diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2b53241..e23ed63 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,17 @@ Follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/) · versioned wi
 
 ---
 
+## [1.9.6] — 2026-06-26
+
+### Fixed
+- **Casting feed — scroll hijacking**: the feed no longer forces the view to the bottom while you are scrolled up reviewing or editing earlier lines. Auto-scroll only fires when you are already within 80px of the bottom.
+- **Casting feed — vanishing text**: the trimming limit was raised from 80 to 600 rows, and trimming is now suppressed while you're scrolled up, so older lines stay visible as long as you're looking at them.
+
+### Added
+- **Casting feed — "↓ Live" jump button**: a floating pill button appears at the bottom of the feed whenever you've scrolled up. Click it to immediately return to the live bottom of the feed and re-enable auto-scroll.
+
+---
+
 ## [1.9.5] — 2026-06-26
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 158c747..7bc1c40 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.9.5
+1.9.6
diff --git a/static/index.html b/static/index.html
index c17ec8d..ce4b826 100644
--- a/static/index.html
+++ b/static/index.html
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
   <!-- ── Core styles (local — no CDN dependency for first paint) ────────── -->
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/vendor/mdi/materialdesignicons.min.css">
-  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css?v=1.9.5">
+  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css?v=1.9.6">
 
 
   <!-- ── Flag icons — non-blocking (loaded async, icons appear after JS) ── -->
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@
 <script src="/static/vendor/wavesurfer-regions.min.js"></script>
 
 <!-- loader.js: fetches sections → loads JS modules → removes skeleton -->
-<script src="/static/loader.js?v=1.9.5"></script>
+<script src="/static/loader.js?v=1.9.6"></script>
 
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/static/js/audiobook.js b/static/js/audiobook.js
index 4ea9ad3..4f80712 100644
--- a/static/js/audiobook.js
+++ b/static/js/audiobook.js
@@ -226,7 +226,10 @@ function audiobookCastView(total, llmUrl, defaultModel, isIdle = false) {
       <div id="ab-cv-fill-text" style="position:absolute; inset:0; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; font-size:11px; font-weight:600; color:var(--text); text-shadow: 0px 1px 2px var(--bg), 0px -1px 2px var(--bg); pointer-events:none;">0%</div>
     </div>
     <div class="ab-cv-body">
-      <div class="ab-cv-feed" id="ab-cv-feed"></div>
+      <div class="ab-cv-feed-wrap">
+        <div class="ab-cv-feed" id="ab-cv-feed"></div>
+        <button class="ab-cv-jump-btn" id="ab-cv-jump-btn" hidden title="Jump to latest"><span class="mdi mdi-chevron-double-down"></span> Live</button>
+      </div>
       <div class="ab-cv-side">
         <div class="ab-cv-side-head">Characters found</div>
         <div class="ab-cv-chars" id="ab-cv-chars"><span class="ab-cv-empty">reading…</span></div>
@@ -463,8 +466,29 @@ STRIKTE FORMAT- UND TEXTREGELN:
       ? items.map(([n, info]) => `<span class="ab-chip" style="--c:${info.color}"><span class="ab-chip-dot"></span>${escHtml(n)}<b>${info.count}</b></span>`).join('')
       : '<span class="ab-cv-empty">reading…</span>';
   };
-  const MAXROWS = 80;
-  const trim = () => { while (feed.childElementCount > MAXROWS) feed.removeChild(feed.firstChild); feed.scrollTop = feed.scrollHeight; };
+  const MAXROWS = 600;  // keep most of the book visible; only trim when user is at bottom
+  // Whether the user has scrolled up to review/edit earlier content.
+  // While true: auto-scroll and trim are suppressed so their position is preserved.
+  let _userScrolled = false;
+  const jumpBtn = panel.querySelector('#ab-cv-jump-btn');
+  feed.addEventListener('scroll', () => {
+    const atBottom = feed.scrollTop + feed.clientHeight >= feed.scrollHeight - 80;
+    _userScrolled = !atBottom;
+    if (jumpBtn) jumpBtn.hidden = atBottom;
+  }, { passive: true });
+  const _scrollToBottom = () => { feed.scrollTop = feed.scrollHeight; };
+  if (jumpBtn) {
+    jumpBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      _userScrolled = false;
+      jumpBtn.hidden = true;
+      _scrollToBottom();
+    });
+  }
+  const trim = () => {
+    if (_userScrolled) return;  // don't touch the feed while user is reading/editing
+    while (feed.childElementCount > MAXROWS) feed.removeChild(feed.firstChild);
+    _scrollToBottom();
+  };
 
   // Manual character assignment logic
   let assignModeSeg = null;
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index cec150a..c34ff01 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -4153,7 +4153,17 @@ code { background: var(--panel); border-radius: 4px; padding: 1px 5px; font-fami
 }
 
 .ab-cv-body { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 220px; gap: 12px; padding: 12px; flex: 1; min-height: 0; }
-.ab-cv-feed { min-height: 0; overflow-y: auto; border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 8px; padding: 6px 8px; background: var(--panel); display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 3px; }
+.ab-cv-feed-wrap { position: relative; min-height: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
+.ab-cv-feed { flex: 1; min-height: 0; overflow-y: auto; border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 8px; padding: 6px 8px; background: var(--panel); display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 3px; }
+.ab-cv-jump-btn {
+  position: absolute; bottom: 10px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%);
+  display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 4px;
+  padding: 5px 14px; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700;
+  background: var(--accent); color: #fff; border: none; border-radius: 20px;
+  cursor: pointer; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,.25); z-index: 5;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+.ab-cv-jump-btn:hover { filter: brightness(1.1); }
 .ab-cv-row {
   display: block;
   font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;