[BUG] VS Code extension 2.1.296: black/empty panel, webview throws 'SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier object' (2.1.295 works)

Description

After VS Code auto-updated to 1.141.0 and the extension to 2.1.296 (both at the same time), the Claude Code panel opens as an empty black view: no input box, no session history. Previous sessions are not listed.

The extension host side looks healthy (Claude VSCode.log shows activation, MCP server started, OAuth tokens found), but the webview never gets past loading its script.

Error (webview DevTools console)

index.js:16 Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier 'object'

Script URL: https://file+.vscode-resource.vscode-cdn.net/~/.vscode/extensions/anthropic.claude-code-2.1.296-darwin-arm64/webview/index.js

Environment

• macOS (Darwin 25.6.0), Apple Silicon
• VS Code 1.141.0
• Extension: anthropic.claude-code 2.1.296 (darwin-arm64), installed from the Marketplace
• claudeCode.preferredLocation: "panel"

What was ruled out

• File corruption (unlike #101072): webview/index.js on disk has no NUL bytes, is not truncated, and parses cleanly as an ES module with node --check (Node 22.18). Bundled binary is validly signed and runs (2.1.296).
• VS Code webview caches: quitting VS Code and moving aside Service Worker, Cache, Code Cache and CachedData did not change anything; same error after relaunch.
• Large session files: temporarily moving the session .jsonl files out of ~/.claude/projects did not change anything.

Workaround

Downgrading to 2.1.295 (code --install-extension anthropic.claude-code@2.1.295 --force) + Reload Window fixes it immediately on the same VS Code 1.141.0. So the regression is in 2.1.296 (possibly only in combination with VS Code 1.141).