diff --git a/frontend/src/api/client.ts b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
index 7f0e0df..ba582d6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/client.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
@@ -303,6 +303,13 @@ export function apiSSEStream(
 // Journal
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+export interface JournalLocation {
+  label: string;
+  address: string;
+  lat?: number;
+  lon?: number;
+}
+
 export interface JournalConfig {
   prep_enabled: boolean;
   prep_hour: number;
@@ -310,9 +317,15 @@ export interface JournalConfig {
   day_rollover_hour: number;
   morning_end_hour?: number;
   midday_end_hour?: number;
+  // Ambient-context fields (carried forward from the briefing config schema)
+  locations?: { home?: JournalLocation; work?: JournalLocation };
+  temp_unit?: 'C' | 'F';
+  use_caldav_event_locations?: boolean;
+  enabled?: boolean;
   [key: string]: unknown;
 }
 
+
 export interface JournalConversation {
   id: number;
   title: string;
@@ -410,7 +423,7 @@ export async function openArticleInChat(
 
 export async function geocodeAddress(address: string): Promise<{ lat: number; lon: number; display_name: string } | null> {
   try {
-    const r = await apiPost<{ lat: number; lon: number; label: string }>('/api/geocode', { query: address });
+    const r = await apiPost<{ lat: number; lon: number; label: string }>('/api/journal/weather/geocode', { query: address });
     return { lat: r.lat, lon: r.lon, display_name: r.label };
   } catch {
     return null;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue b/frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue
index cec152a..2652f94 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChatMessage.vue
@@ -42,7 +42,13 @@ function formatMs(ms: number | null | undefined): string {
 }
 
 const metadata = computed(() => (props.message.metadata ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>);
-void metadata;
+
+// Hide daily-prep system messages — they're rendered separately as a structured
+// card in JournalView. Without this filter they render as a flat unstyled block
+// inside the chat (no .role-system bubble styling exists).
+const hideMessage = computed(() =>
+  props.message.role === "system" && metadata.value.kind === "daily_prep"
+);
 
 const timingParts = computed((): string[] => {
   const t = props.message.timing;
@@ -60,7 +66,7 @@ const timingParts = computed((): string[] => {
 </script>
 
 <template>
-  <div class="chat-message" :class="`role-${message.role}`">
+  <div v-if="!hideMessage" class="chat-message" :class="`role-${message.role}`">
     <div class="message-group">
       <div class="message-bubble">
         <div class="message-header">
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/JournalView.vue b/frontend/src/views/JournalView.vue
index 337fd17..36e2b52 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/JournalView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/JournalView.vue
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, computed, onMounted, onUnmounted, watch } from 'vue'
-import { useChatStore } from '@/stores/chat'
 import { useBackgroundRefresh } from '@/composables/useBackgroundRefresh'
+import { useChatStore } from '@/stores/chat'
 import ChatPanel from '@/components/ChatPanel.vue'
+import WeatherCard from '@/components/WeatherCard.vue'
+import JournalSetupWizard from '@/components/JournalSetupWizard.vue'
 import {
+  apiGet,
+  apiPost,
+  getJournalConfig,
   getJournalToday,
   getJournalDay,
   getJournalDays,
@@ -13,17 +18,111 @@ import {
   type JournalMessage,
 } from '@/api/client'
 
+interface WeatherDay {
+  day: string
+  condition: string
+  high: number
+  low: number
+  precip_probability: number | null
+  precip_mm: number | null
+  windspeed_max: number
+}
+interface WeatherData {
+  location: string
+  fetched_at: string
+  current_temp: number
+  condition: string
+  today_high: number | null
+  today_low: number | null
+  yesterday_high: number | null
+  yesterday_low: number | null
+  wind_unit?: string
+  forecast: WeatherDay[]
+}
+interface CurrentConditions {
+  temperature: number | null
+  windspeed: number | null
+  description: string
+  precip_next_3h: number[]
+  temp_unit: string
+  location: string
+}
+
 const chatStore = useChatStore()
 
