From 7b5f992a2a6d5b27a98508d2ba3ddf5b5bee0215 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: peptiderepo <peptiderepo@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2026 02:12:35 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] =?UTF-8?q?fix:=20CMO=20walkthrough=20P1=20fixes=20?=
 =?UTF-8?q?=E2=80=94=20verdict=5Ftext,=20per-row=20glyphs,=20conditional?=
 =?UTF-8?q?=20disclosure,=20dark=20mode=20(v2.0.0-alpha.3)?=
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

P1.1: verdict_text meta field + card.php wiring
- Register verdict_text (textarea, show_in_rest) on peptide CPT
- card.php reads verdict_text meta; falls back to placeholder if empty
- Hardcoded generic placeholder no longer the default for published posts
- All 3 monographs populated with CMO-authored verdict text

P1.2: per-row glyph meta fields
- Register signal_row_1/2/3_glyph (enum: ✓|!|?|⊘|⚠, show_in_rest)
- card.php reads per-row glyph from meta instead of hardcoding by position
- Missing glyph renders nothing (not a wrong glyph)
- Semaglutide: ✓✓! | BPC-157: ✓!? | Melanotan-II: !!⚠

P1.3: conditional inline disclosure
- Register has_partner_link (boolean, default false, show_in_rest)
- single-peptide.php only renders inline disclosure when has_partner_link=true
- All 3 loaded monographs set to has_partner_link=false
- Footer disclosure unaffected (always renders)

N.1: dark mode toggle hidden
- header.php: toggle button hidden (display:none + aria-hidden)
- Dark-mode verdict colors not validated for v1; re-enable in v1.1

Meta box updated with textarea, glyph dropdowns, and partner-link checkbox.
---
 CHANGELOG.md                    |  29 +++++
 functions.php                   |   2 +-
 header.php                      |   3 +-
 inc/verdict-meta.php            | 198 +++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 single-peptide.php              |  12 +-
 style.css                       |   2 +-
 template-parts/verdict/card.php |  40 ++++---
 7 files changed, 223 insertions(+), 63 deletions(-)

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7e6a1f3..877ca7e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,34 @@
 # Peptide Starter Theme - Changelog
 
+## [2.0.0-alpha.3] - 2026-04-26 — CMO walkthrough P1 fixes
+
+### Fixed
+- `template-parts/verdict/card.php`: Verdict text was a hardcoded generic placeholder.
+  Now reads `verdict_text` post meta (CMO-authored 3-5 sentence opinionated verdict).
+  Falls back to placeholder only if the field is empty (defensive, not normative).
+- `template-parts/verdict/card.php`: Evidence-row glyphs were hardcoded by row position
+  (row 1=✓, row 2=!, row 3=?), producing wrong glyph/content pairings on Established and
+  Cautionary verdicts. Now reads `signal_row_N_glyph` meta per row; renders no glyph if
+  the field is empty rather than defaulting to a wrong one.
+- `single-peptide.php`: Inline affiliate disclosure rendered on monographs with no partner
+  link, directly contradicting the content ("We have no fulfillment partner at this time").
+  Now conditional on `has_partner_link` boolean meta (default false). Disclosure suppressed
+  unless a partner link is explicitly flagged by the CMO.
+- `header.php`: Dark-mode toggle was live in the header. Verdict-color accessibility has
+  only been validated for light mode (per brand spec §1 — "no dark mode for v1"). Toggle
+  hidden (display:none + aria-hidden) until dark palette is audited in v1.1.
+
+### Added
+- `inc/verdict-meta.php`: New meta fields on `peptide` CPT:
+  - `verdict_text` (textarea, show_in_rest: true) — opinionated verdict paragraph
+  - `signal_row_1/2/3_glyph` (enum ✓|!|?|⊘|⚠, show_in_rest: true) — per-row glyph
+  - `has_partner_link` (boolean, default false, show_in_rest: true) — disclosure gate
+- Meta box updated with textarea for verdict_text, glyph dropdowns per row, partner-link
+  checkbox.
+- All 3 loaded monographs updated with correct `verdict_text`, `signal_row_N_glyph`, and
+  `has_partner_link=false`.
+
+
 ## [2.0.0-alpha.2] - 2026-04-26 — Wire verdict card and disclosure into single-peptide.php
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/functions.php b/functions.php
index 08df239..fc7f54c 100644
--- a/functions.php
+++ b/functions.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
 }
 
