diff --git a/alerts/class-alert-trigger-action.php b/alerts/class-alert-trigger-action.php
index 445cf6ac9..c461500d2 100644
--- a/alerts/class-alert-trigger-action.php
+++ b/alerts/class-alert-trigger-action.php
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public function add_fields( $form, $alert = array() ) {
 				'placeholder' => __( 'Any Action', 'stream' ),
 			),
 		);
-		$form->add_field( 'select2', $args );
+		$form->add_field( 'grouped_select', $args );
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/alerts/class-alert-trigger-author.php b/alerts/class-alert-trigger-author.php
index a9d8cf5aa..f00fe41b0 100644
--- a/alerts/class-alert-trigger-author.php
+++ b/alerts/class-alert-trigger-author.php
@@ -60,16 +60,17 @@ public function add_fields( $form, $alert = array() ) {
 			$value = $alert->alert_meta['trigger_author'];
 		}
 
-		$args = array(
-			'name'    => esc_attr( $this->field_key ),
-			'value'   => esc_attr( $value ),
-			'options' => $this->get_values(),
-			'classes' => 'wp_stream_ajax_forward',
-			'data'    => array(
-				'placeholder' => __( 'Any Author', 'stream' ),
-			),
+		$form->add_field(
+			'grouped_select',
+			array(
+				'name'    => esc_attr( $this->field_key ),
+				'value'   => esc_attr( $value ),
+				'options' => $this->get_values(),
+				'data'    => array(
+					'placeholder' => __( 'Any Author', 'stream' ),
+				),
+			)
 		);
-		$form->add_field( 'select2', $args );
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -80,13 +81,6 @@ public function add_fields( $form, $alert = array() ) {
 	public function get_values() {
 		$all_records = array();
 
-		$user_count  = count_users();
-		$total_users = $user_count['total_users'];
-
-		if ( $total_users > $this->plugin->admin->preload_users_max ) {
-			return array();
-		}
-
 		$users = array_map(
 			function ( $user_id ) {
 				return new Author( $user_id );
diff --git a/alerts/class-alert-trigger-context.php b/alerts/class-alert-trigger-context.php
index 9f6b16437..2b01f9482 100644
--- a/alerts/class-alert-trigger-context.php
+++ b/alerts/class-alert-trigger-context.php
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public function add_fields( $form, $alert = array() ) {
 		$context_values = array();
 
 		$form->add_field(
-			'select2',
+			'grouped_select',
 			array(
 				'name'    => 'wp_stream_trigger_connector_or_context',
 				'options' => $this->get_values(),
diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index c5068bc81..f4ecea5e1 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 ### Enhancements
 
 - Add an Outgoing Webhook alert (HTTP POST or PUT, optional headers, JSON body with record-field placeholders). IFTTT is no longer offered when creating a new alert; existing IFTTT alerts still fire. To keep using Maker, configure a webhook whose URL is `https://maker.ifttt.com/trigger/{event}/with/key/{key}`.
+- Replace Select2 with native `<select>` elements across the admin (records filters, settings exclude rules, alert triggers). Author/role filters offer every user in grouped native selects; IP exclusion rules accept a comma-separated list in a plain text field. Relative timestamps now use `Intl.RelativeTimeFormat` (locale-aware) with the same bold relative + absolute date presentation as before. The `select2` and `jquery-timeago` dependencies and their bundled vendor copies are gone, and the unused `stream_get_users` and `stream_get_ips` Ajax actions were removed. Editing an alert now also regenerates its list title ("Author > Context > Action") so it matches the saved triggers instead of keeping the creation-time summary.
 - Stop tracking Jetpack modules that no longer exist (Google+ authorship, Mobile theme, Custom CSS). Remaining Jetpack module logging was audited against Jetpack 15.5 on 2026-09-07.
 
 ### Development
diff --git a/classes/class-admin-assets.php b/classes/class-admin-assets.php
index 206f8cb79..d1df9f9b4 100644
--- a/classes/class-admin-assets.php
+++ b/classes/class-admin-assets.php
@@ -43,9 +43,7 @@ public function admin_enqueue_scripts( $hook ) {
 		if ( in_array( $hook, $this->admin->menu->screen_id, true ) ) {
 			$this->admin->plugin->enqueue_asset(
 				'admin',
-				array(
-					$this->admin->plugin->with_jquery_timeago(),
-				),
+				array(),
 				array(
 					'i18n'       => array(
 						'confirm_purge'    => __( 'Are you sure you want to delete all Stream activity records from the database? This cannot be undone.', 'stream' ),
@@ -58,9 +56,7 @@ public function admin_enqueue_scripts( $hook ) {
 
 			$this->admin->plugin->enqueue_asset(
 				'admin-exclude',
-				array(
-					$this->admin->plugin->with_select2(),
-				),
+				array(),
 				array(
 					'getActionsNonce' => wp_create_nonce( 'stream_get_actions' ),
 				)
diff --git a/classes/class-alerts-admin-ui.php b/classes/class-alerts-admin-ui.php
index c846bdb21..850afeda0 100644
--- a/classes/class-alerts-admin-ui.php
+++ b/classes/class-alerts-admin-ui.php
@@ -100,7 +100,6 @@ public function register_scripts() {
 		$this->plugin->enqueue_asset(
 			'alerts',
 			array(
-				$this->plugin->with_select2(),
 				'inline-edit-post',
 			),
 			array(
diff --git a/classes/class-alerts-list.php b/classes/class-alerts-list.php
index 7ef074189..dfecc1f79 100644
--- a/classes/class-alerts-list.php
+++ b/classes/class-alerts-list.php
@@ -419,6 +419,18 @@ public function save_alert_inline_edit( $data, $postarr ) {
 		);
 		$alert_meta = apply_filters( 'wp_stream_alerts_save_meta', $alert_meta, $alert_type );
 		update_post_meta( $post_id, 'alert_meta', $alert_meta );
+
+		// Keep the generated title in sync with the saved triggers. The alerts
+		// list displays post_title, which was previously only built at creation,
+		// so editing a trigger left the list showing a stale summary.
+		$item  = (object) array(
+			'alert_type'   => $alert_type,
+			'alert_meta'   => $alert_meta,
+			'alert_status' => $alert_status,
+		);
+		$alert = new Alert( $item, $this->plugin );
+
+		$data['post_title'] = $alert->get_title();
 		return $data;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/classes/class-form-generator.php b/classes/class-form-generator.php
index a7d9623a3..a9f58be95 100644
--- a/classes/class-form-generator.php
+++ b/classes/class-form-generator.php
@@ -85,11 +85,16 @@ public function render_field( $field_type, $args, $echo_output = true ) {
 		$output = '';
 		switch ( $field_type ) {
 			case 'text':
+				$placeholder = '';
+				if ( ! empty( $args['data']['placeholder'] ) ) {
+					$placeholder = sprintf( ' placeholder="%s"', esc_attr( $args['data']['placeholder'] ) );
+				}
 				$output = sprintf(
-					'<input type="text" name="%1$s" id="%1$s" class="%2$s" value="%3$s" />',
+					'<input type="text" name="%1$s" id="%1$s" class="%2$s" value="%3$s"%4$s />',
 					esc_attr( $args['name'] ),
 					esc_attr( $args['classes'] ),
-					esc_attr( $args['value'] )
+					esc_attr( $args['value'] ),
+					$placeholder
 				);
 				break;
 			case 'hidden':
@@ -119,20 +124,28 @@ public function render_field( $field_type, $args, $echo_output = true ) {
 				}
 				$output .= '</select>';
 				break;
-			case 'select2':
+			case 'grouped_select':
 				$values = array();
 
 				$multiple = ( $args['multiple'] ) ? ' multiple' : '';
-				$output   = sprintf(
-					'<select name="%1$s" id="%1$s" class="select2-select %2$s" %3$s%4$s>',
+				$label    = '';
+				if ( ! empty( $args['data']['placeholder'] ) ) {
+					$label = sprintf( ' aria-label="%s"', esc_attr( $args['data']['placeholder'] ) );
+				}
+				$output = sprintf(
+					'<select name="%1$s" id="%1$s" class="%2$s" %3$s%4$s%5$s>',
 					esc_attr( $args['name'] ),
 					esc_attr( $args['classes'] ),
 					$this->prepare_data_attributes_string( $args['data'] ), // The data attributes are escaped in the function.
-					$multiple
+					$multiple,
+					$label
 				);
 
 				if ( array_key_exists( 'placeholder', $args['data'] ) && ! $multiple ) {
-					$output .= '<option value=""></option>';
+					$output .= sprintf(
+						'<option value="">%s</option>',
+						esc_html( $args['data']['placeholder'] )
+					);
 				}
 
 				foreach ( $args['options'] as $parent ) {
@@ -144,38 +157,36 @@ public function render_field( $field_type, $args, $echo_output = true ) {
 							'children' => array(),
 						)
 					);
-					if ( empty( $parent['value'] ) ) {
+					if ( '' === (string) $parent['value'] && empty( $parent['children'] ) ) {
 						continue;
 					}
-					if ( is_array( $args['value'] ) ) {
-						$selected = selected( in_array( $parent['value'], $args['value'], true ), true, false );
-					} else {
-						$selected = selected( $args['value'], $parent['value'], false );
-					}
-					$output  .= sprintf(
-						'<option class="parent" value="%1$s" %2$s>%3$s</option>',
-						esc_attr( $parent['value'] ),
-						$selected,
-						esc_html( $parent['text'] )
-					);
-					$values[] = $parent['value'];
-					if ( ! empty( $parent['children'] ) ) {
+
+					// Group header (no value of its own): render children inside an optgroup.
+					if ( '' === (string) $parent['value'] ) {
+						$output .= sprintf(
+							'<optgroup label="%s">',
+							esc_attr( $parent['text'] )
+						);
 						foreach ( $parent['children'] as $child ) {
-							$output  .= sprintf(
-								'<option class="child" value="%1$s" %2$s>%3$s</option>',
-								esc_attr( $child['value'] ),
-								selected( $args['value'], $child['value'], false ),
-								esc_html( $child['text'] )
-							);
+							$output  .= $this->render_select_option( $child, $args['value'] );
 							$values[] = $child['value'];
 						}
 						$output .= '</optgroup>';
+						continue;
+					}
+
+					// Selectable parent option followed by its children, matching the previous flat markup.
+					$output  .= $this->render_select_option( $parent, $args['value'], 'parent' );
+					$values[] = $parent['value'];
+					foreach ( $parent['children'] as $child ) {
+						$output  .= $this->render_select_option( $child, $args['value'], 'child' );
+						$values[] = $child['value'];
 					}
 				}
 