+// ── Setup wizard ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+const showWizard = ref(false)
+const wizardChecked = ref(false)
+
+async function checkSetup() {
+  const config = await getJournalConfig()
+  // Wizard offers location/feed setup. Skip if already configured.
+  const hasLocations = !!(config.locations?.home || config.locations?.work)
+  if (!hasLocations) showWizard.value = true
+  wizardChecked.value = true
+}
+
+async function onWizardDone() {
+  showWizard.value = false
+  await loadAll()
+}
+
+// ── Day picker + conversation state ──────────────────────────────────────────
 const days = ref<string[]>([])
 const todayDate = ref<string | null>(null)
 const selectedDay = ref<string | null>(null)
 const dayConvId = ref<number | null>(null)
 const dayMessages = ref<JournalMessage[]>([])
-const triggering = ref(false)
-
 const isToday = computed(() => selectedDay.value !== null && selectedDay.value === todayDate.value)
 
+// ── Daily prep card ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+const prepMessage = computed<JournalMessage | null>(() => {
+  return dayMessages.value.find(
+    (m) => m.role === 'system' && (m.metadata as { kind?: string } | null)?.kind === 'daily_prep',
+  ) ?? null
+})
+const prepSections = computed<Record<string, unknown>>(() => {
+  const meta = prepMessage.value?.metadata as { sections?: Record<string, unknown> } | null
+  return meta?.sections ?? {}
+})
+function asArray(v: unknown): unknown[] { return Array.isArray(v) ? v : [] }
+
+// ── Weather panel ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+const weatherData = ref<WeatherData[]>([])
+const selectedWeatherIdx = ref(0)
+const tempUnit = ref<string>('C')
+const currentConditions = ref<CurrentConditions | null>(null)
+let currentWeatherTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
+
+async function loadCurrentConditions() {
+  try {
+    currentConditions.value = await apiGet<CurrentConditions>('/api/journal/weather/current')
+    if (currentConditions.value?.temperature != null && weatherData.value.length > 0) {
+      weatherData.value[0] = { ...weatherData.value[0], current_temp: currentConditions.value.temperature }
+    }
+  } catch { /* silent */ }
+}
+
+async function loadWeather() {
+  try {
+    const data = await apiGet<{ locations: WeatherData[]; temp_unit: string }>('/api/journal/weather')
+    weatherData.value = data.locations ?? []
+    tempUnit.value = data.temp_unit ?? 'C'
+  } catch { /* silent */ }
+}
+
+const refreshingWeather = ref(false)
+async function refreshWeather() {
+  refreshingWeather.value = true
+  try {
+    const data = await apiPost<{ locations: WeatherData[]; temp_unit: string }>('/api/journal/weather/refresh', {})
+    weatherData.value = data.locations ?? []
+    tempUnit.value = data.temp_unit ?? 'C'
+  } catch { /* silent */ }
+  finally { refreshingWeather.value = false }
+}
+
+// ── Upcoming events ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 const upcomingEvents = ref<EventEntry[]>([])
 
 interface GroupedDay {
@@ -61,26 +160,18 @@ function formatEventTime(ev: EventEntry): string {
   return d.toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit' })
 }
 
-const prepMessage = computed<JournalMessage | null>(() => {
-  return dayMessages.value.find(
-    (m) => m.role === 'system' && (m.metadata as { kind?: string } | null)?.kind === 'daily_prep'
-  ) ?? null
-})
-
-const prepSections = computed<Record<string, unknown>>(() => {
-  const meta = prepMessage.value?.metadata as { sections?: Record<string, unknown> } | null
-  return meta?.sections ?? {}
-})
-
-function asArray(v: unknown): unknown[] {
-  return Array.isArray(v) ? v : []
+async function loadEvents() {
+  try {
+    const now = new Date()
+    const end = new Date(now)
+    end.setDate(end.getDate() + 14)
+    upcomingEvents.value = await listEvents(now.toISOString(), end.toISOString())
+  } catch { /* silent */ }
 }
 
