diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index d1ded0ff541..48bb1f14061 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -196,47 +196,10 @@ jobs:
           COMMIT_SHA: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
           COMMIT_MESSAGE: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.commit.message }}
           COMMIT_URL: ${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/pull/${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}/commits/${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
-          # Structured review statuses from workflow_call jobs.
-          # Each job outputs a JSON array of {source, results: [...]} objects
-          # that the assembler renders directly — no hardcoded job-name
-          # matching. We merge all available outputs into one array.
-          REVIEW_STATUSES: ${{ toJSON(needs.*.outputs.review_status) }}
         run: |
-          set -uo pipefail
-
-          # REVIEW_STATUSES is a JSON array of strings (some may be empty
-          # when a job was skipped). Parse each string and merge into one
-          # flat array for the assembler.
-          python3 - <<'PYEOF'
-          import json, os, sys
-
-          raw = os.environ.get("REVIEW_STATUSES", "")
-          merged = []
-          if raw:
-              try:
-                  arr = json.loads(raw)
-              except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
-                  arr = []
-              for item in arr:
-                  if not item:
-                      continue
-                  try:
-                      statuses = json.loads(item)
-                  except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
-                      continue
-                  if isinstance(statuses, list):
-                      merged.extend(statuses)
-
-          # Write merged array to a temp file the poller reads.
-          with open("/tmp/review_statuses.json", "w") as f:
-              json.dump(merged, f)
-          print(f"Merged {len(merged)} review status entries")
-          PYEOF
-
           python3 scripts/ci/live_comment.py \
             --interval 15 \
-            --timeout 2100 \
-            --review-statuses-file /tmp/review_statuses.json
+            --timeout 2100
 
   # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   # Gate: runs after everything. ``if: always()`` ensures it reports a
@@ -304,8 +267,9 @@ jobs:
   # report with a gantt chart + per-step breakdown. The report is uploaded
   # as an artifact and a markdown summary is written to $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY.
   #
-  # The live comment poller can read the standalone review-status artifact
-  # after the HTML report is uploaded, so its link points straight at that report.
+  # The live comment poller dynamically fetches all review-status-* artifacts
+  # across the orchestrator and sub-workflow runs every cycle, so its link
+  # points straight at that report.
   # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   ci-timings:
     name: CI timing report
@@ -364,7 +328,7 @@ jobs:
         continue-on-error: true
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
         with:
-          name: ci-timings-review-status
+          name: review-status-ci-timings
           path: review-status.json
           retention-days: 14
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/contributor-check.yml b/.github/workflows/contributor-check.yml
index 014e1e2ff93..fd8d7bdff83 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/contributor-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/contributor-check.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ jobs:
           if [ -z "$NEW_EMAILS" ]; then
             echo "No new commits to check."
             echo "review_status=[]" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "review_status=[]" > review-status.json
             exit 0
           fi
 
@@ -84,8 +85,22 @@ jobs:
               --arg how_to_fix "$HOW_TO_FIX" \
               '[{"source":"contributor attribution","results":[{"kind":"action_required","title":"Unmapped contributor email(s)","summary":"New contributor email(s) are not in AUTHOR_MAP.","detail":$detail,"how_to_fix":$how_to_fix}]}]')
             echo "review_status=$REVIEW_STATUS" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "review_status=$REVIEW_STATUS" > review-status.json
 
             exit 1
           else
             echo "✅ All contributor emails are mapped."
+            echo "review_status=[]" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "review_status=[]" > review-status.json
           fi
+
+      - name: Upload review status artifact
+        if: always() && steps.check-emails.outcome != 'skipped'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
+        with:
+          name: review-status-contributor-check
+          path: review-status.json
+          retention-days: 1
+          overwrite: true
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e-desktop.yml b/.github/workflows/e2e-desktop.yml
index e9131c72522..bfa45f88962 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e-desktop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e-desktop.yml
@@ -170,6 +170,18 @@ jobs:
             cat /tmp/e2e-review-status.json
             echo '__E2E_REVIEW_STATUS__'
           } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          cp /tmp/e2e-review-status.json review-status.json
+
+      - name: Upload review status artifact
+        if: always() && steps.review-status.outcome != 'skipped'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
+        with:
+          name: review-status-e2e-desktop
+          path: apps/desktop/review-status.json
+          retention-days: 1
+          overwrite: true
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
 
