diff --git a/manager/profiles.py b/manager/profiles.py
index f9adfe8..f50062a 100644
--- a/manager/profiles.py
+++ b/manager/profiles.py
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
+import time
 import urllib.request
+import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ def group_member_count(g: dict) -> int:
     return g.get("groupSummary", {}).get("currentMembers", 0)
 
 
-BOT_TYPES      = ["echo", "llm", "broadcast", "support", "directory", "deadmans"]
+BOT_TYPES      = ["echo", "llm", "rss", "broadcast", "support", "directory", "deadmans"]
 USER_TYPES     = ["user"]
 BUSINESS_TYPES = ["business"]  # cli accounts with a business address (per-customer group chats)
 ALL_TYPES      = BOT_TYPES + USER_TYPES + BUSINESS_TYPES
@@ -155,6 +157,11 @@ class RunningBot:
     chat: Any = None  # simplex_chat ChatApi instance
     # Per-contact LLM conversation history (contactId → [{role, content}, ...])
     histories: dict[int, list[dict]] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    # RSS bot state
+    rss_seen: set = field(default_factory=set)   # entry ids already posted
+    rss_items: list = field(default_factory=list)  # latest fetched entries (newest first)
+    rss_next_poll: float = 0.0
+    rss_gid: int | None = None                   # broadcast channel group id
 
 
 # profile_id → RunningBot
@@ -426,6 +433,110 @@ async def _handle_broadcast_message(
         await reply("Broadcast failed.")
 
 
+# ── RSS bot helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+def _fetch_feed(url: str) -> list[dict]:
+    """Fetch + parse an RSS 2.0 or Atom feed → newest-first list of {id,title,link}.
+    Uses only the stdlib (urllib + ElementTree), no extra dependencies."""
+    req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"User-Agent": "simplex-rss-bot/1.0"})
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=20) as r:  # noqa: S310 - user-configured feed
+        data = r.read()
+    root = ET.fromstring(data)
+    out: list[dict] = []
+    items = root.findall(".//item")  # RSS 2.0
+    if items:
+        for it in items:
+            title = (it.findtext("title") or "").strip()
+            link = (it.findtext("link") or "").strip()
+            eid = (it.findtext("guid") or link or title).strip()
+            out.append({"id": eid, "title": title, "link": link})
+    else:  # Atom
+        ns = "{http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom}"
+        for e in root.findall(f".//{ns}entry"):
+            title = (e.findtext(f"{ns}title") or "").strip()
+            le = e.find(f"{ns}link")
+            link = (le.get("href") if le is not None else "") or ""
+            eid = (e.findtext(f"{ns}id") or link or title).strip()
+            out.append({"id": eid, "title": title, "link": link})
+    return out
+
+
+def _rss_format(e: dict) -> str:
+    title = e.get("title") or "(untitled)"
+    return f"{title}\n{e['link']}" if e.get("link") else title
+
+
+async def _rss_ensure_channel(profile_id: int, b: "RunningBot", chat: Any, user_id: int,
+                              name: str, config: dict) -> int | None:
+    """Find or create the broadcast channel (observer group) for this feed; persist its id."""
+    import db as _db
+    gid = config.get("channel_gid")
+    if gid:
+        try:
+            groups = await chat.api_list_groups(user_id)
+            if any(group_id(g) == gid for g in groups):
+                return gid
+        except Exception:
+            return gid  # assume still valid if the lookup failed
+    try:
+        info = await chat.api_new_group(user_id, {
+            "displayName": f"{name} Feed", "fullName": "",
+            "groupPreferences": {"history": {"enable": "on"}},  # new subscribers see recent posts
+        })
+        gid = info["groupId"]
+        await chat.api_create_group_link(gid, "observer")  # channel = observer link
+        config["channel_gid"] = gid
+        _db.update_config(profile_id, config)
+        _append_log(b, f"RSS channel created (group {gid})")
+        return gid
+    except Exception:
+        log.exception("rss: failed to create channel")
+        return None
+
+
+async def _rss_poll(b: "RunningBot", chat: Any, gid: int | None, config: dict, seed: bool) -> None:
+    """Fetch the feed; on the seed run just record existing ids, otherwise broadcast new items."""
+    url = (config.get("feed_url") or "").strip()
+    if not url:
+        return
+    try:
+        entries = await asyncio.to_thread(_fetch_feed, url)
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.error("rss fetch error: %s", e)
+        _append_log(b, f"RSS fetch error: {e}")
+        return
+    b.rss_items = entries
+    new = [e for e in entries if e["id"] not in b.rss_seen]
+    for e in new:
+        b.rss_seen.add(e["id"])
+    if seed:
+        _append_log(b, f"RSS seeded {len(entries)} existing item(s)")
+        return
+    if not gid or not new:
+        return
+    for e in reversed(new):  # post oldest → newest
+        try:
+            await chat.api_send_text_message({"chatType": "group", "chatId": gid}, _rss_format(e))
+        except Exception:
+            log.exception("rss: failed to post to channel")
+    _append_log(b, f"RSS posted {len(new)} new item(s)")
+
+
+async def _rss_send_latest(chat: Any, item: dict, b: "RunningBot", n: int = 3) -> None:
+    """Reply to a direct request (e.g. /new) with the latest feed items."""
+    items = b.rss_items[:n]
+    if not items:
+        try:
+            await chat.api_send_text_reply(item, "No items yet — check back soon.")
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        return
+    for e in items:
+        try:
+            await chat.api_send_text_reply(item, _rss_format(e))
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+
 async def _run_bot(
     profile_id: int,
     name: str,
@@ -487,6 +598,9 @@ async def _run_bot(
         elif bot_type == "broadcast":
             # auto-reply greets each new contact (default lists allowed publishers)
             settings["autoReply"] = {"type": "text", "text": _bc_welcome(config, name)}
+        elif bot_type == "rss":
+            welcome = config.get("welcome_message") or f"Subscribed to {name}. Send /new for the latest posts."
+            settings["autoReply"] = {"type": "text", "text": welcome}
         elif bot_type in ("echo", "llm", "directory", "deadmans"):
             welcome = config.get("welcome_message", f"Connected to {name}.")
             settings["autoReply"] = {"type": "text", "text": welcome}
@@ -516,10 +630,24 @@ async def _run_bot(
 
