diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c111477..3a24102 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,22 +28,18 @@ file email goes out (`{{.CTALink}}` in `day-0.md` is a direct download link,
 not a webpage) → a day-1 follow-up email 24h later with no list/conversion
 mechanics of its own.
 
-## Stub — two things need to happen before this goes live
+## Stub — one thing needs to happen before this goes live
 
-1. **`course.yml` is `active: false`.** All the content below is a
-   placeholder (TODO subject lines, TODO body copy, and a `redirect_url`
-   pointing at a file that doesn't exist yet in the `thistleandmoth-downloads`
-   bucket — see `thistleandmoth-site`'s `/gift` page, which is the same kind
-   of stub). Replace the TODOs with real copy once the reader-magnet file and
-   cover art are ready, then flip `active: true`.
-2. **`signup_list_name: "thistleandmoth-list"` doesn't exist yet in
-   Listmonk.** Sync rejects the course outright if the name doesn't resolve
-   to exactly one list — create that list in the Listmonk admin UI first
-   (matching the naming convention of `michaelferrara-list` /
-   `Two Squirrels Press`), then push.
+`course.yml` is `active: false`. All the content below is a placeholder
+(TODO subject lines, TODO body copy, and a `redirect_url` pointing at a file
+that doesn't exist yet in the `thistleandmoth-downloads` bucket — see
+`thistleandmoth-site`'s `/gift` page, which is the same kind of stub).
+Replace the TODOs with real copy once the reader-magnet file and cover art
+are ready, then flip `active: true`.
 
-Until both of those are done, CI runs against this repo will fail sync with
-a clear error — that's expected, not a sign anything's broken.
+`signup_list_name: "thistleandmoth-list"` already exists in Listmonk
+(`public`/single opt-in, matching `michaelferrara-list`/`Two Squirrels
+Press`'s convention) — no action needed there.
 
 ## Deploying