CBS News
Evangelical leader Lance Wallnau pitches Trump to followers as divinely chosen for presidency
Lance Wallnau, a firebrand leader of the nation’s growing grassroots evangelical movement, says it initially took some convincing to persuade evangelical Christians to recognize former President Donald Trump as divinely chosen to navigate these chaotic times.
“I got a lot of pushback after he got elected,” Wallnau said in a rare network television interview with CBS News, “because there was searching around for how — how could the evangelicals justify voting for some barbaric character like Trump? I said, ‘Listen, give the guy some time. He doesn’t know who we are, but his values resonate with our community.'”
By the look of those assembled on a recent, rainy summer day in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Wallnau appears to have succeeded.
Wallnau leads the so-called “Courage Tour,” a roving event that targets key battleground counties across the country with a blend of religious and political activism. The events encourage attendees not only to get out the vote, but to sign up to be election workers and poll watchers.
His efforts fit into an idea he popularized that calls on Christians to achieve religious and political dominion. He calls it the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” referring to government, family, religion, arts and entertainment, media, education and business. Once a fringe belief, it’s become a popular refrain that blends religious and political messages, says Matthew Taylor, an author and religious scholar.
Wallnau is trying to recruit pro-Trump evangelicals willing to look beyond the former president’s past conduct and instead focus on his views about abortion, gender issues and Israel.
“You are literally seeing two sets of values and worldviews on display,” said Joshua Standifer, one of the speakers on the Courage Tour who runs Lion of Judah, a group that recruits evangelicals to become poll workers and watchers. “And it just so happens, one naturally aligns more to what we believe right now at this moment.”
Hundreds attended the Wisconsin event led by Wallnau last month, with tens of thousands more watching the revival online — a religious road show that is unapologetically political.
The goal is to motivate fellow independent charismatic Christians to proselytize for Trump ahead of the November election, and to sustain the effort beyond Election Day if that’s what it takes for him to win the presidency. “Charisma” in Greek means “gift,” and charismatic Christians, many of whom are nondenominational, emphasize the gifts of the Holy Spirit, like miracles and speaking in tongues.
In his interview with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett, Wallnau described the tour as a “combination platter” of spiritual revival and political activism. “It’s about spiritual activism,” he said.
“You can’t make America great again until you restore an awakening with God again,” Wallnau told the Eau Claire audience, later adding, “Unless you learn how to mobilize and how to move in at a local level, then you’re letting the devil dominate your culture.”
“We’re going to flood election poll stations across the country with spirit-filled believers,” Standifer told the crowd. “We believe it’s time to release the roar of Christian voters across America.”
One of the revival’s attendees, Jacqui Brokaw, said she wants to elect Trump “because he stands for something.” She’s hoping to galvanize others in the area and swing Wisconsin from blue to red.
“If we don’t get our election this year, we’re going to lose our whole country,” attendee David Jansen warned.
“What we are seeing here today is the most targeted and tactical voter mobilization effort done by Christian nationalists ever,” says Taylor. He believes the stakes are more than just political.
“If Trump wins, then that becomes a part of the impetus that Donald Trump can say, ‘I don’t just have a democratic mandate, I have a divine mandate to change the country in accordance with the biblical values that these folks claim to have,'” says Taylor.
Trump’s relationship with the evangelical community goes back to his first race for the White House in 2015, when Paula White-Cain, a leading charismatic Christian figure, became one of his top religious advisers.
That year, White-Cain organized a gathering to introduce Trump to other leading charismatic figures, including Wallnau. After their initial meeting, Wallnau wrote that Trump was chosen as “God’s trumpet,” to be “a wrecking ball to political correctness.”
“I caught that idea in 2015, when I first met Trump, and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy is like the character Cyrus in the Bible,'” Wallnau explained, referring to the Book of Isaiah, which describes Cyrus as an outsider chosen by God to liberate Jews from captivity.
