Come for Morning Wire’s Afternoon Update’s straight news, but stay for why it matters. The following six stories, and more, can be heard on today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update podcast. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/biden-administration-appeal-twitter-threatens-legal-action-afternoon-update-7-6-23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to listen</a>. 
Chris Wray Shredded By Congress
FBI Director <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/christopher-wray">Christopher Wray</a> testified before Congress today, touching upon a number of subjects including the alleged FBI double standard toward the Biden family, the January 6 pipe bomb, and other matters. The hearing was the first time Wray testified on the Hill since Republicans took control of the House. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-not-fbi-director-wray-denies-agency-protecting-biden-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read here</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Chris Wray doesn&#39;t want to answer questions about the pipe bomb found on January 6th outside the DNC.<a href="https://t.co/k5ukK5l0PY">pic.twitter.com/k5ukK5l0PY</a>
&mdash; Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) <a href="https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1679142205418790913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
FBI Director Wray tells Rep. Matt Gaetz the FBI isn&#39;t protecting the Biden family, after he is asked about Hunter Biden texts messages, sitting next to his father. <a href="https://t.co/91wo6wTAYX">pic.twitter.com/91wo6wTAYX</a>
&mdash; Fred Lucas (@FredLucasWH) <a href="https://twitter.com/FredLucasWH/status/1679155222906535937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
Rapid Reaction: Since this was Wray&#8217;s first time before the GOP-controlled Congress, he was really put through the wringer.
While it seems evident that Wray was blustering his way through the hearing, it should be noted that he seemed flustered at various points — which is rare for Wray. He usually seems cool as a cucumber.
In short, he had no answer for a myriad of merited beliefs that the FBI, and the justice system at large, have a double standard toward ex-presidents, conservatives, Republicans, and anybody who threatens Democratic power.
But, as this author has covered extensively, hearings and fiery rhetoric do nothing to actually address the potential corruption. Where is the political muscle?
Well, the GOP flex of its power of the purse was the real lowlight of this. Congressman Jordan, chair of the Judiciary, went through a litany of problems — Hunter Biden&#8217;s laptop, infiltration of Catholic Churches, targeting of parents at school board meetings, and so much more.
&#8220;In a survey last fall, four out of five Americans said they believe there&#8217;s a two-tiered standard of justice in America today. They said that because there is,&#8221; he said during his spiel. &#8220;They said that because of what they&#8217;ve seen.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/Jim_Jordan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jim_Jordan</a>: &quot;Stop the weaponization of government against the American people and end this double standard that exists now in our justice system.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/UyUPBpgClQ">pic.twitter.com/UyUPBpgClQ</a>
&mdash; NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) <a href="https://twitter.com/NEWSMAX/status/1679158678501588992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
Given an assessment like that, you would think impeachments are coming down the pike. Instead, Jordan reiterated Republican opposition to FISA re-authorization and funding for new FBI headquarters.
And what&#8217;s the plan to get Democrats to join them? Well, he didn&#8217;t go into too much detail, other than to express his &#8220;hope&#8221; that the Democratic Party will join them.
Hope is not a strategy, Congressman.
China Hacks U.S. Agencies, Microsoft
Microsoft and U.S. national security officials <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/11/us/politics/china-hack-us-government-microsoft.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Wednesday that the Chinese Communist Party hacked into Microsoft email accounts belonging to the U.S. State Department and dozens of other U.S. and European government agencies. Senator Mark Warner, chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence, said Wednesday, “The Senate Intelligence Committee is closely monitoring what appears to be a significant cybersecurity breach by Chinese intelligence.&#8221; Warner added that it’s &#8220;clear&#8221; that China &#8220;is steadily improving its cyber collection capabilities directed against the U.S. and our allies.&#8221;
He vowed that the private sector and government would work together on this threat.
Rapid Reaction: In 2021, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-china-going-to-eat-our-lunch-2019-candidate-biden-eat-our-lunch-cmon-man" target="_blank" rel="noopener">President Joe Biden</a> said that China wouldn&#8217;t eat our lunch. That was sort of true. It would appear the Chinese Communist Party&#8217;s eating our breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
And yet, in the skies with spy balloons, on the ground with fentanyl, in our phones with TikTok, and now in government emails, China is doing what it wants, when it wants while feckless U.S. leaders literally bow down to the CCP. Pathetic.
California Blocks Bill That Would Protect Kids
This week, the California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee blocked a bill that would have made human trafficking of a minor a serious felony. The bill <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB14">noted</a> that “California consistently ranks number one in the nation in the number of human trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline,” and “Human trafficking is among the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150,000,000,000 a year global industry.” The bill would have made human trafficking of a minor subject to California’s Three Strikes Law, and thus someone convicted twice could be sentenced to life in prison. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/youre-horrible-california-assembly-blocks-bill-making-trafficking-of-minors-a-serious-felony" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read here.</a>
Rapid Reaction: These people are sick, and Fox News&#8217; Steve Hilton said, &#8220;not fit to hold public office.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
California Democrats have lurched so far to the extremist left that they just voted down a Bill to make human trafficking of children a &quot;serious&quot; crime.
These people are not fit to hold public office. Time for change. ✊
&mdash; steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveHiltonx/status/1678882274560069633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
Indeed, this bill presents quite the contrast with red states like Florida. 
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) &#8220;just signed legislation that imposes tougher penalties for human trafficking,&#8221; DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern said. &#8220;For instance, adult entertainment establishments that exploit minors went from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovRonDeSantis</a> just signed legislation that imposes tougher penalties for human trafficking. For instance, adult entertainment establishments that exploit minors went from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.
Meanwhile, in <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GavinNewsom</a>’s California: <a href="https://t.co/QAAfkIuEwW">https://t.co/QAAfkIuEwW</a>
&mdash; Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeremyRedfernFL/status/1678839610342776832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
GOP Signs Pro-Life Iowa Heartbeat Law
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iowa">Iowa</a> lawmakers passed a bill on Tuesday banning most <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/abortion">abortions</a> when an unborn child’s heartbeat can be detected, usually around six weeks into the pregnancy. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
“Vote them out! Vote them out!” crowd chanted at rally for reproductive rights in Iowa. Republicans poised to pass near-total abortion ban later today. <a href="https://t.co/SCQz9ZHIEv">pic.twitter.com/SCQz9ZHIEv</a>
&mdash; Bleeding Heartland (@LauraRBelin) <a href="https://twitter.com/LauraRBelin/status/1678810779410104321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
Republican Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kim-reynolds">Kim Reynolds</a> called a special session to address abortion after the Iowa Supreme Court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iowa-supreme-court-upholds-ruling-blocking-6-week-abortion-ban">blocked</a> the state’s 2018 Heartbeat Act last month – and will now sign the bill on Friday.
Rapid Reaction: It&#8217;s amazing what Republican governors can do when they actually wield the authority given to them. The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nebraska-dems-cry-shriek-with-joy-after-killing-babies-in-womb-remains-legal-in-cornhusker-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shrieking banshees</a> of the Left may be upset they can&#8217;t kill children once a heartbeat is present, but this is a great day for all Americans.
To listen to the audio version of Afternoon Update, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

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The Rundown: Congress Shreds FBI Chief, But What’s The GOP’s End Goal? Plus, China Hacks U.S. Agencies, Microsoft

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Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


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Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

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U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
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The Rundown: Congress Shreds FBI Chief, But What’s The GOP’s End Goal? Plus, China Hacks U.S. Agencies, Microsoft