EVANGELIST MARIO MURILLO: "DONALD TRUMP IS NOT OUR SAVIOR: HE'S OUR "STAY OF EXECUTION"

by Suzette Gutierrez-Cachila
California-based evangelist Mario Murillo
California-based evangelist Mario Murillo encouraged believers to stop looking to president-elect Donald Trump as some kind of savior and to start "waking up" to the task that God assigned the church and heal disunity in the body of Christ in order to usher the nation to revival.
He said God is using Trump to help the church have more time to get its act together. And if the church should miss this opportunity, “disaster will strike,” he warned.

“Trump is not a pastor or a moral reformer. Trump is a foot in the door—a stay of execution,” Murillo explained. “He is an act of God to buy the church time to repent and return to her rightful role in American life.”

Some Christians believe Trump will be like a modern-day King Cyrus who will help America become great again for God. The idea mostly stems from a prophetic declaration released by Christian consultant and speaker Lance Wallnau, who referred to Trump as God’s chaos candidate who will shatter political correctness in the nation.

“Trump broke the political correctness that threatened to swallow us whole," Murillo said. "The revival is our job, not his. The American church must build on the opportunity that Trump gave us. We must wake up to our task!”

Murillo also addressed the disunity that has beset the body of Christ in the U.S. He encouraged the churches to come together and urged church leaders to “push back” against the lies being thrown at Christianity.

“Our disunity is killing our cause,” Murillo said. “Petty differences have never looked so petty! Churches must come together in citywide prayer and soul winning.”

He warned against political backlash from those who don’t support Trump, saying the left will move in retaliation. He pointed out how anti-Trump groups are utilizing universities and tech companies to “target the church.”

“We are in danger because the left—stung by the election—is already plotting to launch a massive retaliation ... The media—though utterly discredited for lying and colluding—is arrogant and delusional,” he said. “Soon they will ramp up a new assault on free speech.”

Murillo called on churches to join him on Dec. 4 for a gathering at New Life Church in Houston, Texas. He said the event was planned for next year, but he is doing it this weekend because of the urgency he felt. He will be leading rallies across the country to stir revival.

“These are not ‘normal’ days ... and there will be nothing ‘normal’ about these services,” Murillo said. “They are unapologetic miracle rallies. See you there!”




BEN CARSON HAS BIG IDEAS ABOUT HOW TRUMP COULD UNLOCK THE CHURCH'S PROPHETIC VOICE

BY JESSILYN JUSTICE
Ben Carson listening to a question from a reporter during a campaign stop in Las Vegas. (REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus/File Photo)
Though once rivals on the Republican circuit, Dr. Ben Carson now serves President-elect Donald Trump as a godly counselor in an unofficial capacity.

As Trump describes removing the Johnson amendment, Carson told a select group of evangelicals exactly how the move would free pastors to help return America to Judeo-Christian values.

"If we get the Johnson Amendment rescinded, pastors can have fiery sermons and talk about what's right and what's wrong (again)," Carson said as part of the Salt and Light Lecture conference call.

Officially, the Johnson Amendment prohibits those with 501(c)(3) tax distinctions like churches and ministries from engaging in political commentary. The amendment is often cited as to why pastors refrain from discussing controversial sins, such as homosexuality, in their pulpits.

"Now we hear pleasant things and everybody sings "Kumbaya," and it's not an accurate representation of the world we live in," Carson says of today's churches. "If we rescind the Johnson Amendment and people are not afraid of losing their tax (status), then we will see Donald Trump be vigorous," and Judeo-Christian values return to the American forefront.

Trump isn't the only advocate to rescind the amendment.

Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel and head of the Pulpit Initiative for the Alliance Defense Fund, writes for the Los Angeles Times:

The Johnson Amendment allows the government to determine when a pastor's speech becomes too "political." That is an absurdly ridiculous standard. A pastor's speech from the pulpit that talks about candidates from a scriptural point of view is religious speech. That speech doesn't become political any more than a pastor's speech becomes commercial when he gives a Scripture-based assessment of the current financial debacle on Wall Street. Allowing government agents to make that determination is as absurd as asking a first-grader to design and build NASA's next space shuttle.

The Johnson Amendment also allows the government to parse the content of a pastor's sermon to determine whether it violates the law. That is called a content-based restriction on speech, which the (First) Amendment's free-speech clause prohibits unless the government has a compelling reason for censorship.


Without the amendment, Carson says, America can once again receive conviction from its pastors and become a godly nation once more.

But churches are, perhaps, not in as much danger as they might expect.

"The truth is, no church has never lost its tax-exempt status for either endorsing or opposing any political candidate or endorsing or opposing a local, state or federal law," said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. "Voting is both a privilege and a duty. The future of America is at stake every time we face a national election, and this upcoming election is one of the most important elections in recent history. To not vote is to vote. Silence is not an option. I encourage pastors to remove the muzzle that secularists want to put on them and exchange it for a megaphone to speak biblical truths regarding social and moral issues."

In 2008, a host of pastors made plans to give politically charged sermons to protest the law.

According to a new Pew Research study, 64 percent of regular churchgoers said they heard sermons on religious freedom, abortion, homosexuality, immigration, environmental issues and more during the election season.



PENCE: "GET READY FOR SWEEPING LEGISLATION"

by Billy House
Vice President Elect. Mike Pence
Vice President-elect Mike Pence told House Republicans in a closed-door meeting Thursday to be ready to move a lot of legislation next year.

“We’re going to move an agenda” focused on rebuilding the military and improving the economy, Pence told reporters after the meeting.

In his remarks to House Republicans, Pence talked about how he and the new administration wanted members to “buckle up,” and get ready for a speedy start on policy. He also solicited suggestions for candidates to fill administration posts.