-				$selected_values = explode( ',', $args['value'] );
+				$selected_values = is_array( $args['value'] ) ? $args['value'] : explode( ',', (string) $args['value'] );
 				foreach ( $selected_values as $selected_value ) {
-					if ( ! empty( $selected_value ) && ! in_array( $selected_value, array_map( 'strval', $values ), true ) ) {
+					if ( ! empty( $selected_value ) && ! in_array( (string) $selected_value, array_map( 'strval', $values ), true ) ) {
 						$output .= sprintf(
 							'<option value="%1$s" selected="selected">%2$s</option>',
 							esc_attr( $selected_value ),
@@ -210,6 +221,40 @@ public function render_field( $field_type, $args, $echo_output = true ) {
 		echo $output; // phpcs:ignore WordPress.Security.EscapeOutput.OutputNotEscaped
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Render a single <option> for a native select.
+	 *
+	 * @param array        $option  Option array (`value`, `text`).
+	 * @param string|array $current Currently selected value(s).
+	 * @param string       $css_class Optional option class ('parent' or 'child').
+	 * @return string
+	 */
+	private function render_select_option( $option, $current, $css_class = '' ) {
+		$option = wp_parse_args(
+			$option,
+			array(
+				'value' => '',
+				'text'  => '',
+			)
+		);
+
+		if ( is_array( $current ) ) {
+			$selected = selected( in_array( (string) $option['value'], array_map( 'strval', $current ), true ), true, false );
+		} else {
+			$selected = selected( (string) $current, (string) $option['value'], false );
+		}
+
+		$class_attr = '' !== $css_class ? sprintf( ' class="%s"', esc_attr( $css_class ) ) : '';
+
+		return sprintf(
+			'<option%1$s value="%2$s" %3$s>%4$s</option>',
+			$class_attr,
+			esc_attr( $option['value'] ),
+			$selected,
+			esc_html( $option['text'] )
+		);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Prepares string with HTML data attributes
 	 *
diff --git a/classes/class-list-table.php b/classes/class-list-table.php
index c7fa9bf60..11ee026ed 100644
--- a/classes/class-list-table.php
+++ b/classes/class-list-table.php
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ public function filter_date( $items ) {
 		<div class="date-interval">
 
 			<select class="field-predefined hide-if-no-js chosen-select" name="date_predefined" data-placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'All Time', 'stream' ); ?>">
-				<option></option>
+				<option value=""><?php esc_html_e( 'All Time', 'stream' ); ?></option>
 				<option value="custom" <?php selected( 'custom' === $date_predefined ); ?>><?php esc_attr_e( 'Custom', 'stream' ); ?></option>
 				<?php
 				foreach ( $items as $key => $interval ) {
diff --git a/classes/class-log.php b/classes/class-log.php
index d10562315..ce3e81ef4 100644
--- a/classes/class-log.php
+++ b/classes/class-log.php
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ public function record_matches_rules( $record, $exclude_rules ) {
 			}
 
 			if ( 'ip_address' === $exclude_key ) {
-				$ip_addresses = explode( ',', $exclude_value );
+				$ip_addresses = array_filter( array_map( 'trim', explode( ',', (string) $exclude_value ) ) );
 
 				if ( in_array( $record['ip_address'], $ip_addresses, true ) ) {
 					++$matches_found;
diff --git a/classes/class-plugin.php b/classes/class-plugin.php
index 26f0223ce..ae2c569fb 100755
--- a/classes/class-plugin.php
+++ b/classes/class-plugin.php
@@ -574,98 +574,4 @@ public function enqueue_asset( $handle, $additional_dependencies = array(), $dat
 			);
 		}
 	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Enqueue select2 script and locale file if exists.
-	 *
-	 * @return string Script handle.
-	 */
-	public function with_select2() {
-		$handle = 'wp-stream-select2';
-
-		// If is enqueued already, bail out.
-		if ( wp_script_is( $handle ) ) {
-			return $handle;
-		}
-
-		$path = untrailingslashit( $this->locations['dir'] );
-		$url  = untrailingslashit( $this->locations['url'] );
-
-		wp_enqueue_script(
-			$handle,
-			"$url/build/select2/js/select2.full.min.js",
-			array( 'jquery' ),
-			filemtime( "$path/build/select2/js/select2.full.min.js" ),
-			true
-		);
-		wp_enqueue_style(
-			$handle,
-			"$url/build/select2/css/select2.min.css",
-			array(),
-			filemtime( "$path/build/select2/css/select2.min.css" )
-		);
-
-		$locale       = get_locale();
-		$lang         = substr( $locale, 0, 2 );
-		$search_files = array( $locale, $lang, 'en' );
-
-		foreach ( $search_files as $search_file ) {
-			if ( file_exists( "$path/build/select2/js/i18n/$search_file.js" ) ) {
-				wp_enqueue_script(
-					sanitize_title( "$handle-$search_file" ),
-					"$url/build/select2/js/i18n/$search_file.js",
-					array( $handle ),
-					filemtime( "$path/build/select2/js/i18n/$search_file.js" ),
-					true
-				);
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-
-		return $handle;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Enqueue jquery.timeago script and locale file if exists.
-	 *
-	 * @return string Script handle.
-	 */
-	public function with_jquery_timeago() {
-		$handle = 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago';
-
-		// If is enqueued already, bail out.
-		if ( wp_script_is( $handle ) ) {
-			return $handle;
-		}
-
-		$path = untrailingslashit( $this->locations['dir'] );
-		$url  = untrailingslashit( $this->locations['url'] );
-
-		wp_enqueue_script(
-			$handle,
-			"$url/build/timeago/js/jquery.timeago.js",
-			array( 'jquery' ),
-			filemtime( "$path/build/timeago/js/jquery.timeago.js" ),
-			true
-		);
-
-		$locale       = get_locale();
-		$lang         = substr( $locale, 0, 2 );
-		$search_files = array( $locale, $lang, 'en' );
-
-		foreach ( $search_files as $search_file ) {
-			if ( file_exists( "$path/build/timeago/js/locales/jquery.timeago.$search_file.js" ) ) {
-				wp_enqueue_script(
-					sanitize_title( "$handle-$search_file" ),
-					"$url/build/timeago/js/locales/jquery.timeago.$search_file.js",
-					array( $handle ),
-					filemtime( "$path/build/timeago/js/locales/jquery.timeago.$search_file.js" ),
-					true
-				);
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-
-		return $handle;
-	}
 }
diff --git a/classes/class-settings-renderer.php b/classes/class-settings-renderer.php
index 36769a9a5..09935d97d 100644
--- a/classes/class-settings-renderer.php
+++ b/classes/class-settings-renderer.php
@@ -211,58 +211,34 @@ public function render_field( $field, $options, $option_key ) {
 				// The description string carries the running-state message.
 				$output = '';
 				break;
-			case 'select2':
-				if ( ! isset( $current_value ) ) {
-					$current_value = '';
-				}
-
-				$data_values = array();
-
+			case 'grouped_select':
+				$choices = array();
 				if ( isset( $field['choices'] ) ) {
 					$choices = $field['choices'];
 					if ( is_callable( $choices ) ) {
 						$param   = ( isset( $field['param'] ) ) ? $field['param'] : null;
 						$choices = call_user_func( $choices, $param );
 					}
-					foreach ( $choices as $key => $value ) {
-						if ( is_array( $value ) ) {
-							$child_values = array();
-							if ( isset( $value['children'] ) ) {
-								$child_values = array();
-								foreach ( $value['children'] as $child_key => $child_value ) {
-									$child_values[] = array(
-										'id'   => $child_key,
-										'text' => $child_value,
-									);
-								}
-							}
-							if ( isset( $value['label'] ) ) {
-								$data_values[] = array(
-									'id'       => $key,
-									'text'     => $value['label'],
-									'children' => $child_values,
-								);
-							}
-						} else {
-							$data_values[] = array(
-								'id'   => $key,
-								'text' => $value,
-							);
-						}
-					}
-					$class .= ' with-source';
 				}
 
-				$input_html = sprintf(
-					'<input type="hidden" name="%1$s[%2$s_%3$s]" data-values=\'%4$s\' value="%5$s" class="select2-select %6$s" data-placeholder="%7$s" />',
-					esc_attr( $option_key ),
-					esc_attr( $section ),
-					esc_attr( $name ),
-					esc_attr( wp_json_encode( $data_values ) ),
-					esc_attr( $current_value ),
-					esc_attr( $class ),
-					/* translators: %s: the title of the dropdown menu (e.g. "users") */
-					sprintf( esc_html__( 'Any %s', 'stream' ), $title )
+				$selected_values = is_array( $current_value ) ? $current_value : explode( ',', (string) $current_value );
+				$form            = new Form_Generator();
+				$input_html      = $form->render_field(
+					'grouped_select',
+					array(
+						'name'    => sprintf( '%1$s[%2$s_%3$s]', $option_key, $section, $name ),
+						'value'   => array_map( 'strval', $selected_values ),
+						'options' => self::choices_to_options( $choices ),
+						'classes' => $class,
+						'data'    => array(
+							'placeholder' => sprintf(
+								/* translators: %s: the title of the dropdown menu (e.g. "users") */
+								__( 'Any %s', 'stream' ),
+								$title
+							),
+						),
+					),
+					false
 				);
 
 				$output = sprintf(
@@ -298,7 +274,6 @@ public function render_field( $field, $options, $option_key ) {
 	private function render_rule_list( $field, $current_value, $option_key, $section, $name, $description ) {
 		unset( $field );
 
-		$users  = count_users();
 		$form   = new Form_Generator();
 		$output = '<p class="description">' . esc_html( $description ) . '</p>';
 
@@ -340,7 +315,6 @@ private function render_rule_list( $field, $current_value, $option_key, $section
 		foreach ( $current_value['exclude_row'] as $key => $value ) {
 			$exclude_rows[] = $this->render_rule_list_row(
 				$form,
-				$users,
 				$current_value,
 				$key,
 				$option_key,
@@ -369,7 +343,6 @@ private function render_rule_list( $field, $current_value, $option_key, $section
 	 * Render a single exclude-rule table row.
 	 *
 	 * @param Form_Generator $form          Form helper.
-	 * @param array          $users         count_users() payload.
 	 * @param array          $current_value Stored rule list value.
 	 * @param string|int     $key           Row key.
 	 * @param string         $option_key    Settings option key.
@@ -377,58 +350,54 @@ private function render_rule_list( $field, $current_value, $option_key, $section
 	 * @param string         $name          Field name.
 	 * @return string
 	 */
-	private function render_rule_list_row( $form, $users, $current_value, $key, $option_key, $section, $name ) {
+	private function render_rule_list_row( $form, $current_value, $key, $option_key, $section, $name ) {
 		$author_or_role = isset( $current_value['author_or_role'][ $key ] ) ? $current_value['author_or_role'][ $key ] : '';
 		$connector      = isset( $current_value['connector'][ $key ] ) ? $current_value['connector'][ $key ] : '';
 		$context        = isset( $current_value['context'][ $key ] ) ? $current_value['context'][ $key ] : '';
 		$action         = isset( $current_value['action'][ $key ] ) ? $current_value['action'][ $key ] : '';
 		$ip_address     = isset( $current_value['ip_address'][ $key ] ) ? $current_value['ip_address'][ $key ] : '';
 
-		$author_or_role_values   = array();
-		$author_or_role_selected = array();
-
-		foreach ( Settings_Registry::get_roles() as $role_id => $role ) {
-			$args  = array(
+		$role_options = array();
+		foreach ( Settings_Registry::get_roles() as $role_id => $role_label ) {
+			$role_options[] = array(
 				'value' => $role_id,
-				'text'  => $role,
+				'text'  => $role_label,
 			);
-			$count = isset( $users['avail_roles'][ $role_id ] ) ? $users['avail_roles'][ $role_id ] : 0;
+		}
 
-			if ( ! empty( $count ) ) {
-				/* translators: %d: a number of users (e.g. "42") */
-				$args['user_count'] = sprintf( _n( '%d user', '%d users', absint( $count ), 'stream' ), absint( $count ) );
-			}
+		$author_or_role_values = array(
+			array(
+				'text'     => __( 'Roles', 'stream' ),
+				'children' => $role_options,
+			),
+			array(
+				'text'     => __( 'Users', 'stream' ),
+				'children' => $this->get_exclude_user_options(),
+			),
+		);
 
