test(calibration): replace real-name holder fixture with charlie-example placeholder

Privacy iron rule: no real people's names in checked-in code. The sanctioned
placeholder mapping uses people/charlie-example.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/architecture/KEY_FILES.md

@@ -457,6 +457,7 @@ unresolvable+true|false, pre-v80 NULL/NULL rows survive).
 - `src/core/think/prompt.ts` extension — anti-bias rewrite. `withCalibration` option on `buildThinkSystemPrompt` adds anti-bias rules. `buildCalibrationBlock()` emits the `<calibration>` XML. `buildThinkUserMessage` has TWO shapes: default (question first), and with-calibration (retrieval → calibration → question) when opt-in. Wired into `runThink` via `opts.withCalibration` + `opts.calibrationHolder`.
 - `src/commands/calibration.ts` — CLI: `gbrain calibration` (read + print), `--regenerate`, `--undo-wave <ver>`, `ab-report`. MCP op `get_calibration_profile` (scope: read) backs the same data path. Source-scoped via `sourceScopeOpts(ctx)`.
 - `src/commands/serve-http.ts` extension — three admin routes: `/admin/api/calibration/profile`, `/admin/api/calibration/charts/:type` (image/svg+xml; type in {brier-trend, domain-bars, pattern-statements, abandoned-threads}), `/admin/api/calibration/pattern/:id` (drill-down).
+- `src/core/owner-holder.ts` — single source of truth for "the brain owner" holder string. `DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER = 'self'` (matches the consolidate facts→takes writer + `docs/takes-vs-facts.md`); `resolveOwnerHolder({override, configValue})` returns override > `emotional_weight.user_holder` config > `'self'`. Consumed by the calibration_profile cycle phase, `gbrain calibration` CLI, the `get_calibration_profile` op, `think`'s calibration block, `emotional-weight`'s `DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER`, and doctor's `calibration_freshness`. Pure; unit-tested in `test/owner-holder.test.ts`. Does NOT unify owner-identity fragmentation (`self`/`brain`/`people-<owner>`) — tracked separately.
 - `src/commands/takes.ts` extension — `gbrain takes revisit <slug>` opens $EDITOR on the source page with a `<!-- gbrain:revisit -->` cursor marker.
 - `src/commands/doctor.ts` extension — 4 checks: `abandoned_threads`, `calibration_freshness`, `grade_confidence_drift` (mitigation surface; math ships later), `voice_gate_health`.
 - `admin/src/pages/Calibration.tsx` — Calibration tab. Single-column layout. `<TrustedSVG>` wrapper handles `dangerouslySetInnerHTML` for the server-rendered SVG.

docs/takes-vs-facts.md

@@ -91,3 +91,18 @@ First full takes extraction run on a ~100K-page brain:
 4. **Self-reported ≠ verified.** "Reports 7 figures" → holder=person, weight=0.75, NOT world/1.0
 5. **No false precision.** Use 0.05 increments (0.35, 0.55, 0.75), not 0.74 or 0.82
 6. **"So what" test.** Skip Twitter handles, follower counts, obvious metadata
+
+## Owner-holder canonicalization
+
+"The brain owner" is, by convention, the holder string **`self`** — the value the
+dream `consolidate` phase stamps when it promotes the owner's hot facts into cold
+takes. Calibration, `think`, and the `doctor` calibration check resolve the owner
+holder through `resolveOwnerHolder` (`src/core/owner-holder.ts`): explicit override
+> `emotional_weight.user_holder` config > `self`.
+
+Known limitation (tracked in garrytan/gbrain#2465): the owner can also
+appear under `brain` (a take the owner asserts, via `propose_takes`) and
+`people/<owner>` (extraction that names the owner). The resolver selects the
+*default* canonical owner string for reads; it does not merge those other
+strings. Per-take attribution for other people (e.g. `people/george`) is
+unaffected and correct.

src/commands/calibration.ts

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { runPhaseCalibrationProfile } from '../core/cycle/calibration-profile.ts
 import { sourceScopeOpts, type OperationContext } from '../core/operations.ts';
 import type { GBrainConfig } from '../core/config.ts';
 import { GBrainError } from '../core/types.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../core/owner-holder.ts';
 
 export interface CalibrationProfileRow {
   /** BIGSERIAL → string (postgres.js int8 wire shape; never Number() — int8
@@ -167,7 +168,10 @@ export async function runCalibration(
   config: GBrainConfig,
 ): Promise<void> {
   const { opts } = parseArgs(args);
-  const holder = opts.holder ?? 'garry';
+  const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({
+    override: opts.holder,
+    configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+  });
   // Resolve --source / GBRAIN_SOURCE / .gbrain-source so the (now reachable, #2035)
   // calibration command targets the right source in a multi-source brain instead
   // of always reading `default`. No signal → 'default' (prior behavior).
@@ -253,12 +257,15 @@ export async function getCalibrationProfileOp(
   ctx: OperationContext,
   params: { holder?: string },
 ): Promise<CalibrationProfileRow | null> {
-  const holder = params.holder ?? 'garry';
+  const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({
+    override: params.holder,
+    configValue: await ctx.engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+  });
   if (typeof holder !== 'string' || holder.length === 0) {
     throw new GBrainError(
       'INVALID_HOLDER',
       'get_calibration_profile.holder must be a non-empty string',
-      'pass holder="<slug>" or omit to default to "garry"',
+      'pass holder="<slug>" or omit to default to the owner holder (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else "self")',
     );
   }
   const scope = sourceScopeOpts(ctx);