 // Theme constants.
-define( 'PEPTIDE_STARTER_VERSION', '2.0.0-alpha.2' );
+define( 'PEPTIDE_STARTER_VERSION', '2.0.0-alpha.3' );
 define( 'PEPTIDE_STARTER_DIR', get_template_directory() );
 define( 'PEPTIDE_STARTER_URI', get_template_directory_uri() );
 
diff --git a/header.php b/header.php
index 68599ea..47f6ab1 100644
--- a/header.php
+++ b/header.php
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@
 			</button>
 
 			<!-- Dark Mode Toggle -->
-			<button class="header-icon-btn dark-mode-toggle" aria-label="<?php esc_attr_e( 'Toggle dark mode', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>">
+			<!-- Dark mode disabled for v1: verdict-color accessibility only validated for light mode. Re-enable in v1.1 after dark palette audit. -->
+			<button class="header-icon-btn dark-mode-toggle" aria-label="<?php esc_attr_e( 'Toggle dark mode', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>" style="display:none;" aria-hidden="true">
 				<svg class="sun-icon" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="display: none;">
 					<circle cx="10" cy="10" r="4" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"/>
 					<path d="M10 1V3M10 17V19M19 10H17M3 10H1M16.657 16.657L15.243 15.243M4.757 4.757L3.343 3.343M16.657 3.343L15.243 4.757M4.757 15.243L3.343 16.657" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round"/>
diff --git a/inc/verdict-meta.php b/inc/verdict-meta.php
index 3f75e33..3177216 100644
--- a/inc/verdict-meta.php
+++ b/inc/verdict-meta.php
@@ -4,9 +4,13 @@
  *
  * Registers post meta for peptide CPT:
  * - verdict_state (required): one of 5 states
- * - signal_row_1, signal_row_2, signal_row_3 (optional): evidence signal labels
+ * - verdict_text (required for launch): 3–5 sentence opinionated verdict
+ * - signal_row_1/2/3 (optional): evidence signal label text
+ * - signal_row_1/2/3_glyph (optional): per-row glyph; enum ✓|!|?|⊘|⚠
+ * - has_partner_link (bool, default false): controls inline disclosure render
  *
- * Adds a meta box to the peptide edit screen for managing these fields.
+ * Who calls it: loaded by functions.php via require_once.
+ * Depends on: nothing — pure WP register_post_meta.
  *
  * @package peptide-starter
  */
@@ -21,7 +25,8 @@ if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
  * @return void
  */
 function peptide_starter_register_verdict_meta() {
-	$allowed_states = array( 'established', 'promising', 'investigational', 'insufficient', 'cautionary' );
+	$allowed_states  = array( 'established', 'promising', 'investigational', 'insufficient', 'cautionary' );
+	$allowed_glyphs  = array( '✓', '!', '?', '⊘', '⚠' );
 
 	// Register verdict_state meta.
 	register_post_meta(
@@ -29,8 +34,7 @@ function peptide_starter_register_verdict_meta() {
 		'verdict_state',
 		array(
 			'type'              => 'string',
-			'description'       => 'Verdict classification state',
-			'single'            => true,
+						'single'            => true,
 			'show_in_rest'      => true,
 			'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
 			'sanitize_callback' => function ( $value ) use ( $allowed_states ) {
@@ -39,26 +43,68 @@ function peptide_starter_register_verdict_meta() {
 		)
 	);
 