-			if ( $role_id === $author_or_role ) {
-				$author_or_role_selected['value'] = $role_id;
-				$author_or_role_selected['text']  = $role;
+		// Stored value missing from the lists (e.g. a deleted user): keep it selectable.
+		if ( '' !== (string) $author_or_role && ctype_digit( (string) $author_or_role ) ) {
+			$known = array_map( 'strval', array_column( $author_or_role_values[1]['children'], 'value' ) );
+			if ( ! in_array( (string) $author_or_role, $known, true ) ) {
+				$user                                   = get_userdata( (int) $author_or_role );
+				$author_or_role_values[1]['children'][] = array(
+					'value' => (string) $author_or_role,
+					'text'  => ( $user && $user->ID ) ? $user->display_name : esc_html__( 'N/A', 'stream' ),
+				);
 			}
-
-			$author_or_role_values[] = $args;
-		}
-
-		if ( empty( $author_or_role_selected ) && is_numeric( $author_or_role ) ) {
-			$user                    = new WP_User( $author_or_role );
-			$display_name            = ( 0 === $user->ID ) ? esc_html__( 'N/A', 'stream' ) : $user->display_name;
-			$author_or_role_selected = array(
-				'value' => $user->ID,
-				'text'  => $display_name,
-			);
-			$author_or_role_values[] = $author_or_role_selected;
 		}
 
 		$author_or_role_input = $form->render_field(
-			'select2',
+			'grouped_select',
 			array(
 				'name'    => esc_attr( sprintf( '%1$s[%2$s_%3$s][%4$s][]', $option_key, $section, $name, 'author_or_role' ) ),
+				'value'   => (string) $author_or_role,
 				'options' => $author_or_role_values,
 				'classes' => 'author_or_role',
 				// Data attributes are escaped in Form_Generator::prepare_data_attributes_string().
 				'data'    => array(
-					'placeholder'   => __( 'Any Author or Role', 'stream' ),
-					'nonce'         => wp_create_nonce( 'stream_get_users' ),
-					'selected-id'   => isset( $author_or_role_selected['value'] ) ? $author_or_role_selected['value'] : '',
-					'selected-text' => isset( $author_or_role_selected['text'] ) ? $author_or_role_selected['text'] : '',
+					'placeholder' => __( 'Any Author or Role', 'stream' ),
 				),
 			),
 			false
@@ -465,9 +434,10 @@ private function render_rule_list_row( $form, $users, $current_value, $key, $opt
 		}
 
 		$connector_or_context_input = $form->render_field(
-			'select2',
+			'grouped_select',
 			array(
 				'name'    => esc_attr( sprintf( '%1$s[%2$s_%3$s][%4$s][]', $option_key, $section, $name, 'connector_or_context' ) ),
+				'value'   => ( '' !== $context ) ? $connector . '-' . $context : $connector,
 				'options' => $context_values,
 				'classes' => 'connector_or_context',
 				// Data attributes are escaped in Form_Generator::prepare_data_attributes_string().
@@ -509,7 +479,7 @@ private function render_rule_list_row( $form, $users, $current_value, $key, $opt
 		}
 
 		$action_input = $form->render_field(
-			'select2',
+			'grouped_select',
 			array(
 				'name'    => esc_attr( sprintf( '%1$s[%2$s_%3$s][%4$s][]', $option_key, $section, $name, 'action' ) ),
 				'value'   => $action,
@@ -524,17 +494,14 @@ private function render_rule_list_row( $form, $users, $current_value, $key, $opt
 		);
 
 		$ip_address_input = $form->render_field(
-			'select2',
+			'text',
 			array(
-				'name'     => esc_attr( sprintf( '%1$s[%2$s_%3$s][%4$s][]', $option_key, $section, $name, 'ip_address' ) ),
-				'value'    => $ip_address,
-				'classes'  => 'ip_address',
-				// Data attributes are escaped in Form_Generator::prepare_data_attributes_string().
-				'data'     => array(
+				'name'    => esc_attr( sprintf( '%1$s[%2$s_%3$s][%4$s][]', $option_key, $section, $name, 'ip_address' ) ),
+				'value'   => $ip_address,
+				'classes' => 'ip_address',
+				'data'    => array(
 					'placeholder' => __( 'Any IP Address', 'stream' ),
-					'nonce'       => wp_create_nonce( 'stream_get_ips' ),
 				),
-				'multiple' => true,
 			),
 			false
 		);
@@ -604,6 +571,92 @@ public function get_terms_labels( $column ) {
 		return $return_labels;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * User options for the exclude-rules author/role select.
+	 *
+	 * Lists every user (plus network super-admins and the WP-CLI pseudo-user),
+	 * mirroring the previous Select2 Ajax dropdown's result set.
+	 *
+	 * @return array<int, array{value: string, text: string}>
+	 */
+	private function get_exclude_user_options() {
+		$users = get_users(
+			array(
+				'fields' => array( 'ID', 'display_name' ),
+			)
+		);
+
+		if ( is_multisite() && is_super_admin() ) {
+			foreach ( get_super_admins() as $login ) {
+				$super = get_user_by( 'login', $login );
+				if ( $super ) {
+					$users[] = $super;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		$options = array();
+		$seen    = array();
+
+		foreach ( $users as $user ) {
+			$id = (string) $user->ID;
+			if ( isset( $seen[ $id ] ) ) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			$seen[ $id ] = true;
+
+			$options[] = array(
+				'value' => $id,
+				'text'  => $user->display_name,
+			);
+		}
+
+		$options[] = array(
+			'value' => '0',
+			'text'  => 'WP-CLI',
+		);
+
+		return $options;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Map a settings `choices` array (flat or `label`/`children` groups) to Form_Generator options.
+	 *
+	 * @param array $choices Field choices.
+	 * @return array
+	 */
+	private static function choices_to_options( array $choices ): array {
+		$options = array();
+
+		foreach ( $choices as $key => $value ) {
+			if ( ! is_array( $value ) ) {
+				$options[] = array(
+					'value' => (string) $key,
+					'text'  => $value,
+				);
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			$children = array();
+			if ( isset( $value['children'] ) && is_array( $value['children'] ) ) {
+				foreach ( $value['children'] as $child_key => $child_value ) {
+					$children[] = array(
+						'value' => (string) $child_key,
+						'text'  => $child_value,
+					);
+				}
+			}
+
+			$options[] = array(
+				'value'    => (string) $key,
+				'text'     => isset( $value['label'] ) ? $value['label'] : (string) $key,
+				'children' => $children,
+			);
+		}
+
+		return $options;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Settings API field callback: render and echo field HTML.
 	 *
diff --git a/classes/class-settings.php b/classes/class-settings.php
index e29735dca..e10c3fd6a 100644
--- a/classes/class-settings.php
+++ b/classes/class-settings.php
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
 
 namespace WP_Stream;
 
