diff --git a/.github/workflows/selfdrive_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/selfdrive_tests.yaml
index 09fb52b9c2..67cbc5f097 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/selfdrive_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/selfdrive_tests.yaml
@@ -64,15 +64,7 @@ jobs:
       timeout-minutes: 1
       run: |
         cd $STRIPPED_DIR
-        ${{ env.RUN }} "release/check-dirty.sh && \
-                        MAX_EXAMPLES=5 $PYTEST -m 'not slow' selfdrive/car system/manager"
-    - name: Static analysis
-      timeout-minutes: 1
-      run: |
-        cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
-        cp pyproject.toml $STRIPPED_DIR
-        cd $STRIPPED_DIR
-        ${{ env.RUN }} "scripts/lint/lint.sh --skip check_added_large_files"
+        ${{ env.RUN }} "release/check-dirty.sh"
 
   build:
     runs-on:
diff --git a/release/release_files.py b/release/release_files.py
index 0e1ed852a2..6aabdf0a4c 100755
--- a/release/release_files.py
+++ b/release/release_files.py
@@ -6,39 +6,10 @@ from pathlib import Path
 HERE = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 ROOT = HERE + "/.."
 
-# blacklisting is for two purposes:
-# - minimizing release download size
-# - keeping the diff readable
 blacklist = [
-  "panda/drivers/",
-  "panda/examples/",
-  "panda/tests/safety/",
-
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/.*.dbc$",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/generator/",
-
-  "cereal/.*test.*",
-  "^common/tests/",
-
-  # particularly large text files
-  "uv.lock",
-  "third_party/catch2",
-  "selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.*",
-
-  "^tools/",
-  "^tinygrad_repo/",
-
-  "matlab.*.md",
-
   ".git/",
-  ".github/",
-  "Darwin/",
-  ".vscode",
 
-  # common things
-  "LICENSE",
-  "Dockerfile",
-  ".pre-commit",
+  "matlab.*.md",
 
   # no LFS or submodules in release
   ".lfsconfig",
@@ -48,80 +19,9 @@ blacklist = [
 ]
 
 # gets you through the blacklist
-whitelist = [
-  "tools/lib/",
-  "tools/bodyteleop/",
-  "tools/joystick/",
-  "tools/longitudinal_maneuvers/",
-
-  "tinygrad_repo/examples/openpilot/compile3.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/extra/onnx.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/extra/onnx_ops.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/extra/thneed.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/extra/utils.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/codegen/kernel.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/codegen/linearizer.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/features/image.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/features/search.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/nn/*",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/renderer/cstyle.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/renderer/opencl.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/runtime/lib.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/runtime/ops_cpu.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/runtime/ops_disk.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/runtime/ops_gpu.py",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/shape/*",
-  "tinygrad_repo/tinygrad/.*.py",
-
-  # TODO: do this automatically
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/comma_body.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/chrysler_ram_hd_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/chrysler_ram_dt_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/chrysler_pacifica_2017_hybrid_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/chrysler_pacifica_2017_hybrid_private_fusion.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/gm_global_a_powertrain_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/gm_global_a_object.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/gm_global_a_chassis.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/FORD_CADS.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/ford_fusion_2018_adas.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/ford_lincoln_base_pt.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_accord_2018_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/acura_ilx_2016_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/acura_rdx_2018_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/acura_rdx_2020_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_civic_touring_2016_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_civic_hatchback_ex_2017_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_crv_touring_2016_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_crv_ex_2017_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_crv_ex_2017_body_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_crv_executive_2016_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_fit_ex_2018_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_odyssey_exl_2018_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_odyssey_extreme_edition_2018_china_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_insight_ex_2019_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/acura_ilx_2016_nidec.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/honda_civic_ex_2022_can_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/hyundai_canfd.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/hyundai_kia_generic.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/hyundai_kia_mando_front_radar_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/mazda_2017.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/nissan_x_trail_2017_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/nissan_leaf_2018_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_global_2017_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_global_2020_hybrid_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_outback_2015_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_outback_2019_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/subaru_forester_2017_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_tnga_k_pt_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_new_mc_pt_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_nodsu_pt_generated.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_adas.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/toyota_tss2_adas.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/vw_golf_mk4.dbc",
-  "opendbc_repo/dbc/vw_mqb_2010.dbc",
+whitelist: list[str] = [
 ]
 
-
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   for f in Path(ROOT).rglob("**/*"):
     if not (f.is_file() or f.is_symlink()):