         dir_tick = 0  # directory bots periodically scan for newly-added groups
 
+        # RSS bot: ensure a broadcast channel and seed seen-items so we don't replay the
+        # whole feed on startup; then poll on an interval.
+        rss_poll_s = float(config.get("poll_seconds", 300))
+        if bot_type == "rss":
+            b.rss_gid = await _rss_ensure_channel(profile_id, b, chat, user_id, name, config)
+            await _rss_poll(b, chat, b.rss_gid, config, seed=True)
+            b.rss_next_poll = time.time() + rss_poll_s
+            await refresh()
+
         # Event loop
         while True:
             evt = await chat.recv_chat_event(500_000)
 
+            # RSS bot: poll the feed on its interval and broadcast new items to the channel
+            if bot_type == "rss" and time.time() >= b.rss_next_poll:
+                await _rss_poll(b, chat, b.rss_gid, config, seed=False)
+                b.rss_next_poll = time.time() + rss_poll_s
+
             # Directory bot: ~every 30s, refresh groups and register/auto-join new ones
             if bot_type == "directory":
                 dir_tick += 1
@@ -551,7 +679,16 @@ async def _run_bot(
                 _append_log(b, f"Contact connected: {ct_name}")
 
                 # echo replies on message; broadcast/others greet via the auto-reply
-                # configured in address settings, so nothing to do on connect here.
+                # configured in address settings. RSS also sends the latest items on connect.
+                if bot_type == "rss":
+                    cid = ct.get("contactId")
+                    if cid is not None:  # send the latest items directly to the new contact
+                        for e in b.rss_items[:3]:
+                            try:
+                                await chat.api_send_text_message(
+                                    {"chatType": "direct", "chatId": cid}, _rss_format(e))
+                            except Exception:
+                                pass
 
             elif tag == "newChatItems":
                 items = evt.get("chatItems", [])
@@ -606,6 +743,10 @@ async def _run_bot(
                                 b, chat, config, item, chat_info, text, DEFAULT_LLM_PROMPT
                             )
 