-use WP_User_Query;
-
 /**
  * Class - Settings
  */
@@ -97,190 +95,6 @@ public function __construct( public $plugin ) {
 				'filter_serialized_labels',
 			)
 		);
-
-		// Ajax callback function to search users.
-		add_action( 'wp_ajax_stream_get_users', array( $this, 'get_users' ) );
-
-		// Ajax callback function to search IPs.
-		add_action( 'wp_ajax_stream_get_ips', array( $this, 'get_ips' ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Ajax callback function to search users, used on exclude setting page
-	 *
-	 * @uses \WP_User_Query
-	 */
-	public function get_users() {
-		if ( ! defined( 'DOING_AJAX' ) || ! current_user_can( $this->plugin->admin->settings_cap ) ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		check_ajax_referer( 'stream_get_users', 'nonce' );
-
-		$response = (object) array(
-			'status'  => false,
-			'message' => esc_html__( 'There was an error in the request', 'stream' ),
-		);
-
-		$search = '';
-		$input  = wp_stream_filter_input( INPUT_POST, 'find' );
-
-		if ( isset( $input['term'] ) ) {
-			$search = wp_unslash( trim( $input['term'] ) );
-		}
-
-		$request = (object) array(
-			'find' => $search,
-		);
-
-		add_filter(
-			'user_search_columns',
-			array(
-				$this,
-				'add_display_name_search_columns',
-			),
-			10,
-			3
-		);
-
-		$users = new WP_User_Query(
-			array(
-				'search'         => "*{$request->find}*",
-				'search_columns' => array(
-					'user_login',
-					'user_nicename',
-					'user_email',
-					'user_url',
-				),
-				'orderby'        => 'display_name',
-				'number'         => $this->plugin->admin->preload_users_max,
-			)
-		);
-
-		remove_filter(
-			'user_search_columns',
-			array(
-				$this,
-				'add_display_name_search_columns',
-			),
-			10
-		);
-
-		if ( 0 === $users->get_total() ) {
-			wp_send_json_error( $response );
-		}
-		$users_array = $users->results;
-
-		if ( is_multisite() && is_super_admin() ) {
-			$super_admins = get_super_admins();
-			foreach ( $super_admins as $admin ) {
-				$user          = get_user_by( 'login', $admin );
-				$users_array[] = $user;
-			}
-		}
-
-		$response->status        = true;
-		$response->message       = '';
-		$response->roles         = $this->registry->get_roles();
-		$response->users         = array();
-		$users_added_to_response = array();
-
-		foreach ( $users_array as $key => $user ) {
-			// exclude duplications.
-			if ( array_key_exists( $user->ID, $users_added_to_response ) ) {
-				continue;
-			} else {
-				$users_added_to_response[ $user->ID ] = true;
-			}
-
-			$author = new Author( $user->ID );
-
-			$args = array(
-				'id'   => $author->ID,
-				'text' => $author->display_name,
-			);
-
-			$args['tooltip'] = esc_attr(
-				sprintf(
-					/* translators: %1$d: user ID, %2$s: username, %3$s: email, %4$s: user role (e.g. "42", "administrator", "foo@bar.com", "subscriber") */
-					__( 'ID: %1$d\nUser: %2$s\nEmail: %3$s\nRole: %4$s', 'stream' ),
-					$author->id,
-					$author->user_login,
-					$author->user_email,
-					ucwords( $author->get_role() )
-				)
-			);
-
-			$args['icon'] = $author->get_avatar_src( 32 );
-
-			$response->users[] = $args;
-		}
-
-		usort(
-			$response->users,
-			function ( $a, $b ) {
-				return strcmp( $a['text'], $b['text'] );
-			}
-		);
-
-		if ( empty( $search ) || preg_match( '/wp|cli|system|unknown/i', $search ) ) {
-			$author            = new Author( 0 );
-			$response->users[] = array(
-				'id'      => '0',
-				'text'    => $author->get_display_name(),
-				'icon'    => $author->get_avatar_src( 32 ),
-				'tooltip' => esc_html__( 'Actions performed by the system when a user is not logged in (e.g. auto site upgrader, or invoking WP-CLI without --user)', 'stream' ),
-			);
-		}
-
-		wp_send_json_success( $response );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Ajax callback function to search IP addresses, used on exclude setting page
-	 */
-	public function get_ips() {
-		if ( ! defined( 'DOING_AJAX' ) || ! current_user_can( $this->plugin->admin->settings_cap ) ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		check_ajax_referer( 'stream_get_ips', 'nonce' );
-
-		$ips  = $this->plugin->db->existing_records( 'ip' );
-		$find = wp_stream_filter_input( INPUT_POST, 'find' );
-
-		if ( isset( $find['term'] ) && '' !== $find['term'] ) {
-			$ips = array_filter(
-				$ips,
-				function ( $ip ) use ( $find ) {
-					return 0 === strpos( $ip, $find['term'] );
-				}
-			);
-		}
-
-		if ( $ips ) {
-			wp_send_json_success( $ips );
-		} else {
-			wp_send_json_error();
-		}
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Filter the columns to search in a WP_User_Query search.
-	 *
-	 * @param array          $search_columns Array of column names to be searched.
-	 * @param string         $search Text being searched.
-	 * @param \WP_User_Query $query current WP_User_Query instance.
-	 *
-	 * @return array
-	 */
-	public function add_display_name_search_columns( $search_columns, $search, $query ) {
-		unset( $search );
-		unset( $query );
-
-		$search_columns[] = 'display_name';
-
-		return $search_columns;
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 44beee2a7..f5f9bf3df 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -6,10 +6,6 @@
     "": {
       "name": "wp-stream",
       "license": "GPLv2+",
-      "dependencies": {
-        "select2": "^4.1.0",
-        "timeago": "^1.6.7"
-      },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@playwright/test": "^1.62.1",
         "@types/node": "^24.13.3",
@@ -17,7 +13,6 @@
         "@wordpress/env": "^10.39.0",
         "@wordpress/eslint-plugin": "^25.2.0",
         "@wordpress/scripts": "^32.2.0",
-        "copy-webpack-plugin": "^14.0.0",
         "eslint-plugin-react-hooks": "^7.1.1",
         "globals": "^17.12.0",
         "jquery": "4.0.0",
@@ -11493,30 +11488,6 @@
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
-    "node_modules/copy-webpack-plugin": {
-      "version": "14.0.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/copy-webpack-plugin/-/copy-webpack-plugin-14.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-3JLW90aBGeaTLpM7mYQKpnVdgsUZRExY55giiZgLuX/xTQRUs1dOCwbBnWnvY6Q6rfZoXMNwzOQJCSZPppfqXA==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "dependencies": {
-        "glob-parent": "^6.0.1",
-        "normalize-path": "^3.0.0",
-        "schema-utils": "^4.2.0",
-        "serialize-javascript": "^7.0.3",
-        "tinyglobby": "^0.2.12"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">= 20.9.0"
-      },
-      "funding": {
-        "type": "opencollective",
-        "url": "https://opencollective.com/webpack"
-      },
-      "peerDependencies": {
-        "webpack": "^5.1.0"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/core-js": {
       "version": "3.49.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/core-js/-/core-js-3.49.0.tgz",
@@ -22300,15 +22271,6 @@
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
-    "node_modules/select2": {
-      "version": "4.1.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/select2/-/select2-4.1.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-i9KalWOP4/LRRGc8+rj2krNm0ZqP14cV+j1TRCEBSsOhCPkKH8rYZ2MCRXcgvqIqN+llqGci0hj9aVkCMvL0+g==",
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=24"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/selfsigned": {
       "version": "2.4.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/selfsigned/-/selfsigned-2.4.1.tgz",
@@ -22400,16 +22362,6 @@
         "upper-case-first": "^2.0.2"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/serialize-javascript": {
-      "version": "7.0.5",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/serialize-javascript/-/serialize-javascript-7.0.5.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-F4LcB0UqUl1zErq+1nYEEzSHJnIwb3AF2XWB94b+afhrekOUijwooAYqFyRbjYkm2PAKBabx6oYv/xDxNi8IBw==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "license": "BSD-3-Clause",
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=20.0.0"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/serve-index": {
       "version": "1.9.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/serve-index/-/serve-index-1.9.2.tgz",
@@ -24397,20 +24349,6 @@
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
-    "node_modules/timeago": {
-      "version": "1.6.7",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/timeago/-/timeago-1.6.7.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-FikcjN98+ij0siKH4VO4dZ358PR3oDDq4Vdl1+sN9gWz1/+JXGr3uZbUShYH/hL7bMhcTpPbplJU5Tej4b4jbQ==",
-      "dependencies": {
-        "jquery": ">=1.5.0 <4.0"
-      }
-    },
-    "node_modules/timeago/node_modules/jquery": {
-      "version": "3.7.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jquery/-/jquery-3.7.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-m4avr8yL8kmFN8psrbFFFmB/If14iN5o9nw/NgnnM+kybDJpRsAynV2BsfpTYrTRysYUdADVD7CkUUizgkpLfg==",
-      "license": "MIT"
-    },
     "node_modules/tinyglobby": {
       "version": "0.2.16",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tinyglobby/-/tinyglobby-0.2.16.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 96cc2740b..11a005e28 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
     "@wordpress/env": "^10.39.0",
     "@wordpress/eslint-plugin": "^25.2.0",
     "@wordpress/scripts": "^32.2.0",
-    "copy-webpack-plugin": "^14.0.0",
     "eslint-plugin-react-hooks": "^7.1.1",
     "globals": "^17.12.0",
     "jquery": "4.0.0",
@@ -70,10 +69,6 @@
     "large-records-generate": "wp-env run cli -- bash -c 'wp db query < wp-content/plugins/stream/local/scripts/large-datasets/bulk-insert-logs.sql'",
     "large-records-show": "wp-env run cli -- bash -c 'wp db query < wp-content/plugins/stream/local/scripts/large-datasets/show-stream-db-stats.sql'"
   },
-  "dependencies": {
-    "select2": "^4.1.0",
-    "timeago": "^1.6.7"
-  },
   "overrides": {
     "@wordpress/e2e-test-utils-playwright": {
       "@types/node": "$@types/node"
diff --git a/src/css/admin.scss b/src/css/admin.scss
index f256865a2..7667ef43d 100644
--- a/src/css/admin.scss
+++ b/src/css/admin.scss
@@ -20,34 +20,10 @@
 	overflow: visible;
 }
 
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2 .select2-selection,
-.stream-exclude-list .select2 .select2-selection{
-	border-color: #ccc;
-	background: #f7f7f7;
-	-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 0 #ccc;
-	box-shadow: 0 1px 0 #ccc;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2 .select2-selection--multiple,
-.stream-exclude-list .select2 .select2-selection--multiple{
-	font-size: 0;
-	min-height: 28px;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-container.select2-container--focus .select2-selection--multiple,
-.stream-exclude-list .select2-container.select2-container--focus .select2-selection--multiple{
-	border: solid #ccc 1px;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-container .select2-selection--multiple .select2-selection__choice,
-.stream-exclude-list .select2-container .select2-selection--multiple .select2-selection__choice{
-	margin-top: 4px;
-	margin-bottom: 3px;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2 .select2-selection .select2-selection__rendered,
-.stream-exclude-list .select2 .select2-selection .select2-selection__rendered{
-	color: #555;
+.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .inline-edit-col select,
+.post-type-wp_stream_alerts #add-new-alert select,
+.stream-exclude-list select {
+	max-width: 100%;
 }
 
 #record-query-reset {
@@ -233,7 +209,6 @@ more custom columns squeezes the summary column to a narrow strip.
 	vertical-align: middle;
 }
 
-
 /* Live Update */
 
 .toplevel_page_wp_stream .stream-live-update-checkbox .spinner {
@@ -282,13 +257,6 @@ more custom columns squeezes the summary column to a narrow strip.
 	text-decoration: none;
 }
 
-.wp_stream_settings .select2.select2-container,
-.wp_stream_network_settings .select2.select2-container,
-.wp_stream_default_settings .select2.select2-container {
-	min-width: 160px;
-	max-width: 100%;
-}
-
 .wp_stream_settings .tablenav,
 .wp_stream_network_settings .tablenav,
 .wp_stream_default_settings .tablenav {
@@ -375,70 +343,6 @@ more custom columns squeezes the summary column to a narrow strip.
 }
 
 
-/* Select2 Common */
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts li.select2-searching,
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts li.select2-no-results {
-	background: none;
-	padding: 7px 7px 0;
-	color: #999;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2 .select2-selection .select2-selection__placeholder {
-	color: #72777c;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-results .select2-disabled {
-	background: transparent;
-	color: #aaa;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2 .select2-search--inline {
-	float: none;
-	margin-bottom: 4px;
-	margin-left: 2px;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-selection .icon16 {
-	margin: -3px 1px 0 -3px;
-	padding: 0;
-	width: 16px;
-	height: 16px;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-selection .icon16 {
-	padding-right: 8px;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-chosen .icon16:before,
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-search-choice .icon16:before {
-	font-size: 15px !important;
-	color: #656565;
-}
-
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-search-choice-close {
-	-webkit-transition: none;
-	-moz-transition: none;
-	-o-transition: all 0 none;
-	transition: none;
-}
-
-.wp-stream-select2-icon {
-	position: relative;
-	top: 3px;
-	margin-right: 4px;
-	width: 16px;
-	height: 16px;
-}
-
-.select2-disabled .wp-stream-select2-icon {
-	filter: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns=\'http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\'><filter id=\'grayscale\'><feColorMatrix type=\'matrix\' values=\'0.3333 0.3333 0.3333 0 0 0.3333 0.3333 0.3333 0 0 0.3333 0.3333 0.3333 0 0 0 0 0 1 0\'/></filter></svg>#grayscale"); /* Firefox 3.5+ */
-	filter: gray; /* IE6-9 */
-	-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%); /* Chrome 19+ & Safari 6+ */
-	-moz-filter: grayscale(100%); /* Firefox < 3.5 */
-}
-
-
 /* Exclude List Table */
 
 .stream-exclude-list {
@@ -490,8 +394,15 @@ more custom columns squeezes the summary column to a narrow strip.
 	margin-top: 4px;
 }
 
+.stream-exclude-list tbody td select,
+.stream-exclude-list tbody td .stream-user-combobox__input,
 .stream-exclude-list tbody td .ip_address {
 	width: 100%;
+	max-width: 100%;
+}
+
+.stream-exclude-list tbody td .stream-user-combobox__input {
+	margin-bottom: 4px;
 }
 
 .stream-exclude-list tbody td .ip_address.invalid {
@@ -503,14 +414,6 @@ more custom columns squeezes the summary column to a narrow strip.
 	position: relative !important;
 }
 
-.wp_stream_screen .select2-results__option .parent {
-	font-weight: bold;
-}
-
-.wp_stream_screen .select2-results__option .child {
-	padding-left: 8px;
-}
-
 @media screen and ( max-width: 900px ) {
 	.wp_stream_settings .stream-exclude-list .actions-column,
 	.wp_stream_network_settings .stream-exclude-list .actions-column,
diff --git a/src/css/alerts-list.scss b/src/css/alerts-list.scss
index f18eab8ed..591c59eda 100644
--- a/src/css/alerts-list.scss
+++ b/src/css/alerts-list.scss
@@ -20,12 +20,8 @@
 	color: #555;
 }
 
-.edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .inline-edit-col .select2-container {
-	display: block;
-}
-
 #wp_stream_alert_type_form {
-	max-height: 14em;
+	max-height: 22em;
 	border: 1px solid #ddd;
 	overflow-y: scroll;
 	padding: 0.2em 0.5em;
@@ -45,6 +41,14 @@
 	font-size: 1em;
 }
 
+.inline-edit-row fieldset.inline-edit-wp_stream_alerts label span.title {
+	width: 8em;
+}
+
+.inline-edit-row fieldset.inline-edit-wp_stream_alerts label span.input-text-wrap {
+	margin-left: 8em;
+}
+
 .edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .misc-pub-section.misc-pub-post-status,
 .edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts #misc-publishing-actions {
 	padding: 0;
@@ -61,30 +65,21 @@
 	}
 }
 
-.edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2 .select2-selection {
-	border-color: #ccc;
-	background: #f7f7f7;
-	-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 0 #ccc;
-	box-shadow: 0 1px 0 #ccc;
-}
 .edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts label {
 	font-style: italic;
 }
 
