diff --git a/client/coral-admin/src/components/ui/Layout.css b/client/coral-admin/src/components/ui/Layout.css
index 792440d97..a3cc7b7b6 100644
--- a/client/coral-admin/src/components/ui/Layout.css
+++ b/client/coral-admin/src/components/ui/Layout.css
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 .layout {
     max-width: 1280px;
     margin: 0 auto;
-    overflow: hidden;
     background-color: #FAFAFA;
 }
diff --git a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/Moderation.js b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/Moderation.js
index a0a5b3705..c2036247d 100644
--- a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/Moderation.js
+++ b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/Moderation.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import NotFoundAsset from './NotFoundAsset';
 import ModerationKeysModal from '../../../components/ModerationKeysModal';
 import UserDetail from '../containers/UserDetail';
 import StorySearch from '../containers/StorySearch';
+import {Spinner} from 'coral-ui';
 
 export default class Moderation extends Component {
   state = {
@@ -102,18 +103,22 @@ export default class Moderation extends Component {
   }
 
   render () {
-    const {root, moderation, settings, assets, viewUserDetail, hideUserDetail, ...props} = this.props;
+    const {root, moderation, settings, viewUserDetail, hideUserDetail, ...props} = this.props;
     const providedAssetId = this.props.params.id;
     const activeTab = this.props.route.path === ':id' ? 'premod' : this.props.route.path;
-
-    let asset;
+    const {asset} = root;
 
     if (providedAssetId) {
-      asset = assets.find((asset) => asset.id === this.props.params.id);
+      if (asset === null) {
 
-      if (!asset) {
+        // Not found.
         return <NotFoundAsset assetId={providedAssetId} />;
       }
+      if (asset === undefined || asset.id !== providedAssetId) {
+
+        // Still loading.
+        return <Spinner />;
+      }
     }
 
     const comments = root[activeTab];
diff --git a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/Story.js b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/Story.js
index b87611b24..6c3a4b02f 100644
--- a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/Story.js
+++ b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/Story.js
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ const formatDate = (date) => {
 const Story = ({author, title, createdAt, open, id, goToStory}) => {
   return (
     <li className={styles.story} onClick={() => goToStory(id)}>
-      <p className={styles.title}>{title}</p>
-      <p className={styles.meta}>
+      <span className={styles.title}>{title}</span>
+      <div className={styles.meta}>
         <span className={styles.author}>By {author}</span>
         <span className={styles.createdAt}>{formatDate(createdAt)}</span>
         <span className={styles.status}>{open ? 'Open' : 'Closed'}</span>
-      </p>
+      </div>
     </li>
   );
 };
diff --git a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/StorySearch.css b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/StorySearch.css
index 9ea56df0d..f0503f6b9 100644
--- a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/StorySearch.css
+++ b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/StorySearch.css
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 .container {
   position: absolute;
   background-color: white;
-  top: 100px;
+  top: 106px;
   left: 0;
   right: 0;
   margin-left: auto;
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@
 
 .headInput {
   background-color: #efefef;
-  padding: 17px 56px;
-  height: 80px;
+  padding: 10px 27px;
   box-sizing: border-box;
 }
 
@@ -41,12 +40,13 @@
   font-size: 16px;
   margin-right: 5px;
   position: relative;
-  top: 2px;
+  top: 3px;
   box-sizing: border-box;
   border-radius: 3px;
   border: solid 1px #dfdfdf;
   max-height: 45px;
   max-width: 600px;
+  font-weight: 300;
 }
 
 .cta {
@@ -59,20 +59,22 @@
   font-size: 15px;
   font-weight: 500;
   padding: 12px 30px;
-  letter-spacing: 0.7px;
+  letter-spacing: 0.25px;
 }
 
-.storyList {
+/*.storyList {
   border-top: 1px solid #ddd;
-}
+}*/
 
 .story {
-  padding: 10px 63px;
+  padding: 7px 50px;
   border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;
   cursor: pointer;
   display: block;
   text-decoration: none;
   height: 50px;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  transition: background-color 400ms;
 
   &:hover {
     background-color: #efefef;
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@
 .title, .meta {
   margin: 0;
   color: black;
-  font-size: 17px;
+  font-size: 15px;
 }
 
 .author, .createdAt, .status {
@@ -117,7 +119,8 @@
 }
 
 .searchResults {
-  padding: 10px 24px;
+  padding: 7px 27px;
+  background: #F5F5F5;
 }
 