+                        elif bot_type == "rss" and text:
+                            if text.strip().lower() == "/new":
+                                await _rss_send_latest(chat, item, b)
+
                         elif bot_type == "directory" and text:
                             await _handle_directory_message(
                                 b, chat, config, name, item, chat_info, text
diff --git a/manager/rss_test.py b/manager/rss_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a4d799
--- /dev/null
+++ b/manager/rss_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+"""End-to-end test of the RSS bot (Pattern 3, in-process FFI).
+
+Serves a mock RSS feed locally, starts an rss bot pointed at it, and checks:
+  - the bot creates a broadcast channel (observer group)
+  - the initial feed item is seeded (not re-posted)
+  - a newly-added feed item is broadcast to the channel
+
+Verifies via the bot's own view of the channel chat (no subscriber needed).
+
+Run:  .venv/bin/python rss_test.py
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import json
+import sys
+import threading
+import time
+from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, HTTPServer
+from pathlib import Path
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent))
+import profiles as pm  # noqa: E402
+
+DATA = Path("data")
+BOT_PREFIX = str(DATA / "rsstest_bot")
+BOT_PID = 99004
+
+# mutable feed state the mock server serves
+FEED = {"items": [("First post", "https://example.com/1")]}
+
+
+def feed_xml():
+    items = "".join(
+        f"<item><title>{t}</title><link>{l}</link><guid>{l}</guid></item>"
+        for t, l in FEED["items"]
+    )
+    return (f'<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel>'
+            f'<title>Test Feed</title>{items}</channel></rss>').encode()
+
+
+class FeedHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
+    def do_GET(self):
+        body = feed_xml()
+        self.send_response(200)
+        self.send_header("Content-Type", "application/rss+xml")
+        self.end_headers()
+        self.wfile.write(body)
+
+    def log_message(self, *a):
+        pass
+
+
+def cleanup():
+    for p in DATA.glob("rsstest_bot_*"):
+        p.unlink()
+    bf = DATA / "manager.db"  # leave the manager db alone; we don't use it here
+
+
+async def wait_until(fn, timeout=120, every=1):
+    start = time.time()
+    while time.time() - start < timeout:
+        v = await fn()
+        if v:
+            return v
+        await asyncio.sleep(every)
+    return None
+
+
+async def channel_texts(chat, gid):
+    c = await chat.api_get_chat("group", gid, 50)
+    out = []
+    for ci in c.get("chatItems", []):
+        out.append(ci.get("content", {}).get("msgContent", {}).get("text", ""))
+    return out
+
+
+async def main() -> int:
+    cleanup()
+    srv = HTTPServer(("127.0.0.1", 0), FeedHandler)
+    port = srv.server_address[1]
+    threading.Thread(target=srv.serve_forever, daemon=True).start()
+    url = f"http://127.0.0.1:{port}/feed.xml"
+    print("mock feed at", url)
+
+    async def on_address(pid, addr):
+        pass
+
+    profile = {
+        "id": BOT_PID, "name": "rsstestbot", "bot_type": "rss",
+        "db_prefix": BOT_PREFIX,
+        "config": json.dumps({"feed_url": url, "poll_seconds": 5}),
+    }
+    ok = True
+    try:
+        await pm.start_bot(profile, on_address)
+        b = pm.get_running(BOT_PID)
+
+        # 1) channel created
+        gid = await wait_until(lambda: asyncio.sleep(0, b.rss_gid), timeout=90)
+        print("channel created:", bool(gid), "gid", gid)
+        assert gid, "rss bot did not create a channel"
+
+        # 2) the first item was seeded, not posted
+        await asyncio.sleep(2)
+        texts = await channel_texts(b.chat, gid)
+        assert not any("First post" in t for t in texts), "seeded item was wrongly broadcast"
+        print("seed OK (first item not broadcast)")
+
+        # 3) add a new item → it should be broadcast on the next poll
+        FEED["items"].insert(0, ("Breaking news", "https://example.com/2"))
+        got = await wait_until(