“Donald Trump is a man of action and we’re counting on you,” Pence said, according to Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady. The Texas Republican said that Pence mentioned a tax overhaul and Obamacare, but didn’t get into specifics.

Pence, a former House member himself, returned to the U.S. Capitol Thursday to visit with House Republicans. He also met with top Democratic leaders in the House and Senate.

Pence’s closed-door meeting with Speaker Paul Ryan and other House Republicans reflected his vital role helping President-elect Trump forge a relationship with Congress. His visit was squeezed in even as Pence is overseeing the building of a Trump administration, a transition effort seen as marked by infighting.
‘Going Fantastic’

Pence didn’t mention Trump’s campaign promise to build a wall on the Mexican border, according to Representative Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania. But Pence said the transition is "going fantastic" and that Trump is methodically selecting his Cabinet positions, Barletta said.

Representative Chris Collins of New York, who was appointed by the transition team as its congressional liaison, said Pence also told lawmakers one of Trump’s top priorities was taking a deep dive through President Barack Obama’s executive orders.

“We applaud that,” he said. “He will be reversing many of them.”

Pence was introduced at the meeting by Ryan, who noted that the vice president-elect was very much at home, given his House background. Ryan pointed to the chair that Pence once sat in as House Republican conference chairman, where current chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington was sitting.
Help Wanted

At one point, he emphasized that the administration wanted to work directly with rank-and-file members, as well as with Republican leaders in Congress.

"He also did say if any of us knew of any individuals that we ought to be looking at for an administration job, to please share it with us," said Representative Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania.

As he ended his comments, Pence said, "Pray for the president, pray for his family, pray for our conference, and pray for the country," according to Representative Dave Reichert of Washington. Newly elected House Republican Conference vice chairman Doug Collins of Georgia, a pastor, got up and led a prayer.

V.P. Elect Mike Pence with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

Pence was with Trump last week at the U.S. Capitol, as well, for initial meetings with Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He also met with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and then Senate Minority Leader-elect Chuck Schumer, separately.
Pence-Pelosi Meeting

Pelosi and Pence spoke briefly to reporters after their meeting.



"We had a straightforward conversation about how we can work together on infrastructure," said Pelosi, saying they also talked about issues related to child care, "following up on a conversation with the president-elect last week."

Pence said he always found Pelosi to be a “worthy opponent.”

“I have great respect for you and for your service to your country and am pleased to be able to convey the respect of President-elect Donald Trump to you personally,” Pence said.

During their closed-door meeting, Pelosi did express strong concerns about Trump’s decision to name former Breitbart News chief Steve Bannon to be his chief White House strategist, and asked him to reconsider the appointment, according to a Pelosi spokesman.

Pence had been selected by Trump to be his running mate, in part, to appeal to establishment and conservative Republicans, including those in Congress, many of whom he had served with there.

The Indiana governor was first elected to the House in 2000.

Pence, who left Congress at the end of 2010, was chairman from 2005 to 2006 of the Republican Study Committee, a key bloc of House conservatives. He also served as House Republican conference chairman in 2009-2010.

In 2006, he sought to become the top Republican, as minority leader, but lost to John Boehner of Ohio. Many of his former colleagues still in the House, and Pence is seen as having close relationships with many of them.




IN HIS OWN WORDS: BEN CARSON EXPLAINS WHY HE SAID NO TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

by BOB ESCHLIMAN
Dr. Ben Carson has explained in his own words why he turned down an offer to serve in the Trump administration.
(Reuters photo)
After word got out Tuesday that Dr. Ben Carson had turned down the opportunity to serve in the Trump White House, several news accounts suggested the retired neurosurgeon was somehow disenchanted with president-elect and his agenda for the country.

In his own words, Carson said those reports just weren't true. He shared the real reason why he turned down the offer to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, or any other Cabinet position, in a statement he posted to social media:

My decision not to seek a cabinet position in the Trump administration has nothing to do with the complexity of the job as is being reported by some news outlets. I believe it is vitally important for the Trump administration to have many outspoken friends and advisers who are outside of the Washington bubble.

It is vital to have independent voices of reason and reconciliation if our nation is to heal and regain its greatness. I will continue to work with the transition team and beyond as we build a dynamite executive branch of government.






HARRY REID ENDORSES MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SHILL KEITH ELLISON FOR DNC CHAIRMAN

Rep. Keith Ellison
Apparently the Democratic party didn't get the message after their devastating election defeat last week. That message is that the American people don't want radicals with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood leading the country.

But the Democratic party doubled down -- on Sunday Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison as the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

“My friend Keith Ellison is a terrific leader and a strong progressive who knows how to get things done,” Reid said, according to The Huffington Post. “Now is the time for new thinking and a fresh start at the DNC. Now is the time for Keith.”

Ellison has not even declared his candidacy for the influential DNC post, but according to party insiders he has been building support for a bid. Sen. Elizabeth Warren told MSNBC Thursday that Ellison “would make a terrific DNC chair.” Reid’s successor Chuck Schumer has endorsed Ellison as well, as has Sen. Bernie Sanders. A Sanders petition backing Ellison has reportedly garnered over 520,000 signatures.

Ellison would be the first Muslim and the third black person to hold the position of DNC chair.

As the Huffington Post points out, the head of the DNC is typically a figurehead primarily responsible more for fundraising than major strategic decisions. "With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the presidency, however, the head of the DNC will play a much more influential role in Democratic politics," notes HuffPost.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz's tenure as DNC chair is widely considered by party insiders as "a debacle."

On ABC’s This Week Sunday, Ellison laid out his vision of where the DNC needs to focus its attention:

“You’ve got to have a vision to strengthen the grass-roots. Make the voters first, not the donors first. I love the donors and we thank them, but it has to be that the guys in the barbershop, the lady at the diner, the folks who are worried about their plant is going to close ― they’ve got to be our focus.”