+// ── Day load + switch ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 async function loadDay(iso: string) {
-  const payload = iso === todayDate.value
-    ? await getJournalToday()
-    : await getJournalDay(iso)
-
+  const payload = iso === todayDate.value ? await getJournalToday() : await getJournalDay(iso)
   dayMessages.value = payload.messages
   if (payload.conversation) {
     dayConvId.value = payload.conversation.id
@@ -91,7 +182,6 @@ async function loadDay(iso: string) {
 }
 
 async function loadAll() {
-  // Today first — also creates the conversation + prep on first load.
   try {
     const today = await getJournalToday()
     todayDate.value = today.day_date
@@ -101,9 +191,8 @@ async function loadAll() {
       dayConvId.value = today.conversation.id
       await chatStore.fetchConversation(today.conversation.id)
     }
-  } catch { /* silent — backend may be unreachable */ }
+  } catch { /* silent */ }
 
-  // Day list
   try {
     days.value = await getJournalDays()
     if (todayDate.value && !days.value.includes(todayDate.value)) {
@@ -111,22 +200,16 @@ async function loadAll() {
     }
   } catch { /* silent */ }
 
-  // Upcoming events
-  try {
-    const now = new Date()
-    const end = new Date(now)
-    end.setDate(end.getDate() + 14)
-    upcomingEvents.value = await listEvents(now.toISOString(), end.toISOString())
-  } catch { /* silent */ }
+  await Promise.all([loadWeather(), loadCurrentConditions(), loadEvents()])
 }
 
 watch(selectedDay, async (iso) => {
   if (!iso || iso === todayDate.value) return
-  try {
-    await loadDay(iso)
-  } catch { /* silent */ }
+  try { await loadDay(iso) } catch { /* silent */ }
 })
 
+// ── Manual prep regeneration ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+const triggering = ref(false)
 async function triggerPrep() {
   if (triggering.value) return
   triggering.value = true
@@ -148,24 +231,41 @@ const todayBadge = computed(() => {
   return new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined, { weekday: 'long', month: 'long', day: 'numeric' })
 })
 
-let _mounted = true
-onUnmounted(() => { _mounted = false })
+// ── Background refresh ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+async function _backgroundRefreshMessages() {
+  try {
+    if (!_mounted || !isToday.value || !dayConvId.value) return
+    await chatStore.fetchConversation(dayConvId.value)
+  } catch { /* silent */ }
+}
 
 useBackgroundRefresh(
-  async () => {
-    if (chatStore.streaming || !isToday.value || !dayConvId.value) return
-    await chatStore.fetchConversation(dayConvId.value)
-  },
+  _backgroundRefreshMessages,
   60_000,
   () => !chatStore.streaming && isToday.value && !!dayConvId.value,
 )
 
-onMounted(loadAll)
+let _mounted = true
+onUnmounted(() => {
+  _mounted = false
+  if (currentWeatherTimer) clearInterval(currentWeatherTimer)
+})
+
+onMounted(async () => {
+  await checkSetup()
+  if (!showWizard.value) {
+    await loadAll()
+    currentWeatherTimer = setInterval(loadCurrentConditions, 30 * 60 * 1000)
+  }
+})
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <div class="journal-root">
-    <div class="journal-shell">
+    <!-- Setup wizard overlay -->
+    <JournalSetupWizard v-if="wizardChecked && showWizard" @done="onWizardDone" />
+
+    <div class="journal-shell" v-if="wizardChecked && !showWizard">
       <header class="journal-header">
         <div class="journal-header-left">
           <h1 class="journal-title">Journal</h1>
@@ -207,15 +307,6 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
             </ul>
           </section>
 
-          <section v-if="asArray(prepSections.weather).length" class="prep-section">
-            <h3>Weather</h3>
-            <ul>
-              <li v-for="(w, i) in (asArray(prepSections.weather) as { location_label?: string; location_key?: string }[])" :key="i">
-                {{ w.location_label || w.location_key }}
-              </li>
-            </ul>
-          </section>
-
           <section v-if="asArray(prepSections.projects).length" class="prep-section">
             <h3>Active projects</h3>
             <ul>
@@ -240,15 +331,6 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
               </li>
             </ul>
           </section>
-
-          <section v-if="asArray(prepSections.news).length" class="prep-section">
-            <h3>News</h3>
-            <ul>
-              <li v-for="(n, i) in (asArray(prepSections.news) as { title: string; source?: string }[])" :key="i">
-                {{ n.title }}<span v-if="n.source"> — {{ n.source }}</span>
-              </li>
-            </ul>
-          </section>
         </article>
 
