Tyranny Is Here

This is The Social Contract Community Issue, our free weekly edition built by and for the readers of The Social Contract. If you have something to share with the community, we’d love to hear from you. Please send it our way at [email protected]. Thank you!

One quick message for you tonight: If the fascist, un-American bullshit that ICE is engaged in on the streets of America right now doesn’t motivate you to vote against EVERY Republican on the ballot this year, then nothing will. And you will deserve living under a fascist boot.

But remember: Donald Trump has a plan for the midterms, and ICE is a big part of it. He wants violence on our streets this year, because he thinks it will help him in the midterms—and also give him a pretext to attempt to “cancel” the election. So he’s pulled all guardrails off his masked thugs and given them the green light to be as abusive and cruel as possible, in the hopes that they’ll incite the American people to violence. That’s Trump’s plan.

Welcome to 2026.

Here’s what some of you are thinking about this week…

Hey Joe. Believe it or not, The Social Contract isn’t my only Substack subscription. And when I came across this, I immediately thought of you and the group called Leaving MAGA. And honestly, I don’t know if it would penetrate with your average MAGA, because I’m not sure I know any true believers. But if it helps get somebody off the fence, it’s well worth my time to put it out there.

A Letter to the Trump Voter with Doubts

Rosie is an interesting sort. And she takes the deep dives that most of us don’t have the time to take. Make of it what you will. —James B.

You are bringing me to tears, man. Years ago, when you were on right-wing radio, I listened to you. I hated every word you said. To think that now I am looking to you for comfort!

I am fighting, Joe. I am fighting as best I can. No one is coming to save us but ourselves. I don’t believe in a higher power, Joe, but God bless you. You are doing more than your fair share of making up for your past.

Thanks, Joe! —Marcelo G.

People just need to remember the reason Trump pardoned the J6rs was because he was actually pardoning himself. If the whole thing had nothing to do with him, he wouldn’t have cared at all. To him, part of his “innocence” MUST be reflected through them being innocent.

Regarding the Minneapolis killing, I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but things are feeling a little like a slow, silent civil war—declared by MAGA—is already underway, with an assist from the conservatives on the Supreme Court.

They ignore lower courts (the law) and 100% demonize the left at every opportunity, seemingly not even feeling that someone on the left has a value of life itself. This is what can happen from decades of Fox News and Rush Limbaugh.

Lastly, maybe JD Vance was right about “America’s Hitler”—only it’s not Trump, it’s him.

For the record, I’m an Independent and somewhat conservative myself. —Stephen M.

Proud of the continued work you are doing to fight the horrors of this regime. Keep up the great work. I would add the American people as heroes, as they continue to show up at protests across the country. Some of the videos I see as they confront ICE are very inspiring.

As we move forward, I would like to see a bipartisan ticket in 2028. Either you, Liz Cheney, or the lieutenant governor in Georgia, who changed his party affiliation, would make a great addition to the ticket. —Bob M.

I say there still is an American “We,” and that we should reclaim the “We.” Ways to do this are here. —Joe S.

The shooting of the woman is a tragedy all the way around. We need to stop demonizing ICE and support their lawful police activity. People can protest, but they should not impede ICE from doing their jobs in getting criminals off our streets.

ICE is doing what needs to be done to take criminals off our street and have some accountability to illegal immigration. No other nation on earth would have allowed what the Biden Administration allowed, with illegals wandering around without regulation and accountability. —Dean Z.

Dean— Thanks for writing. I ask you to please read on and tell me if all of these people are criminals…or illegal immigrants…or immigrants at all. ICE are not police. They have no authority over U.S. citizens, and additionally, they are constrained by the 4th Amendment as well as DHS’s own policies. Anything beyond that is illegal and a violation of the Constitution. The behavior of many ICE agents is an affront to American law enforcement, which is, by and large, conducted lawfully and professionally.

Do you believe the officers of any law enforcement agency in a free country should have “absolute immunity,” as JD Vance has said ICE agents have? Do you agree that reducing the amount of training these masked, heavily armed agents receive was wise? Do you feel that an agent calling a woman he just shot three times in the head a “fucking bitch” is professional behavior? There are very good reasons we are fighting this egregious federal overreach. —Joe

I believe the cruelty of the Trump Administration will ultimately help defeat MAGA. Most Americans are not cruel. We are spreading the word about ICE’s cruel and unlawful behavior here every week. Please do the same with your own networks, and share any stories and videos you find with us.

To help make a difference in a tangible way, please support PAXIS, a “know-your-rights” app designed to provide help to immigrants and allies anywhere—immediately—when ICE shows up.

