diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index fdac436..301966b 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -223,17 +223,19 @@ not retroactively renamed.
   that close a backlog issue reference it via `closes #N` in the
   body; Gitea auto-closes the issue on push.
 
-- **Gitea issues** (since 2026-05-20) are the priority-ordered
-  forward queue — milestones, features, todos, and ideas. Browse:
+- **Gitea issues** (since 2026-05-20) are the forward queue —
+  milestones, features, todos, and ideas. Browse:
   http://192.168.178.103:3000/Brummel/AILang/issues. CLI: `tea
-  issues ls --labels prio:p1` etc. Labels: `kind:{milestone,
-  feature,todo,idea}` and `prio:{p1,p2,p3}`. Big chunks that get
-  their own `docs/specs/` entry live as Gitea **milestones**
-  (containers) plus a `kind:milestone` issue; smaller items are
-  standalone issues. The orchestrator owns the backlog and is
-  responsible for keeping it current: opening new issues,
-  re-labelling for priority, closing on completion (typically via
-  the `closes #N` commit-body trailer).
+  issues ls --repo Brummel/AILang`. Labels: `kind:{milestone,
+  feature,todo,idea}` (semantic class) and `state:in-progress`
+  (work has started). Big chunks that get their own
+  `docs/specs/` entry live as Gitea **milestones** (containers);
+  smaller items are standalone issues. No formal priority axis —
+  "what's next" is an orchestrator judgement call per session,
+  not a pre-set label. `kind:idea` is the "may be cut" marker.
+  The orchestrator owns the backlog: opening new issues,
+  retagging, closing on completion (typically via the
+  `closes #N` commit-body trailer).
 
 - **`docs/specs/<milestone>.md`** (since 2026-05-09): per-milestone
   design spec produced by `skills/brainstorm`. Hard-gate before any
diff --git a/skills/boss/SKILL.md b/skills/boss/SKILL.md
index 73af73a..05d25bc 100644
--- a/skills/boss/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/boss/SKILL.md
@@ -67,12 +67,20 @@ mode. This skill does not restate them.
 
 ### Step 1 — Read the queue
 
-The Gitea issue backlog is the priority-ordered forward queue.
-Browse: http://192.168.178.103:3000/Brummel/AILang/issues. CLI:
-`tea issues ls --repo Brummel/AILang --labels prio:p1` walks the
-highest-priority bucket first; drop to `prio:p2` / `prio:p3` when
-P1 is empty. Read the candidate issue body with `tea issues <N>`.
-The top P1 item is the candidate for the next dispatch.
+The Gitea issue backlog is the forward queue. Browse:
+http://192.168.178.103:3000/Brummel/AILang/issues. CLI:
+`tea issues ls --repo Brummel/AILang --state open` lists every
+open issue; `--labels kind:milestone` / `kind:feature` /
+`kind:todo` / `kind:idea` filters by semantic class. Read a
+candidate body with `tea issues <N> --repo Brummel/AILang`.
+
+There is no formal priority axis (`prio:*` labels were retired
+2026-05-20). Pick the next item by orchestrator judgement:
+typically the simplest in-flight follow-up to the just-closed
+milestone, then a `kind:todo` or `kind:feature` that unblocks
+something, then `kind:milestone` (which is itself a bounce-back
+per §"Direction freedom"). `kind:idea` is "may be cut" and
+should rarely be picked autonomously.
 
 If the entire open backlog is empty: skip to Step 5 (done-state).
 Do not invent work; an empty queue is a real signal that the
@@ -271,10 +279,9 @@ actionable ask, not a wrap-up summary.
 - **Universal rules:** `CLAUDE.md` — agent role boundaries, commit
   discipline, design rationale, authority over skills, feature
   acceptance, TDD-for-bugs, file-role roster.
-- **Queue:** Gitea issues — priority-ordered forward queue
-  consumed by Step 1. Browse:
-  http://192.168.178.103:3000/Brummel/AILang/issues; CLI: `tea
-  issues ls --repo Brummel/AILang --labels prio:p1`.
+- **Queue:** Gitea issues — forward queue consumed by Step 1.
+  Browse: http://192.168.178.103:3000/Brummel/AILang/issues; CLI:
+  `tea issues ls --repo Brummel/AILang --state open`.
 - **Canonical feature-acceptance criterion:**
   `design/contracts/feature-acceptance.md` — the criterion that gates
   new features; applied at spec time by `skills/brainstorm`.
diff --git a/skills/brainstorm/SKILL.md b/skills/brainstorm/SKILL.md
index 5e48242..366fb39 100644
--- a/skills/brainstorm/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/brainstorm/SKILL.md
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ interpretation:
    ```bash
    tea issues create --repo Brummel/AILang \
      --title "<idea title>" \
-     --labels "kind:<milestone|feature|todo|idea>,prio:p2" \
+     --labels "kind:<milestone|feature|todo|idea>" \
      --description "<one-line description>
 
    **context:** <why this is deferred>