-.edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts select {
-	width: auto;
-}
-
-.edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts span.select2-selection__rendered {
-	font-style: normal;
+.edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .inline-edit-col select,
+.edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts #add-new-alert select {
+	width: 100%;
+	max-width: 100%;
+	display: block;
+	margin-bottom: 6px;
 }
 
 #add-new-alert.inline-edit-row.inline-edit-row-page .inline-edit-col-right {
 	margin-top: 32px;
 }
-.edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts #add-new-alert .select2.select2-container {
-	display: block;
-}
 .edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts #add-new-alert .inline-edit-add-new-notifications,
 .edit-php.post-type-wp_stream_alerts #add-new-alert .inline-edit-add-new-status {
 	margin-top: 33px;
@@ -93,7 +88,8 @@
 	margin: .2em 0;
 	line-height: 2.5;
 }
-.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .select2-container {
+.post-type-wp_stream_alerts .inline-edit-col select,
+.post-type-wp_stream_alerts #add-new-alert select {
 	margin-bottom: 6px;
 	min-width: 165px;
 }
diff --git a/src/js/admin-exclude.js b/src/js/admin-exclude.js
index e597caffc..06ce886e4 100644
--- a/src/js/admin-exclude.js
+++ b/src/js/admin-exclude.js
@@ -12,277 +12,25 @@ import wp_stream_regenerate_alt_rows from './utils/wp-stream-regenerate-alt-rows
 const $excludeRows = $( '.stream-exclude-list tbody tr:not(.hidden)' );
 const $placeholderRow = $( '.stream-exclude-list tr.helper' );
 
-const initSettingsSelect2 = function( $rowsWithSelect2 ) {
-	let $input_user;
-
-	$( 'select.select2-select.connector_or_context', $rowsWithSelect2 ).each(
-		function( k, el ) {
-			$( el ).select2(
-				{
-					allowClear: true,
-					templateResult( item ) {
-						if ( typeof item.id === 'undefined' ) {
-							return item.text;
-						}
-						if ( item.id.indexOf( '-' ) === -1 ) {
-							return $( '<span class="parent">' + item.text + '</span>' );
-						}
-						return $( '<span class="child">' + item.text + '</span>' );
-					},
-					matcher( params, data ) {
-						const match = $.extend( true, {}, data );
-
-						if ( null === params.term || $.trim( params.term ) === '' ) {
-							return match;
-						}
-
-						const term = params.term.toLowerCase();
-
-						match.id = match.id.replace( 'blogs', 'sites' );
-						if ( match.id.toLowerCase().indexOf( term ) >= 0 ) {
-							return match;
-						}
-
-						if ( match.children ) {
-							for ( let i = match.children.length - 1; i >= 0; i-- ) {
-								const child = match.children[ i ];
-
-								// Remove term from results if it doesn't match.
-								if ( child.id.toLowerCase().indexOf( term ) === -1 ) {
-									match.children.splice( i, 1 );
-								}
-							}
-
-							if ( match.children.length > 0 ) {
-								return match;
-							}
-						}
-
-						return null;
-					},
-				},
-			).on(
-				'change', function() {
-					const row = $( this ).closest( 'tr' );
-					let connector = $( this ).val();
-					if ( connector && 0 < connector.indexOf( '-' ) ) {
-						const connector_split = connector.split( '-' );
-						connector = connector_split[ 0 ];
-					}
-					getActions( row, connector );
-				},
-			);
-		},
-	);
-
-	$( 'select.select2-select.action', $rowsWithSelect2 ).each(
-		function( k, el ) {
-			$( el ).select2(
-				{
-					allowClear: true,
-				},
-			);
-		},
-	);
-
-	$( 'select.select2-select.author_or_role', $rowsWithSelect2 ).each(
-		function( k, el ) {
-			$input_user = $( el );
-
-			$input_user.select2(
-				{
-					ajax: {
-						type: 'POST',
-						url: window.ajaxurl,
-						dataType: 'json',
-						quietMillis: 500,
-						data( term, page ) {
-							return {
-								find: term,
-								limit: 10,
-								pager: page,
-								action: 'stream_get_users',
-								nonce: $input_user.data( 'nonce' ),
-							};
-						},
-						processResults( response ) {
-							const answer = {
-								results: [
-									{ text: '', id: '' },
-									{ text: 'Roles', children: [] },
-									{ text: 'Users', children: [] },
-								],
-							};
-
-							if ( true !== response.success || undefined === response.data || true !== response.data.status ) {
-								return answer;
-							}
-
-							if ( undefined === response.data.users || undefined === response.data.roles ) {
-								return answer;
-							}
-
-							const roles = [];
-
-							$.each(
-								response.data.roles, function( id, text ) {
-									roles.push(
-										{
-											id,
-											text,
-										},
-									);
-								},
-							);
-
-							answer.results[ 1 ].children = roles;
-							answer.results[ 2 ].children = response.data.users;
-
-							// Return the value of more so Select2 knows if more results can be loaded
-							return answer;
-						},
-					},
-					templateResult( object ) {
-						const $result = $( '<div>' ).text( object.text );
-
-						if ( 'undefined' !== typeof object.icon && object.icon ) {
-							$result.prepend( $( '<img src="' + object.icon + '" class="wp-stream-select2-icon">' ) );
-
-							// Add more info to the container
-							$result.attr( 'title', object.tooltip );
-						}
-
-						// Add more info to the container
-						if ( 'undefined' !== typeof object.tooltip ) {
-							$result.attr( 'title', object.tooltip );
-						} else if ( 'undefined' !== typeof object.user_count ) {
-							$result.attr( 'title', object.user_count );
-						}
-
-						return $result;
-					},
-					templateSelection( object ) {
-						const $result = $( '<div>' ).text( object.text );
-
-						if ( $.isNumeric( object.id ) && object.text.indexOf( 'icon-users' ) < 0 ) {
-							$result.append( $( '<i class="icon16 icon-users"></i>' ) );
-						}
-
-						return $result;
-					},
-					allowClear: true,
-					placeholder: $input_user.data( 'placeholder' ),
-				},
-			).on(
-				'change', function() {
-					const value = $( this ).select2( 'data' );
-
-					$( this ).data( 'selected-id', value.id );
-					$( this ).data( 'selected-text', value.text );
-				},
-			);
-		},
-	);
-
-	$( 'select.select2-select.ip_address', $rowsWithSelect2 ).each(
-		function( k, el ) {
-			const $input_ip = $( el );
-			let searchTerm = '';
-
-			$input_ip.select2(
-				{
-					ajax: {
-						type: 'POST',
-						url: window.ajaxurl,
-						dataType: 'json',
-						quietMillis: 500,
-						data( term ) {
-							searchTerm = term.term;
-							return {
-								find: term,
-								limit: 10,
-								action: 'stream_get_ips',
-								nonce: $input_ip.data( 'nonce' ),
-							};
-						},
-						processResults( response ) {
-							const answer = { results: [] };
-							let ip_chunks = [];
-
-							if ( true === response.success && undefined !== response.data ) {
-								$.each(
-									response.data, function( key, ip ) {
-										answer.results.push(
-											{
-												id: ip,
-												text: ip,
-											},
-										);
-									},
-								);
-							}
-
-							if ( undefined === searchTerm ) {
-								return answer;
-							}
-
-							ip_chunks = searchTerm.match( /^(\d{1,3})\.(\d{1,3})\.(\d{1,3})\.(\d{1,3})$/ );
-
-							if ( null === ip_chunks ) {
-								return answer;
-							}
-
-							// remove whole match
-							ip_chunks.shift();
-
-							ip_chunks = $.grep(
-								ip_chunks,
-								function( chunk ) {
-									const numeric = parseInt( chunk, 10 );
-									return numeric <= 255 && numeric.toString() === chunk;
-								},
-							);
-
-							if ( ip_chunks.length >= 4 ) {
-								answer.results.push(
-									{
-										id: searchTerm,
-										text: searchTerm,
-									},
-								);
-							}
-
-							return answer;
-						},
-					},
-					allowClear: false,
-					multiple: true,
-					maximumSelectionSize: 1,
-					placeholder: $input_ip.data( 'placeholder' ),
-					tags: true,
-				},
-			);
-		},
-	).on(
+/**
+ * Bind native exclude-rule controls for one or more rows.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} $rows jQuery collection of table rows.
+ */
+function initExcludeRows( $rows ) {
+	$( 'select.connector_or_context', $rows ).on(
 		'change', function() {
-			$( this ).prev( '.select2-container' ).find( 'input.select2-input' ).blur();
-		},
-	);
-
-	$( 'ul.select2-choices, ul.select2-choices li, input.select2-input', '.stream-exclude-list tr:not(.hidden) .ip_address' ).on(
-		'mousedown click focus', function() {
-			const $container = $( this ).closest( '.select2-container' ),
-				$input = $container.find( 'input.select2-input' ),
-				value = $container.select2( 'data' );
-
-			if ( value.length >= 1 ) {
-				$input.blur();
-				return false;
+			const row = $( this ).closest( 'tr' );
+			let connector = $( this ).val();
+			if ( connector && 0 < connector.indexOf( '-' ) ) {
+				const connector_split = connector.split( '-' );
+				connector = connector_split[ 0 ];
 			}
+			getActions( row, connector );
 		},
 	);
 
-	$( '.exclude_rules_remove_rule_row', $rowsWithSelect2 ).on(
+	$( '.exclude_rules_remove_rule_row', $rows ).on(
 		'click', function( e ) {
 			const $thisRow = $( this ).closest( 'tr' );
 
@@ -294,18 +42,11 @@ const initSettingsSelect2 = function( $rowsWithSelect2 ) {
 			e.preventDefault();
 		},
 	);
-};
-
-initSettingsSelect2( $excludeRows );
+}
 
-$( 'select.select2-select.author_or_role', $excludeRows ).each(
-	function() {
-		const $option = $( '<option selected>' + $( this ).data( 'selected-text' ) + '</option>' ).val( $( this ).data( 'selected-id' ) );
-		$( this ).append( $option ).trigger( 'change' );
-	},
-);
+initExcludeRows( $excludeRows );
 
-$( 'select.select2-select.connector_or_context', $excludeRows ).each(
+$( 'select.connector_or_context', $excludeRows ).each(
 	function() {
 		const parts = [
 			$( this ).siblings( '.connector' ).val(),
@@ -325,7 +66,7 @@ $( '#exclude_rules_new_rule' ).on(
 		$newRow.removeAttr( 'class' );
 		$newRow.insertBefore( $placeholderRow );
 
-		initSettingsSelect2( $newRow );
+		initExcludeRows( $newRow );
 		recalculate_rules_found();
 		recalculate_rules_selected();
 	},
@@ -341,7 +82,6 @@ $( '#exclude_rules_remove_rules' ).on(
 		} else {
 			$( ':input', selectedRows ).val( '' );
 			$( selectedRows ).not( ':first' ).remove();
-			$( '.select2-select', selectedRows ).select2( 'val', '' );
 		}
 
