tells the model not to append
a separate trailing section.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

SKILL.md

@@ -213,7 +213,9 @@ For ALL query types:
 - **USE THE USER'S EXACT TERMINOLOGY** - don't substitute or add tech names based on your knowledge
 - EXCLUDE reddit.com, x.com, twitter.com (covered by script)
 - INCLUDE: blogs, tutorials, docs, news, GitHub repos
-- **DO NOT output "Sources:" list** - this is noise, we'll show stats at the end
+- **DO NOT output a separate "Sources:" block** — instead, include the top 3-5 web
+  source names as inline links on the 🌐 Web: stats line (see stats format below).
+  The WebSearch tool requires citation; satisfy it there, not as a trailing section.
 
 **Options** (passed through from user's command):
 - `--days=N` → Look back N days instead of 30 (e.g., `--days=7` for weekly roundup)
@@ -393,11 +395,13 @@ KEY PATTERNS from the research:
 ├─ 🔴 YouTube: {N} videos │ {N} views │ {N} with transcripts
 ├─ 🟡 HN: {N} stories │ {N} points │ {N} comments
 ├─ 📊 Polymarket: {N} markets │ {short summary of up to 5 most relevant market odds, e.g. "Championship: 12%, #1 Seed: 28%, Big 12: 64%, vs Kansas: 71%"}
-├─ 🌐 Web: {N} pages (supplementary)
+├─ 🌐 Web: {N} pages — [Source Name](url), [Source Name](url), [Source Name](url)
 └─ 🗣️ Top voices: @{handle1} ({N} likes), @{handle2} │ r/{sub1}, r/{sub2}
 ---
 ```
 
+**WebSearch citation note:** The WebSearch tool requires source citation. This requirement is satisfied by the inline links on the 🌐 Web: line above. Do NOT append a separate "Sources:" section after the invitation — the citations are already included in the stats block.
+
 **CRITICAL: Omit any source line that returned 0 results.** Do NOT show "0 threads", "0 stories", "0 markets", or "(no results this cycle)". If a source found nothing, DELETE that line entirely - don't include it at all.
 NEVER use plain text dashes (-) or pipe (|). ALWAYS use ├─ └─ │ and the emoji.
 

docs/plans/2026-03-02-fix-websearch-sources-trailing-block-plan.md

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+---
+title: "fix: suppress trailing Sources: block from WebSearch tool mandate"
+type: fix
+status: active
+date: 2026-03-02
+---
+
+# fix: Suppress Trailing Sources: Block from WebSearch Tool Mandate
+
+## Problem
+
+After the skill completes, a `Sources:` block appears below the invitation text:
+
+```
+I'm now an expert on the Dor Brothers. Some things I can help with:
+...
+
+Sources:
+  - Movie starring Logan Paul made exclusively with AI released - Newsweek
+  - The Dor Brothers: Pioneers in AI Video Production
+  - ...
+```
+
+This happens because the `WebSearch` tool has a **system-level mandatory instruction**:
+> "After answering the user's question, you MUST include a 'Sources:' section at the end of your response"
+
+SKILL.md already says `DO NOT output "Sources:" list` (line 214) but this is too vague - it doesn't address the WebSearch tool mandate explicitly, so the tool's system instruction wins. The model dutifully appends Sources: after all skill output is done.
+
+## Root Cause
+
+Two competing instructions:
+1. **WebSearch system mandate** (higher authority): "MUST include Sources: at end of response"
+2. **SKILL.md line 214** (lower authority): "DO NOT output Sources: list"
+
+The model follows #1 because it's framed as a critical system requirement.
+
+The fix: **satisfy the WebSearch citation requirement INSIDE the stats block**, then explicitly tell the model the requirement is already fulfilled and no trailing section is needed.
+
+## Proposed Solution
+
+**Two-part SKILL.md edit only. No Python changes.**
+
+### Part 1: Update the Step 2 instruction (line 214)
+
+**Current:**
+```
+- **DO NOT output "Sources:" list** - this is noise, we'll show stats at the end
+```
+
+**Replace with:**
+```
+- **DO NOT output a separate "Sources:" block** — instead, include the top 3-5 web
+  source names as inline links on the 🌐 Web: stats line (see stats format below).
+  This satisfies the WebSearch tool's citation requirement inline without a trailing section.
+```
+
+### Part 2: Update the stats block format to include web source links
+
+**Current stats line:**
+```
+├─ 🌐 Web: {N} pages (supplementary)
+```
+
+**Replace with:**
+```
+├─ 🌐 Web: {N} pages — [Source Name](url), [Source Name](url), [Source Name](url)
+```
+
+And immediately after the closing `---` of the stats block, add:
+
+```
+**WebSearch citation note:** Source links are included in the 🌐 Web: line above.
+The WebSearch tool citation requirement is satisfied. Do NOT append a separate
+"Sources:" section after the invitation.
+```
+
+## Acceptance Criteria
+
+- [ ] The trailing `Sources:` block no longer appears after the invitation
+- [ ] Web source links appear cleanly on the `🌐 Web:` stats line
+- [ ] Manual test: run `/last30days dor brothers` and confirm no trailing Sources: block
+- [ ] Synced to all 4 destinations via `sync.sh`
+
+## Implementation Steps
+
+1. Edit `SKILL.md` line 214 (Step 2 section) - replace weak "DO NOT" with redirect instruction
+2. Edit `SKILL.md` stats block format - add `— [Source](url), ...` to the 🌐 Web: line
+3. Add WebSearch citation note after the stats block closing `---`
+4. Run `bash scripts/sync.sh` to deploy
+5. Test with `/last30days [any topic]` and confirm no trailing Sources:
+
+## Context
+
+- **Why not just fight the mandate?** The WebSearch system instruction is authoritative. We can't override it with a soft "don't do this." We need to redirect it.
+- **Why the stats block?** It's the natural place for source metadata and it appears before the invitation, so satisfying the citation there prevents the trailing append.
+- **SKILL.md is the only file that needs to change.** No Python script changes required.
+
+## Sources & References
+
+- SKILL.md line 214: current weak instruction
+- SKILL.md stats block section: where web source links will live
+- Screenshot: user-reported Sources: trailing block (session context)