Philly Mayor to Trump:Put on Your Big Boy Pants; Acknowledge Defeat and Congratulate Joe Biden

 Democratic Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kennedy said today (November 6, 2020) that President Donald Trump needs to "put his big boy pants on" and accept defeat as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden takes the lead in battleground states across the country, according to the Daily Caller website. 

"He needs to acknowledge the fact that he lost and he needs to congratulate the winner," Kennedy added. 

Kennedy's suggestion comes despite Philadelphia City Commissioner Lisa Dealey said today they have "upwards" of 40,000 ballots left to be counted, adding it will take "several days" to complete.

GOP Pols: Trump's Attacks on Election Baseless; Says People Trying to "Steal" Election from Him

Republican lawmakers were quick to criticize Donald Trump today (November 5, 2020), after the president made a series of baseless claims that people were attempting to "steal" the election from him, according to t he USA Today website.  

The remarks included baseless claims that the election was driven by fraud and corruption and came as former Vice President Joe Biden's lead in the race grew. 

"If you count the legal votes I easily win. If you count the illegal votes they can try to steal the election from us," Trump told reporters in the White House briefing room.

There is no evidence of illegal voting or election fraud. 

Student Sues School for Banning Jesus Mask; Miss.3rd Grader Can't Wear "Jesus Loves Me"

A school district in Mississippi has been sued for banning a third grade student from wearing a facemask in class that has "Jesus Loves Me" written on it, the Christian Post website reports today (November 4, 2020).

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lydia Booth on November 2 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. 

Defendants named in the suit include the Simpson County School District, the Board of Education for Simpson County, Superintendent Greg Paes, Assistant Superintendent Robert Sanders, and Simpson Central School Principal Antoinette Woodall.

ADF Legal Counsel Michael Ross said in a statement that public schools must "respect the free expression of students that the First Amendment guarantees to them."

Pres. Election May Take Days to Elect a Winner; Contested Election Won't Damage US Democracy

 With the outcome of the 2020 presidential election still hanging on the uncounted votes in a handful of battleground states, President Donald Trump has already prematurely declared victory and said he will take the election fight to the Supreme Court, the Yahoo News website reports today (November 4, 2020).

Joe Biden said: "It's not my place or Donald Trump's place to declare who has won this election. That's the decision of the American people."

The situation  has compounded the worry felt by many that a contested election would severely undermine faith in American democracy. 

However, in the past, contested elections have not tended to damage the process of democracy because the rules of handling such disputes exist and have been followed.

Troops Deploy Amid Fear of Riots after Election; Intel:US Will See Violence No Matter Who Wins

The nation's military reserve force began deploying across the U.S. today  (November 3, 2020) amid mounting concerns that the 2020 presidential election's outcome may lead to civil unrest or even war, according to the Worthy News website. 

The National Guard took up tasks ranging from "cyber defense" against attacks on computer systems to providing security around polling stations, military sources said. 

They were also standing by in case of post-election civil unrest. 

Intelligence shows that no matter who wins the presidential election, there are legitimate concerns for cities to brace for brutality.

Terrorists Kill Several, Wound Many in Vienna; "This Is Hardest Day for Austria for Many Years"

 Austria's interior minister said today (November 2, 2020) that the death toll in a terrorist shooting in Vienna last night has increased, according to the UPI website. 

Karl Nehammer said "several" people had died and at least one of the shooters was still on the loose in a press conference. 

"This is the hardest day for Austria for many years," Nehammer said. 

Around 8 p.m. last night, shooters armed with automatic rifles opened fire on multiple locations, including a street near a synagogue, police said. One attacker, shot and killed by police outside St. Rupert's church, was carrying an explosive belt and had a bag filled with ammunition.

Protestant Pastors Extend Endorsing Candidates; Up by 50% Over 2016, Public Split on Endorsing

A new survey conducted by LifeWay Research shows that while Americans are divided on whether it's appropriate for pastors to personally endorse candidates for public office, the percentage of Protestant pastors doing so has increased by nearly 50% over the last four years, the Christian Post website reports today (November 1, 2020).

Thirty-nine percent of Americans do not agree with pastoral endorsements, even if it is outside their church role, according to the survey of 1,200 people.

Forty-three percent say it's appropriate and 19% are unsure.