         <ChatPanel
@@ -260,8 +342,33 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
         />
       </div>
 
-      <!-- Right: upcoming events -->
+      <!-- Right: Weather + Events + News -->
       <div class="journal-right">
+        <div class="weather-section" v-if="weatherData.length">
+          <div class="weather-section-header">
+            <div class="weather-tabs" v-if="weatherData.length > 1">
+              <button
+                v-for="(loc, i) in weatherData"
+                :key="(loc as WeatherData).location"
+                class="weather-tab"
+                :class="{ active: selectedWeatherIdx === i }"
+                @click="selectedWeatherIdx = i"
+              >{{ (loc as WeatherData).location }}</button>
+            </div>
+            <button
+              class="weather-refresh-btn"
+              :class="{ spinning: refreshingWeather }"
+              :disabled="refreshingWeather"
+              @click="refreshWeather"
+              title="Refresh weather"
+            >↻</button>
+          </div>
+          <WeatherCard
+            :weather="weatherData[selectedWeatherIdx]"
+            :temp-unit="tempUnit"
+          />
+        </div>
+
         <div class="events-section" v-if="groupedEvents.length">
           <div class="panel-label-row">
             <div class="panel-label">Upcoming</div>
@@ -281,6 +388,7 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
             </div>
           </div>
         </div>
+
       </div>
     </div>
   </div>
@@ -296,7 +404,7 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
 
 .journal-shell {
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: 1fr minmax(280px, 30%);
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr minmax(320px, 35%);
   grid-template-rows: auto 1fr;
   height: 100%;
   min-height: 0;
@@ -314,13 +422,7 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
   gap: 1rem;
   flex-wrap: wrap;
 }
-
-.journal-header-left {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: baseline;
-  gap: 0.75rem;
-}
-
+.journal-header-left { display: flex; align-items: baseline; gap: 0.75rem; }
 .journal-title {
   font-family: 'Fraunces', Georgia, serif;
   font-size: 1.3rem;
@@ -328,17 +430,8 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
   margin: 0;
   color: var(--color-text);
 }
-
-.journal-today-badge {
-  font-size: 0.82rem;
-  color: var(--color-text-muted);
-}
-
-.journal-header-right {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 0.5rem;
-}
+.journal-today-badge { font-size: 0.82rem; color: var(--color-text-muted); }
+.journal-header-right { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.5rem; }
 
 .journal-day-select {
   padding: 0.35rem 0.6rem;
@@ -363,65 +456,46 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
   transition: all 0.15s;
   font-family: inherit;
 }
-.btn-trigger:hover:not(:disabled) {
-  border-color: var(--color-primary);
-  color: var(--color-primary);
-}
+.btn-trigger:hover:not(:disabled) { border-color: var(--color-primary); color: var(--color-primary); }
 .btn-trigger:disabled { opacity: 0.5; cursor: not-allowed; }
 
+/* ── Center column: prep card + chat ──────────────────────────────────────── */
 .journal-center {
   grid-column: 1;
   grid-row: 2;
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
   min-height: 0;
-  overflow-y: auto;
 }
 
-.journal-chat-panel {
-  flex: 1;
-  min-height: 0;
-}
+.journal-chat-panel { flex: 1; min-height: 0; }
 
 .daily-prep {
   border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   padding: 1rem 1.25rem;
-  margin: 1rem;
+  margin: 1rem 1rem 0.5rem;
   background: var(--color-bg-card);
   flex-shrink: 0;
 }
-
 .daily-prep > header h2 {
   font-family: 'Fraunces', Georgia, serif;
   font-size: 1.1rem;
   margin: 0 0 0.5rem 0;
 }
-
-.prep-section {
-  margin-top: 0.75rem;
-}
-
+.prep-section { margin-top: 0.75rem; }
 .prep-section h3 {
-  font-size: 0.75rem;
+  font-size: 0.72rem;
   text-transform: uppercase;
   letter-spacing: 0.06em;
   color: var(--color-text-muted);
   margin: 0 0 0.25rem 0;
   font-weight: 600;
 }
+.prep-section ul { margin: 0; padding-left: 1.1rem; font-size: 0.88rem; color: var(--color-text); }
+.prep-section li { margin-bottom: 0.15rem; }
 
