diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index 4b0302a7cee6..f603dd4c8ee1 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -20560,6 +20560,7 @@ def _interim_assistant_cb(text: str, *, already_streamed: bool = False) -> None:
                     _status_adapter.send(
                         _status_chat_id,
                         display_text,
+                        reply_to=event_message_id,
                         metadata=_status_thread_metadata,
                     ),
                     _loop_for_step,
diff --git a/gateway/stream_consumer.py b/gateway/stream_consumer.py
index a269aa8198d3..653b8de96632 100644
--- a/gateway/stream_consumer.py
+++ b/gateway/stream_consumer.py
@@ -1515,6 +1515,7 @@ async def _send_commentary(self, text: str) -> bool:
             result = await self.adapter.send(
                 chat_id=self.chat_id,
                 content=text,
+                reply_to=self._initial_reply_to_id,
                 metadata=self.metadata,
             )
             # Note: do NOT set _already_sent = True here.
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/telegram/adapter.py b/plugins/platforms/telegram/adapter.py
index 43fc073c4e72..9a1b9793d234 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/telegram/adapter.py
+++ b/plugins/platforms/telegram/adapter.py
@@ -8417,18 +8417,22 @@ def _enqueue_photo_event(self, batch_key: str, event: MessageEvent) -> None:
 
     async def _handle_media_message(self, update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
         """Handle incoming media messages, downloading images to local cache."""
-        if not update.message:
+        # Use effective_message so channel posts (update.channel_post) are
+        # handled too — plain update.message is None for channel broadcasts,
+        # which silently dropped forwarded media in channels.
+        msg = self._effective_update_message(update)
+        if not msg:
             return
-        if not self._is_user_authorized_from_message(update.message):
+        if not self._is_user_authorized_from_message(msg):
             logger.info(
                 "[Telegram] Blocked media from unauthorized user %s in chat %s",
-                getattr(getattr(update.message, "from_user", None), "id", None),
-                getattr(getattr(update.message, "chat", None), "id", None),
+                getattr(getattr(msg, "from_user", None), "id", None),
+                getattr(getattr(msg, "chat", None), "id", None),
             )
             return
-        if not self._should_process_message(update.message):
-            if self._should_observe_unmentioned_group_message(update.message):
-                _m = update.message
+        if not self._should_process_message(msg):
+            if self._should_observe_unmentioned_group_message(msg):
+                _m = msg
                 _observe_type = self._media_message_type(_m)
                 _event = self._build_message_event(_m, _observe_type, update_id=update.update_id)
                 if _m.caption:
@@ -8439,7 +8443,8 @@ async def _handle_media_message(self, update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFA
                 )
             return
 
-        msg = update.message
+        # msg already resolved via _effective_update_message above (handles
+        # channel posts); keep the local reference for the rest of the handler.
 
         msg_type = self._media_message_type(msg)