diff --git a/.githooks/pre-commit b/.githooks/pre-commit
index 534a4cba..c4ab66d4 100755
--- a/.githooks/pre-commit
+++ b/.githooks/pre-commit
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ echo "Running ruff format..."
 echo "Running ruff check..."
 .venv/bin/ruff check docking/ tests/
 echo "Running ty..."
-.venv/bin/ty check docking/
+PYTHONPATH="$(pwd):$PYTHONPATH" .venv/bin/ty check docking/
 echo "Checking i18n template sync..."
 bash tools/i18n.sh --check-pot-sync
 echo "Checking i18n completeness..."
diff --git a/docking/applets/certwatch/state.py b/docking/applets/certwatch/state.py
index f41d2806..292845b6 100644
--- a/docking/applets/certwatch/state.py
+++ b/docking/applets/certwatch/state.py
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ def build_tooltip(
     loading: bool = False,
     error: str | None = None,
     now: datetime | None = None,
-    updated_at: object | None = None,
+    updated_at: datetime | str | None = None,
     cadence_seconds: int | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     """Full tooltip text: header + one line per domain."""
diff --git a/docking/applets/deskpresence/state.py b/docking/applets/deskpresence/state.py
index 4de77553..53ef0e90 100644
--- a/docking/applets/deskpresence/state.py
+++ b/docking/applets/deskpresence/state.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from datetime import date, datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from enum import Enum
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, cast
 
 from docking.i18n import _
 
@@ -230,7 +230,8 @@ def _parse_history(raw: object, *, today: date) -> list[DayEntry]:
     for rd in raw:
         if not isinstance(rd, dict):
             continue
-        iso = str(rd.get("date", ""))
+        entry = cast(dict[str, Any], rd)
+        iso = str(entry.get("date", ""))
         if not iso:
             continue
         try:
@@ -242,8 +243,8 @@ def _parse_history(raw: object, *, today: date) -> list[DayEntry]:
             # anything older than the rolling window.
             continue
         try:
-            at_desk = float(rd.get("at_desk_seconds", 0.0))
-            away = float(rd.get("away_seconds", 0.0))
+            at_desk = float(entry.get("at_desk_seconds", 0.0))
+            away = float(entry.get("away_seconds", 0.0))
         except (TypeError, ValueError):
             continue
         parsed.append(
diff --git a/docking/applets/hackernews/state.py b/docking/applets/hackernews/state.py
index 7868c176..01f76988 100644
--- a/docking/applets/hackernews/state.py
+++ b/docking/applets/hackernews/state.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 import urllib.request
 from collections.abc import Callable, Mapping, Sequence
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, cast
 
 from docking.applets.live_state import (
     live_freshness_lines,
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def build_tooltip(
     loading: bool = False,
     page_loading: bool = False,
     error: str = "",
-    fetched_at: object | None = None,
+    fetched_at: dt.datetime | str | None = None,
     cadence_seconds: int | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     """Build tooltip text for the current applet state."""
@@ -202,31 +202,32 @@ def parse_story_payload(data: object) -> HackerNewsStory | None:
     """
     if not isinstance(data, Mapping):
         return None
-    if data.get("deleted") or data.get("dead"):
+    raw = cast(Mapping[str, Any], data)
+    if raw.get("deleted") or raw.get("dead"):
         return None
-    if data.get("type") != "story":
+    if raw.get("type") != "story":
         return None
     try:
-        story_id = int(data.get("id", 0))
+        story_id = int(raw.get("id", 0))
     except (TypeError, ValueError):
         return None
-    title = normalize_text(data.get("title"))
+    title = normalize_text(raw.get("title"))
     if story_id <= 0 or not title:
         return None
     try:
-        score = int(data.get("score", 0) or 0)
+        score = int(raw.get("score", 0) or 0)
     except (TypeError, ValueError):
         score = 0
     try:
-        comments = int(data.get("descendants", 0) or 0)
+        comments = int(raw.get("descendants", 0) or 0)
     except (TypeError, ValueError):
         comments = 0
     try:
-        timestamp = int(data.get("time", 0) or 0)
+        timestamp = int(raw.get("time", 0) or 0)
     except (TypeError, ValueError):
         timestamp = 0
 
