GitMate.io thinks possibly related issues are python/core-workflow#72 (Add a status check for reverted commits), python/core-workflow#76 (Turn off code coverage status checks), python/core-workflow#19 (Don't wait for allowed_failures on travis builds?), #109 ("Backport status check is done, and it's a success white_check_mark ." hiccup), and python/core-workflow#269 (Improve guidance to core devs on checking CLA status).

Required status checks for a branch can be looked up via: https://developer.github.com/v3/repos/branches/#get-required-status-checks-of-protected-branch

The actual API we want to use is: https://developer.github.com/v3/repos/branches/#list-required-status-checks-contexts-of-protected-branch

But this is currently blocked because miss-islington doesn't have the right permission to access that API endpoint.