-	// Register signal row meta (up to 3).
+	// Register verdict_text meta — 3–5 sentence opinionated verdict paragraph.
+	register_post_meta(
+		'peptide',
+		'verdict_text',
+		array(
+			'type'              => 'string',
+						'single'            => true,
+			'show_in_rest'      => true,
+			'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
+			'sanitize_callback' => 'sanitize_textarea_field',
+		)
+	);
+
+	// Register signal row text meta (up to 3 rows).
 	for ( $i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++ ) {
 		register_post_meta(
 			'peptide',
 			'signal_row_' . $i,
 			array(
 				'type'              => 'string',
-				'description'       => 'Evidence signal row ' . $i,
-				'single'            => true,
+								'single'            => true,
 				'show_in_rest'      => true,
 				'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
 				'sanitize_callback' => 'sanitize_text_field',
 			)
 		);
+
+		// Register per-row glyph meta.
+		// Validated as one of the 5-state glyph set to keep visual vocabulary consistent.
+		register_post_meta(
+			'peptide',
+			'signal_row_' . $i . '_glyph',
+			array(
+				'type'              => 'string',
+								'single'            => true,
+				'show_in_rest'      => true,
+				'auth_callback'     => '__return_true',
+				'sanitize_callback' => function ( $value ) use ( $allowed_glyphs ) {
+									return ( '' === $value || in_array( $value, $allowed_glyphs, true ) ) ? $value : '';
+				},
+			)
+		);
 	}
+
+	// Register has_partner_link — gates inline affiliate disclosure rendering.
+	// Default false: disclosure is suppressed unless a partner link is explicitly present.
+	register_post_meta(
+		'peptide',
+		'has_partner_link',
+		array(
+			'type'          => 'boolean',
+						'single'        => true,
+			'show_in_rest'  => true,
+			'auth_callback' => '__return_true',
+			'default'       => false,
+		)
+	);
 }
 add_action( 'init', 'peptide_starter_register_verdict_meta' );
 
 /**
- * Add verdict meta box to peptide edit screen.
+ * Add verdict meta box to peptide CPT edit screen.
  *
  * @return void
  */
@@ -83,23 +129,24 @@ add_action( 'add_meta_boxes', 'peptide_starter_add_verdict_meta_box' );
 function peptide_starter_render_verdict_meta_box( $post ) {
 	wp_nonce_field( 'peptide_starter_verdict_nonce', 'peptide_starter_verdict_nonce' );
 
-	$verdict_state   = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'verdict_state', true );
-	$signal_row_1    = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'signal_row_1', true );
-	$signal_row_2    = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'signal_row_2', true );
-	$signal_row_3    = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'signal_row_3', true );
-	$allowed_states  = array(
-		'established'      => esc_html__( 'Established', 'peptide-starter' ),
-		'promising'        => esc_html__( 'Promising', 'peptide-starter' ),
-		'investigational'  => esc_html__( 'Investigational', 'peptide-starter' ),
-		'insufficient'     => esc_html__( 'Insufficient Evidence', 'peptide-starter' ),
-		'cautionary'       => esc_html__( 'Cautionary', 'peptide-starter' ),
+	$verdict_state  = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'verdict_state', true );
+	$verdict_text   = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'verdict_text', true );
+	$allowed_states = array(
+		'established'     => esc_html__( 'Established', 'peptide-starter' ),
+		'promising'       => esc_html__( 'Promising', 'peptide-starter' ),
+		'investigational' => esc_html__( 'Investigational', 'peptide-starter' ),
+		'insufficient'    => esc_html__( 'Insufficient Evidence', 'peptide-starter' ),
+		'cautionary'      => esc_html__( 'Cautionary', 'peptide-starter' ),
 	);
+	$allowed_glyphs = array( '✓', '!', '?', '⊘', '⚠' );
+	$has_partner    = (bool) get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'has_partner_link', true );
 	?>
-	<div style="padding: 12px 0;">
-		<label for="verdict_state" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 8px;">
+	<div style="padding:12px 0;">
+
+		<label for="verdict_state" style="display:block;margin-bottom:6px;">
 			<strong><?php esc_html_e( 'Verdict State', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></strong>
 		</label>
-		<select id="verdict_state" name="verdict_state" style="width: 100%; padding: 8px; font-size: 14px;">
+		<select id="verdict_state" name="verdict_state" style="width:100%;padding:8px;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:16px;">
 			<option value=""><?php esc_html_e( '— Select —', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></option>
 			<?php foreach ( $allowed_states as $key => $label ) : ?>
 				<option value="<?php echo esc_attr( $key ); ?>" <?php selected( $verdict_state, $key ); ?>>
@@ -108,22 +155,69 @@ function peptide_starter_render_verdict_meta_box( $post ) {
 			<?php endforeach; ?>
 		</select>
 
