diff --git a/coffer/news_publish.py b/coffer/news_publish.py
index f984dfa..80436cf 100644
--- a/coffer/news_publish.py
+++ b/coffer/news_publish.py
@@ -214,12 +214,24 @@ def try_auto_publish(article_html: str, *, updated_at: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
     number = pr["number"]
     unlock = unlock_news_main()
     merged = merge_pr(number)
+    merge_status = merged.get("status")
+    push_main = None
+    if merge_status and int(merge_status) >= 400:
+        # Gitea merge API often returns 405/"try again later"; push main while unlocked.
+        _git(news_repo, "fetch", "origin")
+        _git(news_repo, "checkout", "main")
+        _git(news_repo, "pull", "--ff-only", "origin", "main")
+        _git(news_repo, "merge", f"origin/{branch}", "-m", f"Merge {title}")
+        push = _git(news_repo, "push", "origin", "main")
+        push_main = {"returncode": push.returncode, "stderr": (push.stderr or "")[:300]}
+        _api("PATCH", f"/repos/leora/news/pulls/{number}", {"state": "closed"})
     relock = relock_news_main()
     return {
         "changed": True,
         "pr_number": number,
         "pr_url": pr.get("html_url"),
-        "merge_status": merged.get("status"),
+        "merge_status": merge_status,
+        "push_main": push_main,
         "unlock": unlock.get("status"),
         "relock": relock.get("status"),
         "updated_at": updated_at,