 .searchResults i {
@@ -132,12 +135,11 @@
 .headlineRecent {
   font-size: 15px;
   font-weight: 500;
-  letter-spacing: 0.7px;
+  letter-spacing: 0.25px;
   vertical-align: middle;
-  margin-left: 10px;
+  margin-left: 8px;
 }
 
 .noResults {
   padding: 10px 24px 15px 49px;
 }
-
diff --git a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/StorySearch.js b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/StorySearch.js
index c174c892f..f42ceaadd 100644
--- a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/StorySearch.js
+++ b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/components/StorySearch.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ const StorySearch = (props) => {
 
   return (
     <div>
-      <div className={styles.container} role='alertdialog'>
+      <div className={styles.container} role='alertdialog' onKeyDown={props.handleEsc}>
         <div className={styles.positionShim}>
           <div className={styles.headInput}>
             <input
diff --git a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/containers/Moderation.js b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/containers/Moderation.js
index e60a6b914..c3ace0ebc 100644
--- a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/containers/Moderation.js
+++ b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/containers/Moderation.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import React, {Component} from 'react';
 import {connect} from 'react-redux';
 import {bindActionCreators} from 'redux';
 import {compose, gql} from 'react-apollo';
-import isEqual from 'lodash/isEqual';
 import withQuery from 'coral-framework/hocs/withQuery';
 import {getDefinitionName} from 'coral-framework/utils';
 import * as notification from 'coral-admin/src/services/notification';
@@ -12,7 +11,6 @@ import update from 'immutability-helper';
 import {withSetUserStatus, withSuspendUser, withSetCommentStatus} from 'coral-framework/graphql/mutations';
 
 import {fetchSettings} from 'actions/settings';
-import {updateAssets} from 'actions/assets';
 import {
   toggleModal,
   singleView,
@@ -39,13 +37,6 @@ class ModerationContainer extends Component {
     this.props.fetchSettings();
   }
 
-  componentWillReceiveProps(nextProps) {
-    const {updateAssets} = this.props;
-    if(!isEqual(nextProps.root.assets, this.props.root.assets)) {
-      updateAssets(nextProps.root.assets);
-    }
-  }
-
   suspendUser = async (args) => {
     this.props.hideSuspendUserDialog();
     try {
@@ -175,7 +166,7 @@ const commentConnectionFragment = gql`
 `;
 
 const withModQueueQuery = withQuery(gql`
-  query CoralAdmin_Moderation($asset_id: ID, $sort: SORT_ORDER) {
+  query CoralAdmin_Moderation($asset_id: ID, $sort: SORT_ORDER, $allAssets: Boolean!) {
     all: comments(query: {
       statuses: [NONE, PREMOD, ACCEPTED, REJECTED],
       asset_id: $asset_id,
@@ -212,7 +203,7 @@ const withModQueueQuery = withQuery(gql`
     }) {
       ...CoralAdmin_Moderation_CommentConnection
     }
-    assets: assets(query: {}) {
+    asset(id: $asset_id) @skip(if: $allAssets) {
       id
       title
       url
@@ -248,6 +239,7 @@ const withModQueueQuery = withQuery(gql`
       variables: {
         asset_id: id,
         sort: sortOrder,
+        allAssets: id === null
       }
     };
   },
@@ -291,14 +283,12 @@ const mapStateToProps = (state) => ({
   moderation: state.moderation.toJS(),
   settings: state.settings.toJS(),
   auth: state.auth.toJS(),
-  assets: state.assets.get('assets')
 });
 
 const mapDispatchToProps = (dispatch) => ({
   ...bindActionCreators({
     toggleModal,
     singleView,
-    updateAssets,
     fetchSettings,
     showBanUserDialog,
     hideBanUserDialog,
diff --git a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/containers/StorySearch.js b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/containers/StorySearch.js
index f52c290b5..cf47ca662 100644
--- a/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/containers/StorySearch.js
+++ b/client/coral-admin/src/routes/Moderation/containers/StorySearch.js
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ class StorySearchContainer extends React.Component {
     });
   }
 