src/commands/doctor.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import type { DbUrlSource } from '../core/config.ts';
 import { gbrainPath, loadConfig } from '../core/config.ts';
 import { reflexEnabled } from '../core/context/reflex.ts';
 import { resolveSocketPath } from '../core/context/resolve-ipc.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../core/owner-holder.ts';
 import { homedir } from 'os';
 import { dirname, isAbsolute, join, resolve as resolvePath } from 'path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
@@ -1287,14 +1288,19 @@ export async function checkAbandonedThreads(engine: BrainEngine): Promise<Check>
 
 /**
  * calibration_freshness: warns when the active calibration profile is
- * older than 7 days (configurable). Default holder 'garry'. Multi-source
+ * older than 7 days (configurable). Default holder resolves via resolveOwnerHolder
+ * (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'). Multi-source
  * brains see one row per source; this check uses the most recent across
  * all sources.
  */
 export async function checkCalibrationFreshness(engine: BrainEngine): Promise<Check> {
   try {
+    const ownerHolder = resolveOwnerHolder({
+      configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+    });
     const rows = await engine.executeRaw<{ generated_at: Date | null }>(
-      `SELECT MAX(generated_at) AS generated_at FROM calibration_profiles WHERE holder = 'garry'`,
+      `SELECT MAX(generated_at) AS generated_at FROM calibration_profiles WHERE holder = $1`,
+      [ownerHolder],
     );
     const generated = rows[0]?.generated_at;
     if (!generated) {

src/commands/serve-http.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import {
   type IngestionContentType,
   type IngestionEvent,
 } from '../core/ingestion/types.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../core/owner-holder.ts';
 
 /**
  * /health endpoint timeout. 3s rather than 5s: Fly.io's default
@@ -1190,7 +1191,7 @@ export async function runServeHttp(engine: BrainEngine, options: ServeHttpOption
   app.get('/admin/api/calibration/pattern/:id', requireAdmin, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     try {
       const { getLatestProfile } = await import('./calibration.ts');
-      const holder = (req.query.holder as string) || 'garry';
+      const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({ override: (req.query.holder as string) || undefined, configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder') });
       const profile = await getLatestProfile(engine, { holder });
       if (!profile) {
         res.status(404).json({ error: 'no_profile' });
@@ -1240,7 +1241,7 @@ export async function runServeHttp(engine: BrainEngine, options: ServeHttpOption
   app.get('/admin/api/calibration/profile', requireAdmin, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     try {
       const { getLatestProfile } = await import('./calibration.ts');
-      const holder = (req.query.holder as string) || 'garry';
+      const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({ override: (req.query.holder as string) || undefined, configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder') });
       const profile = await getLatestProfile(engine, { holder });
       res.json(profile);
     } catch (err) {
@@ -1257,7 +1258,7 @@ export async function runServeHttp(engine: BrainEngine, options: ServeHttpOption
         renderAbandonedThreadsCard,
         renderPatternStatementsCard,
       } = await import('../core/calibration/svg-renderer.ts');
-      const holder = (req.query.holder as string) || 'garry';
+      const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({ override: (req.query.holder as string) || undefined, configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder') });
       const type = req.params.type;
       const profile = await getLatestProfile(engine, { holder });
 

src/commands/takes.ts

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
 } from '../core/takes-fence.ts';
 import { withPageLock } from '../core/page-lock.ts';
 import { resolveSourceId } from '../core/source-resolver.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../core/owner-holder.ts';
 
 // --- Helpers ---
 
@@ -364,7 +365,7 @@ async function cmdResolve(engine: BrainEngine, args: string[], sourceId?: string
   // --evidence is the v0.30.0 alias for --source on the resolve subcommand
   // (semantic clarity: "what evidence resolved this bet?").
   const source = flagValue(args, '--evidence') ?? flagValue(args, '--source');
-  const resolvedBy = flagValue(args, '--by') ?? 'garry';
+  const resolvedBy = flagValue(args, '--by') ?? resolveOwnerHolder({ configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder') });
   const dirArg = flagValue(args, '--dir');
 
   const pageId = await getPageId(engine, slug, sourceId);

src/core/brainstorm/orchestrator.ts

@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ import {
   type BrainstormCheckpoint,
   type CheckpointCross,
 } from './checkpoint.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../owner-holder.ts';
 
 export { BudgetExhausted };
 
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ export interface BrainstormOptions {
   modelOverride?: string;
   /** Skip the cost-preview TTY grace window. Required for non-interactive callers. */
   skipCostPreview?: boolean;
-  /** When set, force the user holder for calibration profile lookup. Falls back to config (`emotional_weight.user_holder`) then `'garry'`. */
+  /** When set, force the user holder for calibration profile lookup. Falls back to config (`emotional_weight.user_holder`) then `'self'`. */
   holderOverride?: string;
   /** Source scope. */
   sourceId?: string;
@@ -623,7 +624,7 @@ async function _runBrainstormInner(
   }
 