Wallnau was one of the first charismatic leaders to spread the idea to his vast social media following that Trump had been anointed by God as a Cyrus for these times. His Trump is a conquering hero, and Wallnau sees his own role as convincing his followers to help with God’s work of electing Trump.
“If at the end of the day, we haven’t activated you to either be a poll watcher, a poll worker, somebody involved with election integrity or somebody that can help someone else get out a vote, I’m not sure that we’ve done what we have to do,” Wallnau told the crowd in Eau Claire.
“You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you Christians,” Trump said at the Turning Point Action Believers’ Summit in July.
After Trump lost the 2020 election, charismatic Christians backed Trump’s claims that the election had been stolen from him in the weeks leading up to the insurrection on Jan. 6. Wallnau, too, supported him and was scheduled to speak at a rally at the Capitol that day before it was canceled.
In the tent in Eau Claire, Wallnau justified the riots that took place at the U.S. Capitol nearly four years ago.
“Jan. 6 was not an insurrection,” he said. “It was an election fraud intervention.”
“Many of the people who were leaders in this movement also showed up on Jan. 6 because they really believed that the election was being stolen,” Taylor said. “They had a gut feeling that Donald Trump was right.”
Taylor says that that mindset extends to a “demonic conspiracy” that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.
“[They] believed that a conspiracy of demons manifesting through the Democratic Party, manifesting through disloyal Republicans, manifesting through Mike Pence, was preventing Trump from winning the election and from fulfilling the will of God”, Taylor said.
For Wallnau, this presidential election is no less than a battle of good versus evil.
“I don’t see how anyone with moral clarity sits out an election like this. I mean, the issues are so clear,” Wallnau said. “I tell Christians, I say, you know, what you — what would you say during the Civil War?”
Wallnau uses apocalyptic language at revivals, setting up a spiritual battle between pious believers and demons who speak through Democrats or liberals. In an address on FlashPoint Live, he told the audience, “You see the Left is loaded with demons.”
Wallnau described what he sees as the multitude of forces arrayed against the former president.
“[Trump]’s like Samson. He’s got his hands between two pillars,” Wallnau explained. “He’s virtually up against academia, media, government, the intelligence communities, and to an extent, a whole lot of corporate businesses.”
But Wallnau is betting that he can channel the hyper-focused Christian political energy that he is fueling toward overcoming those obstacles.
“The tendency to just look at elections, pray about them, eat popcorn, watch the result, and then go to bed is over,” said Wallnau. “Christians as believers probably should be engaged in this process of shaping culture far more aggressively and intentionally from now on because it’s being shaped without them.”
This post is sponsored by Fubo.
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Ten NFL teams remain undefeated coming into Week 3 of the 2024-5 NFL season, with upsets and surprises already dominating NFL regular season storylines so far. Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals are surging following a massive 41-10 upset victory in Week 2 over the Los Angeles Rams, 41-10. Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens haven’t won yet coming into Week 3, which doesn’t bode well for their chances of this being the season the team finally breaks out. And the Kansas City Chiefs are still one of the best teams (if not the best) in the league, but the team’s Week 1 and Week 2 victories have been so close (they won by a toe in Week 1 and by a point in Week 2), the reigning Super Bowl champions may be ripe for an upset this season. All that football drama, and it’s only Week 3 of the season.
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Tap the button below to score this limited-time Fubo deal and start watching NFL football ASAP. Then read on to see the full Week 3 NFL schedule, including when and where to watch all the week’s best games.
Note: CBS, CBS Essentials and Paramount+ are all subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
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Our picks for the biggest and best games of NFL Week 3
Week 3 of the 2024-2025 NFL season offers big-time matchups you won’t want to miss. Here are our picks for the top four games of the week, all available to watch live with a subscription to Fubo.