We have news for you, Mr. Ellison: those grass-roots voters in that barbershop and at the diner -- they are the ones who voted Trump into the presidency.

To read more about Ellison's radical history and his support for (and from) the Muslim Brotherhood, check out his profile at the Freedom Center's Discover the Networks site.




SIGNS OF DIVINE INTERVENTION IN TRUMP VICTORY

by GARTH KANT
New York Times graph displaying “Chance of Winning Presidency” in real time

Election eve 2016 began without any real sign of a gathering storm. No hint a popular revolt was brewing. In fact, just the opposite.

The networks were reporting the mood in the inner circle of the Republican candidate was subdued, somber, tense, even foreboding – as if fearing the worst.
President-elect Donald Trump (Photo: Twitter)
In direct contrast, the mood in the camp of the Democratic Party presidential candidate was described as confident, expectant and already almost celebratory.

Giddy.

When the first polls closed on the East Coast and the first results began to come in, those moods seemed to be swiftly confirmed by reality. The pre-election polls were not wrong. Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton immediately took the lead.

And she was winning in the battleground states.

She was leading in Florida. She was leading in North Carolina. She was leading in Pennsylvania. She was leading in Ohio. Clinton was threatening to pull away and end the suspense early.
Presidential election loser Democrat Hillary Clinton
At 7 p.m., there was no sign of a popular uprising led by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. There was no sign at 8 p.m. There was still no sign as time inexorably marched on.

Something would have to break.

And then it did.

Like a scene out of the film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” people had begun to pray.

But not just in one small town. Across America. And around the world.

Simple acts of faith heralded the first faint wisps of a breeze that would soon become a storm that would shake the world.

It began in Jerusalem.

Christians from many nations gathered in the heart of Israel to pray and fast for the fate of the United States. Americans knelt on stage as the faithful prayed. Organizers instructed them to pray like never before for a just God to deliver his most Christian nation. They called it the Jerusalem Global Gathering.

Christians also gathered to pray for the nation outside the U.S. Capitol. As WND reported, pastor Dan Cummins of the small rural East Texas town of Bullard led prayers for a return to biblical principles.

And it was in Texas that the prayers for deliverance were sent around the world, using modern technology.

A large prayer group had gathered in Dallas, hosted by Ken Copeland ministries. It was broadcast by the Daystar channel. Presenters David Barton and former Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., invited viewers to join in prayer.

Daystar has a global reach of 400 million potential viewers.

As they prayed, something began to stir.

“At the precise moment we began broadcasting on Daystar,” Bachmann told WND, “as the polls were still open, and a national audience of believers joined together and prayed in concert, we literally saw the race break in favor of Trump.”

“At that very minute.”
She presented proof.

“The New York Times documented the shift in voting from that minute.”

Michele Bachmann on Donald Trump’s victory: ‘The Lord did this’

“The Times put out a timeline tracking the election results as they broke for Trump last night,” Bachmann continued. “We went wild in the Dallas studio last night when David Barton, Ken and Terri Copeland, and various pastors saw that the victory for Trump began exactly at the precise moment believers corporately, over national television, sought the Lord for His favor upon our nation.”

“We knew it was at the exact same time that believers joined in corporate prayer on behalf of voting for a godly platform. Believers brought the Lord into this election, and that made all the difference,” added the devout believer.

“That is the story of last night’s victory. I have no doubt. The strong right arm of a holy God heard the prayers of His people and graciously answered our prayers,” Bachmann reflected.

“It truly explains the Trump victory. I have no doubt. No man can take the credit. Only the strong right arm of a merciful God.”

President-elect Donald Trump giving his victory speech (Twitter)

But that was in harmony with the “believers interceding on behalf of the American election last night in Jerusalem, praying in concert with those of us praying in America.”

And there is no doubt someone was listening.

In addition to the hundreds-of-millions of viewers within Daystar’s reach, the event drew about a million views online.

Bachmann said there had been a genuine repentance and coordinated beseeching of God. She told WND, “We saw the effective fervent prayers of righteous believers availing much.”

“And, prayers so specific,” she explained, “we prayed for elections by county and cities and districts. We literally watched results follow the faithful effectual prayers of righteous people who had humbled themselves and cried out to God for his mercy. This wasn’t credit for us; this was clearly the Lord’s gracious doing.”

Bachmann proclaimed, “It is the story of the night and the biggest story of the year. I have no doubt.”

“We were told more believers came out to vote in this election than ever before,” she reflected, and the numbers confirmed that.

Trump benefited from the largest evangelical turnout in history.

Exit polls showed that an overwhelming 80 percent of white evangelical voters (who made up 25 percent of all 2016 voters) supported Trump.

Related columns (story continues below):

The people — and God — have spoken by Pat Boone

Trump: President by the sovereign intervention of God by Michael Brown

Evangelicals of color preferred Clinton, but she did not get the same support from Hispanics and African-Americans as did President Obama.

Polls also showed that Trump recaptured the Catholic vote for the GOP by a margin of 52 percent to 45 percent, after most of them voted for Obama in the two previous presidential elections.

Bachmann said all of this “shows the necessity of believers voting for biblical principles in the voting booth.”

Despite the victory, she concluded the work has just begun for the faithful, as well as the president-elect.

“This is not the time for believers to celebrate and turn away from doing our part affecting our society with the salt and light found in the Bible.”

“Now is the time,” she continued, “for pastors to preach biblically from America’s pulpits on the various issues we confront in America.”

