Ron DeSantis to launch 2024 presidential bid on Twitter - reports

The 44-year-old Florida governor is expected to be Donald Trump's main Republican 2024 challenger.

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Professor hurls students' pro-life display after profanity-laced tirade: 'triggering my students'

A professor at a New York public college appeared to shout down pro-life students before snagging and throwing items in their display, accusing the students of spreading "propaganda" and "triggering" other students.

Hunter College students were manning a table displaying pro-life literature earlier this month when they were confronted by an angry professor, who shouted profanities at the students before tossing materials off the table, video of the interaction shows.

"You're not educating s---, this is f---ing propaganda," the professor tells the students in a clip posted to Twitter by Students for Life of America. "What are you going to do like anti-trans next?"

The aggressor in the situation was art professor Shellyne Rodriguez, who a Hunter College spokesperson confirmed works at the school as an adjunct assistant professor.

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According to the spokesperson, the school is aware of the encounter and is "taking this matter very seriously."

"The provost has opened an investigation into the professor’s actions," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

On her website, Rodriguez says she is a "writer and community organizer" who focuses her work on "strategies of survival against erasure and subjugation."

In the viral video of the confrontation with the students, two unidentified individuals appear to try to deescalate the situation, apologizing to Rodriguez while noting they are just attempting to educate people on the issue.

"This is bull----, this is violent," Rodriguez responds. "You're triggering my students."

"I am sorry about that," one of the pro-life students responds.

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"No you’re not, because you can’t even have a f---ing baby. So you don’t even know what that is. Get this s--- the f--- out of here," the professor fires back before attempting to push the items off the table. "F--- this s---."

It isn't clear if there was any interaction before the start of the video and what exactly the literature at the table says.

While the incident went viral on social media and was reported on by the College Fix, the professor's actions were defended by the PSC Graduate Center, a labor organization of graduate and professional schools at the City University of New York.

The group argued that the "Students for Life set up a table and prominent banners to propagate dangerously false propaganda," claiming such materials are "disinformation" and "should never be allowed to take root at our college."

The group then called the professor's actions "justified."

"Hunter College adjunct educator Shellyne Rodriguez approached the display, constructively critiqued the group members, and eventually physically took down items from the table," the group said. "Her actions to shut down the tabling were fully justified, and are part of a long and celebrated CUNY legacy of confronting groups such as military recruiters who disseminate misleading information."

They also noted Rodriguez was questioned about the incident by Hunter College Provost Manoj Pardasani and John Rose, dean of Diversity and Compliance and Campus Relations, though the result of those discussions was unclear.

Meanwhile, Hunter College said the school remains a place that encourages "the free expression of ideas."

"Hunter College prides itself on maintaining decorum and respect for all, while encouraging the free expression of ideas," the Hunter College spokesperson said. "Students can display one side of a political issue, or more than one side. We consider our campus a vibrant marketplace of ideas."

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Biden admin announces 'historic' plan to reduce western states' water supply

The Biden administration announced Monday that seven western states had reached an agreement to conserve critical Colorado River system water supplies amid severe drought conditions.

The agreement — reached by the so-called Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada — ensures that at least 3 million acre-feet (maf), or 978 billion gallons, of Colorado River water supplies are conserved by 2027, according to the Department of the Interior (DOI) which has worked with states to address shortages. Under the plan, at least half of that amount will be conserved by 2025.

"There are 40 million people, seven states, and 30 Tribal Nations who rely on the Colorado River Basin for basic services such as drinking water and electricity," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement Monday.

"Today’s announcement is a testament to the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to working with states, Tribes and communities throughout the West to find consensus solutions in the face of climate change and sustained drought," she continued.

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In its announcement, the DOI said 2.3 maf of the conserved water would be compensated through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Democratic climate and tax legislation President Biden signed last year. The remaining 0.7 maf would be made via voluntary, uncompensated reductions by the three Lower Basin states.

While Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming mainly receive water from smaller rivers that branch off the Colorado River, the Lower Basin states largely receive water pooled in Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir along the Utah-Arizona border, and Lake Mead, a reservoir along the Nevada-Arizona border. 

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The federally-managed Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona and Hoover Dam in southern Nevada are able to control water flows from the respective reservoirs to the Lower Basin states. 

But as a result of decades of drought conditions, both Lake Powell and Lake Mead have dropped to lower levels, nearing so-called dead pool levels when water is unable to flow from a reservoir through its dam, threatening vital water supplies and hydropower-generated electricity for tens of millions of Americans.

"I commend our partners in the seven Basin states who have demonstrated leadership and unity of purpose in developing this consensus-based approach to achieve the substantial water conservation necessary to sustain the Colorado River System through 2026," Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said in a statement. 

As part of the plan, DOI agreed to withdraw a draft Colorado River conservation proposal it issued last month. 

And, per a request from the seven Colorado River Basin states, the agency vowed to advance conservation guidelines for 2027 and beyond in the coming months.

According to federal data, Lake Powell's level has dropped to about 3,520 feet and Lake Mead's level has dropped to 1,046 feet. The two reservoir's respective dead pool levels are estimated to be 3,370 feet and 895 feet.

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Missouri high school yearbook raises concerns with pages on casual sex, drinking: 'Completely inappropriate'

A salacious portion of a Missouri high school yearbook is drawing backlash from some parents by mentioning sex, drugs, and partying by students.

Michelle Westerfield, a mother who lives in the area outside St. Louis, joined "Fox & Friends First" to discuss the contents of the yearbook. 

"There is a time and a place for everything and for a high school yearbook to glamorize casual sex, illegal drug and alcohol use is completely inappropriate," said Westerfield who lives near the school district.

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According to the New York Post, a page in the yearbook titled "Hooked(ish)" features opinions from students about "hook-up culture, the concept of a casual sexual relationship without labels, and its benefits and consequences."

Adorned with images of Plan-B One-Step, pregnancy tests, condoms and more, the spread is full of survey responses from anonymous students about the "weirdest" places they have hooked up: a football field, a dressing room, and even a "bowling alley parking lot in the backseat of someone else’s car."

The yearbook also included opinions from students about their drinking and smoking habits and preferences. 

Westerfield said she believes these kids have been "completely misled by their educators." 

"These are real-life issues that seem cool in a yearbook. I feel heartbroken for the 14-year-old kids that go to this high school who might feel peer pressure to maybe get into this stuff when they beforehand never really thought about doing any of these things"

Westerfield said the yearbook could have addressed these topics in a more responsible manner. 

"You can still talk about the real life issues by maybe educating on the dangerous statistics of the consequences of casual sex and doing drugs and alcohol that would have been appropriate for a yearbook. Not glamorizing it, not normalizing it."

She said some parents seem to have "given up" on persuading their children to stand up to peer pressure.

"We've failed this generation somehow. … Parents have to parent and teachers need to educate in ways that don't encourage this stuff."

The Kirkwood School District said in a statement, "as school officials do not engage in prior review, the content of KHS media is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself."

The Pioneer Yearbook defended the controversial pages saying, "we stand by our book and are proud of what we have accomplished. We are grateful for the right and freedom to publish what we believe is relevant to what students are experiencing and discussing."

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Film critics fall for Halle Bailey, the new Little Mermaid's 'charismatic' Ariel

Reviews of Disney's latest live-action remake praise its star Halle Bailey, but are otherwise mixed.

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Bubba Wallace appears to flip off camera; NASCAR reportedly investigating apparent hack into driver's radio

NASCAR star Bubba Wallace finished in second place at the All-Star Race after Kyle Larson put on a dominant showing in the Cup Series’ return to North Wilkesboro Speedway.

But Wallace turned heads after the race when he appeared to flip off the camera before he talked to FOX Sports’ Jamie Little about his performance. Wallace appeared to be booed during the driver introductions and after the race.

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After the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday, he spoke about the boos directed at him. He said he was used to it because they come every race.