   // ---- Phase 3: calibration context (cold-start fallback) ----
-  const holder = opts.holderOverride ?? config.emotional_weight?.user_holder ?? 'garry';
+  const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({ override: opts.holderOverride, configValue: config.emotional_weight?.user_holder });
   const calibContext = await loadCalibrationContext(engine, {
     holder,
     sourceId: opts.sourceId,

src/core/calibration/think-ab.ts

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import type { BrainEngine } from '../engine.ts';
 
 export interface ABRunInput {
   question: string;
-  /** Holder context for calibration. Default 'garry'. */
+  /** Holder context for calibration. Resolves via resolveOwnerHolder (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'). */
   holder?: string;
   /** Engine for DB write. */
   engine: BrainEngine;

src/core/config.ts

@@ -908,10 +908,6 @@ export const KNOWN_CONFIG_KEYS: readonly string[] = [
   'facts.extraction_model',
   // #2113: output-token cap for the per-turn facts extractor (default 4000).
   'facts.extraction_max_tokens',
-  // Owner opt-in: let the local stdio MCP pipe read this owner's private facts
-  // (find_trajectory / recall). Default off; HTTP transport ignores it. See
-  // src/core/facts/reader-trust.ts.
-  'facts.trust_local_reads',
   // Dream cycle config
   'dream.synthesize.session_corpus_dir',
   'dream.synthesize.meeting_transcripts_dir',

src/core/cycle/calibration-profile.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
  */
 
 import { BaseCyclePhase, type ScopedReadOpts, type BasePhaseOpts } from './base-phase.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../owner-holder.ts';
 import { chat as gatewayChat } from '../ai/gateway.ts';
 import { TIER_DEFAULTS } from '../model-config.ts';
 import { gateVoice, type VoiceGateGenerator, type VoiceGateJudge } from '../calibration/voice-gate.ts';
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ export type PatternStatementsGenerator = (input: {
 export type BiasTagsGenerator = (patterns: string[]) => Promise<string[]>;
 
 export interface CalibrationProfileOpts extends BasePhaseOpts {
-  /** Holder to generate the profile for. Default 'garry'. */
+  /** Holder to generate the profile for. Default resolves via resolveOwnerHolder (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'). */
   holder?: string;
   /** Inject the patterns generator (tests). */
   patternsGenerator?: PatternStatementsGenerator;
@@ -227,7 +228,10 @@ class CalibrationProfilePhase extends BaseCyclePhase {
     _ctx: OperationContext,
     opts: CalibrationProfileOpts,
   ): Promise<{ summary: string; details: Record<string, unknown>; status?: PhaseStatus }> {
-    const holder = opts.holder ?? 'garry';
+    const holder = resolveOwnerHolder({
+      override: opts.holder,
+      configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+    });
     const promptVersion = opts.promptVersion ?? CALIBRATION_PROFILE_PROMPT_VERSION;
     const modelId = opts.model ?? TIER_DEFAULTS.reasoning;
     const gradeCompletion = opts.gradeCompletion ?? 1.0;

src/core/cycle/emotional-weight.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
  * See `loadHighEmotionTags` for the resolution path.
  */
 
+import { DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER } from '../owner-holder.ts';
+
 /**
  * Default high-emotion tag seed list. Pages with any tag in this set get the
  * tag-emotion boost in the formula below. Override via config key
@@ -43,11 +45,12 @@ export const HIGH_EMOTION_TAGS: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set([
 ]);
 
 /**
- * Holder name treated as "the user" for the Garry-as-holder ratio. Configurable
- * via the `emotional_weight.user_holder` config key (defaults to 'garry' to
- * match the v0.28 schema's takes table convention).
+ * Holder name treated as "the user" for the user-as-holder ratio. Configurable
+ * via the `emotional_weight.user_holder` config key; defaults to the canonical
+ * owner holder ('self', DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER) so it matches the consolidate
+ * facts→takes writer instead of a hardcoded name.
  */
-export const DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER = 'garry';
+export const DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER = DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER;
 
 export interface EmotionalWeightTake {
   holder: string;

src/core/engine.ts

@@ -591,8 +591,6 @@ export interface TrajectoryOpts {
   sourceIds?: string[];
   /** When true, filters to visibility='world' only. Set by MCP layer from ctx.remote. */
   remote?: boolean;
-  /** Owner opt-in: read private facts despite `remote`. See facts/reader-trust.ts. */
-  trustedFactReads?: boolean;
   /** Metric filter. When set, only facts with this canonical metric label participate. */
   metric?: string;
   /**

src/core/facts/meta-hook.ts

@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 import type { OperationContext } from './../operations.ts';
 import type { FactRow } from './../engine.ts';
 import { effectiveConfidence } from './decay.ts';
-import { readableFactVisibilities } from './reader-trust.ts';
 
