Robert Cotto Jr.
@robertcottojr.bsky.social
Educator, Scholar, Dad | Black Puerto Rican + Indigenous Peruvian | Ph.D. | My posts are just me. Reposts are not endorsement.
https://robertcotto.com/
https://robertcotto.com/
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
I was blocked from entering Otay Mesa Detention Center today to conduct oversight after receiving concerning allegations about conditions there. We've heard reports that detainees are throwing notes over the fences asking for help.
What are they trying to hide here? What are they doing?
What are they trying to hide here? What are they doing?
February 7, 2026 at 1:38 AM
I was blocked from entering Otay Mesa Detention Center today to conduct oversight after receiving concerning allegations about conditions there. We've heard reports that detainees are throwing notes over the fences asking for help.
What are they trying to hide here? What are they doing?
What are they trying to hide here? What are they doing?
Judge rules in favor of New York and New Jersey for now in $16B tunnel fight with Trump www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Judge rules in favor of New York and New Jersey for now in $16B tunnel fight with Trump
The construction on the tunnel, which will connect New York and New Jersey, was expected to end Friday night.
www.nbcnews.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Republican Chairman of Homeland Security Spending Panel to Exit Congress www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
Republican Chairman of Homeland Security Spending Panel to Exit Congress
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Republican Chairman of Homeland Security Spending Panel to Exit Congress www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Congratulations to @paul-bruno.com, an assistant professor, and Haeryun Kim, a Ph.D. student at EPOL, on their new publication in the journal Leadership and Policy in Schools.
Their research uses unique data from a school district in Central Illinois to study how teacher hiring committees work.
Their research uses unique data from a school district in Central Illinois to study how teacher hiring committees work.
EPOL Team Publishes Research as Part of Public Engagement Fellowship Program
blogs.illinois.edu
February 6, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Congratulations to @paul-bruno.com, an assistant professor, and Haeryun Kim, a Ph.D. student at EPOL, on their new publication in the journal Leadership and Policy in Schools.
Their research uses unique data from a school district in Central Illinois to study how teacher hiring committees work.
Their research uses unique data from a school district in Central Illinois to study how teacher hiring committees work.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
“Renee Goodman [sic], Alex Pretti – there are no words,” DeLauro said.
“You said there were no words after the murder of those two individuals,” said Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson. “I think the words are ‘Abolish ICE.’”
www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-02...
“You said there were no words after the murder of those two individuals,” said Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson. “I think the words are ‘Abolish ICE.’”
www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-02...
DeLauro to pressing clergy: 'I will not vote to abolish ICE'
The Connecticut U.S. representative found herself at odds with faith leaders.
www.ctpublic.org
February 6, 2026 at 11:28 PM
“Renee Goodman [sic], Alex Pretti – there are no words,” DeLauro said.
“You said there were no words after the murder of those two individuals,” said Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson. “I think the words are ‘Abolish ICE.’”
www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-02...
“You said there were no words after the murder of those two individuals,” said Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson. “I think the words are ‘Abolish ICE.’”
www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-02...
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Vice President JD Vance gets roundly booed at the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics. "Those are a lot of boos for him, whistling jeering," says the presenter. US athletes receive a warm welcome from fans, though.
February 6, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Vice President JD Vance gets roundly booed at the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics. "Those are a lot of boos for him, whistling jeering," says the presenter. US athletes receive a warm welcome from fans, though.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
bring back shame
This rules. Kick Bovino out of every fucking bar in the country.
Border Patrol boss Gregory Bovino tossed from Las Vegas bar
Former U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino was reportedly asked to leave a Las Vegas bar out of safety concerns for the venue’s customers.
lasvegassun.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:03 PM
bring back shame
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
HAPPENING NOW: DHS just expedited Liam Conejo Ramos' asylum hearing to this morning, meaning it's possible the five-year-old and his family could be deported as soon as today.
Rep. Joaquin Castro: "The Trump administration is trying to take him away again." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Rep. Joaquin Castro: "The Trump administration is trying to take him away again." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Five-Year-Old Liam Ramos Is In His Asylum Hearing Right Now
www.huffpost.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:05 PM
HAPPENING NOW: DHS just expedited Liam Conejo Ramos' asylum hearing to this morning, meaning it's possible the five-year-old and his family could be deported as soon as today.