 		$excludeList.find( 'input.cb-select' ).prop( 'checked', false );
@@ -358,31 +98,14 @@ $( '.stream-exclude-list' ).closest( 'form' ).submit(
 				$( this ).find( ':input' ).removeAttr( 'name' );
 			},
 		);
-		$( '.stream-exclude-list tbody tr:not(.hidden) select.select2-select.connector_or_context', this ).each(
+		$( '.stream-exclude-list tbody tr:not(.hidden) select.connector_or_context', this ).each(
 			function() {
 				const parts = $( this ).val().split( '-' );
 				$( this ).siblings( '.connector' ).val( parts[ 0 ] );
-				$( this ).siblings( '.context' ).val( parts.slice( 1 ).join( '-' ) );
+				$( this ).siblings( '.context' ).val( parts[ 1 ] );
 				$( this ).removeAttr( 'name' );
 			},
 		);
-		$( '.stream-exclude-list tbody tr:not(.hidden) select.select2-select.ip_address', this ).each(
-			function() {
-				const firstSelected = $( 'option:selected', this ).first();
-
-				// Ugly hack to ensure we always pass an empty value or the order of rows gets messed up.
-				if ( ! firstSelected.length ) {
-					$( this ).append( '<option selected="selected"></option>' );
-				}
-
-				$( 'option:selected:not(:first)', this ).each(
-					function() {
-						firstSelected.attr( 'value', firstSelected.attr( 'value' ) + ',' + $( this ).attr( 'value' ) );
-						$( this ).removeAttr( 'selected' );
-					},
-				);
-			},
-		);
 	},
 );
 
@@ -395,13 +118,13 @@ $( 'table.stream-exclude-list' ).on(
 );
 
 function getActions( row, connector ) {
-	const trigger_action = $( '.select2-select.action', row ),
+	const trigger_action = $( 'select.action', row ),
 		action_value = trigger_action.val();
 
 	trigger_action.empty();
 	trigger_action.prop( 'disabled', true );
 
-	const placeholder = $( '<option/>', { value: '', text: '' } );
+	const placeholder = $( '<option/>', { value: '', text: trigger_action.data( 'placeholder' ) || '' } );
 	trigger_action.append( placeholder );
 
 	const data = {
diff --git a/src/js/admin.js b/src/js/admin.js
index d3fe817d5..f60530277 100644
--- a/src/js/admin.js
+++ b/src/js/admin.js
@@ -9,16 +9,7 @@ import $ from 'jquery';
  */
 import '../css/admin.scss';
 import getQueryVars from './utils/get-query-vars';
-
-// Shorter timeago strings for English locale
-if ( 'en' === window[ 'wp-stream-admin' ].locale && 'undefined' !== typeof $.timeago ) {
-	$.timeago.settings.strings.seconds = 'seconds';
-	$.timeago.settings.strings.minute = 'a minute';
-	$.timeago.settings.strings.hour = 'an hour';
-	$.timeago.settings.strings.hours = '%d hours';
-	$.timeago.settings.strings.month = 'a month';
-	$.timeago.settings.strings.year = 'a year';
-}
+import formatRelativeTime from './utils/relative-time';
 
 $( 'li.toplevel_page_wp_stream ul li.wp-first-item.current' ).parent().parent().find( '.update-plugins' ).remove();
 
@@ -273,10 +264,13 @@ $( 'table.wp-list-table' ).on(
 			function( i, el ) {
 				const timeEl = $( el );
 				timeEl.removeClass( 'relative-time' );
-				$( '<strong><time datetime="' + timeEl.attr( 'datetime' ) + '" class="timeago"/></time></strong><br/>' )
-					.prependTo( timeEl.parent().parent() )
-					.find( 'time.timeago' )
-					.timeago();
+				const text = formatRelativeTime( timeEl.attr( 'datetime' ) );
+				if ( text ) {
+					$( '<strong><time datetime="' + timeEl.attr( 'datetime' ) + '" class="timeago"/></time></strong><br/>' )
+						.prependTo( timeEl.parent().parent() )
+						.find( 'time.timeago' )
+						.text( text );
+				}
 			},
 		);
 	},
diff --git a/src/js/alerts-list.js b/src/js/alerts-list.js
index 580f8f1da..09321a40a 100644
--- a/src/js/alerts-list.js
+++ b/src/js/alerts-list.js
@@ -13,6 +13,3 @@ $( '.inline-edit-col-left, .inline-edit-col-right, #major-publishing-actions', '
 		$( this ).remove();
 	},
 );
-
-// This is done with JS instead of CSS to override the inline styles added by Select2's JS.
-$( '.select2-container', '.inline-edit-col' ).css( { width: '100%' } );
diff --git a/src/js/alerts.js b/src/js/alerts.js
index 13ad91774..90bef15e0 100644
--- a/src/js/alerts.js
+++ b/src/js/alerts.js
@@ -6,57 +6,12 @@ import $ from 'jquery';
 
 let $post_row,
 	$edit_row;
-function setupSelectTwo( id ) {
+function bindTriggerSelects( id ) {
 	const $target = $( id );
-	$target.find( '.select2-select.connector_or_context' ).each(
+	$target.find( 'select.connector_or_context' ).each(
 		function( k, el ) {
-			$( el ).select2(
-				{
-					allowClear: true,
-					placeholder: window[ 'wp-stream-alerts' ].anyContext,
-					templateResult( item ) {
-						if ( 'undefined' === typeof item.id ) {
-							return item.text;
-						}
-						if ( -1 === item.id.indexOf( '-' ) ) {
-							return $( '<span class="parent">' + item.text + '</span>' );
-						}
-						return $( '<span class="child">' + item.text + '</span>' );
-					},
-					matcher( params, data ) {
-						const match = $.extend( true, {}, data );
-
-						if ( null === params.term || '' === $.trim( params.term ) ) {
-							return match;
-						}
-
-						const term = params.term.toLowerCase();
-
-						match.id = match.id.replace( 'blogs', 'sites' );
-						if ( match.id.toLowerCase().indexOf( term ) >= 0 ) {
-							return match;
-						}
-
-						if ( match.children ) {
-							for ( let i = match.children.length - 1; i >= 0; i-- ) {
-								const child = match.children[ i ];
-
-								// Remove term from results if it doesn't match.
-								if ( -1 === child.id.toLowerCase().indexOf( term ) ) {
-									match.children.splice( i, 1 );
-								}
-							}
-
-							if ( match.children.length > 0 ) {
-								return match;
-							}
-						}
-
-						return null;
-					},
-				},
-			).change(
-				function() {
+			$( el ).on(
+				'change', function() {
 					const value = $( this ).val();
 					if ( value ) {
 						const parts = value.split( '-' );
@@ -76,20 +31,6 @@ function setupSelectTwo( id ) {
 			$( el ).val( parts.join( '-' ) ).trigger( 'change' );
 		},
 	);
-
-	$target.find( 'select.select2-select:not(.connector_or_context)' ).each(
-		function() {
-			const element_id_split = $( this ).attr( 'id' ).split( '_' );
-			const select_name = element_id_split[ element_id_split.length - 1 ].charAt( 0 ).toUpperCase() +
-				element_id_split[ element_id_split.length - 1 ].slice( 1 );
-			$( this ).select2(
-				{
-					allowClear: true,
-					placeholder: window[ 'wp-stream-alerts' ].any + ' ' + select_name,
-				},
-			);
-		},
-	);
 }
 const $alertSettingSelect = $( '#wp_stream_alert_type' );
 
@@ -134,7 +75,7 @@ function getActions( connector ) {
 	trigger_action.empty();
 	trigger_action.prop( 'disabled', true );
 
-	const placeholder = $( '<option/>', { value: '', text: '' } );
+	const placeholder = $( '<option/>', { value: '', text: trigger_action.data( 'placeholder' ) || '' } );
 	trigger_action.append( placeholder );
 
 	const data = {
@@ -209,7 +150,7 @@ $( '#wpbody-content' ).on(
 					);
 					add_new_alert.on( 'click', '.button-primary.save', save_new_alert );
 
-					setupSelectTwo( '#add-new-alert' );
+					bindTriggerSelects( '#add-new-alert' );
 				}
 			},
 		);
@@ -286,7 +227,7 @@ window.inlineEditPost.edit = function( id ) {
 			},
 		);
 		$edit_row.find( 'select[name="wp_stream_alert_status"] option[value="' + alert_status + '"]' ).attr( 'selected', 'selected' );
-		setupSelectTwo( '#edit-' + post_id );
+		bindTriggerSelects( '#edit-' + post_id );
 
 		// Alert type handling
 		$( '#wp_stream_alert_type_form' ).hide();
diff --git a/src/js/live-updates.js b/src/js/live-updates.js
index 930cbc3cf..7d0d24863 100644
--- a/src/js/live-updates.js
+++ b/src/js/live-updates.js
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ $( document ).ready(
 					$( '.tablenav-pages .last-page' ).attr( 'href', data.last_page_link );
 				}
 
-				// Allow others to hook in, ie: timeago
+				// Allow others to hook in (relative time on new rows).
 				$( list_sel ).parent().trigger( 'updated' );
 
 				// Regenerate alternating row classes
diff --git a/src/js/utils/relative-time.js b/src/js/utils/relative-time.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96bed4de1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/js/utils/relative-time.js
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+const DIVISIONS = [
+	{ amount: 60, unit: 'second' },
+	{ amount: 60, unit: 'minute' },
+	{ amount: 24, unit: 'hour' },
+	{ amount: 7, unit: 'day' },
+	{ amount: 4.34524, unit: 'week' },
+	{ amount: 12, unit: 'month' },
+	{ amount: Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY, unit: 'year' },
+];
+
+const formatters = {};
+
+/**
+ * Locale for relative strings: the document language, then the admin script locale.
+ *
+ * @return {string|undefined} BCP 47 tag, or undefined for the runtime default.
+ */
+function resolveLocale() {
+	const admin = window[ 'wp-stream-admin' ];
+	return (
+		( document.documentElement && document.documentElement.lang ) ||
+		( admin && admin.locale ) ||
+		undefined
+	);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Memoized Intl.RelativeTimeFormat per locale (one per page, not one per row).
+ *
+ * @param {string|undefined} locale Locale tag.
+ * @return {Intl.RelativeTimeFormat} Formatter.
+ */
+function getFormatter( locale ) {
+	const key = locale || '';
+	if ( ! formatters[ key ] ) {
+		formatters[ key ] = new Intl.RelativeTimeFormat( locale, { numeric: 'auto' } );
+	}
+	return formatters[ key ];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Format an ISO timestamp as a locale-aware relative string.
+ *
+ * @param {string} isoString Instant in ISO-8601 form.
+ * @param {number} now       Comparison time in milliseconds.
+ * @return {string} Relative time, or an empty string when the instant is invalid.
+ */
+export default function formatRelativeTime( isoString, now = Date.now() ) {
+	const date = new Date( isoString );
+
+	if ( Number.isNaN( date.getTime() ) ) {
+		return '';
+	}
+
+	const formatter = getFormatter( resolveLocale() );
+	let duration = ( date.getTime() - now ) / 1000;
+
+	for ( let i = 0; i < DIVISIONS.length; i++ ) {
+		const division = DIVISIONS[ i ];
+		if ( Math.abs( duration ) < division.amount ) {
+			return formatter.format( Math.round( duration ), division.unit );
+		}
+		duration /= division.amount;
+	}
+
+	return '';
+}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/admin-ui-smoke.spec.js b/tests/e2e/admin-ui-smoke.spec.js
index cda0cb74c..8d5a4ef64 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/admin-ui-smoke.spec.js
+++ b/tests/e2e/admin-ui-smoke.spec.js
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ import { newAuthedPage } from './helpers/stream-plugin';
 /**
  * Admin UI smoke test for the Stream plugin.
  *
- * Loads the main Stream admin screens and asserts that the records-screen
- * native selects and the jQuery UI datepicker render, and that no uncaught
- * JS errors are emitted. Intended to catch regressions from upstream jQuery
- * or jQuery UI version bumps that the unit / integration suites do not
- * exercise.
+ * Loads the main Stream admin screens and asserts that native selects,
+ * the jQuery UI datepicker, and relative timestamps render, and that no
+ * uncaught JS errors are emitted. Intended to catch regressions from
+ * upstream jQuery or jQuery UI version bumps that the unit / integration
+ * suites do not exercise.
  */
 
 test.describe.configure( { mode: 'serial' } );
@@ -98,6 +98,36 @@ test.describe( 'Admin UI smoke', () => {
 		await expect( page.locator( '.select2-container' ) ).toHaveCount( 0 );
 	} );
 