-    item_url = normalize_text(data.get("url"))
+    item_url = normalize_text(raw.get("url"))
     hn_url = comments_url(story_id)
     return HackerNewsStory(
         id=story_id,
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ def parse_story_payload(data: object) -> HackerNewsStory | None:
         hn_url=hn_url,
         score=max(0, score),
         comments=max(0, comments),
-        by=normalize_text(data.get("by")),
+        by=normalize_text(raw.get("by")),
         time=max(0, timestamp),
     )
 
@@ -259,6 +260,8 @@ def parse_top_story_ids(
     skipped = 0
     offset = max(0, offset)
     for value in data:
+        if not isinstance(value, (int, float, str)):
+            continue
         try:
             story_id = int(value)
         except (TypeError, ValueError):
@@ -288,6 +291,8 @@ def parse_top_story_id_page(
 
     valid_ids: list[int] = []
     for value in data:
+        if not isinstance(value, (int, float, str)):
+            continue
         try:
             story_id = int(value)
         except (TypeError, ValueError):
@@ -336,27 +341,28 @@ def story_from_pref(data: object) -> HackerNewsStory | None:
     """Parse one persisted story."""
     if not isinstance(data, Mapping):
         return None
+    raw = cast(Mapping[str, Any], data)
     try:
-        story_id = int(data.get("id", 0))
-        score = int(data.get("score", 0) or 0)
-        comments = int(data.get("comments", 0) or 0)
-        timestamp = int(data.get("time", 0) or 0)
+        story_id = int(raw.get("id", 0))
+        score = int(raw.get("score", 0) or 0)
+        comments = int(raw.get("comments", 0) or 0)
+        timestamp = int(raw.get("time", 0) or 0)
     except (TypeError, ValueError):
         return None
-    title = normalize_text(data.get("title"))
+    title = normalize_text(raw.get("title"))
     if story_id <= 0 or not title:
         return None
-    hn_url = normalize_text(data.get("hn_url")) or comments_url(story_id)
+    hn_url = normalize_text(raw.get("hn_url")) or comments_url(story_id)
     return HackerNewsStory(
         id=story_id,
         title=title,
-        url=normalize_text(data.get("url")) or hn_url,
+        url=normalize_text(raw.get("url")) or hn_url,
         hn_url=hn_url,
         score=max(0, score),
         comments=max(0, comments),
-        by=normalize_text(data.get("by")),
+        by=normalize_text(raw.get("by")),
         time=max(0, timestamp),
-        source=normalize_text(data.get("source")) or HN_SOURCE,
+        source=normalize_text(raw.get("source")) or HN_SOURCE,
     )
 
 
@@ -393,7 +399,9 @@ def prefs_from_mapping(prefs: Mapping[str, Any] | None) -> HackerNewsPrefs:
 
 def _int_from_pref(value: object, fallback: int) -> int:
     try:
-        return int(value)
+        if isinstance(value, (int, float, str)):
+            return int(value)
+        return fallback
     except (TypeError, ValueError):
         return fallback
 
diff --git a/docking/applets/thermals/state.py b/docking/applets/thermals/state.py
index 7c4f111a..5a4976f0 100644
--- a/docking/applets/thermals/state.py
+++ b/docking/applets/thermals/state.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import datetime as dt
 import re
 import shutil
 import subprocess
@@ -389,7 +390,7 @@ def build_tooltip(
     loading: bool = False,
     error: str | None = None,
     temperature_unit: TemperatureUnit = TemperatureUnit.CELSIUS,
-    updated_at: object | None = None,
+    updated_at: dt.datetime | str | None = None,
     cadence_seconds: int | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     """Build tooltip text for Thermals."""
diff --git a/docking/applets/weather/state.py b/docking/applets/weather/state.py
index 02af7ed6..2fea74e6 100644
--- a/docking/applets/weather/state.py
+++ b/docking/applets/weather/state.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import datetime as dt
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from functools import lru_cache
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ def build_tooltip(
     fetch_failed: bool = False,
     error: str | None = None,
     temperature_unit: TemperatureUnit = TemperatureUnit.CELSIUS,
-    updated_at: object | None = None,
+    updated_at: dt.datetime | str | None = None,
     cadence_seconds: int | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     """Build multi-line tooltip with current + daily forecast."""