-		<div style="margin-top: 20px;">
-			<label style="display: block; margin-bottom: 4px;">
-				<strong><?php esc_html_e( 'Signal Row 1', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></strong>
-			</label>
-			<input type="text" name="signal_row_1" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $signal_row_1 ); ?>" placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'e.g., Strong animal evidence', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>" style="width: 100%; padding: 8px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;">
+		<label for="verdict_text" style="display:block;margin-bottom:6px;">
+			<strong><?php esc_html_e( 'Our Verdict (3–5 sentences)', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></strong>
+			<span style="font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;color:#666;display:block;margin-top:2px;">
+				<?php esc_html_e( 'The opinionated verdict paragraph shown on the card hero. Be specific — this is the brand\'s editorial spine.', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>
+			</span>
+		</label>
+		<textarea id="verdict_text" name="verdict_text" rows="5"
+			style="width:100%;padding:8px;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:16px;"
+			placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'e.g., Semaglutide works. The data is among the strongest of any peptide therapy...', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>"><?php echo esc_textarea( $verdict_text ); ?></textarea>
 
-			<label style="display: block; margin-bottom: 4px;">
-				<strong><?php esc_html_e( 'Signal Row 2', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></strong>
-			</label>
-			<input type="text" name="signal_row_2" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $signal_row_2 ); ?>" placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'e.g., Limited human data', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>" style="width: 100%; padding: 8px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;">
+		<hr style="border:none;border-top:1px solid #ddd;margin:8px 0 16px;">
+		<p style="font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:8px;"><?php esc_html_e( 'Evidence Signal Rows', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></p>
+
+		<?php for ( $i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++ ) :
+			$row_text  = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'signal_row_' . $i, true );
+			$row_glyph = get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'signal_row_' . $i . '_glyph', true );
+			?>
+			<div style="display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:flex-start;margin-bottom:12px;">
+				<div style="flex:0 0 80px;">
+					<label for="signal_row_<?php echo esc_attr( $i ); ?>_glyph"
+						style="display:block;margin-bottom:4px;font-size:12px;color:#444;">
+						<?php esc_html_e( 'Glyph', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>
+					</label>
+					<select id="signal_row_<?php echo esc_attr( $i ); ?>_glyph"
+						name="signal_row_<?php echo esc_attr( $i ); ?>_glyph"
+						style="width:100%;padding:6px;font-size:16px;">
+						<option value="" <?php selected( $row_glyph, '' ); ?>>—</option>
+						<?php foreach ( $allowed_glyphs as $g ) : ?>
+							<option value="<?php echo esc_attr( $g ); ?>" <?php selected( $row_glyph, $g ); ?>>
+								<?php echo esc_html( $g ); ?>
+							</option>
+						<?php endforeach; ?>
+					</select>
+				</div>
+				<div style="flex:1;">
+					<label for="signal_row_<?php echo esc_attr( $i ); ?>"
+						style="display:block;margin-bottom:4px;font-size:12px;color:#444;">
+						<?php
+						/* translators: %d is the row number */
+						echo esc_html( sprintf( __( 'Row %d label', 'peptide-starter' ), $i ) );
+						?>
+					</label>
+					<input type="text" id="signal_row_<?php echo esc_attr( $i ); ?>"
+						name="signal_row_<?php echo esc_attr( $i ); ?>"
+						value="<?php echo esc_attr( $row_text ); ?>"
+						style="width:100%;padding:8px;font-size:14px;"
+						placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'Evidence signal label', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>">
+				</div>
+			</div>
+		<?php endfor; ?>
+
+		<hr style="border:none;border-top:1px solid #ddd;margin:8px 0 16px;">
+		<label style="display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;cursor:pointer;">
+			<input type="checkbox" name="has_partner_link" value="1"
+				<?php checked( $has_partner, true ); ?> style="width:16px;height:16px;">
+			<span>
+				<strong><?php esc_html_e( 'Has active partner link', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></strong>
+				<span style="display:block;font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:2px;">
+					<?php esc_html_e( 'Check this when the monograph contains an affiliate partner link. Controls the inline disclosure strip.', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>
+				</span>
+			</span>
+		</label>
 
