Come for Morning Wire’s Afternoon Update’s straight news, but stay for the Rapid Reactions. The following five stories, and more, can be heard on today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update podcast. Click here to listen. 

1. House GOP Subpoenas FBI

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has subpoenaed both FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland in relation to the committee’s ongoing censorship investigation. The Committee is specifically seeking communication between the FBI, DOJ, and private companies. In a letter, the Committee asked both federal agencies for voluntary cooperation, while noting that historically their compliance has been “inadequate.”

Rapid Reaction: Have you ever seen the movie “Angels in the Outfield?” In a scene at the beginning of the film, the protagonist’s father tells him that they’ll be a family again when the Los Angeles Angels “win the pennant.” That sets up the premise of the film — the main character Roger praying for an LA win and actual angels helping the baseball team win the MLB World Series. It never would have happened unless the angels interceded.

Anyway, that is sort of what it’s starting to feel like with the GOP. Congress will only enact actual political pressure, begin impeachments, and wield the “power of the purse” with the help of divine power. Until then, the GOP leaders will keep sending strongly worded letters… Great.

2. Court Ends Mail Order Abortion Pills

Mail-order access to a drug commonly used for abortion could end in the U.S. following a Wednesday Appeals Court Ruling — but it cannot take effect unless the Supreme Court weighs in on the matter. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision overturns a part of a lower court ruling which would have revoked the FDA’s two-decade approval of the drug mifepristone. The decision did leave a part of the original ruling in place, that would end the drug’s distribution by mail, limit its use to the seventh week of pregnancy, and require it be administered in the presence of a doctor. Those restrictions won’t take effect right away because the Supreme Court previously intervened to keep the drug available during the legal fight.

Rapid Reaction: Any legal ruling that helps save babies is a win. Let’s hope that SCOTUS does the right thing here — legally and morally.

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3. Woke Lunacy In Hawaii To Blame For Wildfires?

A Hawaiian water official has been “reassigned” after allegedly refusing to transfer water resources that would have helped firefighters battle the Maui Wildfires. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources deputy director, M. Kaleo Manuel, denied requests from Maui firefighters and various entities to open up reservoirs and streams as the fires grew more out of control. Even after firefighters told the department they’d used all the on-hand water and were desperate for any help, Manuel reportedly delayed their request. Here’s Manuel:

Here is M. Kaleo Manuel, the Hawaii water official who refused to release water resources and let landowners fight the Maui fire, explaining his "philosophy" about water:

"Native Hawaiians treated water as one of the earthly manifestations of a god…We've become used to looking… pic.twitter.com/hjsWqdVtxf

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 17, 2023

Rapid Reaction: Writer John Nolte had the best reaction.

“Hawaiians voted for politicians who allowed this anti-science equivalent of a sun worshipper to take control of their water supply,” he tweeted. “You can’t help people who vote this way.”

Hawaiians voted for politicians who allowed this anti-science equivalent of a sun worshipper to take control of their water supply.

You can’t help people who vote this way.

They are fanatics. https://t.co/H7i2TZxSnR

— John Ocasio-Rodham Nolte (@NolteNC) August 17, 2023

4. Chess Cracks Down On Transgenderism
The world’s top chess federation has ruled that men that identify as women cannot compete in its official events for females until an assessment of gender change is made by its officials. The decision was announced Monday by Switzerland-based International Chess Federation  FIDE and led to the federation fielding criticism from various transgender advocacy groups. The federation says that for now, transgender players are allowed to participate in the “open” section of its chess tournaments, and the assessment of gender change could take up to two years.

Rapid Reaction: Men and women are different — always have been, always will be. Perhaps it makes sense that a game based on critical thinking, rules, and tradition is fighting back on this issue.

5. Britney Spears And Husband Divorce

And, Britney Spears and Sam Asghari are getting divorced after 14 months of marriage. Asghari filed a petition to end the marriage with the Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this week, citing “irreconcilable differences.” He is also requesting spousal support. The date of separation for the couple is July 28, the petition states. Spears and Asghari got married in June of last year. The pair first met in 2016 when Asghari co-starred with Spears in the music video for her single “Slumber Party.”

Rapid Reaction: First reaction: Who cares? Second reaction: The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh was prescient on this topic (per usual).

“Remember when you guys all shouted ‘Free Britney!’ because you saw a fake documentary and I told you she’s clearly an unstable lunatic and was in a conservatorship for a reason and you got really mad at me but literally everything that’s happened since then proves me right?” he tweeted in reaction to the latest story.

To listen to the audio version of Afternoon Update, click here. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

A Georgia teacher has been fired for reading a book about gender identity to her fifth grade class earlier this year.

The Cobb County School Board in the Atlanta area voted 4-3 on Thursday to fire teacher Katie Rinderle from Due West Elementary School. The vote was split down party lines, with the board’s four Republicans voting in favor of firing, and the three Democrat members voting against.

The teacher’s firing was effective immediately.

The issue with Rinderle began in March, when parents complained about Rinderle reading a picture book called “My Shadow Is Purple” to her fifth-grade class.

In firing Rinderle, the school board overrode the recommendation of a panel of three retired educators, which found that Rinderle had violated district policies, but should not be fired.

However, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale had recommended firing Rinderle.

“The district is pleased that this difficult issue has concluded; we are very serious about keeping our classrooms focused on teaching, learning, and opportunities for success for students. The board’s decision is reflective of that mission,” the Cobb County school district said in a press release after the vote.

School district lawyer Sherry Culver said that it was inappropriate to discuss the topic of gender identity with students.

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“The Cobb County School District is very serious about the classroom being a neutral place for students to learn,” Culver said.

“One-sided instruction on political, religious or social beliefs does not belong in our classrooms,” she added.

Rinderle was represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center and released a statement on the situation after the board’s decision, saying she is “disappointed” in the district’s decision to fire her for reading “an inclusive and affirming book.”

“The district is sending a harmful message that not all students are worthy of affirmation in being their unapologetic and authentic selves,” Rinderle said in her statement.

“This decision, based on intentionally vague policies, will result in more teachers self-censoring in fear of not knowing where the invisible line will be drawn. Censorship perpetuates harm and students deserve better,” she added.

Rinderle, who has been a teacher for a decade, will be able to appeal her firing to the state education board and also in court if she decides to do so. Her attorney said she is considering her options.

Rinderle may be the first teacher in Georgia to be fired over a new state law limiting what material teachers can expose students to in the classroom.

The new law gives parents the right to “direct the upbringing and the moral or religious training of their children” and gives them access to curriculum materials.

“It ensures that all of our state and nation’s history is taught accurately because here in Georgia, our classrooms will not be pawns to those who indoctrinate our kids with their partisan agendas,” Governor Brian Kemp said last year when he signed the bill.

Last year, the Cobb County school district changed its policies to be in line with the law.

Inappropriate curriculum content has become a hot-button issue for parents over the last few years. Parents across the country have spoken out against their children being introduced to the concept of gender identity, as well as what they consider inappropriate sexual content at school.