 const DEFAULT_TTL_MS = 30_000;
 const DEFAULT_TOP_K = 10;
@@ -51,13 +50,7 @@ export async function getBrainHotMemoryMeta(
   const sessionId = (ctx as { source_session?: string }).source_session
     ?? null;
   const allowListHash = hashAllowList(ctx.takesHoldersAllowList);
-  // Visibility tier: untrusted remote → world-only; trusted local +
-  // owner-trusted reads → all rows. Folded into the cache key (the header's
-  // "cache entries don't bleed across tiers" invariant): trustedFactReads is
-  // re-read from config per call, so a mid-session opt-out must not keep
-  // serving a private-inclusive cached payload for the TTL window.
-  const visibility = readableFactVisibilities(ctx);
-  const cacheKey = `${sourceId}::${sessionId ?? '_'}::${allowListHash}::${visibility ? 'world' : 'all'}`;
+  const cacheKey = `${sourceId}::${sessionId ?? '_'}::${allowListHash}`;
 
   const ttl = Math.max(1000, opts.ttlMs ?? DEFAULT_TTL_MS);
   const topK = Math.max(1, Math.min(opts.topK ?? DEFAULT_TOP_K, 25));
@@ -68,6 +61,10 @@ export async function getBrainHotMemoryMeta(
     return cached.payload;
   }
 
+  // Build a fresh payload. Visibility tier: remote → world-only;
+  // local → all rows.
+  const visibility = ctx.remote === false ? undefined : ['world'] as ('world' | 'private')[];
+
   let rows: FactRow[] = [];
   if (sessionId) {
     rows = await ctx.engine.listFactsBySession(sourceId, sessionId, {

src/core/facts/reader-trust.ts

@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Fact-read visibility trust.
- *
- * Fact rows are tagged `private` | `world`. Remote/untrusted callers
- * (`remote === true`) see only `world` rows — the posture that keeps a
- * published or HTTP-served brain from leaking private claims to strangers.
- *
- * But the stdio MCP server is an unauthenticated LOCAL pipe: on a single-owner
- * machine the caller IS the owner, yet it still defaults `remote: true` for
- * safety, so the owner's own agent is denied the owner's own private facts
- * (e.g. `find_trajectory` returns empty over MCP even though the facts exist).
- *
- * `trustedFactReads` is a narrow, READ-ONLY trust elevation, deliberately
- * DECOUPLED from `remote` so every other remote protection — file_upload
- * confinement, source isolation, fence stripping, takes-holder scoping — stays
- * fully in force. The stdio MCP server sets it ONLY when the brain owner opts
- * in via the `facts.trust_local_reads` config (default off). The HTTP/published
- * transport never sets it, so a served brain stays world-only regardless.
- */
-export interface FactReaderTrust {
-  /**
-   * Mirrors OperationContext.remote. FAIL-CLOSED: anything not strictly
-   * `false` is treated as remote/untrusted (CLAUDE.md trust invariant).
-   */
-  remote?: boolean;
-  /** Owner opt-in: this remote caller may read private facts. */
-  trustedFactReads?: boolean;
-}
-
-/**
- * True when the reader is restricted to `visibility = 'world'` rows.
- * Fail-closed: an unset/undefined `remote` is untrusted — only an explicit
- * `remote: false` (trusted local CLI) or an explicit owner opt-in
- * (`trustedFactReads: true`) reads private rows.
- */
-export function factsWorldOnly(t: FactReaderTrust): boolean {
-  return t.remote !== false && t.trustedFactReads !== true;
-}
-
-/**
- * Visibility filter for list-style fact reads: `['world']` when the reader is
- * world-only, `undefined` (no filter — all rows) when it is trusted.
- */
-export function readableFactVisibilities(
-  t: FactReaderTrust,
-): ('private' | 'world')[] | undefined {
-  return factsWorldOnly(t) ? ['world'] : undefined;
-}

src/core/operations.ts

@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import { captureEvalCandidate, isEvalCaptureEnabled, isEvalScrubEnabled } from '
 import type { HybridSearchMeta } from './types.ts';
 import { extractPageLinks, isAutoLinkEnabled, isAutoTimelineEnabled, isGlobalBasenameEnabled, parseTimelineEntries, makeResolver, type UnresolvedFrontmatterRef } from './link-extraction.ts';
 import { isFactsBackstopEligible } from './facts/eligibility.ts';
-import { readableFactVisibilities } from './facts/reader-trust.ts';
 import { stripTakesFence } from './takes-fence.ts';
 import { stripFactsFence } from './facts-fence.ts';
 import { getContentFlag } from './quarantine.ts';
@@ -333,15 +332,6 @@ export interface OperationContext {
    * remote/untrusted (defense in depth in case the type is bypassed via cast).
    */
   remote: boolean;
-  /**
-   * Owner opt-in (`facts.trust_local_reads`): allow this remote caller to read
-   * `private` facts. A NARROW, read-only trust elevation decoupled from
-   * `remote` — every other remote protection (file confinement, source
-   * isolation, fence stripping, takes scoping) stays in force. Set ONLY by the
-   * stdio MCP server when the config is on; the HTTP transport never sets it.
-   * Consulted via `src/core/facts/reader-trust.ts`.
-   */
-  trustedFactReads?: boolean;
   /**
    * Subagent runtime context (v0.16+). Set by the subagent tool dispatcher when
    * dispatching an op as a tool call from an LLM loop. Used to enforce per-op
@@ -3299,7 +3289,7 @@ const get_calibration_profile: Operation = {
     holder: {
       type: 'string',
       description:
-        "Holder slug, e.g. 'garry' or 'people/charlie-example'. Defaults to 'garry' when omitted.",
+        "Holder slug, e.g. 'self' or 'people/charlie-example'. Defaults to config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self', when omitted.",
     },
   },
   handler: async (ctx, p) => {
@@ -3639,7 +3629,6 @@ const find_trajectory: Operation = {
       entitySlug: p.entity_slug,
       ...scope,
       remote: ctx.remote === true,
-      trustedFactReads: ctx.trustedFactReads === true,
       metric,
       kind,
       since,
@@ -4000,9 +3989,13 @@ const recall: Operation = {
     const includeExpired = p.include_expired === true;
     const grep = typeof p.grep === 'string' ? p.grep.toLowerCase() : null;
 
