diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 88c8339c..6eb0cda2 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
       time: "08:00"
-    target-branch: "nightly"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
 
   - package-ecosystem: "github-actions"
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
       time: "08:30"
-    target-branch: "nightly"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
 
   - package-ecosystem: "npm"
@@ -26,7 +24,6 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
       time: "09:00"
-    target-branch: "nightly"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
 
   - package-ecosystem: "nuget"
@@ -34,7 +31,6 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
       time: "09:30"
-    target-branch: "nightly"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
 
   - package-ecosystem: "pip"
@@ -42,7 +38,6 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
       time: "10:00"
-    target-branch: "nightly"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
 
   - package-ecosystem: "gitsubmodule"
@@ -50,5 +45,4 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: "daily"
       time: "10:30"
-    target-branch: "nightly"
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
diff --git a/.github/workflows/issues-stale.yml b/.github/workflows/issues-stale.yml
index c168034e..3ba38861 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/issues-stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/issues-stale.yml
@@ -31,12 +31,15 @@ jobs:
           exempt-pr-labels: 'dependencies,l10n'
           stale-issue-label: 'stale'
           stale-issue-message: >
-            This issue is stale because it has been open for 90 days with no activity.
-            Comment or remove the stale label, otherwise this will be closed in 10 days.
+            :wave: @{issue-author}, It seems this issue hasn't had any activity in the past 90 days.
+            If it's still something you'd like addressed, please let us know by leaving a comment.
+            Otherwise, to help keep our backlog tidy, we'll be closing this issue in 10 days. Thanks!
           stale-pr-label: 'stale'
           stale-pr-message: >
-            This PR is stale because it has been open for 90 days with no activity.
-            Comment or remove the stale label, otherwise this will be closed in 10 days.
+            :wave: @{issue-author}, It looks like this PR has been idle for 90 days.
+            If it's still something you're working on or would like to pursue,
+            please leave a comment or update your branch.
+            Otherwise, we'll be closing this PR in 10 days to reduce our backlog. Thanks!
           repo-token: ${{ secrets.GH_BOT_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: Invalid Template
@@ -48,7 +51,6 @@ jobs:
             This PR was closed because the the template was not completed after 5 days.
           days-before-stale: 0
           days-before-close: 5
-          exempt-pr-labels: 'dependencies,l10n'
           only-labels: 'invalid:template-incomplete'
           stale-issue-label: 'invalid:template-incomplete'
           stale-issue-message: >