-.prep-section ul {
-  margin: 0;
-  padding-left: 1.1rem;
-  font-size: 0.88rem;
-  color: var(--color-text);
-}
-
-.prep-section li {
-  margin-bottom: 0.15rem;
-}
-
+/* ── Right column ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 .journal-right {
   grid-column: 2;
   grid-row: 2;
@@ -429,17 +503,55 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
   min-height: 0;
-  overflow-y: auto;
 }
 
-.events-section {
-  padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+.weather-section { flex-shrink: 0; padding: 1rem 1rem 0.5rem; }
+.weather-section :deep(.weather-card) { margin-bottom: 0; }
+.weather-section-header {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
 }
-.events-cal-link {
-  font-size: 0.75rem;
+
+.weather-refresh-btn {
+  background: none;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  border-radius: 6px;
   color: var(--color-text-muted);
-  text-decoration: none;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  padding: 0.2rem 0.45rem;
+  line-height: 1;
+  transition: all 0.15s;
 }
+.weather-refresh-btn:hover { border-color: var(--color-primary); color: var(--color-primary); }
+.weather-refresh-btn:disabled { opacity: 0.5; cursor: not-allowed; }
+.weather-refresh-btn.spinning { animation: spin 0.8s linear infinite; }
+@keyframes spin { to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }
+
+.weather-tabs { display: flex; gap: 0.25rem; }
+.weather-tab {
+  padding: 0.3rem 0.7rem;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: none;
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  font-size: 0.78rem;
+  font-family: inherit;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: all 0.15s;
+}
+.weather-tab:hover { border-color: var(--color-primary); color: var(--color-primary); }
+.weather-tab.active {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 12%, transparent);
+  border-color: var(--color-primary);
+  color: var(--color-primary);
+  font-weight: 600;
+}
+
+.events-section { padding: 0.75rem 1rem; border-top: 1px solid var(--color-border); }
+.events-cal-link { font-size: 0.75rem; color: var(--color-text-muted); text-decoration: none; }
 .events-cal-link:hover { color: var(--color-primary); }
 .events-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 0.6rem; }
 .events-day-group { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 0.2rem; }
@@ -450,27 +562,27 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
   text-transform: uppercase;
   letter-spacing: 0.03em;
 }
-.event-row {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: flex-start;
-  gap: 0.4rem;
-  padding: 0.25rem 0.4rem;
-  border-radius: 6px;
-}
+.event-row { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; gap: 0.4rem; padding: 0.25rem 0.4rem; border-radius: 6px; }
 .event-row:hover { background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 6%, transparent); }
 .event-dot {
-  width: 7px;
-  height: 7px;
-  border-radius: 50%;
+  width: 7px; height: 7px; border-radius: 50%;
   background: var(--color-primary);
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-  margin-top: 5px;
+  flex-shrink: 0; margin-top: 5px;
 }
 .event-body { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 0.05rem; min-width: 0; }
 .event-title { font-size: 0.82rem; font-weight: 600; color: var(--color-text); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
 .event-time { font-size: 0.72rem; color: var(--color-text-muted); }
 .event-loc { font-size: 0.7rem; color: var(--color-text-muted); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
 