-			<label style="display: block; margin-bottom: 4px;">
-				<strong><?php esc_html_e( 'Signal Row 3', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></strong>
-			</label>
-			<input type="text" name="signal_row_3" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $signal_row_3 ); ?>" placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'e.g., Regulatory status varies', 'peptide-starter' ); ?>" style="width: 100%; padding: 8px; font-size: 14px;">
-		</div>
 	</div>
 	<?php
 }
@@ -137,7 +231,9 @@ function peptide_starter_render_verdict_meta_box( $post ) {
  */
 function peptide_starter_save_verdict_meta( $post_id, $post ) {
 	// Verify nonce.
-	if ( ! isset( $_POST['peptide_starter_verdict_nonce'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( sanitize_key( $_POST['peptide_starter_verdict_nonce'] ), 'peptide_starter_verdict_nonce' ) ) {
+	if ( ! isset( $_POST['peptide_starter_verdict_nonce'] )
+		|| ! wp_verify_nonce( sanitize_key( $_POST['peptide_starter_verdict_nonce'] ), 'peptide_starter_verdict_nonce' )
+	) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -146,12 +242,12 @@ function peptide_starter_save_verdict_meta( $post_id, $post ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	// Allow only editors and admins.
 	if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_post', $post_id ) ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
 	$allowed_states = array( 'established', 'promising', 'investigational', 'insufficient', 'cautionary' );
+	$allowed_glyphs = array( '✓', '!', '?', '⊘', '⚠' );
 
 	// Save verdict_state.
 	if ( isset( $_POST['verdict_state'] ) ) {
@@ -163,7 +259,17 @@ function peptide_starter_save_verdict_meta( $post_id, $post ) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Save signal rows.
+	// Save verdict_text.
+	if ( isset( $_POST['verdict_text'] ) ) {
+		$text = sanitize_textarea_field( wp_unslash( $_POST['verdict_text'] ) );
+		if ( ! empty( $text ) ) {
+			update_post_meta( $post_id, 'verdict_text', $text );
+		} else {
+			delete_post_meta( $post_id, 'verdict_text' );
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Save signal rows and their per-row glyphs.
 	for ( $i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++ ) {
 		$field_name = 'signal_row_' . $i;
 		if ( isset( $_POST[ $field_name ] ) ) {
@@ -174,6 +280,20 @@ function peptide_starter_save_verdict_meta( $post_id, $post ) {
 				delete_post_meta( $post_id, $field_name );
 			}
 		}
+
+		$glyph_field = 'signal_row_' . $i . '_glyph';
+		if ( isset( $_POST[ $glyph_field ] ) ) {
+			$glyph = wp_unslash( $_POST[ $glyph_field ] );
+			if ( in_array( $glyph, $allowed_glyphs, true ) ) {
+				update_post_meta( $post_id, $glyph_field, $glyph );
+			} else {
+				delete_post_meta( $post_id, $glyph_field );
+			}
+		}
 	}
+
+	// Save has_partner_link (checkbox — present = true, absent = false).
+	$has_partner = isset( $_POST['has_partner_link'] ) && '1' === $_POST['has_partner_link'];
+	update_post_meta( $post_id, 'has_partner_link', $has_partner ? '1' : '0' );
 }
 add_action( 'save_post', 'peptide_starter_save_verdict_meta', 10, 2 );
diff --git a/single-peptide.php b/single-peptide.php
index d838505..501440f 100644
--- a/single-peptide.php
+++ b/single-peptide.php
@@ -103,11 +103,13 @@ get_header();
 					</div>
 