       # The trusted workflow_run publisher consumes only this flat, bounded
       # artifact. It turns selected images into GitHub attachment URLs; it
diff --git a/.github/workflows/history-check.yml b/.github/workflows/history-check.yml
index 668f0f795dd..f679007810f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/history-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/history-check.yml
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ jobs:
           if ! BASE=$(git merge-base origin/main HEAD 2>/dev/null) || [ -z "$BASE" ]; then
             STATUS='[{"source":"unrelated histories","results":[{"kind":"action_required","title":"Unrelated histories","summary":"This PR has no common ancestor with main.","detail":"","how_to_fix":"Rebase your changes onto current main:\n```\ngit fetch origin main\ngit checkout -b fix-branch origin/main\n# re-apply your changes (cherry-pick, copy files, etc.)\ngit push -f origin fix-branch\n```\n"}]}]'
             echo "review_status=${STATUS}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "review_status=${STATUS}" > review-status.json
             echo ""
             echo "::error::This PR has no common ancestor with main."
             echo ""
@@ -66,3 +67,15 @@ jobs:
           fi
           echo "::notice::Common ancestor with main: $BASE"
           echo "review_status=[]" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "review_status=[]" > review-status.json
+
+      - name: Upload review status artifact
+        if: always() && steps.merge-base-check.outcome != 'skipped'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
+        with:
+          name: review-status-history-check
+          path: review-status.json
+          retention-days: 1
+          overwrite: true
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lockfile-diff.yml b/.github/workflows/lockfile-diff.yml
index 9d8d59f6da7..aa72e319045 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lockfile-diff.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lockfile-diff.yml
@@ -79,12 +79,24 @@ jobs:
 
           if [ "$CHANGED" = "true" ]; then
             CONTENT=$(cat /tmp/lockfile-diff.md | python3 -c "import sys,json; print(json.dumps(sys.stdin.read()))")
-            STATUS="[{\"source\":\"lockfile-diff\",\"results\":[{\"kind\":\"action_required\",\"title\":\"package-lock.json\",\"summary\":\"Locked npm dependency versions changed.\",\"detail\":${CONTENT},\"how_to_fix\":\"Add the \`ci-reviewed\` label after verifying the version changes are expected.\"}]}"
+            STATUS="[{\"source\":\"lockfile-diff\",\"results\":[{\"kind\":\"action_required\",\"title\":\"package-lock.json\",\"summary\":\"Locked npm dependency versions changed.\",\"detail\":${CONTENT},\"how_to_fix\":\"Add the \`ci-reviewed\` label after verifying the version changes are expected.\"}]}]"
           else
             STATUS="[]"
           fi
 
           echo "review_status=${STATUS}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "review_status=${STATUS}" > review-status.json
+
+      - name: Upload review status artifact
+        if: always() && steps.emit-status.outcome != 'skipped'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
+        with:
+          name: review-status-lockfile-diff
+          path: review-status.json
+          retention-days: 1
+          overwrite: true
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
 
       - name: Upload diff artifact
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
diff --git a/.github/workflows/osv-scanner.yml b/.github/workflows/osv-scanner.yml
index 455ede33dd5..541c9ee4830 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/osv-scanner.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/osv-scanner.yml
@@ -125,3 +125,15 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
           echo "review_status=${STATUS}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "review_status=${STATUS}" > review-status.json
+
+      - name: Upload review status artifact
+        if: always() && steps.emit.outcome != 'skipped'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
+        with:
+          name: review-status-osv-scanner
+          path: review-status.json
+          retention-days: 1
+          overwrite: true
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
diff --git a/.github/workflows/review-labels.yml b/.github/workflows/review-labels.yml
index c8ea37dbbca..8b40fcaad22 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/review-labels.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/review-labels.yml
@@ -98,9 +98,23 @@ jobs:
           if [ "$SUPPLY_CHAIN" = "true" ]; then args+=(--supply-chain); fi
           if [ "$LABEL_PRESENT" = "true" ]; then args+=(--label-present); fi
 
