diff --git a/quarto/assets/styles/dark-mode.scss b/quarto/assets/styles/dark-mode.scss
index 01ff0cf70..540ee7815 100644
--- a/quarto/assets/styles/dark-mode.scss
+++ b/quarto/assets/styles/dark-mode.scss
@@ -26,17 +26,17 @@ body {
   color: $body-color-dark;
 }
 
-// Links in dark mode - brighter crimson
+// Links in dark mode - brighter crimson with better contrast
 a {
-  color: $link-color-dark;
+  color: lighten($crimson, 10%) !important;  // Brighter default state for better readability
   
   &:hover {
-    color: lighten($crimson, 20%) !important;  // Bright crimson on hover
+    color: lighten($crimson, 25%) !important;  // Super bright on hover
     text-decoration: underline;
   }
   
   &:visited {
-    color: lighten($crimson, 10%);
+    color: lighten($crimson, 8%) !important;  // Slightly dimmer than unvisited
   }
 }
 
@@ -342,18 +342,44 @@ div[class*="margin"] {
   }
 }
 
-// Footer
-.page-footer {
-  background-color: $navbar-bg-dark;
-  border-top-color: $border-color-dark;
-  color: #adb5bd;
+// Footer - support both class names Quarto might use
+.page-footer,
+.footer,
+footer {
+  background-color: $navbar-bg-dark !important;
+  border-top-color: $border-color-dark !important;
+  color: #adb5bd !important;
+  
+  // Footer text elements
+  p, span, div {
+    color: #adb5bd !important;
+  }
+  
+  // Footer links
+  a {
+    color: lighten($crimson, 10%) !important;
+    
+    &:hover {
+      color: lighten($crimson, 25%) !important;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
-// Blockquotes
+// Blockquotes - higher contrast but distinct from callouts
 blockquote {
-  border-left-color: #6c757d;
-  background-color: #232323;
-  color: #d0d0d0;
+  border-left-color: #8a93a0 !important;  // Lighter border for better visibility
+  background-color: #2a2a2a !important;  // Slightly lighter background
+  color: #e0e0e0 !important;  // Much brighter text for readability
+  
+  // Ensure nested elements inherit the brighter color
+  p, cite, em, strong {
+    color: #e0e0e0 !important;
+  }
+  
+  // Attribution text
+  cite {
+    color: #c0c0c0 !important;
+  }
 }
 
 // Announcement bar - enhanced dark mode visibility
@@ -609,7 +635,7 @@ details.callout-definition code {
   color: #e6e6e6 !important;
 }
 
-// Links inside foldbox callouts - ensure bright hover
+// Links inside foldbox callouts - match global link brightness
 details.fbx-default a,
 details.fbx-answer a,
 details.fbx-question a,
@@ -624,15 +650,15 @@ details.callout-resource-slides a,
 details.callout-resource-videos a,
 details.callout-resource-exercises a,
 details.callout-code a {
-  color: $crimson-dark !important;
+  color: lighten($crimson, 10%) !important;  // Brighter default
   
   &:hover {
-    color: lighten($crimson, 20%) !important;
+    color: lighten($crimson, 25%) !important;  // Super bright on hover
     text-decoration: underline !important;
   }
   
   &:visited {
-    color: lighten($crimson, 10%) !important;
+    color: lighten($crimson, 8%) !important;
   }
 }