+            lambda: _contains(channel_texts(b.chat, gid), "Breaking news"), timeout=30, every=2
+        )
+        print("new item broadcast to channel:", bool(got))
+        ok = bool(got)
+    except AssertionError as e:
+        ok = False
+        print("ASSERT FAIL:", e)
+    finally:
+        await pm.stop_bot(BOT_PID)
+        srv.shutdown()
+        cleanup()
+
+    print("\nRESULT:", "PASS — rss bot broadcasts new feed posts" if ok else "FAIL")
+    return 0 if ok else 1
+
+
+async def _contains(coro, needle):
+    return any(needle in (t or "") for t in await coro)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(asyncio.run(main()))
diff --git a/manager/templates/list.html b/manager/templates/list.html
index dc7377c..1bc37c9 100644
--- a/manager/templates/list.html
+++ b/manager/templates/list.html
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
   <table>
     <tr><td><span class="tag">echo</span></td><td class="muted">Repeats every message back to the sender — handy for testing a connection end to end.</td></tr>
     <tr><td><span class="tag">llm</span></td><td class="muted">Chat with a local or remote LLM (OpenAI-compatible, e.g. Ollama). Give it context, it replies to your messages.</td></tr>
+    <tr><td><span class="tag">rss</span></td><td class="muted">Watches an RSS/Atom feed and broadcasts new posts to a channel it creates. Subscribers join the channel; send /new for the latest.</td></tr>
     <tr><td><span class="tag">broadcast</span></td><td class="muted">Relays messages from authorized publishers out to all of the bot's contacts.</td></tr>
     <tr><td><span class="tag">support</span></td><td class="muted">Business inbox — auto-replies with a welcome message and collects incoming inquiries.</td></tr>
     <tr><td><span class="tag">directory</span></td><td class="muted">Directory service for discovering and listing groups or contacts.</td></tr>
@@ -224,6 +225,23 @@
         <input type="text" name="prohibited_message" placeholder="Only publishers can broadcast. Your message is deleted.">
       </div>
     </div>
+    <div id="rss-fields" style="display:none;">
+      <div style="border-top:1px solid var(--border);margin:4px 0 14px;padding-top:14px;">
+        <p class="muted" style="margin-bottom:12px;">
+          The bot watches this feed and broadcasts new posts to a channel it creates.
+          Share the channel link (from the bot's profile) with subscribers; anyone messaging
+          the bot can send <code>/new</code> for the latest.
+        </p>
+      </div>
+      <div class="field">
+        <label>Feed URL</label>
+        <input type="text" name="feed_url" placeholder="https://example.com/feed.xml">
+      </div>
+      <div class="field">
+        <label>Poll interval <span class="muted" style="font-weight:400;">(seconds)</span></label>
+        <input type="number" name="poll_seconds" min="30" value="300">
+      </div>
+    </div>
     {% endif %}
     <div class="flex gap-8 mt-16" style="justify-content:flex-end;">
       <button type="button" class="btn btn-ghost"
@@ -297,6 +315,7 @@ function onTypeChange() {
   document.getElementById('deadmans-fields').style.display = (val === 'deadmans') ? 'block' : 'none';
   document.getElementById('directory-fields').style.display = (val === 'directory') ? 'block' : 'none';
   document.getElementById('broadcast-fields').style.display = (val === 'broadcast') ? 'block' : 'none';
+  document.getElementById('rss-fields').style.display = (val === 'rss') ? 'block' : 'none';
 }
 {% endif %}
 
@@ -341,6 +360,13 @@ document.getElementById('create-form').addEventListener('submit', async (e) => {
     const prohibited = (fd.get('prohibited_message') || '').trim();
     if (prohibited) config.prohibited_message = prohibited;
   }
+  if (botType === 'rss') {
+    const url = (fd.get('feed_url') || '').trim();
+    if (!url) { alert('Feed URL is required for an RSS bot'); return; }
+    config.feed_url = url;
+    const ps = parseInt(fd.get('poll_seconds'), 10);
+    if (!isNaN(ps) && ps >= 30) config.poll_seconds = ps;
+  }
   {% endif %}
   // Shared profile fields (users and bots)
   const bio = (fd.get('bio') || '').trim();