diff --git a/LOCAL_SETUP.md b/LOCAL_SETUP.md
index 2609279..4abda93 100644
--- a/LOCAL_SETUP.md
+++ b/LOCAL_SETUP.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ You need:
 4. Under **Token**, generate/copy the token (`DISCORD_TOKEN`).
 5. Invite the bot to your server:
    - Open **OAuth2 → URL Generator**
-   - Scopes: `bot`
+   - Scopes: `bot`, `applications.commands`
    - Bot permissions: `Send Messages`, `Embed Links`
    - Open the generated URL and authorize the bot for your server.
 6. In Discord, enable **Developer Mode**, then copy the IDs for the channels where digests should post.
diff --git a/SETUP.md b/SETUP.md
index 0c6b702..ee2bdd4 100644
--- a/SETUP.md
+++ b/SETUP.md
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ A Discord bot that watches the **GitHub YouTube channel** and the **GitHub Blog*
 
 6. **Invite the bot to your server:**
    - In the sidebar click **OAuth2 → URL Generator**.
-   - Under *Scopes* tick **bot**.
+   - Under *Scopes* tick **bot** and **applications.commands**.
    - Under *Bot Permissions* tick **Send Messages** and **Embed Links**.
    - Copy the generated URL, open it in a browser, select your server, and click **Authorise**.
 
diff --git a/bot/bot.py b/bot/bot.py
index 83066a8..dc59698 100644
--- a/bot/bot.py
+++ b/bot/bot.py
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ async def setup_hook(self) -> None:
                 logger.exception("Failed to load required cog %s during startup", cog_path)
                 raise
 
+        try:
+            await self.tree.sync()
+            logger.info("Slash commands synced.")
+        except discord.HTTPException:
+            logger.exception("Failed to sync slash commands during startup; continuing without command sync.")
+
     async def on_ready(self) -> None:
         """Called when the bot has successfully connected to Discord."""
         logger.info(
diff --git a/bot/cogs/blog_watcher.py b/bot/cogs/blog_watcher.py
index 32f1a89..cdf4fde 100644
--- a/bot/cogs/blog_watcher.py
+++ b/bot/cogs/blog_watcher.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 from typing import List
 
 import discord
+from discord import app_commands
 from discord.ext import commands, tasks
 
 from utils.blog_fetcher import BlogFetcher
@@ -167,6 +168,79 @@ async def before_weekly_digest(self) -> None:
         """Wait until the bot is fully connected before the first check."""
         await self.bot.wait_until_ready()
 
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Slash command – manual trigger
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @app_commands.command(
+        name="blogdigest",
+        description="Manually run the GitHub Blog weekly digest right now.",
+    )
+    @app_commands.default_permissions(manage_guild=True)
+    async def blogdigest(self, interaction: discord.Interaction) -> None:
+        """Slash command to trigger the blog digest immediately."""
+        await interaction.response.defer(ephemeral=True)
+
+        try:
+            now = datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc)
+            since = now - timedelta(days=7)
+
+            posts = await asyncio.to_thread(
+                self.blog_client.get_posts_since_by_keywords,
+                since=since,
+                keywords=self.keywords,
+                max_results=self.digest_count,
+                search_pool=self.search_pool,
+            )
+
+            try:
+                channel = await self.bot.fetch_channel(self.discord_channel_id)
+            except discord.NotFound:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    f"❌ Channel ID `{self.discord_channel_id}` not found — check `config.yaml`.",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+                return
+            except discord.Forbidden:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    f"❌ Channel ID `{self.discord_channel_id}` is not accessible — check bot permissions.",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+                return
+            except discord.HTTPException as exc:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    f"❌ Failed to fetch channel: {exc}",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+                return
+
+            if not posts:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    "⚠️ No matching blog posts found for the past 7 days.",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+                return
+
+            embed = _build_digest_embed(posts, self.keywords, since, now)
+            await channel.send(embed=embed)
+            logger.info("Manual blog digest posted by %s: %d post(s).", interaction.user, len(posts))
+            await interaction.followup.send(
+                f"✅ Blog digest posted to <#{self.discord_channel_id}> ({len(posts)} post(s)).",
+                ephemeral=True,
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            logger.exception("Manual blog digest failed for %s.", interaction.user)
+            try:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    "❌ Failed to run the blog digest. Please try again later and check the bot logs.",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+            except discord.HTTPException:
+                logger.exception(
+                    "Failed to send manual blog digest error response to %s.",
+                    interaction.user,
+                )
+
 
 # ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Helpers
diff --git a/bot/cogs/youtube_watcher.py b/bot/cogs/youtube_watcher.py
index 77f9243..5e092ac 100644
--- a/bot/cogs/youtube_watcher.py
+++ b/bot/cogs/youtube_watcher.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 from typing import List
 
 import discord
+from discord import app_commands
 from discord.ext import commands, tasks
 
 from utils.state import load_state, save_state
@@ -174,6 +175,75 @@ async def before_weekly_digest(self) -> None:
         """Wait until the bot is fully connected before the first check."""
         await self.bot.wait_until_ready()
 
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Slash command – manual trigger
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @app_commands.command(
+        name="youtubedigest",
+        description="Manually run the GitHub YouTube weekly digest right now.",
+    )
+    @app_commands.default_permissions(manage_guild=True)
+    async def youtubedigest(self, interaction: discord.Interaction) -> None:
+        """Slash command to trigger the YouTube digest immediately."""
+        await interaction.response.defer(ephemeral=True)
+
+        try:
+            now = datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc)
+            today_midnight = now.replace(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0)
+            since = today_midnight - timedelta(days=7)
+
+            videos = await asyncio.to_thread(
+                self.yt_client.get_top_videos_by_keywords,
+                channel_id=self.yt_channel_id,
+                keywords=self.keywords,
+                published_after=since,
+                top_n=self.digest_count,
+                search_pool=self.search_pool,
+            )
+
+            try:
+                channel = await self.bot.fetch_channel(self.discord_channel_id)
+            except discord.NotFound:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    f"❌ Channel ID `{self.discord_channel_id}` not found — check `config.yaml`.",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+                return
+            except discord.Forbidden:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    f"❌ Channel ID `{self.discord_channel_id}` is not accessible — check bot permissions.",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+                return
+            except discord.HTTPException as exc:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    f"❌ Failed to fetch channel: {exc}",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+                return
+
+            if not videos:
+                await interaction.followup.send(
+                    "⚠️ No matching YouTube videos found for the past 7 days.",
+                    ephemeral=True,
+                )
+                return
+
+            embed = _build_digest_embed(videos, self.keywords, since, now)
+            await channel.send(embed=embed)
+            logger.info("Manual YouTube digest posted by %s: %d video(s).", interaction.user, len(videos))
+            await interaction.followup.send(
+                f"✅ YouTube digest posted to <#{self.discord_channel_id}> ({len(videos)} video(s)).",
+                ephemeral=True,
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            logger.exception("Manual YouTube digest failed for %s.", interaction.user)
+            await interaction.followup.send(
+                "❌ Failed to run the YouTube digest due to an unexpected error. Please check the logs and try again.",
+                ephemeral=True,
+            )
+
 
 # ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Helpers