-    // Visibility filter: world-only for untrusted remote callers; all rows for
-    // trusted local CLI and owner-trusted reads (facts.trust_local_reads).
-    const visibility = readableFactVisibilities(ctx);
+    // Visibility filter: remote callers see world-only unless their token
+    // grants elevated visibility (future-proofing; v0.31 ships world-only
+    // for remote, all for local CLI).
+    const visibility =
+      ctx.remote === false
+        ? undefined
+        : ['world'] as ('private' | 'world')[];
 
     let rows: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof ctx.engine.listFactsByEntity>> = [];
 

src/core/owner-holder.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/**
+ * Canonical holder string for "the brain owner," resolved in ONE place so the
+ * calibration / think / doctor / emotional-weight defaults stop disagreeing.
+ *
+ * The default matches the consolidate facts→takes writer
+ * (src/core/cycle/phases/consolidate.ts: holder:'self') and docs/takes-vs-facts.md.
+ * Do NOT introduce a fourth literal — three already exist historically
+ * ('garry', 'system', 'self'); this is the source of truth.
+ *
+ * NORMALIZATION NOTE: the brain owner may also appear under other holder
+ * strings — 'brain' (propose_takes when the author asserts a claim) and
+ * people/<owner> (extraction that names the owner). This resolver only selects
+ * the *default* canonical owner string for reads; it does NOT merge those other
+ * strings. Unifying them is owner-identity entity-resolution, tracked separately
+ * (see garrytan/gbrain#2465). Until then, historical owner takes
+ * under 'brain'/people-<owner> are not folded into the default profile.
+ */
+export const DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER = 'self';
+
+export function resolveOwnerHolder(
+  opts: { override?: string | null; configValue?: string | null },
+): string {
+  return opts.override ?? opts.configValue ?? DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER;
+}

src/core/pglite-engine.ts

@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import type {
 } from './engine.ts';
 import { MAX_SEARCH_LIMIT, clampSearchLimit } from './engine.ts';
 import { withRetry, BULK_RETRY_OPTS, resolveBulkRetryOpts, computeNextDelay, type BatchAuditSite } from './retry.ts';
-import { factsWorldOnly } from './facts/reader-trust.ts';
 import { logBatchRetry as auditLogBatchRetry, logBatchExhausted as auditLogBatchExhausted } from './audit/batch-retry-audit.ts';
 import { runMigrations } from './migrate.ts';
 import { PGLITE_SCHEMA_SQL, getPGLiteSchema } from './pglite-schema.ts';
@@ -4319,10 +4318,7 @@ export class PGLiteEngine implements BrainEngine {
     const useArray = Array.isArray(opts.sourceIds) && opts.sourceIds.length > 0;
     const sourceIds = useArray ? opts.sourceIds! : null;
     const sourceId = opts.sourceId ?? 'default';
-    // Direct-engine contract: unset `remote` here means a trusted in-process
-    // caller (CLI/tests) — the fail-closed default lives in the op layer, which
-    // always passes explicit booleans. Normalize before the fail-closed helper.
-    const remoteFilter = factsWorldOnly({ remote: opts.remote === true, trustedFactReads: opts.trustedFactReads === true });
+    const remoteFilter = opts.remote === true;
 
     // Build SQL dynamically. PGLite uses $N positional params; we
     // assemble the WHERE clauses + params array in tandem to keep them

src/core/postgres-engine.ts

@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import type {
   SourceRow,
 } from './engine.ts';
 import { withRetry, BULK_RETRY_OPTS, resolveBulkRetryOpts, computeNextDelay, type BatchAuditSite } from './retry.ts';
-import { factsWorldOnly } from './facts/reader-trust.ts';
 import { logBatchRetry as auditLogBatchRetry, logBatchExhausted as auditLogBatchExhausted } from './audit/batch-retry-audit.ts';
 import type {
   DomainBankSampleOpts, CorpusSampleOpts, DomainBankRow,
@@ -4533,10 +4532,7 @@ export class PostgresEngine implements BrainEngine {
     const useArray = Array.isArray(opts.sourceIds) && opts.sourceIds.length > 0;
     const sourceIds = useArray ? opts.sourceIds! : null;
     const sourceId = opts.sourceId ?? 'default';
-    // Direct-engine contract: unset `remote` here means a trusted in-process
-    // caller (CLI/tests) — the fail-closed default lives in the op layer, which
-    // always passes explicit booleans. Normalize before the fail-closed helper.
-    const remoteFilter = factsWorldOnly({ remote: opts.remote === true, trustedFactReads: opts.trustedFactReads === true });
+    const remoteFilter = opts.remote === true;
 