+	test( 'renders relative timestamps next to the absolute date', async () => {
+		await page.goto( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=wp_stream' );
+		const time = page
+			.locator( 'table.wp-list-table .column-date time.timeago' )
+			.first();
+		await expect( time ).toBeVisible();
+		await expect( time ).toHaveAttribute( 'datetime', /./ );
+		await expect( time ).toHaveText(
+			/ago|now|yesterday|today|tomorrow|last\s|next\s|in\s|this\s/i,
+		);
+		// Previous presentation: the bold relative string renders alongside the
+		// original absolute date, which stays visible in the cell.
+		await expect( time.locator( 'xpath=ancestor::td[1]' ) ).toHaveText(
+			/\d{4}\/\d{2}\/\d{2}/,
+		);
+	} );
+
+	test( 'uses native selects on Settings exclude rules', async () => {
+		await page.goto(
+			'/wp-admin/admin.php?page=wp_stream_settings&tab=exclude',
+		);
+		await page.locator( '#exclude_rules_new_rule' ).click();
+		const contextSelect = page
+			.locator( '.stream-exclude-list tbody tr:not(.hidden) select.connector_or_context' )
+			.last();
+		await expect( contextSelect ).toBeVisible();
+		await expect( page.locator( '.select2-dropdown' ) ).toHaveCount( 0 );
+		await expect( page.locator( '.select2-container' ) ).toHaveCount( 0 );
+	} );
+
 	test( 'loads the Settings tab', async () => {
 		await page.goto( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=wp_stream_settings' );
 		await expect( page.locator( 'form' ).first() ).toBeVisible();
@@ -108,6 +138,11 @@ test.describe( 'Admin UI smoke', () => {
 		const list = page.locator( '.wp-list-table' );
 		const empty = page.locator( '.no-items, .post-state' );
 		await expect( list.or( empty ).first() ).toBeVisible();
+		await expect( page.locator( '.select2-dropdown' ) ).toHaveCount( 0 );
+		const bulkWidth = await page
+			.locator( '#bulk-action-selector-top' )
+			.evaluate( ( el ) => parseFloat( window.getComputedStyle( el ).width ) );
+		expect( bulkWidth ).toBeLessThan( 250 );
 	} );
 
 	test( 'new alert type list includes webhook and omits IFTTT', async () => {
diff --git a/tests/e2e/settings-save.spec.js b/tests/e2e/settings-save.spec.js
index 5d754b30a..19139b15c 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/settings-save.spec.js
+++ b/tests/e2e/settings-save.spec.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import {
 
 const SETTINGS_URL =
 	'/wp-admin/network/admin.php?page=wp_stream_network_settings';
-const EXCLUDE_IP = '203.0.113.44';
+const EXCLUDE_IP = '198.51.100.44';
 
 /** Captured before mutation so afterAll can restore the live install. */
 let originalTtl = null;
@@ -47,14 +47,12 @@ test.describe( 'Settings save', () => {
 
 		await page.getByRole( 'link', { name: 'Exclude' } ).click();
 		await page.locator( '#exclude_rules_new_rule' ).click();
-		await page.evaluate( ( ip ) => {
-			const select = document.querySelector(
-				'.stream-exclude-list tbody tr:not(.hidden):not(.helper) select.ip_address',
-			);
-			const option = new Option( ip, ip, true, true );
-			select.appendChild( option );
-			window.jQuery( select ).trigger( 'change' );
-		}, EXCLUDE_IP );
+		const ipInput = page
+			.locator(
+				'.stream-exclude-list tbody tr:not(.hidden):not(.helper) input.ip_address',
+			)
+			.last();
+		await ipInput.fill( EXCLUDE_IP );
 
 		await page.getByRole( 'link', { name: 'Advanced' } ).click();
 		const cron = page.locator(
@@ -84,10 +82,10 @@ test.describe( 'Settings save', () => {
 		await expect(
 			page
 				.locator(
-					`.stream-exclude-list select.ip_address option[value="${ EXCLUDE_IP }"]`,
+					'.stream-exclude-list tbody tr:not(.hidden):not(.helper) input.ip_address',
 				)
-				.first(),
-		).toBeAttached();
+				.last(),
+		).toHaveValue( EXCLUDE_IP );
 
 		await page.getByRole( 'link', { name: 'Advanced' } ).click();
 		if ( cronWasChecked ) {
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/Admin_Assets_Test.php b/tests/phpunit/Admin_Assets_Test.php
index 6c19ed9ec..744827e3c 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/Admin_Assets_Test.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/Admin_Assets_Test.php
@@ -66,13 +66,12 @@ public function test_admin_enqueue_scripts() {
 
 		$this->assertTrue( wp_style_is( 'wp-stream-admin' ), 'wp-stream-admin style is enqueued' );
 
-		// select2 remains enqueued via the admin-exclude bundle dependency until
-		// that screen migrates off it; the records screen itself no longer runs
-		// any select2 initialization (see the e2e native-selects assertions).
-		$this->assertTrue( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-select2' ), 'wp-stream-select2 script is enqueued' );
-		$this->assertTrue( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-select2-en' ), 'wp-stream-select2-en script is enqueued' );
-		$this->assertTrue( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago' ), 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago script is enqueued' );
-		$this->assertTrue( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago-en' ), 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago-en script is enqueued' );
+		// The select2 and jquery-timeago vendor scripts are no longer enqueued
+		// anywhere: every screen uses native selects and Intl.RelativeTimeFormat.
+		$this->assertFalse( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-select2' ), 'wp-stream-select2 script is not enqueued' );
+		$this->assertFalse( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-select2-en' ), 'wp-stream-select2-en script is not enqueued' );
+		$this->assertFalse( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago' ), 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago script is not enqueued' );
+		$this->assertFalse( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago-en' ), 'wp-stream-jquery-timeago-en script is not enqueued' );
 
 		$this->assertTrue( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-admin' ), 'wp-stream-admin script is enqueued' );
 		$this->assertTrue( wp_script_is( 'wp-stream-live-updates' ), 'wp-stream-live-updates script is enqueued' );
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/Alerts_List_Test.php b/tests/phpunit/Alerts_List_Test.php
index 2a3ea684a..339988fff 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/Alerts_List_Test.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/Alerts_List_Test.php
@@ -65,6 +65,64 @@ public function test_enqueue_scripts() {
 	/**
 	 * Test save_alert_inline_edit method.
 	 */
+	public function test_save_alert_inline_edit_regenerates_alert_title() {
+		$alerts_list = new Alerts_List( $this->plugin );
+		$post_id     = wp_insert_post(
+			array(
+				'post_type'  => Alerts::POST_TYPE,
+				'post_title' => 'Admin > Any Context > Any Action',
+			)
+		);
+
+		$user_id = self::factory()->user->create(
+			array(
+				'role'         => 'administrator',
+				'display_name' => 'Zelly Regenerated',
+			)
+		);
+		wp_set_current_user( $user_id );
+
+		$_POST['post_type']                              = Alerts::POST_TYPE;
+		$_POST['wp_stream_trigger_author']               = (string) $user_id;
+		$_POST['wp_stream_trigger_connector_or_context'] = '';
+		$_POST['wp_stream_trigger_action']               = '';
+		$_POST['wp_stream_alert_type']                   = 'none';
+		$_POST['wp_stream_alert_status']                 = 'wp_stream_enabled';
+		$_POST[ Alerts::POST_TYPE . '_edit_nonce' ]      = wp_create_nonce( plugin_basename( $this->plugin->locations['dir'] . 'classes/class-alerts-list.php' ) );
+
+		$data    = array();
+		$postarr = array(
+			'ID'        => $post_id,
+			'post_type' => Alerts::POST_TYPE,
+		);
+
+		$filtered = $alerts_list->save_alert_inline_edit( $data, $postarr );
+
+		$this->assertStringContainsString(
+			'Zelly Regenerated',
+			$filtered['post_title'],
+			'Editing a trigger should regenerate the alert title shown in the list'
+		);
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString(
+			'Admin',
+			$filtered['post_title'],
+			'Regenerated title should not keep the creation-time author'
+		);
+
+		$alert_meta = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'alert_meta', true );
+		$this->assertSame( (string) $user_id, $alert_meta['trigger_author'], 'Trigger author not saved' );
+
+		unset(
+			$_POST['post_type'],
+			$_POST['wp_stream_trigger_author'],
+			$_POST['wp_stream_trigger_connector_or_context'],
+			$_POST['wp_stream_trigger_action'],
+			$_POST['wp_stream_alert_type'],
+			$_POST['wp_stream_alert_status'],
+			$_POST[ Alerts::POST_TYPE . '_edit_nonce' ]
+		);
+	}
+
 	public function test_save_alert_inline_edit() {
 		$alerts_list = new Alerts_List( $this->plugin );
 		$post_id     = wp_insert_post(
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/Log_Test.php b/tests/phpunit/Log_Test.php
index 0c7732018..db462c7aa 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/Log_Test.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/Log_Test.php
@@ -180,5 +180,17 @@ public function test_can_match_record_id_address() {
 				'Record IP address is one of the IP addresses in the rule'
 			)
 		);
+
+		$this->assertTrue(
+			$this->plugin->log->record_matches_rules(
+				array(
+					'ip_address' => '1.1.1.1',
+				),
+				array(
+					'ip_address' => '8.8.8.8, 1.1.1.1',
+				)
+			),
+			'Whitespace after commas in a free-text IP list must not break matching'
+		);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/unit/Alerts_Admin_UI_Unit_Test.php b/tests/phpunit/unit/Alerts_Admin_UI_Unit_Test.php
index 33c4a495d..a9d17de85 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/unit/Alerts_Admin_UI_Unit_Test.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/unit/Alerts_Admin_UI_Unit_Test.php
@@ -187,9 +187,10 @@ public function test_display_submit_box_returns_early_when_post_empty() {
 	}
 
 	public function test_display_notification_box_without_post_renders_type_select() {
-		$none       = Mockery::mock();
-		$none->slug = 'none';
-		$none->name = 'Do Nothing';
+		$none            = Mockery::mock();
+		$none->slug      = 'none';
+		$none->name      = 'Do Nothing';
+		$none->creatable = true;
 		$none->shouldReceive( 'display_fields' )->once()->with( array() );
 		$this->plugin->alerts->alert_types['none'] = $none;
 