“This is a beginning for people of faith. It is an opportunity to share the gospel and educate people on the fundamental primacy of the foundation of western civilization: the Bible.”
Donald Trump wins election to the White House (Photo: Twitter)
So, what did happen around 8 p.m. Eastern time, when the Times indicated the odds favoring Trump began a dramatic turnaround in his favor?

Did prayers sway the vote, or did they coincide with the moment the tabulations began to swing to Trump?

Either way, there could be a case to be made that the Trump victory was not really the work of man, because man chose Clinton.

She won the popular vote. Just as the polls predicted.

But it was where those people voted that made all the difference. Providentially, perhaps, the shift toward Trump happened in the key swing states needed to push him over the top in the all-important Electoral College.

From that perspective, Trump’s victory might indeed be seen, even by the skeptical, as less the work of man, and more of an act of God.

Thessalonians 4:16: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.”




CHRISTIE OUT - VP MIKE PENCE IN AS TRANSITION TEAM LEADER

by BOB ESCHLIMAN
Gov. Chris Christie is no longer leading the Trump Transition Team
Now Vice President-Elect Mike Pence Leads the Team
Twenty-four hours ago, the status of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, embroiled in the continuing Bridgegate controversy, as leader of the Trump Transition Team was suddenly "in question."

Now, it's certain: He's out. And in his place, President-Elect Donald Trump has turned to a man who has become his closest ally: Vice President-Elect Mike Pence. The change was announced Friday afternoon in a statement from the Trump Transition Team declaring a "new phase" in the White House transition process.

Pence will be directly aided by vice chair Dr. Ben Carson, putting two faith leaders in arguably the most important roles at this infancy stage of the new administration. Christie will stay on as an executive committee member of the transition team, as well, alongside Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), U.S. Army Lt. Gen. (ret.) Michael Flynn, Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).

"Together this outstanding group of advisers, led by Vice President-elect Mike Pence, will build on the initial work done under the leadership of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to help prepare a transformative government ready to lead from day one," Trump said. "The mission of our team will be clear: put together the most highly qualified group of successful leaders who will be able to implement our change agenda in Washington.

Other members of the Transition Team's executive committee include:

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.)
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi
U.S. Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.)
Son-in-law Jared Kushner
U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.)
Anti-establishment GOP "megadonor" Rebekah Mercer
Trump campaign finance manager Steven Mnuchin
U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.)
Trump campaign economic adviser Anthony Scaramucci
Venture capitalist and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel
Son Donald Trump Jr.
Son Eric Trump
Daughter Ivanka Trump
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus
Trump Campaign CEO Stephen K. Bannon

The transition team's day-to-day operations will be led by Rick Dearborn, who had been serving as Sessions' chief of staff. He will replace Richard Bagger, who is returning to the private sector.

Dearborn's own leadership team will consist of:
Kellyanne Conway, Senior Adviser
David Bossie, Deputy Executive Director
Stephen Miller, National Policy Director
Jason Miller, Communications Director
Hope Hicks, National Press Secretary
Dan Scavino, Director of Social Media
Don McGahn, General Counsel
Katie Walsh, Senior Adviser

"Together, we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding this nation—specifically jobs, security and opportunity," Trump said. "This team is going to get to work immediately to make America great again."

Pence also issued his own statement regarding his new role in the transition:

"President-elect Trump will bring about fundamental change in Washington, and these are the right people to make that happen. This team of experienced leaders will form the building blocks of our Presidential Transition Team staff leadership roster, and will work with elected officials and tireless volunteers to prepare our government for the transfer of power on Jan. 20."



WHY WE ALL NEED VETERANS DAY THIS YEAR

By Ryan Denison



While it’s never a bad time to reflect on those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation, it seems almost providential that Veterans Day falls a mere three days after the most vitriolic and divisive presidential election in recent memory. The rhetoric and hatred that characterized so much of that election process revealed wounds that existed long before the debates and negative ads began. We have problems in America, problems that were never going to be solved by one candidate or the other. In order for healing to occur, we must address the failings of our past and the very real pain felt by so many, but we must do so without losing sight of the things that unite us. Veterans Day offers us the chance to do just that.

There is perhaps no more diverse group of people than our military; men and women of all racial, social, religious, and economic backgrounds united in the belief that this country, despite its myriad of faults, is worth risking their lives to defend. November 11th is a day set aside for the specific purpose of reflecting on and showing our appreciation for their service and willingness to make that sacrifice. If we truly want to honor our veterans, then perhaps the best way is to take a more balanced approach to how we see this country.

America has always been a truly great yet equally flawed nation, and it likely always will be. As a result, we are tempted to focus on one end of the spectrum or the other, to act as though there is nothing wrong or as though there is nothing right. Both views make one guilty of the same mistake. The better, yet often more difficult, path is to embrace the middle ground that says we are neither the sum of our failings nor of our successes, but rather a little bit of both.

God is in the business of using imperfect people to accomplish his perfect will. He has done that since the fall and will continue to do it until Christ returns. Those who did the most for the kingdom throughout the church’s history were those who were able to balance their love of God’s people with the knowledge that change, oftentimes drastic change, was needed. It’s largely the same with our nation. That’s not to equate America with the kingdom of God, as the same could and should be true of all countries where committed followers of Christ reside. Rather it’s to demonstrate that true patriotism doesn’t require a false understanding of our nation. Just as God loves us too much to leave us in our sin, we should love our country enough to address its faults without losing sight of the things that make it great.

So this Veterans Day, take time to appreciate those who have risked so much in the belief that this country was worthy of their sacrifice, but do so with the understanding that what they defended was no one political party or social demographic’s version of America but rather the idea of what this nation could become. We haven’t lived up to that idea very well lately. Maybe this Veteran’s Day can be a chance to start heading in the right direction. Will you set aside some time today to pray and ask God for his wisdom and guidance in doing your part?




