diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/common/db/common.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/common/db/common.py
index e083cf650fd8d..17da1eafacc93 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/common/db/common.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/common/db/common.py
@@ -14,10 +14,15 @@
 # KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
+"""
+Database helpers for Airflow REST API.
+
+:meta private:
+"""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Sequence
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Literal, Sequence, overload
 
 from airflow.utils.db import get_query_count
 from airflow.utils.session import NEW_SESSION, create_session, provide_session
@@ -47,30 +52,59 @@ def your_route(session: Annotated[Session, Depends(get_session)]):
         yield session
 
 
-def apply_filters_to_select(base_select: Select, filters: Sequence[BaseParam | None]) -> Select:
-    base_select = base_select
-    for filter in filters:
-        if filter is None:
+def apply_filters_to_select(
+    *, base_select: Select, filters: Sequence[BaseParam | None] | None = None
+) -> Select:
+    if filters is None:
+        return base_select
+    for f in filters:
+        if f is None:
             continue
-        base_select = filter.to_orm(base_select)
+        base_select = f.to_orm(base_select)
 
     return base_select
 
 
+@overload
+def paginated_select(
+    *,
+    select: Select,
+    filters: Sequence[BaseParam] | None = None,
+    order_by: BaseParam | None = None,
+    offset: BaseParam | None = None,
+    limit: BaseParam | None = None,
+    session: Session = NEW_SESSION,
+    return_total_entries: Literal[True] = True,
+) -> tuple[Select, int]: ...
+
+
+@overload
+def paginated_select(
+    *,
+    select: Select,
+    filters: Sequence[BaseParam] | None = None,
+    order_by: BaseParam | None = None,
+    offset: BaseParam | None = None,
+    limit: BaseParam | None = None,
+    session: Session = NEW_SESSION,
+    return_total_entries: Literal[False],
+) -> tuple[Select, None]: ...
+
+
 @provide_session
 def paginated_select(
     *,
     select: Select,
-    filters: Sequence[BaseParam],
+    filters: Sequence[BaseParam] | None = None,
     order_by: BaseParam | None = None,
     offset: BaseParam | None = None,
     limit: BaseParam | None = None,
     session: Session = NEW_SESSION,
     return_total_entries: bool = True,
-) -> Select:
+) -> tuple[Select, int | None]:
     base_select = apply_filters_to_select(
-        select,
-        filters,
+        base_select=select,
+        filters=filters,
     )
 
     total_entries = None
@@ -82,6 +116,6 @@ def paginated_select(
     # readable_dags = get_auth_manager().get_permitted_dag_ids(user=g.user)
     # dags_select = dags_select.where(DagModel.dag_id.in_(readable_dags))
 
-    base_select = apply_filters_to_select(base_select, [order_by, offset, limit])
+    base_select = apply_filters_to_select(base_select=base_select, filters=[order_by, offset, limit])
 
     return base_select, total_entries
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/assets.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/assets.py
index 7da7fcb8e878d..64a5acf826041 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/assets.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/assets.py
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ def get_assets(
         limit=limit,
         session=session,
     )
+
     assets = session.scalars(
         assets_select.options(
             subqueryload(AssetModel.consuming_dags), subqueryload(AssetModel.producing_tasks)
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ def get_asset_queued_events(
         .where(*where_clause)
     )
 
-    dag_asset_queued_events_select, total_entries = paginated_select(select=query, filters=[])
+    dag_asset_queued_events_select, total_entries = paginated_select(select=query)
     adrqs = session.execute(dag_asset_queued_events_select).all()
 
     if not adrqs:
@@ -270,9 +271,8 @@ def get_dag_asset_queued_events(
         .where(*where_clause)
     )
 
-    dag_asset_queued_events_select, total_entries = paginated_select(select=query, filters=[])
+    dag_asset_queued_events_select, total_entries = paginated_select(select=query)
     adrqs = session.execute(dag_asset_queued_events_select).all()
-
     if not adrqs:
         raise HTTPException(status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, f"Queue event with dag_id: `{dag_id}` was not found")
 