"As long as you continue to live your life judging a book by its cover, that’s who you are," he said. "Don’t change it up for anybody else. That’s the biggest thing. That’s fine.

"I mean, I finished fifth, I got a good payday. I’m good."

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Wallace’s second-place finish in the Cup Series event was overshadowed by an incident on his radio. A person apparently was able to spread a derogatory message over his airwaves, according to Motorsport.com.

"Go back to where you came from you a--hole," the person reportedly said. "You’re not wanted in NASCAR."

A 23XI Racing spokesperson told the website Wallace didn’t hear the message or acknowledge them when the person got onto the airwaves. NASCAR is reportedly investigating the incident.

Wallace finished about 4.5 seconds behind Larson.

"Larson was lights out, so congrats to him," Wallace said. "They have been hitting it on the head all season, so to run second to them is not a bad thing. But to run second in the All-Star race sucks because you go home with nothing."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Madrid museum to open new gallery next month with 5 centuries of Spanish royal collections

It’s not as if Madrid was short on world-ranking galleries with the likes of the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía, among others.

But next month, Spain is set to unveil what is touted as one of Europe’s cultural highlights of the year with the opening in the Spanish capital of The Royal Collections Gallery. The swanky new museum will feature master paintings, tapestries, sculptures, decorative art pieces, armory and sumptuous royal furniture collected by Spanish monarchs over five centuries, spanning the empire's Hapsburg and Bourbon dynasties.

"This is the biggest museum project in Spain in decades, and also in Europe", says Ana de la Cueva, President of the Patrimonio Nacional, a government body that runs the Gallery.

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Unlike many other monarchies, Spain's Royal Collections do not belong to the crown but to the public, thanks to a historical twist nearly a century ago. Now, Patrimonio Nacional oversees palaces, monasteries, convents, and royal gardens across the country.

For Gallery director Leticia Ruiz, bringing together such a variety of extraordinary pieces makes it something of "a museum of museums."

The inaugural exhibition will feature 650 of the more than 150,000 pieces Patrimonio Nacional manages, including works from Velázquez, Goya, Caravaggio, Titian and Tintoretto. Also featured will be some pieces from the world’s best tapestries collection as well as ancient carriages and royal furniture. A third of the works will be replaced with new exhibitions each year.

Ruiz says the Gallery will offer visitors a unique vantage point of "the history of the Royal Palaces that are fundamental to the history of Spain and the world."

One standout piece is Velázquez’s "White Horse," rearing up and without a rider, suggesting the court painter was just waiting to be told which king to put in the saddle.

Nearby, the light and facial expressions in Caravaggio’s 1607 "Salome with the Head of John the Baptist" are equally captivating. The painting is one of the just four Caravaggios in Spain.

Then there is the multicolored cedar wood sculpture of Saint Michael slaying the Devil, a 1692 work by Spain’s first female court sculptor Luisa Roldán. It is known that she carved the devil in the likeness of her husband and that she, herself may have been the model for Michael.

On the same floor is the first edition of Cervantes' "Don Quijote."

"For many centuries, the Spanish monarchs were the best collectors in history," said De la Cueva. Being able to buy and order from the best artists in the world "was a way of showing their power."

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Built on the steep hillside opposite the Madrid's Royal palace and the Almudena Cathedral, the Gallery building itself is an impressive work of art.

Designed by Luis Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón, its unimposing vertical linear structure has won 10 architectural awards, including the 2017 American Architecture Prize.

Unseen from street level, it descends seven floors. In the Hapsburg rooms you are greeted by four gigantic baroque Solomonic faux marble wooden columns with gilded vines that once belonged to a Madrid church.

What makes the Gallery particularly special is its incorporation of Madrid’s ninth century Islamic foundation after archeologists came across part of the city’s Moorish wall during construction.

Madrid was originally called Mayrit in Arabic and its Islamic rulers built a fortress to protect the nearby center of power, Toledo. Following the reconquest of Spain by the Catholic monarchs, Madrid was converted into Spain’s royal court and capital in 1561 by Felipe II.