THIS IS WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BETWEEN ELECTION DAY & INAUGURATION DAY

by Joe Carter

The peaceful transition of power from one chief executive to another is one of the most enduring and cherished legacies of the American government. But it’s also a complicated process. There is a lot that has to happened in the 75 days between Election Day and Inauguration Day.

Here is a brief outline of some of the steps that have to be taken in the transition from President Obama to President Trump.

November 9

Presidential campaigns usually create a transition team during the summer before the election. But starting today the president-elect is authorized by The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 to received funding to pay for his staff, secure office space, and pay for other expenses. (The President’s FY2016 budget request included $13.278 million in funding for the transition.)

Around this time, the transition team will create agency review teams, which as the Center for Presidential Transition explain, are responsible for “collecting information about the unique roles and responsibilities of each major department and agency of the federal government, and providing information that is relevant, useful and important to the new administration.”

The transition team also has to select the top 50 Cabinet appointees and key White House personnel, develop a policy implementation plan, budget and management agenda, send intended Cabinet agency appointments to the Senate, and figure out how to fill roughly 4,000 politically appointed positions (including more than 1,000 jobs requiring Senate confirmation).

They will also begin to draft new executive orders so that they can be implemented as soon as the president-elect takes office, and work with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) career staff to develop a “shadow” presidential budget aligned with the president-elect’s top policy priorities.

Mid-November through December 19, 2016

Before the president-elect can take office, the Electoral College has to actually elect the president. The first step is for the governor of each state to prepare seven Certificates of Ascertainment, which lists the names of the Electors chosen by the voters and the number of votes received and the names of all other candidates for Elector and the number of votes received.

These documents are to be prepared “as soon as practicable” after the election results in each state are certified. Once completed, the governor sends one of the Certificates of Ascertainment to the Archivist at the National Archives and Records Administration.

December 13, 2016

Any final decisions about the appointment of their electors must be resolved by this day (six days before the meeting of the Electors). This is so the electoral votes of each state will be presumed valid when presented to Congress.

December 19, 2016

The Electors meet in their state and vote for President and Vice President on separate ballots. The electors then record their votes on six “Certificates of Vote,” which are paired with the six remaining Certificates of Ascertainment that were issued by the governor and a copy sent to various officials (the President of the Senate (the Vice President) the presiding judge in the district where the Electors met, etc.).

December 28, 2016


Electoral votes (the Certificates of Vote) must be received by the President of the Senate and the Archivist by today (no later than nine days after the meeting of the electors).

January 6, 2017


The Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes. The Vice President, as President of the Senate, presides over the count and announces the results of the Electoral College vote. The President of the Senate, Joe Biden, then declares that Donald Trump and Mike Pence have been elected President and Vice President of the United States.

Mid-January

The transition team will be submit agency review reports and brief incoming agency heads, prepare a Cabinet orientation/retreat, and take care of other last minute items. President-elect Trump will also likely get a tour of his new home and office from President Obama.

January 20, 2017 at Noon—Inauguration Day

The President-elect takes the Oath of Office and becomes the President of the United States.




THOUSANDS TAKE TO STREETS IN MAJOR CITIES TO PROTEST TRUMP ELECTION

by FoxNews.com

Thousands of people coast-to-coast took to the streets Wednesday night to protest Donald Trump’s election, disrupting traffic, chanting anti-Trump slogans and some ending up in handcuffs.

From New England to heartland cities like Kansas City and along the West Coast, demonstrators bore flags and effigies of the president-elect, disrupting traffic and declaring that they refused to accept Trump's victory.

Some California cities saw heated tensions over Trump’s election. Thousands of protesters burned a giant papier mache Trump head in Los Angeles and started fires in Oakland intersections.

Los Angeles demonstrators also beat a Trump piñata and sprayed the Los Angeles Times building and news vans with anti-Trump profanity. One protester outside LA City Hall read a sign that simply said "this is very bad."

Late in the evening several hundred people blocked one of the city's busiest freeways, U.S. 101 between downtown and Hollywood.

Los Angeles police told CBS Los Angeles that at least 13 people were arrested in the protests.

In Oakland, several thousand people gathered in Frank Ogawa Palaza, police said, clogging intersections and freeway on-ramps. According to KTVU, police used tear gas to disperse protesters after an unlawful assembly was declared.

Oakland police said one protesters was cited and a small number of protesters were arrested on suspicion of disobedience.

A similar protest in Manhattan drew about 1,000 people. Outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in midtown, police installed barricades to keep the demonstrators at bay.

According to NBC New York, at least 60 people were arrested in the Manhattan protests.

“America is not voting for Donald Trump’s policies, which don’t exist,” one protester told the station. “They voted for sexism, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism.”

Other protesters echoed “Not my president” chants, which had been heard in several cities across the U.S.

In Chicago, several thousand people marched through the Loop. They gathered outside Trump Tower, chanting “Not my president!” One resident Michael Burke said he believes the president-elect stands to divide the nation and stir up a deep-seated hatred. He added there was a constitutional duty not to accept that outcome.

Hundreds of protesters gathered near Philadelphia's City Hall despite chilly, wet weather. Participants — who included both supporters of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who lost to Clinton in the primary — expressed anger at both Republicans and Democrats over the election's outcome.

In Boston, thousands of anti-Trump protesters streamed through downtown, chanting "Trump's a racist" and carrying signs that said "Impeach Trump" and "Abolish Electoral College." Clinton appears to be on pace to win the popular vote, despite losing the electoral count that decides the presidential race.

In the Midwest, protesters gathered in Minneapolis, Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City Missouri. The Des Moines Register also reported that Iowa’s capital city saw some people protest as well, though it was kept to small numbers.