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/backfills.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/backfills.py
index c4ab7ce16b603..9c5dd0895c47a 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/backfills.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/backfills.py
@@ -61,16 +61,16 @@ def list_backfills(
 ) -> BackfillCollectionResponse:
     select_stmt, total_entries = paginated_select(
         select=select(Backfill).where(Backfill.dag_id == dag_id),
-        filters=[],
         order_by=order_by,
         offset=offset,
         limit=limit,
         session=session,
     )
+
     backfills = session.scalars(select_stmt)
 
     return BackfillCollectionResponse(
-        backfills=[BackfillResponse.model_validate(x, from_attributes=True) for x in backfills],
+        backfills=[BackfillResponse.model_validate(b, from_attributes=True) for b in backfills],
         total_entries=total_entries,
     )
 
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/connections.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/connections.py
index 1ca158bad5dac..0716c77f9f4e8 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/connections.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/connections.py
@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ def get_connections(
     """Get all connection entries."""
     connection_select, total_entries = paginated_select(
         select=select(Connection),
-        filters=[],
         order_by=order_by,
         offset=offset,
         limit=limit,
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dag_run.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dag_run.py
index 18a3128a8047e..d7a196eba3f35 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dag_run.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dag_run.py
@@ -295,9 +295,8 @@ def get_dag_runs(
         limit=limit,
         session=session,
     )
-
     dag_runs = session.scalars(dag_run_select)
     return DAGRunCollectionResponse(
-        dag_runs=[DAGRunResponse.model_validate(dag_run, from_attributes=True) for dag_run in dag_runs],
+        dag_runs=[DAGRunResponse.model_validate(dr, from_attributes=True) for dr in dag_runs],
         total_entries=total_entries,
     )
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dag_warning.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dag_warning.py
index 3560874ad1aa9..9ddd1439b199a 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dag_warning.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dag_warning.py
@@ -67,13 +67,9 @@ def list_dag_warnings(
         limit=limit,
         session=session,
     )
-
     dag_warnings = session.scalars(dag_warnings_select)
 
     return DAGWarningCollectionResponse(
-        dag_warnings=[
-            DAGWarningResponse.model_validate(dag_warning, from_attributes=True)
-            for dag_warning in dag_warnings
-        ],
+        dag_warnings=[DAGWarningResponse.model_validate(w, from_attributes=True) for w in dag_warnings],
         total_entries=total_entries,
     )
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dags.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dags.py
index 0383584fe1729..1416855b11c94 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dags.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dags.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def get_dag_tags(
         session=session,
     )
     dag_tags = session.execute(dag_tags_select).scalars().all()
-    return DAGTagCollectionResponse(tags=[dag_tag for dag_tag in dag_tags], total_entries=total_entries)
+    return DAGTagCollectionResponse(tags=[x for x in dag_tags], total_entries=total_entries)
 
 
 @dags_router.get(
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ def patch_dags(
                 status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST, "Only `is_paused` field can be updated through the REST API"
             )
     else:
+        # todo: this is not used?
         update_mask = ["is_paused"]
 
     dags_select, total_entries = paginated_select(
@@ -269,11 +270,8 @@ def patch_dags(
         limit=limit,
         session=session,
     )
-
     dags = session.scalars(dags_select).all()
-
     dags_to_update = {dag.dag_id for dag in dags}
-
     session.execute(
         update(DagModel)
         .where(DagModel.dag_id.in_(dags_to_update))
@@ -282,7 +280,7 @@ def patch_dags(
     )
 
     return DAGCollectionResponse(
-        dags=[DAGResponse.model_validate(dag, from_attributes=True) for dag in dags],
+        dags=[DAGResponse.model_validate(d, from_attributes=True) for d in dags],
         total_entries=total_entries,
     )
 
