diff --git a/server/database.py b/server/database.py
index 1d258de..1de26de 100644
--- a/server/database.py
+++ b/server/database.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ def validate_input(**kwargs):
 
 
 class DatabaseConnection:
-
     def obtain_connection(self):
         self.connection = sqlite3.connect(self.filepath)
         if self.row_factory:
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ class DatabaseConnection:
             )
         return [dict(row) for row in curs.fetchall()]
 
-    def _insert_channel(self, channel_name, channel_id, *args, **kwargs):
+    def _insert_channel(self, channel_name, channel_id):
         with self.connection:
             self.connection.execute(
                 'INSERT INTO CHANNEL(ClaimId, Name)  VALUES (?, ?)',
@@ -91,37 +90,33 @@ class DatabaseConnection:
             )
         return comment_id
 
-    def create_comment(self, comment: str, claim_id: str, channel_name: str = None,
-                       channel_id: str = None, **kwargs) -> dict:
-        thing = None
-        try:
-            validate_input(
-                comment=comment,
-                claim_id=claim_id,
-                channel_id=channel_id,
-                channel_name=channel_name,
-            )
-            if channel_id and channel_name:
+    def create_comment(self, comment: str, claim_id: str, **kwargs) -> typing.Union[dict, None]:
+        channel_id = kwargs.pop('channel_id', '')
+        channel_name = kwargs.pop('channel_name', '')
+        if channel_id or channel_name:
+            try:
+                validate_input(
+                    comment=comment,
+                    claim_id=claim_id,
+                    channel_id=channel_id,
+                    channel_name=channel_name,
+                )
                 self._insert_channel(channel_name, channel_id)
-            else:
-                channel_id = anonymous['channel_id']
-            comcast_id = self._insert_comment(
-                comment=comment,
-                claim_id=claim_id,
-                channel_id=channel_id,
-                **kwargs
-            )
-            curry = self.connection.execute(
-                'SELECT * FROM COMMENTS_ON_CLAIMS WHERE comment_id = ?', (comcast_id,)
-            )
-            thing = curry.fetchone()
-        except AssertionError as e:
-            print(e)
-        finally:
-            return dict(thing) if thing else None
-
-
-
+            except AssertionError:
+                return None
+        else:
+            channel_id = anonymous['channel_id']
+        comcast_id = self._insert_comment(
+            comment=comment,
+            claim_id=claim_id,
+            channel_id=channel_id,
+            **kwargs
+        )
+        curry = self.connection.execute(
+            'SELECT * FROM COMMENTS_ON_CLAIMS WHERE comment_id = ?', (comcast_id,)
+        )
+        thing = curry.fetchone()
+        return dict(thing) if thing else None
 
     def get_comment_ids(self, claim_id: str, parent_id: str = None, page=1, page_size=50):
         """ Just return a list of the comment IDs that are associated with the given claim_id.
@@ -143,14 +138,17 @@ class DatabaseConnection:
                     WHERE claim_id LIKE ? AND parent_id LIKE ? LIMIT ? OFFSET ?
                 """, (claim_id, parent_id, page_size, page_size * abs(page - 1),)
                                       )
-        return [tuple(row) for row in curs.fetchall()]
+        return [tuple(row)[0] for row in curs.fetchall()]
 
     def get_comments_by_id(self, comment_ids: list) -> typing.Union[list, None]:
         """ Returns a list containing the comment data associated with each ID within the list"""
+        if len(comment_ids) == 0:
+            return None
         placeholders = ', '.join('?' for _ in comment_ids)
         curs = self.connection.execute(
             f'SELECT * FROM COMMENTS_ON_CLAIMS WHERE comment_id IN ({placeholders})',
-            comment_ids
+            tuple(comment_ids)
+
         )
         return [dict(row) for row in curs.fetchall()]