.editor-pick-section {
    --ep-blue:       var(--blue,      #326891);
    --ep-blue-dk:    var(--blue-dk,   #1a4a6e);
    --ep-ink:        var(--ink,       #121212);
    --ep-ink-2:      var(--ink-2,     #333);
    --ep-ink-3:      var(--ink-3,     #666);
    --ep-rule:       var(--rule,      #e2e2e2);
    --ep-bg:         var(--bg,        #fff);
    --ep-radius:     0px; /* editorial — no rounding */
    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--ep-rule);
    padding-bottom: 32px;
    margin-bottom: 32px;
}

/* ── Grid ── */
.ep-grid {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: 1fr 360px;
    gap: 28px;
    align-items: stretch;
}
@media (max-width: 900px) {
    .ep-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
}

/* ══ SLIDER ══ */
.ep-slider-col { min-width: 0; }

.ep-slider {
    position: relative;
    height: 520px;
    overflow: hidden;
    background: #1a1a1a;
}

.ep-slide {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
    opacity: 0;
    transition: opacity .55s ease-in-out;
    pointer-events: none;
}
.ep-slide--active {
    opacity: 1;
    pointer-events: auto;
    position: absolute; /* all same stack */
}

.ep-slide-link {
    display: block;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    text-decoration: none;
    color: inherit;
}

.ep-slide-img-wrap {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
}
.ep-slide-img {
    width: 100%; height: 100%;
    object-fit: cover;
    display: block;
    transition: transform .7s ease;
}
.ep-slide--active .ep-slide-img { transform: scale(1.03); }
.ep-slide:not(.ep-slide--active) .ep-slide-img { transform: scale(1); }

.ep-slide-overlay {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
    background: linear-gradient(
            to top,
            rgba(0,0,0,.88) 0%,
            rgba(0,0,0,.45) 45%,
            rgba(0,0,0,.08) 100%
    );
}

/* Caption */
.ep-slide-body {
    position: absolute;
    bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0;
    padding: 52px 32px 56px;
    color: #fff;
}

.ep-kicker {
    display: inline-block;
    font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif;
    font-size: 10px;
    font-weight: 900;
    letter-spacing: .14em;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    background: var(--ep-blue);
    color: #fff;
    padding: 3px 8px;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}

.ep-slide-hed {
    font-family: 'EB Garamond', Georgia, serif;
    font-weight: 700;
    font-size: 2.15rem;
    line-height: 1.12;
    color: #fff;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    text-shadow: 0 1px 6px rgba(0,0,0,.35);
}
.ep-slide-link:hover .ep-slide-hed { text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 1px; }

.ep-slide-summary {
    font-family: 'EB Garamond', Georgia, serif;
    font-size: .95rem;
    line-height: 1.55;
    color: rgba(255,255,255,.82);
    margin-bottom: 12px;
    display: -webkit-box;
    -webkit-line-clamp: 2;
    -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
    overflow: hidden;
}

.ep-slide-meta {
    font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif;
    font-size: 11px;
    color: rgba(255,255,255,.5);
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 6px;
}
.ep-meta-dot { opacity: .5; }

/* Dots */
.ep-dots {
    position: absolute;
    bottom: 18px;
    left: 50%;
    transform: translateX(-50%);
    display: flex;
    gap: 5px;
    z-index: 10;
}
.ep-dot {
    width: 7px; height: 7px;
    border-radius: 50%;
    background: rgba(255,255,255,.35);
    border: none;
    cursor: pointer;
    padding: 0;
    transition: background .2s, width .2s;
}
.ep-dot--active {
    background: #fff;
    width: 22px;
    border-radius: 4px;
}

/* Arrows */
.ep-arrow {
    position: absolute;
    top: 50%;
    transform: translateY(-50%);
    z-index: 10;
    background: rgba(255,255,255,.15);
    border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.25);
    color: #fff;
    width: 40px; height: 40px;
    cursor: pointer;
    display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
    transition: background .15s, border-color .15s;
    backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
}
.ep-arrow:hover { background: rgba(255,255,255,.3); border-color: rgba(255,255,255,.5); }
.ep-arrow--prev { left: 14px; }
.ep-arrow--next { right: 14px; }

/* Progress bar */
.ep-progress-wrap {
    position: absolute;
    bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0;
    height: 3px;
    background: rgba(255,255,255,.15);
    z-index: 10;
}
.ep-progress-bar {
    height: 100%;
    background: var(--ep-blue);
    width: 0%;
    transition: width .1s linear;
}

/* ══ SIDEBAR CARDS ══ */
.ep-sidebar {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    border-left: 1px solid var(--ep-rule);
    padding-left: 28px;
    gap: 0;
}

.ep-card {
    padding-bottom: 14px;
    margin-bottom: 14px;
    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--ep-rule);
}
.ep-card--last {
    border-bottom: none;
    margin-bottom: 0;
    padding-bottom: 0;
}

.ep-card-link {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: 110px 1fr;
    gap: 14px;
    align-items: start;
    text-decoration: none;
    color: inherit;
}

.ep-card-img-wrap {
    position: relative;
    flex-shrink: 0;
    overflow: hidden;
    aspect-ratio: 4/3;
}
.ep-card-img {
    width: 100%; height: 100%;
    object-fit: cover;
    display: block;
    filter: grayscale(25%);
    transition: filter .35s, transform .45s;
}
.ep-card-link:hover .ep-card-img {
    filter: grayscale(0%);
    transform: scale(1.04);
}

.ep-card-kicker {
    position: absolute;
    top: 0; left: 0;
    font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif;
    font-size: 9px;
    font-weight: 900;
    letter-spacing: .1em;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    background: var(--ep-blue);
    color: #fff;
    padding: 2px 6px;
}

.ep-card-body {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    gap: 5px;
}

.ep-card-hed {
    font-family: 'EB Garamond', Georgia, serif;
    font-weight: 700;
    font-size: 1.05rem;
    line-height: 1.25;
    color: var(--ep-ink);
}
.ep-card-link:hover .ep-card-hed { text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 1px; }

.ep-card-summary {
    font-family: 'EB Garamond', Georgia, serif;
    font-size: .88rem;
    color: var(--ep-ink-2);
    line-height: 1.5;
    display: -webkit-box;
    -webkit-line-clamp: 2;
    -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
    overflow: hidden;
}

.ep-card-meta {
    font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif;
    font-size: 11px;
    color: var(--ep-ink-3);
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 5px;
    margin-top: 2px;
}

/* ── Dark mode overrides ── */
html.dark .ep-card-img { filter: grayscale(40%); }
html.dark .ep-card-link:hover .ep-card-img { filter: grayscale(5%); }
html.dark .ep-sidebar { border-left-color: var(--ep-rule); }
html.dark .ep-card { border-bottom-color: var(--ep-rule); }

/* ── Responsive ── */
@media (max-width: 900px) {
    .ep-sidebar {
        border-left: none;
        padding-left: 0;
        border-top: 1px solid var(--ep-rule);
        padding-top: 20px;
    }
    .ep-slider { height: 360px; }
    .ep-slide-hed { font-size: 1.6rem; }
    .ep-slide-body { padding: 32px 20px 44px; }
}
@media (max-width: 560px) {
    .ep-card-link { grid-template-columns: 90px 1fr; gap: 10px; }
    .ep-slider { height: 280px; }
    .ep-slide-summary { display: none; }
}