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/event_logs.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/event_logs.py
index 166b48995399a..7d2933365a956 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/event_logs.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/event_logs.py
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ def get_event_logs(
         base_select = base_select.where(Log.dttm > after)
     event_logs_select, total_entries = paginated_select(
         select=base_select,
-        filters=[],
         order_by=order_by,
         offset=offset,
         limit=limit,
@@ -135,12 +134,6 @@ def get_event_logs(
     event_logs = session.scalars(event_logs_select)
 
     return EventLogCollectionResponse(
-        event_logs=[
-            EventLogResponse.model_validate(
-                event_log,
-                from_attributes=True,
-            )
-            for event_log in event_logs
-        ],
+        event_logs=[EventLogResponse.model_validate(e, from_attributes=True) for e in event_logs],
         total_entries=total_entries,
     )
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/import_error.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/import_error.py
index 29f783081d78c..e17abfbe1ffc9 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/import_error.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/import_error.py
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ def get_import_errors(
     """Get all import errors."""
     import_errors_select, total_entries = paginated_select(
         select=select(ParseImportError),
-        filters=[],
         order_by=order_by,
         offset=offset,
         limit=limit,
@@ -99,8 +98,6 @@ def get_import_errors(
     import_errors = session.scalars(import_errors_select)
 
     return ImportErrorCollectionResponse(
-        import_errors=[
-            ImportErrorResponse.model_validate(error, from_attributes=True) for error in import_errors
-        ],
+        import_errors=[ImportErrorResponse.model_validate(i, from_attributes=True) for i in import_errors],
         total_entries=total_entries,
     )
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/pools.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/pools.py
index df14b9aae5a05..582e03ab00dbd 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/pools.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/pools.py
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@ def get_pools(
     """Get all pools entries."""
     pools_select, total_entries = paginated_select(
         select=select(Pool),
-        filters=[],
         order_by=order_by,
         offset=offset,
         limit=limit,
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/task_instances.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/task_instances.py
index 6d5b427abb1dc..ed6d46dc78f02 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/task_instances.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/task_instances.py
@@ -169,7 +169,6 @@ def get_mapped_task_instances(
         limit=limit,
         session=session,
     )
-
     task_instances = session.scalars(task_instance_select)
 
     return TaskInstanceCollectionResponse(
@@ -335,14 +334,9 @@ def get_task_instances(
         limit=limit,
         session=session,
     )
-
     task_instances = session.scalars(task_instance_select)
-
     return TaskInstanceCollectionResponse(
-        task_instances=[
-            TaskInstanceResponse.model_validate(task_instance, from_attributes=True)
-            for task_instance in task_instances
-        ],
+        task_instances=[TaskInstanceResponse.model_validate(t, from_attributes=True) for t in task_instances],
         total_entries=total_entries,
     )
 
@@ -411,7 +405,6 @@ def get_task_instances_batch(
         limit=limit,
         session=session,
     )
-
     task_instance_select = task_instance_select.options(
         joinedload(TI.rendered_task_instance_fields), joinedload(TI.task_instance_note)
     )
@@ -419,10 +412,7 @@ def get_task_instances_batch(
     task_instances = session.scalars(task_instance_select)
 
     return TaskInstanceCollectionResponse(
-        task_instances=[
-            TaskInstanceResponse.model_validate(task_instance, from_attributes=True)
-            for task_instance in task_instances
-        ],
+        task_instances=[TaskInstanceResponse.model_validate(t, from_attributes=True) for t in task_instances],
         total_entries=total_entries,
     )
 
diff --git a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/variables.py b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/variables.py
index a9e479f4f853a..541dbcb8f107a 100644
--- a/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/variables.py
+++ b/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/variables.py
@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@ def get_variables(
     """Get all Variables entries."""
     variable_select, total_entries = paginated_select(
         select=select(Variable),
-        filters=[],
         order_by=order_by,
         offset=offset,
         limit=limit,