Marchers protesting Trump's election chanted and carried signs in front of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Media outlets broadcast video Wednesday night showing a peaceful crowd in front of the new downtown hotel. Many chanted "No racist USA, no Trump, no KKK."

Another group stood outside the White House. They held candles, listened to speeches and sang songs.

Dallas activists gathered by the dozens outside the city's sports arena, the American Airlines Center.

In Oregon, dozens of people blocked traffic in downtown Portland, burned American flags and forced a delay for trains on two light-rail lines. Earlier, the protest in downtown drew several Trump supporters, who taunted the demonstrators with signs. A lone Trump supporter was chased across Pioneer Courthouse Square and hit in the back with a skateboard before others intervened.

Many held anti-Trump and Black Lives Matter signs and chanted slogans, including "Misogyny has to go," and "The people united, will never be defeated."

Five people were shot and injured in an area near the protest, but police said the shootings and the demonstration were unrelated.

Back in New York, several groups of protesters caused massive gridlock as police mobilized to contain them under a light rain.

They held signs that read "Trump Makes America Hate" and chanted "hey, hey, ho, ho Donald Trump has got to go." and "Impeach Trump."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



EVANGELICAL VOTERS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

by Chris Enloe 
Jerry Falwell with Donald Trump in Iowa.
Evangelical voters proved to be a force to be reckoned with on Election Day.

According to the Washington Post, evangelical voters came out in force Tuesday, overwhelmingly supporting and voting for President-elect Donald Trump. Exit poll numbers showed that Trump won the voting bloc of “white evangelicals” by a whopping 65 points, 81 percent to 16 percent.

That strong showing undoubtedly aided his victory, according to political data website FiveThirtyEight.

The last time any presidential candidate saw a margin of victory with that bloc that even approached Trump’s level of support was 2004, when evangelicals overwhelmingly chose former President George W. Bush over Sen. John Kerry by a 57-point margin, 78 percent to 21 percent.

White evangelicals are the GOP’s most powerful group of religious voters as 76 percent of them say they lean GOP. In addition, the group makes up nearly 20 percentof the entire electorate and nearly one-third of all voters who align with the GOP.

The group may have also helped Trump find victory in Florida, where white evangelicals also make up nearly 20 percent of the state’s electorate. Trump won the group — 85 percent to 13 percent — Tuesday night, exit poll data showed.

However, throughout the life of Trump’s candidacy, Christians were torn over Trump. Many Christian leaders such as Liberty University’s Jerry Falwell Jr. supported Trump, while others urged their flocks not to find hope in who would become the next president.

Subsequently, many Christians lamented on Twitter about Trump’s victory:


So I guess I'm not an evangelical.
Because I'm not whatever the hell this is.


White Christians in America must partner with, listen to, defer to 
nonwhite & nonwestern Christian leaders. We need humility, hope, revival.


America will never forget that 80% of white evangelicals 
voted for Trump. #ElectionNight


Still, most Americans saw the election as binary: that their only option for president was either Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton. And with Clinton symbolizing much of what evangelicals oppose — abortion, gay marriage, gender fluidity and other progressive social issues — it’s clear many evangelicals voted for the “lesser of two evils.”




DONALD TRUMP WILL BE THE 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

by BOB ESCHLIMAN
Donald Trump won the presidency Tuesday night, defeating globalists, liberals and socialists to win the White House. (Reuters photo)
Stop calling Donald Trump the Republican presidential nominee. He's now the president-elect, and in 71 days, he will be the 45th president of the United States.

With the final votes being tallied in Alaska, Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania, Trump was poised to finish with 306 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton's 232. As of this writing, the media awaited Clinton's concession and Trump's victory speeches.

According to Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, there would be no statement from the former secretary of state Wednesday morning. Podesta said three states were "too close to call," although several news organizations had declared one or more of those states for Trump, giving him more than 270 electoral votes.

"They're still counting votes and every vote should count," he said. "We'll have more to say tomorrow."

Traditionally, the victor waits for the concession speech before giving his own speech. It's unclear what races the Clinton campaign considers "too close." As of 2 a.m. EST Wednesday, Trump held the following leads:
Pennsylvania (20 EV, declared for Trump by the Associated Press, New York Times, and Politico)—approximately 76,000 votes with 89 percent reporting
Wisconsin (10 EV, declared for Trump by FOX News and Politico)—approximately 77,000 votes with 98 percent reporting
Michigan (16 EV)—approximately 58,000 with 94 percent reporting
Arizona (11 EV)—approximately 75,000 with 82 percent reporting

Trump also leads in the popular vote—56,763,692 to 55,708,378—by more than 1 million votes.

Clinton may not have wanted to concede Wednesday morning, but Wall Street seems to have decided the race is over. The Dow Jones Industrial Futures index was down 750 points when Pennsylvania's decisive results were announced.

At approximately 2:50 a.m., Trump came out on the stage to give his victory speech, having been introduced by his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. He led off by indicating he had received a concession phone call from Clinton.

Keep checking here for updates as reaction comes in.




RIGGED: TRUMP CAMPAIGN SUES NEVADA COUNTY OVER EXTENDED VOTING

by BOB ESCHLIMAN

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign has launched a lawsuit against a Nevada county that allowed early voters to cast votes after the polls were supposed to close.

According to the filing, the Clark County registrar kept an early voting location open for two extra hours to aid Democrat turnout. Between 150 and 300 extra voters, who were not in line when polls were supposed to close, were allowed to cast their ballots.

The Trump campaign has made an official complaint to the Nevada Secretary of State's Office, the first step in challenging the results. They have also filed a motion to have the challenged votes set aside to have their status determined after the election.

The complaint alleges similar activity at three other early voting locations in Nevada.




PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER: VOTING MACHINE ERROR SWITCHING GOP VOTES TO DEMOCRATIC

by Hannity.com Staff


A handful of voting machines in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania have reportedly been switching votes from Republican to Democrat according to a local newspaper.

The Lebanon Daily News reports:

A problem with the calibration of electronic voting machines in Lebanon County has caused 5-6 machines to represent straight Republican tickets as straight Democratic tickets, said Michael Anderson, director of the Lebanon County Bureau of Elections.

In these cases, the voter attempted to vote for the full Republican ticket, but noticed in the review screen that the vote was going to a straight Democratic ticket instead, Anderson said. They alerted their poll workers, who alerted the Bureau of Elections.

The Bureau of Elections has a software expert who was able to solve the problem in each case, he said. It involves a calibration issue regarding the machine. The Republican and Democratic straight tickets appear next to each other on the ballot.

The newspaper was soliciting information from anyone else who may have experienced the issue:


VOTING PROBLEMS?
We are interviewing people right now that are telling us they voted each selection individually and when they clicked review, their ballot showed choosing Clinton when they voted Trump.
In one case, in Lebanon City, the man told the election offical and was told the touch screens can retain the oils of the fingers that had touched on it so far that day and need wiped down.
Has anyone else seen the wrong votes when they review their ballot?



The Lebanon Daily News is reporting that the issue has been fixed, but it's nonetheless a good reminder to double-check your ballot before casting it. If there are any issues with your ballot, report it to your local election officials.




PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER: VOTING MACHINE ERROR SWITCHING GOP VOTES TO DEMOCRATIC

by Hannity.com Staff


A handful of voting machines in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania have reportedly been switching votes from Republican to Democrat according to a local newspaper.

The Lebanon Daily News reports:

A problem with the calibration of electronic voting machines in Lebanon County has caused 5-6 machines to represent straight Republican tickets as straight Democratic tickets, said Michael Anderson, director of the Lebanon County Bureau of Elections.

In these cases, the voter attempted to vote for the full Republican ticket, but noticed in the review screen that the vote was going to a straight Democratic ticket instead, Anderson said. They alerted their poll workers, who alerted the Bureau of Elections.

The Bureau of Elections has a software expert who was able to solve the problem in each case, he said. It involves a calibration issue regarding the machine. The Republican and Democratic straight tickets appear next to each other on the ballot.

The newspaper was soliciting information from anyone else who may have experienced the issue:


VOTING PROBLEMS?
We are interviewing people right now that are telling us they voted each selection individually and when they clicked review, their ballot showed choosing Clinton when they voted Trump.
In one case, in Lebanon City, the man told the election offical and was told the touch screens can retain the oils of the fingers that had touched on it so far that day and need wiped down.
Has anyone else seen the wrong votes when they review their ballot?





The Lebanon Daily News is reporting that the issue has been fixed, but it's nonetheless a good reminder to double-check your ballot before casting it. If there are any issues with your ballot, report it to your local election officials.




IT HAS BEGUN: THE FIRST ELECTION DAY RETURNS HAVE COME IN

by BOB ESCHLIMAN
The voting in Dixville Notch, N.H., was completed shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning. (Reuters photo)

After more than 18 months of campaigning, debates and more twists and turns than a New Hampshire county road, Election Day 2016 is finally here.

The tiny little hamlets of Dixville Notch, Hart's Location, and Millsfield, N.H., went to the polls at the stroke of midnight, and within 20 minutes, we had the first returns of the presidential election. With 66 votes cast so far, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is now carrying a 32-25 advantage over Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Here's a breakdown of the votes in each community:

Dixville Notch

Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine (D) — 4
Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R) — 2
Gary Johnson/Bill Weld (L) — 1
Mitch Romney (w/i) — 1

Hart's Location

Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine (D) — 17
Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R) — 14
Gary Johnson/Bill Weld (L) — 3
Bernie Sanders (w/i) — 2
John Kasich/Bernie Sanders (w/i) — 1

Millsfield

Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine (D) — 4
Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R) — 16
Bernie Sanders (w/i) —




POLITICO EARLY EXIT POLL: VOTERS SAY THEY WANT A "STRONG LEADER"

by BOB ESCHLIMAN
The first early exit polls are giving good news to Donald Trump. (Reuters photo)

The first "early exit" poll is being reported by left-leaning Politico, which says a plurality of voters so far have voted for "a strong leader," one of the key selling points Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign has been pitching.

According to Politico:

Asked what characteristic is most important for the next president, 36 percent of voters say they want a "strong leader," 29 percent want "a vision for the future," 16 percent want someone who "cares about people like me" and another 16 percent said they want someone who "shares my values."

The percentage of voters thus far who say they want a strong leader - a characterization Donald Trump's team made central to his campaign - is twice the percentage who said they were looking for a strong leader in the 2012 National Election Pool exit poll




HACKSAW RIDGE' STAR ANDREW GARFIELD SHARES HOW GOD SPOKE TO HIM THROUGH CHRISTIAN - THEMED FILM

'Hacksaw Ridge' stars Andrew Garfield and tells the true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Hacksaw Ridge

Hollywood actor Andrew Garfield recently opened up how he was inspired by the dauntless faith of his "Hacksaw Ridge" character, the late World War II U.S. Army medic Desmond Doss, and how God spoke to him while making the film.

The Mel Gibson film, which hit theaters today, tells the real-life story of Doss, a devout Seventh-day Adventist who despite being brutally challenged for his faith, refused to bear arms or kill in the Battle of Okinawa.

"One of the main reasons I was drawn to doing it and to playing him was his awareness of his own ego and humanity, but his faith was the strongest part of him," Garfield, 33, told Time Magazine reporter Sam Lansky of his character. "He was empty enough to be in touch with spirit, to be in touch with his own deep inner-self, to be in touch with God."

