diff --git a/src/app/api/admin/review-queue/[id]/route.ts b/src/app/api/admin/review-queue/[id]/route.ts
index b7c997d..7db06f4 100644
--- a/src/app/api/admin/review-queue/[id]/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/admin/review-queue/[id]/route.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from "next/server";
+import { revalidatePath, revalidateTag } from "next/cache";
 import { createClient } from "@/lib/supabase/server";
 import { createAdminClient } from "@/lib/supabase/admin";
 
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest, { params }: { params: Promise<{ id:
       ...extras,
     })
     .eq("id", id)
-    .select("id, original_submission_id")
+    .select("id, slug, original_submission_id")
     .single();
 
   if (error || !data) return NextResponse.json({ error: error?.message || "Not found" }, { status: 500 });
@@ -67,5 +68,20 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest, { params }: { params: Promise<{ id:
       .eq("id", (data as any).original_submission_id);
   }
 
-  return NextResponse.json({ ok: true, id: (data as any).id, status: nextStatus });
+  const slug = (data as any).slug as string;
+  for (const path of [
+    "/news",
+    `/news/${slug}`,
+    `/articles/${slug}`,
+    "/home-page",
+    "/technology",
+    "/gear",
+    "/show-coverage",
+    "/sitemap.xml",
+  ]) {
+    try { revalidatePath(path); } catch {}
+  }
+  try { revalidateTag("articles"); } catch {}
+
+  return NextResponse.json({ ok: true, id: (data as any).id, status: nextStatus, slug });
 }
diff --git a/src/app/api/ai/submit/route.ts b/src/app/api/ai/submit/route.ts
index b81de51..368abe1 100644
--- a/src/app/api/ai/submit/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/ai/submit/route.ts
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@ function normalize(raw: any): NativePayload | null {
   if (!raw || typeof raw !== "object") return null;
   // Native shape: { rawTitle, rawContent, ... }
   if (typeof raw.rawTitle === "string" && typeof raw.rawContent === "string") {
+    if (!raw.rawTitle.trim() || !raw.rawContent.trim()) return null;
     return raw as NativePayload;
   }
   // Distribute-rmp shape: { title, body, contributor: {...} }
   if (typeof raw.title === "string" && typeof raw.body === "string") {
+    if (!raw.title.trim() || !raw.body.replace(/<[^>]*>/g, "").trim()) return null;
     const d = raw as DistributePayload;
     const contributorName = d.contributor?.contact_name || d.contributor?.firm_name || undefined;
     const contributorEmail = d.contributor?.email || undefined;