WarMonitor @TheWarMonitor ICE agents detained a U.S. citizen legal observer in Minneapolis, smashing his car window, dragging him out, and placing a knee on his neck, conduct banned under Minnesota law after George Floyd. 8:28 PM · Jan 12, 2026 · 2.73M Views 7.24K Replies · 10.7K Reposts · 32.1K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨 BREAKING: ICE agents in Minneapolis are seen arresting another teenager without verifying his identity first, and admit to it on camera. In the video, the teenager calmly tells agents he can go inside and get his ID to prove who he is. The agents refuse. Instead, they say 9:02 PM · Jan 12, 2026 · 832K Views 1.16K Replies · 8.29K Reposts · 22K Likes

LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory 4 male ICE agents pile on top of woman U.S. citizen—lift her off ground with no concern over groping her breast or exposing her midriff. "Help me! Help me!" she cries out. "Check my ID!" Agents shove her into back of SUV hitting her head—literally run away from scene of crime 1:56 AM · Jan 13, 2026 · 15K Views 56 Replies · 580 Reposts · 687 Likes

Quentin Ocama, MAT, M.Ed @QuentinOcama ICE just smashed a car on Snelling and 94, dragged a woman out, and left. This is law and order? 8:23 PM · Jan 11, 2026 · 907K Views 3 Replies · 9.69K Reposts · 43.3K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨 BREAKING: ICE/Border Patrol agents are now ramming civilian cars, forcing them through red lights, and driving away in Minneapolis. In this video, you can see an agent who has their bumper right up against a car stopped at a red light… no emergency lights, no sirens. The 11:20 PM · Jan 11, 2026 · 3.4M Views 7.31K Replies · 19.5K Reposts · 63.3K Likes

Dark Tylenol 🇺🇦 @DarkTylenol RT @Quadcarl : Did ICE just kill somebody? That guy is TOTALLY UNCONSCIOUS when they carry the body away! 11:37 PM · Jan 11, 2026 · 1 View 1.66K Reposts

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨BREAKING: Border Patrol just illegally arrested a U.S. citizen… a TEENAGER… in Richfield, Minnesota. The teen was working at Target when agents tackled him and arrested him, while his passport was in his pocket, fully identifying himself as a U.S. citizen. None of it 8:59 PM · Jan 8, 2026 · 4.81M Views 4.55K Replies · 31.9K Reposts · 86.3K Likes

Ritchie Torres @RitchieTorres Congressman Randy Fine has issued a chilling and deeply disturbing threat to the American people: stand in our way, and you will meet the same fate as Renee Nicole Good. This is gangsterism masquerading as governance. 1:50 PM · Jan 9, 2026 · 747K Views 3.3K Replies · 8.12K Reposts · 21.5K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨 BREAKING: ICE/Border Patrol agents once again threaten to illegally arrest a U.S. citizen… for standing on a public sidewalk and filming them. Yes. Really. In the video, in Beaverton, Oregon, multiple agents swarm a man who is doing nothing more than observing and recording 4:23 PM · Jan 7, 2026 · 1.95M Views 2.65K Replies · 15.6K Reposts · 31.9K Likes

The Tennessee Holler @TheTNHoller “I’m literally a U.S. citizen!” Racial profiling is all they do 10:59 PM · Jan 8, 2026 · 1.29M Views 2.03K Replies · 11.2K Reposts · 28.8K Likes

LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory ICE brutally tackle man to ground—punch him in his back even after he's detained & defenseless. 3 agents kneel on his back and handcuff him—as he begs for help breathing. They pick him up and throw him to roll down a hill—then body slam him against car door before opening 9:44 PM · Jan 8, 2026 · 105K Views 469 Replies · 4.92K Reposts · 7.06K Likes

Ounka @OunkaOnX ICE agents violently detained a Virginia mom driving her daughter to school after she couldn’t recall her SSN from memory — even after showing full legal documents Which part of this looks like a "professional" force 9:06 AM · Jan 8, 2026 · 1.95M Views 2.2K Replies · 26.8K Reposts · 81.3K Likes

Joshua Reed Eakle 🗽 @JoshEakle This is how ICE agents responded after watching a mother of three bleed out in her car after they shot her multiple times in the head. 3:01 AM · Jan 8, 2026 · 2.56M Views 1.18K Replies · 6.1K Reposts · 16K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨This video is terrifying, and it’s exactly why “just comply” does not protect you from ICE/Border Patrol agents, even as U.S. citizens, and why you always film them. In North Carolina, ICE/Border Patrol agents illegally stopped two U.S. citizens. They questioned them without 11:12 PM · Jan 6, 2026 · 2.13M Views 1.31K Replies · 13.2K Reposts · 37.7K Likes

LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory ICE shuts down restaurant owned by U.S. citizen—for putting up "No ICE Welcome" sign. 50 armed agents block shop entrance with official vehicles. "This is intimidation—I'm scared for my life with all your guns out here," he says. "Why y'all doing this to me? I'm just a citizen 10:08 PM · Jan 5, 2026 · 1.02M Views 3.18K Replies · 13.9K Reposts · 32.3K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨This is exactly why you never answer ICE/Border Patrol agents’ questions. If they’re legitimate, they should already know who they’re stopping. When they don’t, and instead rely on intimidation and fishing for information, it creates the perfect environment for impersonators to 4:34 PM · Jan 5, 2026 · 33.2K Views 30 Replies · 706 Reposts · 1.48K Likes

FIGHTING BACK

Ford Fischer @FordFischer NOW: Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino hounded by activists and shoppers protesting his presence as he and a federal agent caravan leave a Target in St Paul, Minnesota for a restroom break. 8:10 PM · Jan 11, 2026 · 3.45M Views 2.45K Replies · 6.64K Reposts · 32.5K Likes

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Email our editor at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!