diff --git a/internal/matrix/client.go b/internal/matrix/client.go
index 38068fe..7594d9c 100644
--- a/internal/matrix/client.go
+++ b/internal/matrix/client.go
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ import (
 // ReactionHandler is called when a reaction is received on a post.
 type ReactionHandler func(roomID id.RoomID, eventID id.EventID, targetEventID id.EventID, emoji string, userID id.UserID)
 
+// MessageHandler is called when a text message is received in a configured room.
+// body is the plain-text content; channel is the configured channel name for the room.
+type MessageHandler func(channel string, roomID id.RoomID, eventID id.EventID, sender id.UserID, body string)
+
 // deviceInfo holds persisted device credentials.
 type deviceInfo struct {
 	AccessToken string `json:"access_token"`
@@ -47,6 +51,7 @@ type Client struct {
 
 	mu         sync.RWMutex
 	onReact    ReactionHandler
+	onMessage  MessageHandler
 	cancelSync context.CancelFunc
 }
 
@@ -217,6 +222,23 @@ func (c *Client) SetReactionHandler(fn ReactionHandler) {
 	c.onReact = fn
 }
 
+// SetMessageHandler registers a callback for text messages in configured channel rooms.
+func (c *Client) SetMessageHandler(fn MessageHandler) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	c.onMessage = fn
+}
+
+// ChannelForRoom returns the channel name configured for the given room, if any.
+func (c *Client) ChannelForRoom(roomID id.RoomID) (string, bool) {
+	for name, rid := range c.channels {
+		if rid == roomID {
+			return name, true
+		}
+	}
+	return "", false
+}
+
 // Start begins the Matrix sync loop in the background.
 func (c *Client) Start(ctx context.Context) {
 	syncer := c.mx.Syncer.(*mautrix.DefaultSyncer)
@@ -247,6 +269,27 @@ func (c *Client) Start(ctx context.Context) {
 		}
 	})
 
+	// Listen for text messages in configured channel rooms
+	syncer.OnEventType(event.EventMessage, func(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event) {
+		if evt.Sender == c.userID {
+			return
+		}
+		channel, ok := c.ChannelForRoom(evt.RoomID)
+		if !ok {
+			return
+		}
+		msg := evt.Content.AsMessage()
+		if msg == nil || msg.MsgType != event.MsgText {
+			return
+		}
+		c.mu.RLock()
+		handler := c.onMessage
+		c.mu.RUnlock()
+		if handler != nil {
+			handler(channel, evt.RoomID, evt.ID, evt.Sender, msg.Body)
+		}
+	})
+
 	// Auto-join on invite
 	syncer.OnEventType(event.StateMember, func(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event) {
 		if evt.GetStateKey() == string(c.userID) && evt.Content.AsMember().Membership == event.MembershipInvite {
diff --git a/internal/poster/queue.go b/internal/poster/queue.go
index 0f9770e..ab6a91c 100644
--- a/internal/poster/queue.go
+++ b/internal/poster/queue.go
@@ -90,6 +90,26 @@ func (q *Queue) Wait() {
 	<-q.done
 }
 
+// ForcePost pops the next queued item for the given channel and posts it
+// immediately, bypassing min-interval, burst cap, and daily cap. Dedup
+// (canonical URL cooldown) still applies. Returns true if an item was sent.
+func (q *Queue) ForcePost(channel string) bool {
+	q.mu.Lock()
+	items := q.queues[channel]
+	if len(items) == 0 {
+		q.mu.Unlock()
+		return false
+	}
+	item := items[0]
+	q.queues[channel] = items[1:]
+	q.mu.Unlock()
+
+	slog.Info("force-posting story on demand",
+		"guid", item.GUID, "channel", channel)
+	q.postItem(item)
+	return true
+}
+
 func (q *Queue) drain() {
 	q.mu.Lock()
 	channels := make([]string, 0, len(q.queues))
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index ab1ed3d..98371b5 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ import (
 	"pete/internal/poster"
 	"pete/internal/scheduler"
 	"pete/internal/storage"
+
+	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/id"
 )
 
 func main() {
@@ -80,6 +83,23 @@ func main() {
 	exp := explainer.New(mx, ollamaClient)
 	poster.SetReactionCallback(exp.Handle)
 
+	// Wire !post command: force-publish next queued story for the room's channel.
+	mx.SetMessageHandler(func(channel string, roomID id.RoomID, eventID id.EventID, sender id.UserID, body string) {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(body) != "!post" {
+			return
+		}
+		slog.Info("!post requested", "channel", channel, "sender", sender)
+		if queue.ForcePost(channel) {
+			return
+		}
+		if err := mx.PostThreadedReply(channel, eventID,
+			"nothing queued for "+channel,
+			"nothing queued for <code>"+channel+"</code>",
+		); err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("!post: failed to send empty-queue reply", "err", err)
+		}
+	})
+
 	// Set up graceful shutdown
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()