     // Source-scope predicate: array path (federated) wins over scalar.
     // Engine.ts contract: returns chronological points; regressions +

src/core/think/index.ts

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { runGather, renderPagesBlock, takesHitToTakeForPrompt } from './gather.t
 import { renderTakesBlock } from './sanitize.ts';
 import { buildThinkSystemPrompt, buildThinkUserMessage } from './prompt.ts';
 import { resolveCitations, type ParsedCitation } from './cite-render.ts';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder } from '../owner-holder.ts';
 import { resolveModel } from '../model-config.ts';
 import { chat as gatewayChat, probeChatModel, type ChatResult } from '../ai/gateway.ts';
 import { AIConfigError } from '../ai/errors.ts';
@@ -76,8 +77,8 @@ export interface RunThinkOpts {
    */
   withCalibration?: boolean;
   /**
-   * Holder to retrieve the calibration profile for. Default 'garry'. Only
-   * consulted when withCalibration=true.
+   * Holder to retrieve the calibration profile for. Resolves via resolveOwnerHolder
+   * (config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'). Only consulted when withCalibration=true.
    */
   calibrationHolder?: string;
   /**
@@ -308,7 +309,10 @@ export async function runThink(
     try {
       const { getLatestProfile } = await import('../../commands/calibration.ts');
       const profile = await getLatestProfile(engine, {
-        holder: opts.calibrationHolder ?? 'garry',
+        holder: resolveOwnerHolder({
+          override: opts.calibrationHolder,
+          configValue: await engine.getConfig('emotional_weight.user_holder'),
+        }),
       });
       if (profile) {
         calibrationBlockOpts = {

src/mcp/dispatch.ts

@@ -30,13 +30,6 @@ export interface ToolResult {
 export interface DispatchOpts {
   /** Defaults to true (remote/untrusted). Local CLI callers (`gbrain call`) pass false. */
   remote?: boolean;
-  /**
-   * Owner opt-in (`facts.trust_local_reads`): let this remote caller read
-   * `private` facts. Set ONLY by the stdio MCP server; the HTTP transport
-   * leaves it unset so a served brain stays world-only. See
-   * `src/core/facts/reader-trust.ts`.
-   */
-  trustedFactReads?: boolean;
   /** Override the default stderr logger (e.g. CLI uses console.* directly). */
   logger?: OperationContext['logger'];
   /**
@@ -210,7 +203,6 @@ export function buildOperationContext(
     logger: opts.logger || stderrLogger,
     dryRun: !!params.dry_run,
     remote: opts.remote ?? true,
-    trustedFactReads: opts.trustedFactReads === true,
     takesHoldersAllowList: opts.takesHoldersAllowList,
     // v0.34 D4: sourceId is REQUIRED at the type level. Auto-fill 'default'
     // for single-source brains and any caller who didn't resolve a sourceId.

src/mcp/server.ts

@@ -35,16 +35,6 @@ export async function startMcpServer(engine: BrainEngine) {
   // shape and cast through `any` (the SDK accepts it via the ServerResult union).
   server.setRequestHandler(CallToolRequestSchema, async (request: any): Promise<any> => {
     const { name, arguments: params } = request.params;
-    // Owner opt-in: the stdio pipe is local + unauthenticated, so on a
-    // single-owner machine its caller is the owner. When facts.trust_local_reads
-    // is on, let fact reads (find_trajectory / recall) see this owner's own
-    // private facts. Narrow + read-only — every other remote protection stays
-    // on (remote stays true). HTTP transport never sets this. Best-effort: a
-    // config read blip falls back to the safe world-only default.
-    let trustedFactReads = false;
-    try {
-      trustedFactReads = (await engine.getConfig('facts.trust_local_reads')) === 'true';
-    } catch { /* keep world-only default */ }
     // v0.28: stdio MCP has no per-token auth (local pipe). Default the
     // takes-holder allow-list to ['world'] so agent-facing callers don't
     // see private hunches via takes_list / takes_search / query. Operators
@@ -52,7 +42,6 @@ export async function startMcpServer(engine: BrainEngine) {
     // `gbrain call <op>` (sets remote=false in src/cli.ts).
     return dispatchToolCall(engine, name, params, {
       remote: true,
-      trustedFactReads,
       takesHoldersAllowList: ['world'],
       // v0.31: source defaults to 'default' for stdio (no per-token scope).
       // Operators who want a different source on stdio MCP should set

