diff --git a/src/clean_agent_preview.py b/src/clean_agent_preview.py
index f1e3e1d42..d9d087145 100644
--- a/src/clean_agent_preview.py
+++ b/src/clean_agent_preview.py
@@ -902,7 +902,7 @@ def incomplete_broad_web_answer(content, user_text):
     words = re.findall(r"[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9'’-]*", answer)
     # A broad briefing cannot be fulfilled by one headline fragment. This is
     # intentionally inapplicable to narrow quick-fact searches.
-    return len(words) < 80
+    return len(words) < 80 or not re.search(r'https?://\S+', str(content or ''))
 
 
 def progressive_thinking_for_turn(model, offered_schemas):
@@ -4440,8 +4440,8 @@ async def stream_preview(*, endpoint_url, model, messages, headers, turn_contrac
                                 force_web_search_next_round = True
                                 calls += 1
                                 raise ValueError(
-                                    'This follow-up search is equivalent to an earlier successful '
-                                    'query. Change the angle, missing subtopic, source type, or '
+                                    'An equivalent search already returned evidence. Change the '
+                                    'angle, missing subtopic, source type, or '
                                     'corroboration target instead of only changing freshness wording.'
                                 )
                             if search_intent and empty_search_intents.get(search_intent, 0) >= 2:
@@ -4784,7 +4784,7 @@ async def stream_preview(*, endpoint_url, model, messages, headers, turn_contrac
                     if not failed and canonical(actual_tool) == 'web_search':
                         successful_web_searches += 1
                         successful_intent = normalized_search_intent(args.get('query'))
-                        if successful_intent:
+                        if successful_intent and result.get('evidence_status') != 'empty':
                             successful_search_intents.append(successful_intent)
                         if successful_web_searches == 2 and not required_artifacts:
                             round_recovery_messages.append(
diff --git a/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py b/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
index edab32592..e2c79aef6 100644
--- a/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
+++ b/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
@@ -1864,6 +1864,17 @@ def test_broad_current_web_request_covers_natural_phrasings(prompt):
     assert broad_current_web_request(prompt)
 
 
+def test_broad_briefing_requires_substance_and_clickable_source_links():
+    from src.clean_agent_preview import incomplete_broad_web_answer
+
+    substantial = ' '.join(['substantive'] * 90)
+    assert incomplete_broad_web_answer(substantial, 'AI news')
+    assert not incomplete_broad_web_answer(
+        substantial + ' https://example.org/report', 'AI news'
+    )
+    assert not incomplete_broad_web_answer('Short answer.', 'What is Python?')
+
+
 def test_followup_search_must_change_subject_angle_not_only_freshness():
     from src.clean_agent_preview import repeated_search_refinement