Álvaro Soler Del Campo, archaeologist and Chief Curator of the Royal Armory, says Madrid "is the only current capital of the European Union that preserves a fragment of its first (founding) walls" as well as being the only European capital city that has Islamic origins.

The initial idea of building a museum to house the Crown’s collections arose during Spain’s anti-monarchy Second Republic between 1931 and 1939. The leftist government seized the royal properties but protected them under a new agency that preceded the Patrimonio Nacional.

The republic was flattened during a rebellion by late dictator Gen. Francisco Franco and other Catholic Nationalist officers that started the three-year Spanish Civil War and heralded in some four decades of dictatorship at its end in 1939.

Two decades after Franco’s death and the return to democracy, the initiative for a museum was taken up again in 1998. But it took another 25 years, $186 million and several government changes before the ambitious project could be finished.

Ruiz says the novelty of seeing such artistic beauty in such a modernist building will appeal to visitors.

"What we want to do is capture them as soon as they enter, and I think we are going to do that," she said.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will inaugurate the Gallery June 28, after which it will be open to the public, free of charge for the first few days.

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Bud Light buying back unsold, expired beer from wholesalers as sales continue to suffer: Report

Bud Light has reportedly informed wholesalers it would buy back unsold once it expires as the company continues to face backlash from its polarizing pact with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy feature on the company’s struggles after conservatives across America have ditched Bud Light over the saga that began in March when Mulvaney publicized that the beer company sent packs of Bud Light featuring the influencer’s face as a way to celebrate a full year of "girlhood." Backlash was swift and the promotion is now considered one of the most polarizing in the history of the digital space. 

Now it seems parent company Anheuser-Busch is taking steps to help wholesalers who have taken a hit. 

"The brewer recently told its wholesalers that it would buy back unsold cases of beer that have gone past their expiration date," the Wall Street Journal report. 

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Anheuser-Busch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Anheuser-Busch works with 385 independent distributors, or wholesalers, across the country," the WSJ added. "Many of them are family-owned businesses that have carried Anheuser-Busch products for generations… the wholesalers’ employees, many driving trucks bearing the Bud Light logo, were soon confronted by angry people on streets, in stores and in bars. There were bomb threats at several Anheuser-Busch facilities and wholesaler locations."

Compared to a year ago, retail sales of Bud Light in the U.S. were down by 23.6% in the week ending on May 6, surpassing the 23.3% decline the brand saw in the last week of April, according to data from Bump Williams Consulting and NielsenIQ, cited by the New York Post.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev CEO Michel Doukeris has attempted to downplay the partnership. He told investors there is "misinformation" spreading on social media about the company's team-up with Mulvaney. 

"We need to clarify the facts that this was one can, one influencer, one post and not a campaign," Doukeris said in comments that were expanded on by the WSJ. 

"The single personalized can made for Mulvaney was not available for sale. Yet as the backlash picked up, many people, including bar and store owners, wrongly believed that Mulvaney’s video was a television commercial or that the can with her picture on it was available in stores," the WSJ noted. 

The company has since attempted to make amends with its customers. Bud Light marketing vice president Alissa Heinerscheid and Daniel Blake, who oversees marketing for Anheuser-Busch’s mainstream brands, both took a leave of absence after the backlash, particularly after Heinerscheid was caught in an interview blasting the brand as previously being "fratty" with "out of touch humor." 

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The company has also attempted to contextualize the Mulvaney videos, explaining that a "third-party ad agency" was responsible for the collaboration with no intention to sell the can. 

The company is also set to launch a line of camouflage aluminum bottles that promote the "Folds of Honor" program, which provides educational scholarships for families of fallen and disabled American military service members and first responders, the New York Post reported.

Many have argued the attempts to undo the damage from the Mulvaney marketing campaign will not undo the damage done to the brand. 

Fox News’ Madeline Coggins contributed to this report. 

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Junior doctors in England announce new 72-hour strike

They will walk out between 07:00 on Wednesday 14 June and 07:00 on Saturday 17 June.

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