[BUG] `/release-notes` command displays excessive whitespace

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Bug Report: /release-notes command displays excessive whitespace

Environment

• Claude Code Version: 2.1.9
• OS: Windows 11 with WSL2 Ubuntu
• Terminals Tested: Windows Terminal, Alacritty 0.16.1

Description

The /release-notes command displays with excessive empty space/blank lines, causing the actual content to be pushed far up the screen. This makes it appear as if the screen is empty until scrolling up.

Expected Behavior

Release notes should display from the top of the visible terminal area without excessive blank lines.

Actual Behavior

• Text content flickers briefly during render
• Terminal appears empty after the command completes
• Actual content is located far above the visible area, requiring significant scrolling up
• Issue occurs in multiple terminal emulators (Windows Terminal, Alacritty)

Additional Context

The brief flicker suggests content is being rendered, then the cursor is moved far down the screen due to excessive newlines/whitespace in the output.

What Should Happen?

Expected Behavior

Release notes should display from the top of the visible terminal area without excessive blank lines.

Error Messages/Logs

n/a

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce

1. Run Claude Code (claude)
2. Execute /release-notes
3. Observe the terminal appears empty
4. Scroll up to find the actual release notes content pushed above the viewport
5. terminal fast becomes "flickery"

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.9

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Additional Information

_No response_