+.news-section {
+  flex: 1;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+  padding: 0.75rem 1rem 1rem;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+}
+
 .panel-label {
   font-size: 0.72rem;
   font-weight: 700;
@@ -479,26 +591,58 @@ onMounted(loadAll)
   color: var(--color-primary);
   flex-shrink: 0;
 }
-.panel-label-row {
+.panel-label-row { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; flex-shrink: 0; }
+.news-count { font-size: 0.72rem; color: var(--color-text-muted); }
+.panel-empty { font-size: 0.82rem; color: var(--color-text-muted); padding: 0.5rem 0; }
+
+.news-card {
+  background: var(--color-bg-card);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  padding: 0.65rem 0.85rem;
   display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: space-between;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.25rem;
   flex-shrink: 0;
-  margin-bottom: 0.4rem;
 }
+.news-card-meta { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.5rem; }
+.news-source { font-size: 0.72rem; font-weight: 600; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.04em; color: var(--color-primary); }
+.news-date { font-size: 0.72rem; color: var(--color-text-muted); }
+.news-title { font-size: 0.88rem; font-weight: 600; color: var(--color-text); line-height: 1.35; text-decoration: none; margin: 0; }
+a.news-title:hover { text-decoration: underline; color: var(--color-primary); }
+.news-snippet {
+  font-size: 0.78rem;
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  line-height: 1.45;
+  margin: 0;
+  display: -webkit-box;
+  -webkit-line-clamp: 2;
+  -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+.news-reactions { display: flex; gap: 0.3rem; margin-top: 0.15rem; }
+.reaction-btn {
+  background: none;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  padding: 0.1rem 0.35rem;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 0.82rem;
+  line-height: 1.4;
+  opacity: 0.55;
+  transition: opacity 0.15s, border-color 0.15s;
+}
+.reaction-btn:hover { opacity: 1; border-color: var(--color-primary); }
+.reaction-btn.active { opacity: 1; border-color: var(--color-primary); background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 12%, transparent); }
 
 @media (max-width: 900px) {
-  .journal-shell {
-    grid-template-columns: 1fr;
-    grid-template-rows: auto 1fr auto;
-  }
+  .journal-shell { grid-template-columns: 1fr; grid-template-rows: auto 1fr auto; }
   .journal-center { grid-column: 1; grid-row: 2; }
   .journal-right {
-    grid-column: 1;
-    grid-row: 3;
+    grid-column: 1; grid-row: 3;
     border-left: none;
     border-top: 1px solid var(--color-border);
-    max-height: 240px;
+    max-height: 300px;
   }
 }
 </style>
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/routes/journal.py b/src/fabledassistant/routes/journal.py
index bb6c687..ca9a859 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/routes/journal.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/routes/journal.py
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-"""HTTP endpoints for the Journal feature."""
+"""HTTP endpoints for the Journal feature.
+
+Includes the conversational journal endpoints (config / today / day / days /
+trigger-prep / moments) plus the ambient-context surface lifted from the
+old Briefing routes (RSS feeds, weather, news, RSS reactions, article-discuss).
+The ambient endpoints read locations + temp_unit + topic preferences from the
+``journal_config`` user setting.
+"""
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import datetime
@@ -11,6 +18,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import select
 
 from fabledassistant.auth import get_current_user_id, login_required
 from fabledassistant.models import Conversation, Message, async_session
+from fabledassistant.services import weather as weather_svc
 from fabledassistant.services.journal_prep import ensure_daily_prep_message
 from fabledassistant.services.journal_scheduler import (
     DEFAULT_CONFIG as DEFAULT_JOURNAL_CONFIG,
@@ -200,6 +208,99 @@ async def remove_moment(moment_id: int):
     return jsonify({"ok": True})
 