Watch the Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings game free with Fubo
One may have been inclined to count out the Minnesota Vikings this season in the post-Kirk Cousins era. But two games into the regular season, the Vikings are looking good. Defeating the mighty San Francisco 49ers at home in Week 2, complete with a 97-yard Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson touchdown, has breathed new life into Vikings fans.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud proved himself in his rookie season last year and continues to impress. The addition of Stefon Diggs to the Texans offense has fans hoping for another of the NFL’s great quarterback/receiver duos.
Both teams come into Week 3 undefeated, making this one of our favorite matchups of the weekend.
- Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Sunday, September 22 at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT)
- CBS/Fubo
Watch the Philadelphia Eagles vs. New Orleans Saints game free with Fubo
Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints are riding high following their epic 44-19 Week 2 victory over the stunned Dallas Cowboys. Undefeated coming into the weekend, the Saints are looking like bonafide AFC contenders. They face a worthy adversary in the Philadelphia Eagles, who have shaken off last year’s Super Bowl loss. While the Eagles hope to dominate the NFC again this season, their late-game Week 2 “Monday Night Football” loss to the Atlanta Falcons will have the birds scrambling for a win this week.
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. New Orleans Saints
- Sunday, September 22 at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT)
- Fox/Fubo
Watch the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons game free with Fubo
The Chiefs come into Week 3 undefeated following two “it could have gone either way” victories in Week 1 and Week 2. But the reigning Super Bowl champions are still one of the most dominant teams in the league, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes seems to get even better with time. Meanwhile, the Falcons’ 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, complete with Kirk Cousins’ 70-yard game-winning drive, is a reminder of what Cousins is capable of. The Falcons are going to want to keep up the momentum gained in Week 2, giving this “Sunday Night Football” game the potential to become a real showdown.
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Sunday, September 22 at 8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. PT)
- NBC/Fubo
The Bengals may be down two games coming into Week 3, but Joe Burrow’s performance against the Chiefs in Week 2 is a reminder of just how good he (and this team) can be. Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels scored a much-needed first win last week against the New York Giants, showing poise under pressure. While Week 3 offers two “Monday Night Football” matchups (the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills game will be played at 7:30 p.m. ET and air on ESPN and Fubo), if we’re choosing one game of the night we choose the Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals game.
- Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals
- Monday, September 23 @ 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT)
- ABC/Fubo
NFL Week 3 full schedule
The 2024-5 NFL regular season began on Thursday, September 6, 2024. The regular season concludes on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Below is the schedule for Week 3 of the 2024-5 NFL season. Note that the game you see on your local affiliate will depend on your geographical area.
Thursday, Sept. 19
- New England Patriots at New York Jets, 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
Sunday, Sept. 22
- New York Giants at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Carolina Panthers at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Miami Dolphins at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
- San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Monday, Sept. 23
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC)
Key dates for the 2024-5 NFL season
- Aug. 1: NFL Hall of Fame game (Bears vs. Texans)
- Aug. 8-11: First preseason weekend
- Aug. 15-18: Second preseason weekend
- Aug. 22- 25: Third preseason weekend
- Aug. 27: Deadline for all teams to reduce rosters to 53 players
- Sept. 1: Final day of preseason training camp
- Sept. 5: NFL regular season begins (Ravens vs. Chiefs)
- Sept. 6: NFL Friday game from São Paulo, Brazil (Packers vs. Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET on Peacock)
- Oct. 6: NFL International Game from London (Jets vs. Vikings, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)
- Oct. 13: NFL International Game from London (Jaguars vs. Bears, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)
- Oct. 20: NFL International Game from London, (Patriots vs. Jaguars, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)
- Nov. 5: NFL trade deadline
- Nov. 29: Black Friday Game: (Raiders vs. Chiefs, 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
- Dec. 25: Netflix-exclusive Christmas Day games: (Chiefs vs. Steelers, 1 p.m. ET), (Ravens vs. Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET)
- Jan. 11-13: Super Wild Card Weekend
- Jan. 18-19: Divisional Playoff Games
- Jan. 26: AFC & NFC Championship Games
- Feb. 2: Pro Bowl Games
- Feb. 9: Super Bowl LIX (Caesars Superdome in New Orleans)
CBS News
U.S. Air Force gives update on new B-21 stealth bomber: “Nobody on the planet can do what we’re doing”
Air Force leaders gave an update on the B-21 Raider, a futuristic aircraft that is expected to become the United States’ next nuclear stealth bomber.