+          # Write to both $GITHUB_OUTPUT and review-status.json for the
+          # live comment poller to pick up as an artifact.
           python3 scripts/ci/emit_review_status.py "${args[@]}" \
             --repo-url "$REPO_URL" --base-sha "$BASE_SHA" --head-sha "$HEAD_SHA" \
             --output "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          grep '^review_status=' "$GITHUB_OUTPUT" > review-status.json
+
+      - name: Upload review status artifact
+        if: always() && steps.build-status.outcome != 'skipped'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
+        with:
+          name: review-status-review-labels
+          path: review-status.json
+          retention-days: 1
+          overwrite: true
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
 
       - name: Fail on missing label
         if: steps.label-check.outputs.ci_reviewed != 'true'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/supply-chain-audit.yml b/.github/workflows/supply-chain-audit.yml
index cca61e03a45..d73b749ab48 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/supply-chain-audit.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/supply-chain-audit.yml
@@ -290,4 +290,19 @@ jobs:
           with open(os.environ["GITHUB_OUTPUT"], "a", encoding="utf-8") as f:
               f.write(f"review_status={json.dumps(merged)}\n")
               f.write("critical_findings=" + os.environ.get("CRITICAL_FINDINGS", "false") + "\n")
+
+          # Write review-status.json for the live comment poller artifact.
+          with open("review-status.json", "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+              f.write(f"review_status={json.dumps(merged)}\n")
           PYEOF
+
+      - name: Upload review status artifact
+        if: always() && steps.merge.outcome != 'skipped'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
+        with:
+          name: review-status-supply-chain
+          path: review-status.json
+          retention-days: 1
+          overwrite: true
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
diff --git a/.github/workflows/uv-lockfile-check.yml b/.github/workflows/uv-lockfile-check.yml
index aff4f0eb8cb..9fd3a1e4b0a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/uv-lockfile-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/uv-lockfile-check.yml
@@ -126,7 +126,20 @@ jobs:
             echo "::error title=uv.lock out of sync::Run \`uv lock\` locally and commit the result. If on a PR, sync with main first."
             review_status='[{"source":"uv.lock check","results":[{"kind":"action_required","title":"uv.lock out of sync","summary":"uv.lock is out of sync with pyproject.toml.","how_to_fix":"Run `uv lock` locally and commit the result. If on a PR, sync with main first:\n```\ngit fetch origin main\ngit rebase origin/main\nuv lock\ngit add uv.lock\ngit commit -m \"chore: refresh uv.lock\"\n```\n"}]}]'
             echo "review_status=${review_status}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "review_status=${review_status}" > review-status.json
             exit 1
           fi
           review_status='[]'
           echo "review_status=${review_status}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "review_status=${review_status}" > review-status.json
+
+      - name: Upload review status artifact
+        if: always() && steps.verify.outcome != 'skipped'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
+        with:
+          name: review-status-uv-lockfile
+          path: review-status.json
+          retention-days: 1
+          overwrite: true
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
diff --git a/scripts/ci/live_comment.py b/scripts/ci/live_comment.py
index 71dceaebacd..6ef11818597 100644
--- a/scripts/ci/live_comment.py
+++ b/scripts/ci/live_comment.py
@@ -20,13 +20,17 @@ Architecture:
 
   - :func:`find_comment_id` / :func:`upsert_comment` — thin API wrappers.
 