Rep. Joaquin Castro: "The Trump administration is trying to take him away again." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Rep. Joaquin Castro: "The Trump administration is trying to take him away again." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Independent photojournalist Jackson Tammariello was hit with a baton by a police officer while documenting an immigration protest in LA on Feb. 4.
Photojournalist struck with police baton at LA immigration protest
Independent photographer Jackson Tammariello was beaten with a baton by police while covering a protest against immigration raids in Los …
pressfreedomtracker.us
February 6, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Independent photojournalist Jackson Tammariello was hit with a baton by a police officer while documenting an immigration protest in LA on Feb. 4.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
So far gotten one angry email about this from a guy who says without capitalism we wouldn’t get anything done
Interesting because for most of human history, there was no capitalism
Interesting because for most of human history, there was no capitalism
My latest @newscientist.com column for subscribers and library patrons is about Elon Musk’s attempts to co-opt Star Trek and how Mars is actually a hostile planet 🧪🔭
www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
Why Elon Musk has misunderstood the point of Star Trek
As Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth talk about wanting to make Star Trek real, long-time fan Chanda Prescod-Weinstein says they've misconstrued the heart of the story
www.newscientist.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:04 PM
So far gotten one angry email about this from a guy who says without capitalism we wouldn’t get anything done
Interesting because for most of human history, there was no capitalism
Interesting because for most of human history, there was no capitalism
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
"Books are meat and medicine and flame and flight and flower steel, stitch, cloud and clout, and drumbeats on the air."
~ Gwendolyn Brooks🌸🌸🌸
#BlackHistoryMonth Day 6 ❤️🖤💚
~ Gwendolyn Brooks🌸🌸🌸
#BlackHistoryMonth Day 6 ❤️🖤💚
February 6, 2026 at 2:07 PM
"Books are meat and medicine and flame and flight and flower steel, stitch, cloud and clout, and drumbeats on the air."
~ Gwendolyn Brooks🌸🌸🌸
#BlackHistoryMonth Day 6 ❤️🖤💚
~ Gwendolyn Brooks🌸🌸🌸
#BlackHistoryMonth Day 6 ❤️🖤💚
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
The FAA's official safety alert comes as SpaceX looks to ramp up Starship tests.
A recent ProPublica investigation found that explosions during previous Starship launches disrupted air traffic and forced pilots to scramble for safety.
A recent ProPublica investigation found that explosions during previous Starship launches disrupted air traffic and forced pilots to scramble for safety.
FAA Warns Airlines About Safety Risks From Rocket Launches, Urges “Extreme Caution”
The agency’s official safety alert comes as SpaceX looks to ramp up Starship tests. A recent ProPublica investigation found that explosions during previous Starship launches disrupted air traffic and ...
www.propublica.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM
The FAA's official safety alert comes as SpaceX looks to ramp up Starship tests.
A recent ProPublica investigation found that explosions during previous Starship launches disrupted air traffic and forced pilots to scramble for safety.
A recent ProPublica investigation found that explosions during previous Starship launches disrupted air traffic and forced pilots to scramble for safety.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
New in PN: Why Delia Ramirez thinks DHS needs to be dismantled
"We have to ask ourselves, fundamentally, why would we ever want to give them more money to keep doing what they’re doing?"
"We have to ask ourselves, fundamentally, why would we ever want to give them more money to keep doing what they’re doing?"
Why Delia Ramirez thinks DHS needs to be dismantled
"Why would we ever want to give them more money to keep doing what they’re doing?"
www.publicnotice.co
February 6, 2026 at 12:56 PM
New in PN: Why Delia Ramirez thinks DHS needs to be dismantled
"We have to ask ourselves, fundamentally, why would we ever want to give them more money to keep doing what they’re doing?"
"We have to ask ourselves, fundamentally, why would we ever want to give them more money to keep doing what they’re doing?"
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
The US military conducted a strike against another alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, according to US Southern Command.
US strikes another boat in the eastern Pacific, killing 2 | CNN Politics
The US military conducted a strike against another alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, killing two people, according to US Southern Command.
www.cnn.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:00 AM
The US military conducted a strike against another alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people, according to US Southern Command.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Organizers have collected 14 lotion bottles, two deodorant bottles, and one AA Battery that detainees have thrown over the fences with notes attached to them.