test/calibration-cli.test.ts

@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ function buildMockEngine(opts: { rows: CalibrationProfileRow[] }): {
   const capturedParams: unknown[][] = [];
   const engine = {
     kind: 'pglite',
+    // #2464: getCalibrationProfileOp resolves the owner holder via
+    // resolveOwnerHolder(config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'), so the
+    // mock must implement getConfig. null = key unset → resolver falls back to 'self'.
+    async getConfig(): Promise<string | null> {
+      return null;
+    },
     async executeRaw<T>(sql: string, params?: unknown[]): Promise<T[]> {
       capturedSql.push(sql);
       capturedParams.push(params ?? []);
@@ -211,17 +217,17 @@ describe('formatProfileText', () => {
 // ─── getCalibrationProfileOp ────────────────────────────────────────
 
 describe('getCalibrationProfileOp (MCP)', () => {
-  test('defaults holder to "garry" when omitted', async () => {
-    const { engine } = buildMockEngine({ rows: [buildProfile({ holder: 'garry' })] });
+  test('defaults holder to "self" when omitted (config emotional_weight.user_holder unset)', async () => {
+    const { engine } = buildMockEngine({ rows: [buildProfile({ holder: 'self' })] });
     const ctx = buildCtx(engine);
     const result = await getCalibrationProfileOp(ctx, {});
-    expect(result?.holder).toBe('garry');
+    expect(result?.holder).toBe('self');
   });
 
   test('routes through sourceScopeOpts: scalar source-bound client gets source-scoped result', async () => {
     const rows = [
-      buildProfile({ holder: 'garry', source_id: 'default' }),
-      buildProfile({ holder: 'garry', source_id: 'tenant-b' }),
+      buildProfile({ holder: 'self', source_id: 'default' }),
+      buildProfile({ holder: 'self', source_id: 'tenant-b' }),
     ];
     const { engine } = buildMockEngine({ rows });
     const ctx = buildCtx(engine, { sourceId: 'tenant-b' });
@@ -231,8 +237,8 @@ describe('getCalibrationProfileOp (MCP)', () => {
 
   test('federated read scope sees the union of allowed sources', async () => {
     const rows = [
-      buildProfile({ holder: 'garry', source_id: 'tenant-a' }),
-      buildProfile({ holder: 'garry', source_id: 'tenant-z' }),
+      buildProfile({ holder: 'self', source_id: 'tenant-a' }),
+      buildProfile({ holder: 'self', source_id: 'tenant-z' }),
     ];
     const { engine } = buildMockEngine({ rows });
     const ctx = buildCtx(engine, { allowedSources: ['tenant-a', 'tenant-b'] });

test/calibration-profile.test.ts

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ interface CapturedSql {
   params: unknown[];
 }
 
-function buildMockEngine(opts: { scorecard: TakesScorecard }): {
+function buildMockEngine(opts: { scorecard: TakesScorecard; userHolder?: string | null }): {
   engine: BrainEngine;
   captured: CapturedSql[];
 } {
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ function buildMockEngine(opts: { scorecard: TakesScorecard }): {
     async getScorecard() {
       return opts.scorecard;
     },
+    async getConfig(key: string): Promise<string | null> {
+      if (key === 'emotional_weight.user_holder') return opts.userHolder ?? null;
+      return null;
+    },
     async executeRaw<T>(sql: string, params?: unknown[]): Promise<T[]> {
       captured.push({ sql, params: params ?? [] });
       return [];
@@ -234,7 +238,7 @@ describe('runPhaseCalibrationProfile — phase integration', () => {
     // grade_completion, domain_scorecards_json, patterns[], voice_passed, voice_attempts,
     // bias_tags[], model_id
     expect(insert!.params[0]).toBe('default'); // source_id
-    expect(insert!.params[1]).toBe('garry'); // holder
+    expect(insert!.params[1]).toBe('self'); // holder (resolved via resolveOwnerHolder, no override)
     expect(insert!.params[2]).toBe(12); // total_resolved
     expect(insert!.params[9]).toBe(true); // voice_gate_passed
     expect(insert!.params[10]).toBe(1); // voice_gate_attempts
@@ -330,4 +334,24 @@ describe('runPhaseCalibrationProfile — phase integration', () => {
     const insert = captured.find(c => c.sql.includes('INSERT INTO calibration_profiles'));
     expect(insert!.params[0]).toBe('tenant-b');
   });
+
+  test('cold-brain summary uses resolved owner holder self when user_holder unset', async () => {
+    const { engine } = buildMockEngine({
+      scorecard: { total_bets: 0, resolved: 0, correct: 0, incorrect: 0, partial: 0,
+        accuracy: null, brier: null, partial_rate: null, unresolvable_count: 0, unresolvable_rate: null },
+    });
+    const result = await runPhaseCalibrationProfile(buildCtx(engine), {});
+    expect(result.summary).toContain('holder=self');
+    expect(result.summary).not.toContain('holder=garry');
+  });
+
+  test('configured user_holder overrides the default in the cold-brain summary', async () => {
+    const { engine } = buildMockEngine({
+      scorecard: { total_bets: 0, resolved: 0, correct: 0, incorrect: 0, partial: 0,
+        accuracy: null, brier: null, partial_rate: null, unresolvable_count: 0, unresolvable_rate: null },
+      userHolder: 'people/charlie-example',
+    });
+    const result = await runPhaseCalibrationProfile(buildCtx(engine), {});
+    expect(result.summary).toContain('holder=people/charlie-example');
+  });
 });