-  - :func:`_fetch_timings_statuses` — downloads the ci-timings artifact
-    (if available) and parses the ``review_status=`` line from it, merging
-    the status objects into the review statuses array.
+  - :func:`fetch_all_review_statuses` — enumerates all
+    ``review-status-*`` artifacts across the orchestrator run and all
+    sub-workflow runs, downloads each, parses the ``review_status=``
+    line from ``review-status.json``, and merges into one array.
+    Recomputed from source every poll cycle, so statuses appear as
+    soon as each job uploads its artifact.
 
-  - :func:`run` — the polling loop. Calls the API, classifies, assembles,
-    upserts, sleeps, repeats. Before its final exit, it gives downstream jobs
-    a short grace period to appear.
+  - :func:`run` — the polling loop. Calls the API, classifies,
+    fetches artifacts, assembles, upserts, sleeps, repeats. Before
+    its final exit, it gives downstream jobs a short grace period
+    to appear.
 
 The orchestrator job names (detect, all-checks-pass, comment-live, etc.)
 are excluded from the comment — they're infrastructure, not review signal.
@@ -37,11 +41,12 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import argparse
 import json
 import os
-import subprocess
+import shutil
 import sys
 import time
 import urllib.error
 import urllib.request
+import zipfile
 from pathlib import Path
 
 API_BASE = "https://api.github.com"
@@ -265,39 +270,95 @@ def upsert_comment(
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Artifact fetching (ci-timings review_status)
+# Artifact fetching (dynamic review-status artifacts)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+# Prefix for all review-status artifacts uploaded by status-producing jobs.
+# Each job uploads a ``review-status-<name>`` artifact containing a
+# ``review-status.json`` file in GITHUB_OUTPUT format:
+#   review_status=<json array of {source, results: [...]} objects>
+_REVIEW_STATUS_ARTIFACT_PREFIX = "review-status-"
 
-def _fetch_artifact_statuses(
-    token: str, repo: str, run_id: str, artifact_name: str,
-) -> list[dict]:
-    """Download a workflow artifact and extract review_status entries.
 
-    The ci-timings job writes a ``review-status.json`` file containing
-    ``review_status=<json>`` (GITHUB_OUTPUT format) into its artifact.
-    This function downloads the artifact, parses the line, and returns
-    the parsed status array. Returns ``[]`` if the artifact doesn't exist
-    yet or can't be parsed.
+def _list_run_ids(token: str, repo: str, run_id: str) -> list[str]:
+    """Return the orchestrator run ID + all sub-workflow run IDs.
+
+    Sub-workflow runs (workflow_call) may not exist yet on the first few
+    polls — that's fine, they just won't be in the list.
     """
+    owner, repo_name = repo.split("/")
+    run_info = _api_request(
+        f"{API_BASE}/repos/{owner}/{repo_name}/actions/runs/{run_id}", token
+    )
+    created_at = run_info.get("created_at", "")
+    head_sha = run_info.get("head_sha", "")
+
+    run_ids = [run_id]
+
+    sub_runs = _api_get_paginated(
+        f"{API_BASE}/repos/{owner}/{repo_name}/actions/runs"
+        f"?head_sha={head_sha}&event=workflow_call&per_page=100",
+        token, list_key="workflow_runs",
+    )
+    sub_runs = [r for r in sub_runs if r.get("created_at", "") >= created_at]
+    run_ids.extend(str(r["id"]) for r in sub_runs)
+
+    return run_ids
+
+
+def _list_artifacts(token: str, repo: str, run_id: str) -> list[dict]:
+    """List artifacts for a given run (paginated)."""
+    owner, repo_name = repo.split("/")
+    return _api_get_paginated(
+        f"{API_BASE}/repos/{owner}/{repo_name}/actions/runs/{run_id}/artifacts",
+        token, list_key="artifacts",
+    )
+
+
+def _download_artifact(
+    token: str, repo: str, artifact: dict, dest_dir: Path,
+) -> Path | None:
+    """Download a single artifact zip via the API and extract it.
+
+    Returns the path to ``review-status.json`` inside the extracted dir,
+    or ``None`` if the download or extraction failed.
+    """
+    owner, repo_name = repo.split("/")
+    archive_download_url = artifact.get("archive_download_url", "")
+    if not archive_download_url:
+        return None
+
+    # The archive_download_url is an API URL that redirects to a S3 URL.
+    # Build the request with our auth headers so the redirect works.
+    req = urllib.request.Request(archive_download_url, headers={
+        "Authorization": f"Bearer {token}",
+        "Accept": "application/vnd.github+json",
+        "X-GitHub-Api-Version": "2022-11-28",
+        "User-Agent": "ci-live-comment",
+    })
+    zip_path = dest_dir / f"{artifact['name']}.zip"
     try:
-        result = subprocess.run(
-            ["gh", "run", "download", run_id, "--repo", repo,
-             "--name", artifact_name, "--dir", "/tmp/artifact-dl"],
-            capture_output=True, timeout=30,
-        )
-        if result.returncode != 0:
-            return []
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(req) as resp:
+            zip_path.write_bytes(resp.read())
     except Exception:
-        return []
+        return None
 