+  handleEsc = (e) => {
+    if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      this.props.closeSearch();
+    }
+  }
+
   handleEnter = (e) => {
     if (e.key === 'Enter') {
       e.preventDefault();
@@ -43,6 +50,7 @@ class StorySearchContainer extends React.Component {
       <StorySearch
         search={this.search}
         goToStory={this.goToStory}
+        handleEsc={this.handleEsc}
         handleEnter={this.handleEnter}
         searchValue={this.state.searchValue}
         handleSearchChange={this.handleSearchChange}
@@ -54,7 +62,7 @@ class StorySearchContainer extends React.Component {
 
 export const withAssetSearchQuery = withQuery(gql`
   query SearchStories($value: String = "") {
-    assets(query: {value: $value}) {
+    assets(query: {value: $value, limit: 10}) {
       id
       title
       url
diff --git a/graph/loaders/assets.js b/graph/loaders/assets.js
index b32b37b60..020eafbcb 100644
--- a/graph/loaders/assets.js
+++ b/graph/loaders/assets.js
@@ -22,12 +22,11 @@ const genAssetsByID = (context, ids) => AssetModel.find({
 /**
  * [getAssetsByQuery description]
  * @param  {Object} context  the context of the request
- * @param  {String} value    text string to search agains the documents
- * @param  {Number} limit    limit the number of results
+ * @param  {Object} query    the query
  * @return {Promise}         resolves the assets
  */
-const getAssetsByQuery = (context, value, limit) => {
-  return AssetsService.search(value, null, limit);
+const getAssetsByQuery = (context, query) => {
+  return AssetsService.search(query);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ module.exports = (context) => ({
     // this operation create a new asset if one isn't found.
     getByURL: (url) => findOrCreateAssetByURL(context, url),
 
-    search: (value, limit) => getAssetsByQuery(context, value, limit),
+    search: (query) => getAssetsByQuery(context, query),
     getByID: new DataLoader((ids) => genAssetsByID(context, ids)),
     getForMetrics: () => getAssetsForMetrics(context),
     getAll: new util.SingletonResolver(() => AssetModel.find({}))
diff --git a/graph/resolvers/root_query.js b/graph/resolvers/root_query.js
index 637af9018..9889b62f2 100644
--- a/graph/resolvers/root_query.js
+++ b/graph/resolvers/root_query.js
@@ -11,9 +11,7 @@ const RootQuery = {
       return null;
     }
 
-    const {value = '', limit} = query;
-
-    return Assets.search(value, limit);
+    return Assets.search(query);
   },
   asset(_, query, {loaders: {Assets}}) {
     if (query.id) {
diff --git a/graph/typeDefs.graphql b/graph/typeDefs.graphql
index a4c4b8c5c..c946cca94 100644
--- a/graph/typeDefs.graphql
+++ b/graph/typeDefs.graphql
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ type RootQuery {
   comment(id: ID!): Comment
 
   # All assets. Requires the `ADMIN` role.
-  assets(query: AssetsQuery!): [Asset]
+  assets(query: AssetsQuery): [Asset]
 
   # Find or create an asset by url, or just find with the ID.
   asset(id: ID, url: String): Asset
diff --git a/routes/api/assets/index.js b/routes/api/assets/index.js
index 3bb3ef778..f02b49f7e 100644
--- a/routes/api/assets/index.js
+++ b/routes/api/assets/index.js
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ router.get('/', (req, res, next) => {
   Promise.all([
 
     // Find the actuall assets.
-    FilterOpenAssets(AssetsService.search(search), filter)
+    FilterOpenAssets(AssetsService.search({value: search}), filter)
       .sort({[field]: (sort === 'asc') ? 1 : -1})
       .skip(parseInt(skip))
       .limit(parseInt(limit)),
 
     // Get the count of actual assets.
-    FilterOpenAssets(AssetsService.search(search), filter)
+    FilterOpenAssets(AssetsService.search({value: search}), filter)
       .count()
   ])
   .then(([result, count]) => {
diff --git a/services/assets.js b/services/assets.js
index b81513b72..74bc1aa3a 100644
--- a/services/assets.js
+++ b/services/assets.js
@@ -104,13 +104,12 @@ module.exports = class AssetsService {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Finds assets matching keywords on the model. If `value` is an empty string,
-   * then it will not even perform a text search query.
+   * Finds assets matching keywords on the model.
    * @param  {String} value string to search by.
    * @return {Promise}
    */
-  static search(value = '', skip = null, limit = null) {
-    if (value.length === 0) {
+  static search({value, skip, limit} = {}) {
+    if (!value) {
       return AssetsService.all(skip, limit);
     } else {
       return AssetModel
diff --git a/test/server/routes/api/assets/index.js b/test/server/routes/api/assets/index.js
index 80708688b..63d3acb75 100644
--- a/test/server/routes/api/assets/index.js
+++ b/test/server/routes/api/assets/index.js
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ describe('/api/v1/assets', () => {
         .set(passport.inject({roles: ['ADMIN']}))
         .then((res) => {
           const body = res.body;
-
+          
           expect(body).to.have.property('count', 2);
           expect(body).to.have.property('result');