test/doctor-calibration-checks.test.ts

@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ function buildMockEngine(opts: {
 }): BrainEngine {
   return {
     kind: 'pglite',
+    // #2464: checkCalibrationFreshness resolves the owner holder via
+    // resolveOwnerHolder(config emotional_weight.user_holder, else 'self'), so the
+    // mock must implement getConfig. null = key unset → resolver falls back to 'self'.
+    async getConfig(): Promise<string | null> {
+      return null;
+    },
     async executeRaw<T>(sql: string): Promise<T[]> {
       if (opts.throwOn && opts.throwOn.test(sql)) {
         throw new Error('mock engine error: ' + sql.slice(0, 50));

test/emotional-weight.test.ts

@@ -112,3 +112,7 @@ describe('computeEmotionalWeight', () => {
     expect(HIGH_EMOTION_TAGS.has('mental-health')).toBe(true);
   });
 });
+
+test('DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER is the canonical owner holder self', () => {
+  expect(DEFAULT_USER_HOLDER).toBe('self');
+});

test/engine-find-trajectory.test.ts

@@ -165,22 +165,6 @@ describe('findTrajectory — visibility filter (D-CDX-1 / R6)', () => {
     const all = await engine.findTrajectory({ entitySlug: 'traj-vis-default' });
     expect(all.length).toBe(2);
   });
-
-  test('remote=true + trustedFactReads bypasses world-only (owner-trusted reads)', async () => {
-    await insertTyped({ entity_slug: 'traj-vis-trusted', metric: 'mrr', value: 50000, visibility: 'private', valid_from: new Date('2026-01-15') });
-    await insertTyped({ entity_slug: 'traj-vis-trusted', metric: 'mrr', value: 99999, visibility: 'world',   valid_from: new Date('2026-04-12') });
-
-    // Untrusted remote: world only.
-    const untrusted = await engine.findTrajectory({ entitySlug: 'traj-vis-trusted', remote: true });
-    expect(untrusted.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(untrusted[0].value).toBe(99999);
-
-    // Owner-trusted remote: sees the private point too. remote stays true — only
-    // fact-read visibility is elevated.
-    const trusted = await engine.findTrajectory({ entitySlug: 'traj-vis-trusted', remote: true, trustedFactReads: true });
-    expect(trusted.length).toBe(2);
-    expect(trusted.map(p => p.value).sort((a, b) => (a! - b!))).toEqual([50000, 99999]);
-  });
 });
 
 describe('findTrajectory — metric + since + until filters', () => {

test/facts-reader-trust.test.ts

@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, test, expect } from 'bun:test';
-import {
-  factsWorldOnly,
-  readableFactVisibilities,
-} from '../src/core/facts/reader-trust.ts';
-
-describe('factsWorldOnly', () => {
-  test('FAIL-CLOSED: unset remote is untrusted (world-only)', () => {
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({})).toBe(true);
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({ remote: undefined })).toBe(true);
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({ trustedFactReads: false })).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  test('explicit remote=false (trusted local CLI) sees all', () => {
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({ remote: false })).toBe(false);
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({ remote: false, trustedFactReads: false })).toBe(false);
-  });
-
-  test('untrusted remote callers are world-only', () => {
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({ remote: true })).toBe(true);
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({ remote: true, trustedFactReads: false })).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  test('owner-trusted remote reads bypass the world-only filter', () => {
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({ remote: true, trustedFactReads: true })).toBe(false);
-  });
-
-  test('trustedFactReads is a no-op for an already-trusted local caller', () => {
-    expect(factsWorldOnly({ remote: false, trustedFactReads: true })).toBe(false);
-  });
-});
-
-describe('readableFactVisibilities', () => {
-  test("world-only readers get the ['world'] filter (incl. unset remote)", () => {
-    expect(readableFactVisibilities({ remote: true })).toEqual(['world']);
-    expect(readableFactVisibilities({})).toEqual(['world']);
-  });
-
-  test('trusted readers get undefined (no filter — all rows)', () => {
-    expect(readableFactVisibilities({ remote: false })).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(readableFactVisibilities({ remote: true, trustedFactReads: true })).toBeUndefined();
-  });
-});

test/owner-holder.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { describe, test, expect } from 'bun:test';
+import { resolveOwnerHolder, DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER } from '../src/core/owner-holder.ts';
+
+describe('owner-holder', () => {
+  test('DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER is self', () => {
+    expect(DEFAULT_OWNER_HOLDER).toBe('self');
+  });
+
+  test('defaults to self when nothing provided', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({})).toBe('self');
+  });
+
+  test('null/undefined config falls back to self', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({ configValue: null })).toBe('self');
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({ configValue: undefined })).toBe('self');
+  });
+
+  test('uses config value when set and no override', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({ configValue: 'people/charlie-example' }))
+      .toBe('people/charlie-example');
+  });
+
+  test('override beats config and default', () => {
+    expect(resolveOwnerHolder({ override: 'world', configValue: 'people/charlie-example' }))
+      .toBe('world');
+  });
+});