diff --git a/state/agent-swarm-paused.json b/state/agent-swarm-paused.json
index 4aff7f3..bf44b52 100644
--- a/state/agent-swarm-paused.json
+++ b/state/agent-swarm-paused.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
-  "paused": false,
-  "reason": "Operator kicked the stack after Discord/state scrub and restore-point backup. Live Face heartbeats may run through GameCult Local Orchestrator only.",
-  "pausedAt": null,
+  "paused": true,
+  "reason": "Paused after live retry immediately resurfaced stale witness discourse despite prior scrub and direct operator correction. Diagnose input/context/state before more Face turns.",
+  "pausedAt": "2026-05-22T18:00:20.1264989Z",
   "resumedAt": "2026-05-22T17:40:15.1719039Z"
 }