diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 65407d84..446c1789 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@ All notable changes to vouch are documented here. Format follows
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+- `_meta.vouch_hot_memory` dropped `actionable` claims: the sidebar's live
+  set was `working` / `stable` / `contested`, so `kb.confirm` — which
+  promotes a working claim to `actionable` and bumps `last_confirmed_at` —
+  removed a claim from the recency sidebar at the moment it became the
+  freshest thing in the kb. the live set is now the complement of the
+  retired statuses, matching `vault_sync`.
+
 ## [1.4.0] — 2026-07-17
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/src/vouch/hot_memory.py b/src/vouch/hot_memory.py
index fea42ea1..8d8014e6 100644
--- a/src/vouch/hot_memory.py
+++ b/src/vouch/hot_memory.py
@@ -231,8 +231,20 @@ def _preview(text: str) -> str:
     return flat[: TEXT_PREVIEW_CHARS - 1] + "…"
 
 
+# the live statuses — the complement of the retired set (superseded / archived
+# / redacted). actionable belongs here: kb.confirm promotes a working claim to
+# actionable and bumps last_confirmed_at, so leaving it out dropped a claim
+# from the sidebar at the moment it became freshest.
+_ACTIVE_STATUSES = frozenset({
+    ClaimStatus.WORKING,
+    ClaimStatus.ACTIONABLE,
+    ClaimStatus.STABLE,
+    ClaimStatus.CONTESTED,
+})
+
+
 def _is_active(status: ClaimStatus) -> bool:
-    return status in {ClaimStatus.WORKING, ClaimStatus.STABLE, ClaimStatus.CONTESTED}
+    return status in _ACTIVE_STATUSES
 
 
 def query_bias_for_page(page: Page) -> str:
diff --git a/tests/test_hot_memory.py b/tests/test_hot_memory.py
index 102444aa..c5b7b9f8 100644
--- a/tests/test_hot_memory.py
+++ b/tests/test_hot_memory.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from vouch import hot_memory as hot_mod
 from vouch.capabilities import METHODS
 from vouch.jsonl_server import handle_request
+from vouch.lifecycle import confirm
 from vouch.models import ClaimStatus, Entity, EntityType, Page, PageType
 from vouch.proposals import approve, propose_claim
 from vouch.storage import KBStore
@@ -50,6 +51,21 @@ def test_recently_approved_claim_appears(store: KBStore) -> None:
     assert "approved_at" in row
 
 
+def test_confirmed_claim_stays_in_sidebar(store: KBStore) -> None:
+    # kb.confirm promotes a working claim to actionable and bumps
+    # last_confirmed_at. the claim is at its freshest, so dropping it from the
+    # recency sidebar is backwards.
+    cid = _approved_claim(store, "the sky is blue today")
+    assert [r["id"] for r in hot_mod.compute_hot_memory(store, limit=5)] == [cid]
+
+    confirm(store, claim_id=cid, actor="reviewer")
+    hot_mod.reset_sidebar_cache()
+
+    rows = hot_mod.compute_hot_memory(store, limit=5)
+    assert [r["id"] for r in rows] == [cid]
+    assert rows[0]["status"] == ClaimStatus.ACTIONABLE.value
+
+
 def test_empty_kb_yields_empty_list(store: KBStore) -> None:
     assert hot_mod.compute_hot_memory(store, limit=5) == []