The aircraft can deliver both “conventional and nuclear munitions,” according to a news release from the Air Force, but will be “critical to deterring conflict” around the world. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, said the stealth bomber will help the United States keep pace with threats worldwide.
“We are the free world’s only bomber force. … Nobody on the planet can do what we’re doing right now,” Bussiere said, adding that there will likely be an increased demand for the support the stealth bomber can provide in the coming years.
Air Force Global Strike Command
Currently, the stealth bomber remains in the test flight stage, and is doing two such flights a week, according to Thomas Jones, the Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector president. A photo shared by the Air Force shows one of the bombers during flight testing.
“We’re really starting to strike up quite a cadence … when we started this journey, we made a vow that we were going to design this system to be a daily flyer,” Jones said, according to the release. “It’s been a phenomenal year of progress, and we hope to continue that through the next year.”
A recent notable test confirmed the stealth bomber’s structural design and integrity, according to officials. The plane is now going through a fatigue testing campaign.
Once the planes are tested, some of the aircraft will be delivered to the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to help train Air Force squadrons on the stealth bomber. When the B-21 enters the service, this site will be the main operating base for the stealth bomber.
Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri will be a secondary base, and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas a third.
The stealth bomber is set to replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers in the Air Force’s fleet.
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Whether you’re barreling down a mountainside or taking a leisurely ride along your local trail, a great mountain bike is key. But what exactly does a great mountain bike look like, in terms of features? It depends on the kind of terrain and riding style you do.
The best mountain bike for long, cross-country rides will have very different specs than a downhill bike. Some offer full suspension for a smooth ride on bumpy trails. Some have wider tires that are better at gripping wet or sandy terrain. Some are designed for maximum pedaling efficiency and serious stopping power so you can climb steep mountainsides without wearing yourself out. No matter where you and your new bike are headed this fall, we’ve rounded up the best mountain bikes for every rider and every terrain in 2024. Don’t forget to strap on your bike helmet.
Best mountain bike for beginners: Giant Talon 29 1
Mike’s Bikes
The Giant Talon 29 1 is a solid entry-level mountain bike at a reasonable price point. With its balanced frame geometry and high-traction tires, it’s great for a comfortable, stable ride on most trails. While that means it’s not specialized for uphill climbs or cross-country speed, the balanced design is great for beginners or casual riders who aren’t planning to tackle those more challenging technical trails just yet.
With 80mm to 100mm of suspension travel, this hardtail mountain bike strikes that perfect balance of pedaling efficiency and shock absorption.
Riders can also adjust the suspension within that range by adjusting the air spring and the rebound damping. That gives you improved steering precision and a better ride feel since you can tailor it to your needs. If you’re a beginner, it may take some trial and error to fine-tune those settings, but playing around with them is a great way to learn how suspension impacts your ride.
Get this reliable entry-level mountain bike at Mike’s Bikes for $950.
Top features of the Giant Talon 29 1:
- Grippy tires offer great traction in any trail conditions.
- The balanced frame geometry makes this a comfortable bike for most riders.
- The adjustable suspension fork allows you to fine-tune this mountain bike for your needs.
Best trail bike: Santa Cruz Tallboy C R
Backcountry
A full-suspension mountain bike with 120mm and 130mm suspension travel on the rear and front, respectively, it doesn’t get cushier than the Santa Cruz Tallboy C R (at least, not at this price point). Built for cross-country or trail riding, this bike’s design allows you to glide through rocky terrain almost as if you were just cruising on a paved road. That suspension also helps cushion the impact on pops and short drops so you can build up speed while navigating the trail with confidence.