-    status_file = Path("/tmp/artifact-dl/review-status.json")
-    if not status_file.exists():
-        return []
+    extract_dir = dest_dir / artifact["name"]
+    extract_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    try:
+        with zipfile.ZipFile(zip_path) as zf:
+            zf.extractall(extract_dir)
+    except Exception:
+        return None
 
+    status_file = extract_dir / "review-status.json"
+    return status_file if status_file.exists() else None
+
+
+def _parse_status_file(status_file: Path) -> list[dict]:
+    """Parse a review-status.json file in GITHUB_OUTPUT format."""
     try:
         content = status_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
-        # GITHUB_OUTPUT format: review_status=<json>
         if content.startswith("review_status="):
             content = content[len("review_status="):]
         statuses = json.loads(content)
@@ -305,10 +366,59 @@ def _fetch_artifact_statuses(
             return statuses
     except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):
         pass
-
     return []
 
 
+def fetch_all_review_statuses(
+    token: str, repo: str, run_id: str,
+) -> list[dict]:
+    """Fetch and merge all review-status artifacts across all runs.
+
+    Enumerates artifacts with the ``review-status-`` prefix from the
+    orchestrator run and all sub-workflow runs (workflow_call). Downloads
+    each, parses the ``review-status.json`` inside, and merges into a
+    single flat array.
+
+    Returns the merged list of ``{source, results: [...]}`` objects.
+    Artifacts that don't exist yet or fail to parse are silently skipped.
+    """
+    all_statuses: list[dict] = []
+    temp_base = Path("/tmp/review-status-artifacts")
+
+    try:
+        run_ids = _list_run_ids(token, repo, run_id)
+    except Exception:
+        return all_statuses
+
+    for rid in run_ids:
+        try:
+            artifacts = _list_artifacts(token, repo, rid)
+        except Exception:
+            continue
+
+        rs_artifacts = [
+            a for a in artifacts
+            if a.get("name", "").startswith(_REVIEW_STATUS_ARTIFACT_PREFIX)
+        ]
+        if not rs_artifacts:
+            continue
+
+        # Clean temp dir for this run's artifacts.
+        run_dl_dir = temp_base / rid
+        if run_dl_dir.exists():
+            shutil.rmtree(run_dl_dir)
+        run_dl_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        for artifact in rs_artifacts:
+            status_file = _download_artifact(token, repo, artifact, run_dl_dir)
+            if status_file is None:
+                continue
+            statuses = _parse_status_file(status_file)
+            all_statuses.extend(statuses)
+
+    return all_statuses
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Comment assembly
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -344,12 +454,9 @@ def build_comment_body(
     )
 
