diff --git a/backend/src/app.py b/backend/src/app.py
index e15535a1..4c2c4564 100755
--- a/backend/src/app.py
+++ b/backend/src/app.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 project_root = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent.parent
 
 from alembic.config import Config as AlembicConfig
-from fastapi import FastAPI, HTTPException, Request, WebSocket, WebSocketDisconnect
+from fastapi import FastAPI, HTTPException, Request, WebSocket, WebSocketDisconnect, status
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 from fastapi.responses import FileResponse, JSONResponse
 from fastapi.staticfiles import StaticFiles
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ app = FastAPI(
     version="1.0.0",
     lifespan=lifespan,
 )
+# TraceContextMiddleware MUST be the outermost middleware so trace_id
+# is seeded before any other middleware or handler runs.
+from .core.middleware.trace import TraceContextMiddleware  # noqa: E402
+app.add_middleware(TraceContextMiddleware)
 # #endregion FastAPI_App
 # #region ensure_initial_admin_user [C:3] [TYPE Function]
 # @BRIEF Ensures initial admin user exists when bootstrap env flags are enabled.
@@ -246,9 +250,16 @@ app.add_middleware(HSTSMiddleware)
 #           appears in our structured JSON log output.
 @app.exception_handler(Exception)
 async def global_exception_handler(request: Request, exc: Exception):
+    client_host = request.client.host if request.client else "unknown"
     logger.exception(
         f"Unhandled exception: {request.method} {request.url.path}",
-        extra={"src": "app.exception_handler", "path": request.url.path, "method": request.method},
+        extra={
+            "src": "app.exception_handler",
+            "path": request.url.path,
+            "method": request.method,
+            "query_params": dict(request.query_params),
+            "client": client_host,
+        },
     )
     return JSONResponse(
         status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
@@ -296,11 +307,6 @@ async def log_requests(request: Request, call_next):
                 detail="Environment unavailable. Please check if the Superset instance is running.",
             )
 # #endregion log_requests
-# Seed trace_id on every request — MUST be the outermost middleware so trace_id
-# is seeded before log_requests (or any other middleware) runs.
-from .core.middleware.trace import TraceContextMiddleware
-
-app.add_middleware(TraceContextMiddleware)
 # #region API_Routes [C:3] [TYPE Block]
 # @BRIEF Register all FastAPI route groups exposed by the application entrypoint.
 # @RELATION DEPENDS_ON -> [FastAPI_App]
@@ -377,6 +383,7 @@ async def _authenticate_websocket(websocket: WebSocket, endpoint_name: str) -> b
             )
             return True
     except Exception:
+        logger.explore("JWT validation failed in WebSocket auth", error="see traceback")
         pass
 
     # Fallback: try API key
@@ -398,6 +405,7 @@ async def _authenticate_websocket(websocket: WebSocket, endpoint_name: str) -> b
         finally:
             db.close()
     except Exception:
+        logger.explore("API key validation failed in WebSocket auth", error="see traceback")
         pass
 
     logger.warning(