The full story: lataco.com/captive-loti...
By Aisha Wallace-Palomares
The full story: lataco.com/captive-loti...
By Aisha Wallace-Palomares
February 6, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Organizers have collected 14 lotion bottles, two deodorant bottles, and one AA Battery that detainees have thrown over the fences with notes attached to them.
The full story: lataco.com/captive-loti...
By Aisha Wallace-Palomares
The full story: lataco.com/captive-loti...
By Aisha Wallace-Palomares
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
this regime is unrelentingly evil
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:52 AM
this regime is unrelentingly evil
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
In 2016, when there was a measles outbreak on UIUC's campus, I got another dose of the MMR (after completing the childhood series).
It's a shame that the state of Florida's leadership have effectively prohibited vaccine mandates.
It's a shame that the state of Florida's leadership have effectively prohibited vaccine mandates.
Oh boy. “The University of Florida and the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County are investigating potential measles exposure in two UF classes following two confirmed cases in the county.
Health officials have begun contacting individuals who may have been exposed.” @aetiology.bsky.social
Health officials have begun contacting individuals who may have been exposed.” @aetiology.bsky.social
Measles exposure reported in two University of Florida classes, university says
The University of Florida and the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County are investigating potential measles exposure in two UF classes following two confirmed cases in the county.
www.news4jax.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:42 AM
In 2016, when there was a measles outbreak on UIUC's campus, I got another dose of the MMR (after completing the childhood series).
It's a shame that the state of Florida's leadership have effectively prohibited vaccine mandates.
It's a shame that the state of Florida's leadership have effectively prohibited vaccine mandates.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Big train derailment in Mansfield, CT. From CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection:
February 5, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Big train derailment in Mansfield, CT. From CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection:
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Remembering Dr. Maryam Mirzakhani on #WorldCancerDay.
Dr. Mirzakhani was first woman to win the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in #mathematics. She died in 2017 from #breastcancer at the age of 40.
stanford.io/2C0io2A #WomenInSTEM
Dr. Mirzakhani was first woman to win the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in #mathematics. She died in 2017 from #breastcancer at the age of 40.
stanford.io/2C0io2A #WomenInSTEM
February 4, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Remembering Dr. Maryam Mirzakhani on #WorldCancerDay.
Dr. Mirzakhani was first woman to win the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in #mathematics. She died in 2017 from #breastcancer at the age of 40.
stanford.io/2C0io2A #WomenInSTEM
Dr. Mirzakhani was first woman to win the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in #mathematics. She died in 2017 from #breastcancer at the age of 40.
stanford.io/2C0io2A #WomenInSTEM
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Current Covid vaccine 40% effective against hospitalization and 79% effective against death. It is best to get vaccinated for protection against severe disease and use other protection including masks to reduce risk of infection and less severe illness.
#Medsky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
#Medsky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Estimated 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Against Severe COVID-19
This case-control study estimates vaccine effectiveness of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines against severe COVID-19 and investigates whether it varied by SARS-CoV-2 lineage or spike protein mutations.
jamanetwork.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Current Covid vaccine 40% effective against hospitalization and 79% effective against death. It is best to get vaccinated for protection against severe disease and use other protection including masks to reduce risk of infection and less severe illness.
#Medsky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
#Medsky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
Reporter @shoton35mm.bsky.social, on assignment for @lataco.bsky.social, was pepper-sprayed by DHSG and pushed by LAPD officers while covering a protest against immigration raids Jan. 30 in LA.
Reporter pepper-sprayed, shoved at LA immigration protest
Lexis-Olivier Ray, an investigative reporter with L.A. Taco, was shoved by police and tear-gassed by federal agents while covering a …
pressfreedomtracker.us
February 5, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Reporter @shoton35mm.bsky.social, on assignment for @lataco.bsky.social, was pepper-sprayed by DHSG and pushed by LAPD officers while covering a protest against immigration raids Jan. 30 in LA.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
This morning at the Minnesota State Capitol.
An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE". I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.
An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE". I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.
February 5, 2026 at 3:26 PM
This morning at the Minnesota State Capitol.
An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE". I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.
An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE". I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.
Reposted by Robert Cotto Jr.
It’s Been Called the ‘Sistine Chapel of the New Deal.’ Don’t Destroy It.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:46 PM