 
-def _merge_statuses(
-    base_statuses: list[dict], extra_statuses: list[dict]
-) -> str:
-    """Merge two status arrays into one JSON string."""
-    merged = list(base_statuses) + list(extra_statuses)
-    return json.dumps(merged) if merged else ""
+def _merge_statuses(statuses: list[dict]) -> str:
+    """Merge a list of status arrays into one JSON string."""
+    return json.dumps(statuses) if statuses else ""
 
 
 def _commit_info_for_state(commit_info: str, pending: list[str]) -> str:
@@ -370,7 +477,6 @@ def run(
     run_id: str,
     pr_number: str,
     run_url: str,
-    review_statuses_json: str = "",
     commit_info: str = "",
     interval: int = 15,
     timeout: int = 1800,
@@ -386,13 +492,7 @@ def run(
     quiet_grace_used = False
     prev_completed: dict[str, str] = {}
     prev_pending: list[str] = []
-
-    # Parse the base statuses once (from review-labels, lockfile-diff, etc.)
-    try:
-        base_statuses = json.loads(review_statuses_json) if review_statuses_json else []
-    except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
-        base_statuses = []
-    print(f"  Loaded {len(base_statuses)} base review status entries")
+    prev_artifact_count = 0
 
     while True:
         elapsed = time.time() - start
@@ -426,14 +526,14 @@ def run(
         if gone_pending:
             print(f"  → {len(gone_pending)} job(s) disappeared from pending: {', '.join(gone_pending)}")
 
-        # Try to fetch ci-timings artifact statuses (may not exist yet).
-        artifact_statuses = _fetch_artifact_statuses(
-            token, repo, run_id, "ci-timings-review-status",
-        )
-        if artifact_statuses:
-            print(f"  Found ci-timings artifact with {len(artifact_statuses)} status entries")
+        # Dynamically fetch all review-status artifacts from every run.
+        artifact_statuses = fetch_all_review_statuses(token, repo, run_id)
+        if len(artifact_statuses) != prev_artifact_count:
+            print(f"  Found {len(artifact_statuses)} review status entries from artifacts "
+                  f"(was {prev_artifact_count} last poll)")
+        prev_artifact_count = len(artifact_statuses)
 
-        merged_json = _merge_statuses(base_statuses, artifact_statuses)
+        merged_json = _merge_statuses(artifact_statuses)
         current_commit_info = _commit_info_for_state(commit_info, pending)
 
         body = build_comment_body(
@@ -450,7 +550,7 @@ def run(
                 change_reasons.append(f"{len(new_pending)} new pending job(s)")
             if gone_pending:
                 change_reasons.append(f"{len(gone_pending)} job(s) left pending")
-            if artifact_statuses:
+            if len(artifact_statuses) != prev_artifact_count:
                 change_reasons.append("artifact statuses updated")
             if not change_reasons:
                 change_reasons.append("initial post")
@@ -507,8 +607,6 @@ def main() -> int:
                         help="Seconds between polls (default: 15).")
     parser.add_argument("--timeout", type=int, default=1800,
                         help="Max seconds to poll before giving up (default: 1800).")
-    parser.add_argument("--review-statuses-file", type=Path, default=None,
-                        help="Path to a JSON file with merged review statuses from workflow_call jobs.")
     parser.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true",
                         help="Print comment body instead of posting to PR.")
     args = parser.parse_args()
@@ -533,14 +631,6 @@ def main() -> int:
             print("PR_NUMBER is required", file=sys.stderr)
             return 1
 
-    # Read merged review statuses from file (prepared by the ci.yml step).
-    review_statuses_json = ""
-    if args.review_statuses_file:
-        try:
-            review_statuses_json = args.review_statuses_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-        except OSError as e:
-            print(f"Warning: could not read review statuses file: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
-
     # Build commit info line from env vars (set by ci.yml).
     commit_sha = os.environ.get("COMMIT_SHA", "")
     commit_msg = os.environ.get("COMMIT_MESSAGE", "")
@@ -566,7 +656,6 @@ def main() -> int:
         run_id=run_id,
         pr_number=pr_number,
         run_url=run_url,
-        review_statuses_json=review_statuses_json,
         commit_info=commit_info,
         interval=args.interval,
         timeout=args.timeout,
diff --git a/tests/ci/test_live_comment.py b/tests/ci/test_live_comment.py
index c4d48027058..5008d9be4a6 100644
--- a/tests/ci/test_live_comment.py
+++ b/tests/ci/test_live_comment.py
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
-"""Tests for scripts/ci/live_comment.py — classify_jobs().
+"""Tests for scripts/ci/live_comment.py — classify_jobs() + artifact helpers.
 