With that said, it can be a little sluggish on uphill climbs. But if you typically stick to more straightforward trails, you won’t have to deal with that issue. For those just-for-fun weekend trail rides, this is the mountain bike you want.
Get this comfortable, agile trail bike at Backcountry while it’s on sale for $3,849 (reduced from $4,799).
Top features of the Santa Cruz Tallboy C R:
- Boasting full suspension, this mountain bike is a comfy ride no matter how bumpy the terrain.
- The carbon C frame is both lightweight and stiff for better control and improved agility.
- The four-piston brakes offer excellent stopping power.
Best fat tire mountain bike: State 6061 Trail+
State Bicycle Co.
For wet or sandy trails, traction is everything, which means you need a fat tire bike like the State 6061 Trail+. With 4.5-inch wide tires that can handle running even at low PSI, this mountain bike can grip the trail no matter how loose or slippery.
Whether you want to cruise along sandy beaches or power through snowy mountain trails, the stability of this fat tire bike is the key to doing so safely and confidently. You won’t be building up much speed, but you’ll have a lot of fun plowing through trails that a standard trail bike couldn’t even touch.
Get this fat tire bike directly from State Bicycle Co. for $1,000.
Top features of the State 6061 Trail+:
- Thick 4.5-inch tires provide extra grip for wet or loose terrain like snow, sand and mud.
- With low PSI capabilities, you can lower the tire pressure to widen the surface area even further to maximize your grip on soft, slippery trails.
- The alloy frame is stiff and strong without adding any more bulk than necessary.
Best mountain bike under $500: Huffy Stone Mountain
Amazon
The Huffy Stone Mountain is a hardtail mountain bike that is lightweight and offers good traction for navigating trails. The budget-friendly bike is missing a lot of the features you’ll find on the more advanced mountain bikes listed above. However, if you’re just starting out and just want to get out on a trail to see if you like mountain biking, this is a good bike to start with.
While you can’t take it on any serious trails, it’s got the basics you need for easy local bike trails. Use it to get a feel for the sport and then upgrade to a mountain bike better suited to the kind of trails you want to tackle. Then, pass this Huffy Stone Mountain on to a friend or teen who’s curious about mountain biking.
A bestseller on Amazon, this budget mountain bike is available for as low as $200.
Top features of the Huffy Stone Mountain:
- This budget entry-level bike is great for casual rides on easy bike trails.
- A wide variety of frame and wheel sizes allows you to get the right fit for your height.
- The lightweight, high-traction design is just enough to let you get a feel for mountain biking before committing to a higher-priced mountain bike with more advanced features and customizability.
Shop more top-rated mountain bikes:
What type of mountain bike should a beginner get?
The best mountain bike for a beginner is a balanced, versatile one. Since you’re probably not tackling steep inclines and declines yet, opt for a trail bike that offers great traction, strong brakes and easy maneuverability along bumpy, muddy trails. That means grippy tires and responsive steering so you can confidently control your bike over tree roots, up hills and on descents.
If the trails you’re eager to go on are largely uphill, look for a bike that’s lightweight with a firmer pedaling platform. Those two features will improve climb efficiency so you’re not wearing yourself out on those uphill stretches.
Do I need a full-suspension mountain bike?
You don’t need a full-suspension mountain bike, but they are nice to have. Unlike hardtail mountain bikes, which only have suspension in the front, full-suspension mountain bikes have suspension in both the front and rear. That extra suspension helps absorb shock, cushioning the impact as you hop over bumps or navigate downhill jumps and drops.
That cushier feel can be nice even on milder trail rides, but they tend to be significantly more expensive and require more maintenance than a hardtail mountain bike. So it might not be worth the extra expense and care if you don’t usually do technical trails or downhill riding.
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U.S. Air Force gives update on new B-21 stealth bomber: “Nobody on the planet can do what we’re doing”
Brooklyn Park to add license plate readers for police investigations
How to watch NFL football for free in Week 3: The best games and where to stream them