diff --git a/.github/workflows/promote.yaml b/.github/workflows/promote.yaml
index 9acaeac..99ffd5e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/promote.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/promote.yaml
@@ -11,26 +11,70 @@ on:
 jobs:
   publish:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      id-token: write
     defaults:
       run:
         working-directory: ./mcp-server
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: "24.x"
           registry-url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
 
-      - run: npm ci
-      - name: Publish to NPM
+      # The runner's bundled npm predates OIDC support for dist-tag, which
+      # npm/cli#10038 added in 11.21.0 and 12.2.0. Pinned rather than `latest`:
+      # this runs in the job holding `id-token: write`, so whatever it installs
+      # can mint an npm credential for this package. Bumping it requires node
+      # >= 24.15.0, which `node-version` above must keep satisfying.
+      - name: Install npm with OIDC dist-tag support
+        run: npm install -g npm@12.2.0 --ignore-scripts
+
+      - name: Promote to latest
         run: |
-          git config user.name "Currents NPM Bot"
-          git config user.email "npm@currents.dev"
-          npm dist-tag add @currents/mcp@${{ github.event.inputs.packageVersion }} latest
+          if ! npm dist-tag add @currents/mcp@${{ github.event.inputs.packageVersion }} latest; then
+            echo "::error::The registry refused the dist-tag. Trusted publishing grants it separately from publish, and it is off by default: enable 'Allow npm dist-tag' on the trusted publisher configuration for @currents/mcp at https://www.npmjs.com/package/@currents/mcp/access"
+            exit 1
+          fi
           npm dist-tag rm @currents/mcp beta
-        env:
-          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
+
+  # Separate job so the third-party actions below do not run beside
+  # `id-token: write`: neither needs OIDC, and both resolve a mutable tag.
+  announce:
+    needs: publish
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Mark Linear release as complete
+        id: release
+        uses: linear/linear-release-action@v0
+        with:
+          access_key: ${{ secrets.LINEAR_ACCESS_KEY }}
+          command: complete
+          version: ${{ github.event.inputs.packageVersion }}
+
+      - name: Post to Slack
+        if: success() && steps.release.outputs.release-url
+        uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v2
+        with:
+          webhook: ${{ secrets.SLACK_RELEASE_WEBHOOK_URL }}
+          webhook-type: incoming-webhook
+          payload: |
+            {
+              "text": "🚀 Release: @currents/mcp@${{ github.event.inputs.packageVersion }}",
+              "blocks": [
+                {
+                  "type": "section",
+                  "text": {
+                    "type": "mrkdwn",
+                    "text": "*🚀Release: @currents/mcp@${{ github.event.inputs.packageVersion }}* has been marked as complete in Linear.\n\n<${{ steps.release.outputs.release-url }}|View Release Notes>"
+                  }
+                }
+              ]
+            }
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yaml b/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
index 4300057..8ffa92b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
@@ -34,9 +34,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Validate release branch for latest channel
         if: github.event.inputs.channel == 'latest'
         run: |
-          if [[ ! "${{ github.ref }}" =~ ^refs/(heads|tags)/release/ ]]; then
-            echo "Error: Publishing to 'latest' channel requires a release/* branch or tag"
+          if [[ ! "${{ github.ref }}" =~ ^refs/heads/release/ ]]; then
+            echo "Error: Publishing to 'latest' channel requires a release/* branch"
             echo "Current ref: ${{ github.ref }}"
+            echo "Release tags are named v<version>, so the tag of a release does not match."
             exit 1
           fi
 
diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index e44c251..91ee3a1 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -105,9 +105,15 @@ The workflow will:
 
 1. Add the `latest` dist-tag to the specified version
 2. Remove the `beta` dist-tag from that version
+3. Mark the release complete in Linear and post it to Slack
 
 This is useful when you've tested a beta release and want to make it the default install without rebuilding.
 
+The workflow authenticates with npm through Trusted Publishing, so it needs no
+`NPM_TOKEN`. Trusted publishing grants dist-tag separately from publish, and the
+grant is off by default: **Allow npm dist-tag** has to be enabled on the trusted
+publisher configuration for `@currents/mcp`, or the registry refuses the tag.
+
 ## Linear Release
 
 The repository follows a branch-cut release model with Linear Releases integration:
@@ -116,7 +122,7 @@ The repository follows a branch-cut release model with Linear Releases integrati
 2. **Release branch creation** — when a `release/*` branch is pushed, it automatically:
    - Syncs with Linear Release
 3. **Stabilization** — only bug fixes and critical changes are allowed on the release branch
-4. **Publishing** — when publishing to npm via the "Publish NPM Package" workflow with `latest` channel, the release is automatically marked as completed in Linear and posted to Slack
+4. **Publishing** — the release is marked complete in Linear and posted to Slack when a version reaches the `latest` channel, whether by "NPM - Promote beta to latest" or by "Publish NPM Package" with the `latest` channel
 
 The workflow is defined in `.github/workflows/linear-release.yaml` and syncs the release state between Git branches and Linear Releases.