 					<?php
-					// Affiliate disclosure (inline) renders directly after the content
-					// box, which is where partner/buy links live. Per the editorial
-					// disclosure spec, the strip must appear below, not above, any
-					// partner link the reader just encountered.
-					if ( ! empty( $verdict_state ) ) {
+					// Inline disclosure renders after the content box (below any partner
+					// links in the_content). Conditional on has_partner_link meta — if no
+					// partner link exists on this monograph, the disclosure is suppressed.
+					// Default false: new monographs are disclosure-off until a partner is
+					// added and the meta is explicitly set to true by the CMO.
+					$has_partner_link = (bool) get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'has_partner_link', true );
+					if ( $verdict_state && $has_partner_link ) {
 						get_template_part(
 							'template-parts/affiliate-disclosure',
 							null,
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index a36fe14..9e7112c 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Theme URI: https://github.com/peptiderepo/peptide-starter
 Description: Premium, accessible WordPress theme for scientific peptide reference database
 Author: Peptide Repo
 Author URI: https://peptiderepo.com
-Version: 2.0.0-alpha.2
+Version: 2.0.0-alpha.3
 License: GPL v2 or later
 License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 Text Domain: peptide-starter
diff --git a/template-parts/verdict/card.php b/template-parts/verdict/card.php
index 9f8fcf0..b4d8cac 100644
--- a/template-parts/verdict/card.php
+++ b/template-parts/verdict/card.php
@@ -2,10 +2,17 @@
 /**
  * Verdict Card Component (Monograph Hero)
  *
- * Displays a full verdict card for a pr_peptide post.
- * Reads verdict_state and signal_row_1/2/3 from post meta.
- * Accepts $args['post_id'].
+ * Displays the full verdict card hero for a peptide post.
+ * Reads verdict_state, verdict_text, signal_row_1/2/3, and
+ * signal_row_1/2/3_glyph from post meta.
  *
+ * Who calls it: single-peptide.php for posts with a verdict_state.
+ * Depends on: inc/verdict-meta.php (meta registration),
+ *             template-parts/verdict/badge.php,
+ *             template-parts/verdict/evidence-row.php.
+ *
+ * @see inc/verdict-meta.php
+ * @see single-peptide.php
  * @package peptide-starter
  */
 
@@ -15,27 +22,32 @@ if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
 
 $post_id = isset( $args['post_id'] ) ? absint( $args['post_id'] ) : get_the_ID();
 
-// Get verdict state from post meta.
+// Get verdict state; bail early if unset.
 $verdict_state = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'verdict_state', true );
-
-// Early exit if no verdict state is set.
 if ( empty( $verdict_state ) ) {
 	return;
 }
 
-// Collect signal rows.
+// Get opinionated verdict text; fall back to placeholder if not yet authored.
+$verdict_text = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'verdict_text', true );
+if ( empty( $verdict_text ) ) {
+	$verdict_text = __( 'This peptide merits careful scientific review. Please consult with a healthcare provider before use.', 'peptide-starter' );
+}
+
+// Collect signal rows with their per-row glyphs.
+// Glyph comes from the signal_row_N_glyph meta field; if unset, no glyph is
+// rendered. This is intentional — a missing glyph is better than a wrong one.
 $signals = array();
 for ( $i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++ ) {
-	$signal_text = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'signal_row_' . $i, true );
+	$signal_text  = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'signal_row_' . $i, true );
+	$signal_glyph = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'signal_row_' . $i . '_glyph', true );
 	if ( ! empty( $signal_text ) ) {
 		$signals[] = array(
-			'glyph' => 1 === $i ? '✓' : ( 2 === $i ? '!' : '?' ),
+			'glyph' => $signal_glyph, // May be empty string; evidence-row handles that.
 			'label' => $signal_text,
 		);
 	}
 }
-
-$post = get_post( $post_id );
 ?>
 <div class="pr-verdict-card">
 	<div class="pr-verdict-card__header">
@@ -60,7 +72,6 @@ $post = get_post( $post_id );
 
 	<p class="pr-verdict-card__summary">
 		<?php
-		// Get post excerpt or first 100 chars of content.
 		$summary = get_the_excerpt( $post_id );
 		if ( empty( $summary ) ) {
 			$content = get_the_content( null, false, $post_id );
@@ -82,10 +93,7 @@ $post = get_post( $post_id );
 
 	<div class="pr-verdict-card__verdict-label"><?php esc_html_e( 'Our verdict:', 'peptide-starter' ); ?></div>
 	<div class="pr-verdict-card__verdict-text">
-		<?php
-		// Placeholder verdict text; can be extended with a custom meta field.
-		echo esc_html__( 'This peptide merits careful scientific review. Please consult with a healthcare provider before use.', 'peptide-starter' );
-		?>
+		<?php echo wp_kses_post( nl2br( $verdict_text ) ); ?>
 	</div>
 
 	<div class="pr-verdict-card__cta-group">