 The poller's core logic is a pure function: take raw GitHub API job dicts
-and split them into (completed, pending). The API wrapper + polling loop
-are tested via E2E in CI, not here.
+and split them into (completed, pending). Artifact parsing helpers are also
+pure and tested here. The API wrapper + polling loop are tested via E2E
+in CI, not here.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import importlib.util
+import json
 import sys
+import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
 
 _PATH = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "scripts" / "ci" / "live_comment.py"
@@ -172,3 +175,85 @@ def test_commit_info_uses_past_tense_after_jobs_complete():
     assert _mod._commit_info_for_state(info, []) == (
         "<sub>ran on [abc1234](https://commit-url) — fix: thing</sub>"
     )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Artifact parsing helpers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_parse_status_file_with_prefix():
+    """GITHUB_OUTPUT format: review_status=<json>"""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".json", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write('review_status=[{"source":"test","results":[]}]')
+        f.flush()
+        statuses = _mod._parse_status_file(Path(f.name))
+    assert len(statuses) == 1
+    assert statuses[0]["source"] == "test"
+
+
+def test_parse_status_file_without_prefix():
+    """Raw JSON (no review_status= prefix) is also accepted."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".json", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write('[{"source":"raw","results":[]}]')
+        f.flush()
+        statuses = _mod._parse_status_file(Path(f.name))
+    assert len(statuses) == 1
+    assert statuses[0]["source"] == "raw"
+
+
+def test_parse_status_file_empty_array():
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".json", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write('review_status=[]')
+        f.flush()
+        statuses = _mod._parse_status_file(Path(f.name))
+    assert statuses == []
+
+
+def test_parse_status_file_invalid_json():
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".json", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write('review_status=not json')
+        f.flush()
+        statuses = _mod._parse_status_file(Path(f.name))
+    assert statuses == []
+
+
+def test_parse_status_file_nonexistent():
+    assert _mod._parse_status_file(Path("/nonexistent/file.json")) == []
+
+
+def test_parse_status_file_not_a_list():
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".json", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write('review_status={"not":"a list"}')
+        f.flush()
+        statuses = _mod._parse_status_file(Path(f.name))
+    assert statuses == []
+
+
+def test_merge_statuses_empty():
+    assert _mod._merge_statuses([]) == ""
+
+
+def test_merge_statuses_single():
+    statuses = [{"source": "a", "results": []}]
+    result = _mod._merge_statuses(statuses)
+    assert json.loads(result) == statuses
+
+
+def test_merge_statuses_multiple():
+    statuses = [
+        {"source": "a", "results": []},
+        {"source": "b", "results": [{"kind": "warning"}]},
+    ]
+    result = _mod._merge_statuses(statuses)
+    assert json.loads(result) == statuses
+
+
+def test_review_status_artifact_prefix():
+    """The prefix is used to filter artifacts from the API."""
+    assert _mod._REVIEW_STATUS_ARTIFACT_PREFIX == "review-status-"
+    # Artifacts with this prefix should be picked up
+    assert "review-status-ci-timings".startswith(_mod._REVIEW_STATUS_ARTIFACT_PREFIX)
+    assert "review-status-review-labels".startswith(_mod._REVIEW_STATUS_ARTIFACT_PREFIX)
+    # Artifacts without it should not
+    assert not "ci-timings-report".startswith(_mod._REVIEW_STATUS_ARTIFACT_PREFIX)
+    assert not "playwright-report".startswith(_mod._REVIEW_STATUS_ARTIFACT_PREFIX)