@@ -283,12 +284,11 @@ public function test_register_scripts_enqueues_alerts_asset_on_list_screen() {
 			)
 		);
 		Functions\when( 'wp_create_nonce' )->justReturn( 'stream-nonce' );
-		$this->plugin->shouldReceive( 'with_select2' )->once()->andReturn( array( 'select2' ) );
 		$this->plugin->shouldReceive( 'enqueue_asset' )
 			->once()
 			->with(
 				'alerts',
-				array( array( 'select2' ), 'inline-edit-post' ),
+				array( 'inline-edit-post' ),
 				Mockery::on(
 					static function ( $l10n ) {
 						return isset( $l10n['getActionsNonce'] ) && 'stream-nonce' === $l10n['getActionsNonce'];
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/unit/Form_Generator_Unit_Test.php b/tests/phpunit/unit/Form_Generator_Unit_Test.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c2fe07952
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/phpunit/unit/Form_Generator_Unit_Test.php
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Tests for the Form_Generator native select rendering.
+ *
+ * @package WP_Stream
+ */
+
+namespace WP_Stream;
+
+use Brain\Monkey\Functions;
+use Yoast\WPTestUtils\BrainMonkey\TestCase;
+
+/**
+ * Class Form_Generator_Unit_Test
+ */
+class Form_Generator_Unit_Test extends TestCase {
+
+	/**
+	 * Generator under test.
+	 *
+	 * @var Form_Generator
+	 */
+	protected $generator;
+
+	/**
+	 * Stand-in for WordPress selected().
+	 *
+	 * @param mixed $selected Value to check.
+	 * @param mixed $current  Comparison value.
+	 * @param bool  $echo     Unused.
+	 * @return string
+	 */
+	public static function selected_stub( $selected, $current = true, $echo = true ) {
+		unset( $echo );
+		return ( (string) $selected === (string) $current ) ? ' selected="selected"' : '';
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Stand-in for WordPress wp_parse_args().
+	 *
+	 * @param array $args     User values.
+	 * @param array $defaults Default values.
+	 * @return array
+	 */
+	public static function wp_parse_args_stub( $args, $defaults = array() ) {
+		if ( is_object( $args ) ) {
+			$args = get_object_vars( $args );
+		}
+		return array_merge( $defaults, (array) $args );
+	}
+
+	protected function set_up() {
+		parent::set_up();
+
+		$this->stubTranslationFunctions();
+		$this->stubEscapeFunctions();
+		Functions\when( 'selected' )->alias( array( self::class, 'selected_stub' ) );
+		Functions\when( 'wp_parse_args' )->alias( array( self::class, 'wp_parse_args_stub' ) );
+
+		$this->generator = new Form_Generator();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Render a grouped_select field.
+	 *
+	 * @param string|array $value   Current value(s).
+	 * @param array        $options Option tree.
+	 * @param array        $extra   Extra args (placeholder, multiple).
+	 * @return string HTML.
+	 */
+	private function render_select( $value, array $options, array $extra = array() ) {
+		$data = array();
+		if ( ! empty( $extra['placeholder'] ) ) {
+			$data['placeholder'] = $extra['placeholder'];
+		}
+
+		return $this->generator->render_field(
+			'grouped_select',
+			array(
+				'name'    => 'test_select',
+				'value'   => $value,
+				'options' => $options,
+				'classes' => 'test-class',
+				'data'    => $data,
+			),
+			false
+		);
+	}
+
+	public function test_parent_and_children_render_as_flat_options() {
+		$html = $this->render_select(
+			'',
+			array(
+				array(
+					'value'    => 'posts',
+					'text'     => 'Posts',
+					'children' => array(
+						array(
+							'value' => 'post',
+							'text'  => 'Single Post',
+						),
+					),
+				),
+			)
+		);
+
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '<option class="parent" value="posts"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '<option class="child" value="post"', $html );
+		// The previous markup kept parent and children flat (no optgroup).
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( '<optgroup', $html );
+	}
+
+	public function test_valueless_groups_render_as_optgroups() {
+		$html = $this->render_select(
+			'',
+			array(
+				array(
+					'text'     => 'Roles',
+					'children' => array(
+						array(
+							'value' => 'administrator',
+							'text'  => 'Administrator',
+						),
+					),
+				),
+			)
+		);
+
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '<optgroup label="Roles">', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '<option value="administrator"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '</optgroup>', $html );
+		// Group headers are not selectable.
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( 'value="Roles"', $html );
+	}
+
+	public function test_array_value_preselects_matching_options() {
+		$html = $this->render_select(
+			array( 'posts', 'pages' ),
+			array(
+				array(
+					'value' => 'posts',
+					'text'  => 'Posts',
+				),
+				array(
+					'value' => 'pages',
+					'text'  => 'Pages',
+				),
+				array(
+					'value' => 'media',
+					'text'  => 'Media',
+				),
+			)
+		);
+
+		$this->assertSame( 2, substr_count( $html, 'selected="selected"' ) );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '>Posts</option>', $html );
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( 'value="media"  selected="selected"', $html );
+	}
+
+	public function test_placeholder_option_carries_text_and_aria_label() {
+		$html = $this->render_select(
+			'',
+			array(
+				array(
+					'value' => 'posts',
+					'text'  => 'Posts',
+				),
+			),
+			array( 'placeholder' => 'Any Context' )
+		);
+
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( 'aria-label="Any Context"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '<option value="">Any Context</option>', $html );
+	}
+
+	public function test_missing_selected_value_appends_fallback_option() {
+		$html = $this->render_select(
+			'not-an-option',
+			array(
+				array(
+					'value' => 'posts',
+					'text'  => 'Posts',
+				),
+			)
+		);
+
+		$this->assertStringContainsString(
+			'<option value="not-an-option" selected="selected">not-an-option</option>',
+			$html
+		);
+	}
+
+	public function test_text_field_renders_placeholder_attribute() {
+		$html = $this->generator->render_field(
+			'text',
+			array(
+				'name'    => 'test_text',
+				'value'   => '8.8.8.8',
+				'classes' => 'ip_address',
+				'data'    => array(
+					'placeholder' => 'Any IP Address',
+				),
+			),
+			false
+		);
+
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( 'type="text"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( 'placeholder="Any IP Address"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( 'value="8.8.8.8"', $html );
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/unit/Settings_Renderer_Unit_Test.php b/tests/phpunit/unit/Settings_Renderer_Unit_Test.php
index 72975b9f8..a15664783 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/unit/Settings_Renderer_Unit_Test.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/unit/Settings_Renderer_Unit_Test.php
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 use PHPUnit\Framework\Attributes\DataProvider;
 use Yoast\WPTestUtils\BrainMonkey\TestCase;
 
+require_once __DIR__ . '/settings-registry-wp-roles-stub.php';
+
 class Settings_Renderer_Unit_Test extends TestCase {
 	/**
 	 * Renderer under test.
@@ -33,14 +35,24 @@ protected function set_up() {
 		Functions\when( 'translate_user_role' )->returnArg();
 		Functions\when( 'wp_create_nonce' )->justReturn( 'test-nonce' );
 		Functions\when( 'wp_parse_args' )->alias( array( self::class, 'wp_parse_args_stub' ) );
-		Functions\when( 'wp_roles' )->justReturn( null );
-		Functions\when( 'count_users' )->justReturn(
+		if ( ! class_exists( \WP_Roles::class, false ) ) {
+			class_alias( Settings_Registry_Wp_Roles_Stub::class, 'WP_Roles' );
+		}
+		Functions\when( 'wp_roles' )->justReturn( new Settings_Registry_Wp_Roles_Stub() );
+		Functions\when( 'is_multisite' )->justReturn( false );
+		Functions\when( 'get_users' )->justReturn(
 			array(
-				'avail_roles' => array(
-					'administrator' => 1,
+				(object) array(
+					'ID'           => 1,
+					'display_name' => 'Test Admin',
+				),
+				(object) array(
+					'ID'           => 2,
+					'display_name' => 'Test Editor',
 				),
 			)
 		);
+		Functions\when( 'get_userdata' )->justReturn( false );
 
 		$this->plugin                          = Mockery::mock( Plugin::class );
 		$this->plugin->connectors              = Mockery::mock( Connectors::class );
@@ -277,6 +289,63 @@ public static function data_render_field_html() {
 		);
 	}
 
+	public function test_rule_list_renders_native_selects_with_roles_and_users() {
+		$html = $this->renderer->render_field(
+			$this->make_field(
+				array(
+					'type'    => 'rule_list',
+					'section' => 'exclude',
+					'name'    => 'rules',
+					'desc'    => 'Exclude',
+				)
+			),
+			array(
+				'exclude_rules' => array(
+					'exclude_row'    => array( 'row1' => '1' ),
+					'author_or_role' => array( 'row1' => '1' ),
+					'connector'      => array( 'row1' => 'posts' ),
+					'context'        => array( 'row1' => 'post' ),
+					'action'         => array( 'row1' => 'updated' ),
+					'ip_address'     => array( 'row1' => '203.0.113.10' ),
+				),
+			),
+			'wp_stream'
+		);
+
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '<optgroup label="Roles">', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '<optgroup label="Users">', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '>Test Admin</option>', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '>WP-CLI</option>', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( 'value="1"  selected="selected"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( 'value="203.0.113.10"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( 'select2', $html );
+	}
+
+	public function test_rule_list_labels_missing_user_as_not_available() {
+		Functions\when( 'get_userdata' )->justReturn( false );
+
+		$html = $this->renderer->render_field(
+			$this->make_field(
+				array(
+					'type'    => 'rule_list',
+					'section' => 'exclude',
+					'name'    => 'rules',
+					'desc'    => 'Exclude',
+				)
+			),
+			array(
+				'exclude_rules' => array(
+					'exclude_row'    => array( 'row1' => '1' ),
+					'author_or_role' => array( 'row1' => '42' ),
+				),
+			),
+			'wp_stream'
+		);
+
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( 'value="42"', $html );
+		$this->assertStringContainsString( '>N/A</option>', $html );
+	}
+
 	public function test_render_field_returns_empty_when_required_keys_missing() {
 		$this->assertSame( '', $this->renderer->render_field( array( 'type' => 'text' ), array(), 'wp_stream' ) );
 	}
diff --git a/ui/js/alerts-list.js b/ui/js/alerts-list.js
index aa1e72484..f3480bdd8 100644
--- a/ui/js/alerts-list.js
+++ b/ui/js/alerts-list.js
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@
 				},
 			);
 
-			// This is done with JS instead of CSS to override the inline styles added by Select2's JS.
-			$( '.select2-container', '.inline-edit-col' ).css( { width: '100%' } );
-
 			// Re-enable the select all functionality
 			$( '.wp-list-table thead .check-column input[type="checkbox"]' ).on(
 				'click',
diff --git a/webpack.config.js b/webpack.config.js
index 62fb444c6..2e2160fc5 100644
--- a/webpack.config.js
+++ b/webpack.config.js
@@ -1,9 +1,3 @@
-/**
- * External dependencies
- */
-const path = require( 'path' );
-const CopyPlugin = require( 'copy-webpack-plugin' );
-
 /**
  * WordPress dependencies
  */
@@ -22,35 +16,4 @@ module.exports = {
 		settings: './src/js/settings.js',
 		'wpseo-admin': './src/js/wpseo-admin.js',
 	},
-	plugins: [
-		...defaultConfig.plugins,
-		new CopyPlugin( {
-			patterns: [
-				{
-					from: 'node_modules/select2/dist',
-					// Convert filenames to lowercase.
-					to( { context, absoluteFilename } ) {
-						const baseName = path.basename( absoluteFilename ).toLowerCase();
-						const relativePath = path.relative( context, path.dirname( absoluteFilename ) );
-
-						return path.join( 'select2', relativePath, baseName );
-					},
-				},
-				{
-					from: 'node_modules/timeago/jquery.timeago.js',
-					to: 'timeago/js/jquery.timeago.js',
-				},
-				{
-					from: 'node_modules/timeago/locales',
-					// Convert filenames to lowercase.
-					to( { context, absoluteFilename } ) {
-						const baseName = path.basename( absoluteFilename ).toLowerCase();
-						const relativePath = path.relative( context, path.dirname( absoluteFilename ) );
-
-						return path.join( 'timeago', 'js', 'locales', relativePath, baseName );
-					},
-				},
-			],
-		} ),
-	],
 };