 
+# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Ambient endpoints (lifted from the old briefing surface).
+# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+async def _journal_temp_unit(user_id: int) -> str:
+    cfg = await _resolve_config(user_id)
+    unit = cfg.get("temp_unit", "C")
+    return unit if unit in ("C", "F") else "C"
+
+
+# ── Weather ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+@journal_bp.get("/weather")
+@login_required
+async def get_weather():
+    user_id = get_current_user_id()
+    rows = await weather_svc.get_cached_weather_rows(user_id)
+    temp_unit = await _journal_temp_unit(user_id)
+    cards = [
+        card for row in rows
+        if (card := weather_svc.parse_weather_card_data(row, temp_unit)) is not None
+    ]
+    return jsonify({"locations": cards, "temp_unit": temp_unit})
+
+
+@journal_bp.get("/weather/current")
+@login_required
+async def get_current_weather():
+    """Live current temperature + conditions for the user's primary location."""
+    user_id = get_current_user_id()
+    cfg = await _resolve_config(user_id)
+    temp_unit = await _journal_temp_unit(user_id)
+    locations = cfg.get("locations") or {}
+    loc = locations.get("home") or locations.get("work")
+    if not loc or not loc.get("lat") or not loc.get("lon"):
+        return jsonify({"error": "No location configured"}), 404
+
+    current = await weather_svc.fetch_current_conditions(loc["lat"], loc["lon"])
+    if current is None:
+        return jsonify({"error": "Failed to fetch current conditions"}), 502
+
+    temp = current["temperature"]
+    if temp is not None and temp_unit == "F":
+        temp = temp * 9 / 5 + 32
+    current["temperature"] = round(temp) if temp is not None else None
+    current["temp_unit"] = temp_unit
+    current["location"] = loc.get("label") or "Home"
+    return jsonify(current)
+
+
+@journal_bp.post("/weather/refresh")
+@login_required
+async def refresh_weather():
+    user_id = get_current_user_id()
+    cfg = await _resolve_config(user_id)
+    temp_unit = await _journal_temp_unit(user_id)
+    for key, loc in (cfg.get("locations") or {}).items():
+        if not loc.get("lat") or not loc.get("lon"):
+            continue
+        try:
+            await weather_svc.refresh_location_cache(
+                user_id=user_id,
+                location_key=key,
+                location_label=loc.get("label", key),
+                lat=loc["lat"],
+                lon=loc["lon"],
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            logger.warning("Failed to refresh weather for %s", key, exc_info=True)
+    rows = await weather_svc.get_cached_weather_rows(user_id)
+    cards = [
+        card for row in rows
+        if (card := weather_svc.parse_weather_card_data(row, temp_unit)) is not None
+    ]
+    return jsonify({"locations": cards, "temp_unit": temp_unit})
+
+
+@journal_bp.post("/weather/geocode")
+@login_required
+async def geocode_location():
+    data = await request.get_json()
+    query = (data.get("query") or "").strip()
+    if not query:
+        return jsonify({"error": "query required"}), 400
+    try:
+        lat, lon, label = await weather_svc.geocode(query)
+        return jsonify({"lat": lat, "lon": lon, "label": label})
+    except ValueError as e:
+        return jsonify({"error": str(e)}), 404
+
+
 async def _day_payload(*, user_id: int, day_date: datetime.date):
     async with async_session() as session:
         conv_stmt = select(Conversation).where(
diff --git a/src/fabledassistant/services/journal_prep.py b/src/fabledassistant/services/journal_prep.py
index 69a5421..b919483 100644
--- a/src/fabledassistant/services/journal_prep.py
+++ b/src/fabledassistant/services/journal_prep.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ new day). Gathers raw data into a structured prep block that becomes the
 first message of the day's journal Conversation.
 
 The output shape lives on Message.msg_metadata as:
-    { kind: 'daily_prep', sections: { tasks, events, weather, news,
+    { kind: 'daily_prep', sections: { tasks, events, weather,
       projects, recent_moments, open_threads } }
 
 Deliberately deterministic — no LLM call here. The journal LLM weaves
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ from fabledassistant.services.events import list_events
 from fabledassistant.services.journal_search import search_journal
 from fabledassistant.services.notes import list_notes
 from fabledassistant.services.projects import list_projects
-from fabledassistant.services.rss import get_recent_items
 from fabledassistant.services.weather import get_cached_weather_rows
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -84,13 +83,6 @@ async def generate_daily_prep(
         logger.exception("daily_prep weather section failed for user %d", user_id)
         sections["weather"] = []
 
-    try:
-        news = await get_recent_items(user_id=user_id, limit=5)
-        sections["news"] = news
-    except Exception:
-        logger.exception("daily_prep news section failed for user %d", user_id)
-        sections["news"] = []
-
     try:
         projects = await list_projects(user_id=user_id, status="active")
         sections["projects"] = [