While he is not a Christian, Garfield said something drew him to the film in a powerful way: "I think when... you get pulled toward something-it means there's something urgent happening," he said. "I was so soothed spending time with Desmond because he managed to transcend or get underneath the pervading cultural attitudes through his faith and become a symbol of, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'; of, 'I will sacrifice myself for my brother.'"

He added, "The fact that he was able to say, in the face of men with guns, with the innocence of a child: 'I can't do that.' There's a part of me that wants to do that just to shut you up, to be accepted and loved by you, and to make you like me. But to suffer you not liking me, you not understanding me-to listen to this deeper thing, I'm pretty sure that's God speaking to me, whatever I understand God to be."

Garfield also praised the "tremendous intellect" of director Mel Gibson: "It was vital to me that we communicated that Desmond's faith was deeper than any dogma, deeper than any set of man-made rules, but that he was in touch with a deep knowing in his bones, as opposed to any ideology. [Gibson] was in line with that, and I felt totally reassured that we could make the same movie together."

As earlier reported, Gibson, known for directing the 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ," made some slight changes to "Hacksaw Ridge" prior to its release to make it more acceptable for Christian audiences, cutting out all of the f-bombs and taking of the Lord's name in vain. The film still has an R rating, however, as it contains a significant amount of blood and gore violence befitting a war film.

"Hacksaw Ridge" has nevertheless received high praise from a number of Christian critics, including author Brett McCracken, who emphasized that "From start to finish in Hacksaw Ridge, the faith of Desmond Doss is central."

"It is tested, but it is never in doubt," he wrote. "There are very few major Hollywood films that have characters like this. And contrary to some perceptions (or wishful thinking) about one's faith, Doss shows that while it is deeply personal to him, it is not private. It is something that has bearing on how he lives, how he works, and how he serves and loves people around him."

Meanwhile, in December, Garfield is will appear in another Christian-themed film, starring in Martin Scorsese's Silence, in which he plays a 17th-century Jesuit priest who travels to Japan to minister to outlawed Christians.

"I underwent this spiritually transformative process that St. Ignatius created-a retreat where you meditate and imaginatively walk with Jesus through his life, from birth to resurrection," the actor shared when asked what sort of research he did to prepare for the role. "My experience was very personal. Hopefully we're dying on the cross every day and being resurrected in a truer way every day. That's the idea, for me-the old self being shed in order for the truer self to emerge."





HACKSAW RIDGE' STAR ANDREW GARFIELD SHARES HOW GOD SPOKE TO HIM THROUGH CHRISTIAN - THEMED FILM

'Hacksaw Ridge' stars Andrew Garfield and tells the true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Hacksaw Ridge

Hollywood actor Andrew Garfield recently opened up how he was inspired by the dauntless faith of his "Hacksaw Ridge" character, the late World War II U.S. Army medic Desmond Doss, and how God spoke to him while making the film.

The Mel Gibson film, which hit theaters today, tells the real-life story of Doss, a devout Seventh-day Adventist who despite being brutally challenged for his faith, refused to bear arms or kill in the Battle of Okinawa.

"One of the main reasons I was drawn to doing it and to playing him was his awareness of his own ego and humanity, but his faith was the strongest part of him," Garfield, 33, told Time Magazine reporter Sam Lansky of his character. "He was empty enough to be in touch with spirit, to be in touch with his own deep inner-self, to be in touch with God."

While he is not a Christian, Garfield said something drew him to the film in a powerful way: "I think when... you get pulled toward something-it means there's something urgent happening," he said. "I was so soothed spending time with Desmond because he managed to transcend or get underneath the pervading cultural attitudes through his faith and become a symbol of, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'; of, 'I will sacrifice myself for my brother.'"

He added, "The fact that he was able to say, in the face of men with guns, with the innocence of a child: 'I can't do that.' There's a part of me that wants to do that just to shut you up, to be accepted and loved by you, and to make you like me. But to suffer you not liking me, you not understanding me-to listen to this deeper thing, I'm pretty sure that's God speaking to me, whatever I understand God to be."

Garfield also praised the "tremendous intellect" of director Mel Gibson: "It was vital to me that we communicated that Desmond's faith was deeper than any dogma, deeper than any set of man-made rules, but that he was in touch with a deep knowing in his bones, as opposed to any ideology. [Gibson] was in line with that, and I felt totally reassured that we could make the same movie together."

As earlier reported, Gibson, known for directing the 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ," made some slight changes to "Hacksaw Ridge" prior to its release to make it more acceptable for Christian audiences, cutting out all of the f-bombs and taking of the Lord's name in vain. The film still has an R rating, however, as it contains a significant amount of blood and gore violence befitting a war film.

"Hacksaw Ridge" has nevertheless received high praise from a number of Christian critics, including author Brett McCracken, who emphasized that "From start to finish in Hacksaw Ridge, the faith of Desmond Doss is central."

"It is tested, but it is never in doubt," he wrote. "There are very few major Hollywood films that have characters like this. And contrary to some perceptions (or wishful thinking) about one's faith, Doss shows that while it is deeply personal to him, it is not private. It is something that has bearing on how he lives, how he works, and how he serves and loves people around him."

Meanwhile, in December, Garfield is will appear in another Christian-themed film, starring in Martin Scorsese's Silence, in which he plays a 17th-century Jesuit priest who travels to Japan to minister to outlawed Christians.

"I underwent this spiritually transformative process that St. Ignatius created-a retreat where you meditate and imaginatively walk with Jesus through his life, from birth to resurrection," the actor shared when asked what sort of research he did to prepare for the role. "My experience was very personal. Hopefully we're dying on the cross every day and being resurrected in a truer way every day. That's the idea, for me-the old self being shed in order for the truer self to emerge."