diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index 1c45969d..23c18012 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -121,14 +121,22 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   const preserveInteraction = getPreserveInteractionState();
   const useRealtimeQueue = getUseRealtimeQueue();
 
-  // Store admin settings in refs to avoid triggering fetchItems recreation
+  // Store admin settings and stable refs to avoid triggering fetchItems recreation
   const refreshStrategyRef = useRef(refreshStrategy);
   const preserveInteractionRef = useRef(preserveInteraction);
+  const userRef = useRef(user);
+  const toastRef = useRef(toast);
+  const isAdminRef = useRef(isAdmin);
+  const isSuperuserRef = useRef(isSuperuser);
   
   useEffect(() => {
     refreshStrategyRef.current = refreshStrategy;
     preserveInteractionRef.current = preserveInteraction;
-  }, [refreshStrategy, preserveInteraction]);
+    userRef.current = user;
+    toastRef.current = toast;
+    isAdminRef.current = isAdmin;
+    isSuperuserRef.current = isSuperuser;
+  }, [refreshStrategy, preserveInteraction, user, toast, isAdmin, isSuperuser]);
 
   // Only sync itemsRef (not loadedIdsRef) to avoid breaking silent polling logic
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -136,7 +144,7 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   }, [items]);
 
   const fetchItems = useCallback(async (entityFilter: EntityFilter = 'all', statusFilter: StatusFilter = 'pending', silent = false, tab: QueueTab = 'mainQueue') => {
-    if (!user) {
+    if (!userRef.current) {
       return;
     }
 
@@ -525,12 +533,7 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
       setIsRefreshing(false);
       setIsInitialLoad(false);
     }
-  }, [user, toast, isAdmin, isSuperuser]);
-
-  // Log when fetchItems is recreated to help debug refresh issues
-  useEffect(() => {
-    console.log('🔄 fetchItems callback recreated');
-  }, [fetchItems]);
+  }, []); // Empty deps - use refs instead
 
   // Debounced filters to prevent rapid-fire calls
   const debouncedEntityFilter = useDebounce(activeEntityFilter, 500);
@@ -768,7 +771,10 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         description: "Submission and all items have been reset to pending status",
       });
 
-      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+      // Silent cleanup after delay
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, true);
+      }, 2000);
     } catch (error: any) {
       console.error('Error resetting submission:', error);
       toast({
@@ -819,7 +825,10 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         description: `Processed ${failedItems.length} failed item(s)`,
       });
 
-      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+      // Silent cleanup after delay
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, true);
+      }, 2000);
     } catch (error: any) {
       console.error('Error retrying failed items:', error);
       toast({
@@ -844,6 +853,19 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
 
     setActionLoading(item.id);
     
+    // Determine if item should be removed from current view after action
+    const shouldRemove = (activeStatusFilter === 'pending' || activeStatusFilter === 'flagged') && 
+                        (action === 'approved' || action === 'rejected');
+    
+    // Optimistic update
+    if (shouldRemove) {
+      setItems(prev => prev.filter(i => i.id !== item.id));
+    } else {
+      setItems(prev => prev.map(i => 
+        i.id === item.id ? { ...i, status: action } : i
+      ));
+    }
+    
     // Release lock if this submission is claimed by current user
     if (queue.currentLock?.submissionId === item.id) {
       await queue.releaseLock(item.id);
@@ -952,8 +974,10 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
           description: "All entities created successfully",
         });
         
-        // Refresh the queue
-        fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+        // Silent cleanup after delay
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, true);
+        }, 2000);
         return;
       }
 
@@ -1049,8 +1073,10 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
             description: `Successfully approved and published ${photoSubmission.items.length} photo(s)`,
           });
           
-          // Refresh the queue
-          fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+          // Silent cleanup after delay
+          setTimeout(() => {
+            fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, true);
+          }, 2000);
           return;
           
         } catch (error: any) {
@@ -1089,8 +1115,10 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
               description: `Successfully processed ${submissionItems.length} item(s)`,
             });
 
-            // Refresh and return early since edge function already updated parent
-            fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+            // Silent cleanup after delay
+            setTimeout(() => {
+              fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, true);
+            }, 2000);
             return;
           } else if (action === 'rejected') {
             // Cascade rejection to all pending items
@@ -1156,35 +1184,30 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         description: `The ${item.type} has been ${action}`,
       });
 
-      // Only update local state if the database update was successful
-      setItems(prev => prev.map(i => 
-        i.id === item.id 
-          ? { ...i, status: action }
-          : i
-      ));
-
-      // Clear notes only after successful update
+      // Clear notes after successful update
       setNotes(prev => {
         const newNotes = { ...prev };
         delete newNotes[item.id];
         return newNotes;
       });
 
-      // Refresh if needed based on filter
-      if ((activeStatusFilter === 'pending' && (action === 'approved' || action === 'rejected')) ||
-          (activeStatusFilter === 'flagged' && (action === 'approved' || action === 'rejected'))) {
-        // Item no longer matches filter
-      }
+      // Silent cleanup after delay
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, true);
+      }, 2000);
       
     } catch (error: any) {
       console.error('Error moderating content:', error);
       
-      // Revert any optimistic updates
-      setItems(prev => prev.map(i => 
-        i.id === item.id 
-          ? { ...i, status: item.status } // Revert to original status
-          : i
-      ));
+      // Revert optimistic update - restore item to list
+      setItems(prev => {
+        const exists = prev.find(i => i.id === item.id);
+        if (exists) {
+          return prev.map(i => i.id === item.id ? item : i);
+        } else {
+          return [...prev, item];
+        }
+      });
       
       toast({
         title: "Error",
@@ -1385,7 +1408,7 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   };
 
   const QueueContent = () => {
-    if (loading) {
+    if (isInitialLoad && loading) {
       return (
         <div className="flex items-center justify-center p-8">
           <div className="animate-spin rounded-full h-6 w-6 border-b-2 border-primary"></div>
@@ -1890,11 +1913,8 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
                             <span className="text-sm">Claim this submission to lock it for 15 minutes while you review</span>
                             <Button
                               onClick={async () => {
-                                const success = await queue.claimSubmission(item.id);
-                                if (success) {
-                                  // Refresh to update UI
-                                  fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, false);
-                                }
+                                await queue.claimSubmission(item.id);
+                                // No refresh needed - realtime handles it
                               }}
                               disabled={queue.isLoading}
                               size="sm"
@@ -2154,11 +2174,8 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
 
   // Handle claim next action
   const handleClaimNext = async () => {
-    const claimedId = await queue.claimNext();
-    if (claimedId) {
-      // Scroll to claimed submission or fetch to show it
-      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
-    }
+    await queue.claimNext();
+    // No refresh needed - realtime subscription handles updates
   };
 
   return (
@@ -2403,7 +2420,10 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
           open={reviewManagerOpen}
           onOpenChange={setReviewManagerOpen}
           onComplete={() => {
-            fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+            // Silent cleanup after delay
+            setTimeout(() => {
+              fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, true);
+            }, 2000);
           }}
         />
       )}