A Word About Michael Cohen

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!

Just a quick note to The Social Contract community that I am ending, and will no longer be doing, my weekly Substack Live with Michael Cohen. I talked about my decision with Ellie Leonard tonight. If you missed it, please give it a watch.

This Week on The Social Contract

My Substack Lives are open to all subscribers, unless noted. Please join us this week!

• Wednesday, 7pm ET: Sean Prophet, author of “My Cult, Your Cult”

• Thursday, 4pm ET: “Unvarnished” with Edwin Eisendrath

• Thursday, 7pm ET: AMA for paid subscribers

• Friday, noon: “Welcome to the Party, Pal!” with Mike Nellis

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

This is my dad’s tombstone last Memorial Day. A few people walked over to quietly tell me that they agreed with me. All our WWII ‘boys and girls’ have been betrayed. They sacrificed so much—many, their lives. My anger is surpassed only by my grief. —Kathy K.

Hey Joe,

I agree Europe needs to punch Trump in the nose either literally or metaphorically, but they won’t or can’t until they no longer need the weapons we produce. Right now, Europe needs our weapons to help arm Ukraine. Once the EU and Britain build up their ability to make weapons and munitions on a scale where the U.S. becomes unnecessary, they can tell us to fuck off.

My hope is that European consumers stop buying American goods. They can certainly do without our alcohol/spirits. Maybe when the ‘red states’ can no longer sell their products abroad, and most of the farmers are still farming their former farms as employees of major ag conglomerates, it will finally sink in that Donald Trump is a dangerous fucking idiot who doesn’t give a damn about them.

Just my 2¢. —Keith

Joe, I continue to agree with your mission, and you are inspiring in your messaging. My work the last few months has been an effort to push for the last tool We The People have in our box. Being upset and pointing out all the corruption, lawlessness, and insanity of this fascist Nazi President needs to end.

You got it right: the Dems are weak and complicit in their own way. This last impeachment vote on Kristi Noem was 70 Dems supporting that resolution. SHAMEFUL.

I am in total agreement with Jessica Denton and John Bonifaz that Articles of Impeachment must be presented daily by House Democrats. This President continues to flood the zone to distract. We the People need to flood the zone to impeach, convict, and remove NOW. —Johne B.

Hi Joe,

I am a subscriber, and I gotta say, I appreciate your honesty. Thank you. I wrote an article on Substack that I would like you to read. You may even learn some history! I did. Here is the link:

Maggie Boyd

We've Come A Long Way Baby, Or Have We?

Everyone knows that the inhabitants of the original 13 colonies fought the American Revolution to be free from England and have “certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Just the way we learned it in elementary school. But wait…is that true? The 1776 colonies’ population was about 2.5 million people. …

Read more

6 days ago · 1 like · 1 comment · Maggie Boyd

Keep up the good work! —Maggie B.

Joe,

I have been listening to you on Substack for the last six months, and find myself agreeing with you strongly re: the Trump regime, even though I fundamentally disagree with you on many (most?) policy issues. Thank you for all that you do!

One thing that I would like to run by you is if it is feasible to have the police departments in cities arrest ICE agents whenever they take illegal actions? I understand that the chances of actually convicting these thugs is poor due to their ‘qualified immunity,’ but it seems to me that doing this would serve to interfere with their operations and highlight that what they do is illegal.

Obviously, this would require considerable backbone from mayors and police leadership that may not be easy to conjure up. These ICE guys are mostly cowards, and I think they would be less brazen if faced with the possibility of spending nights in lockup together with a bunch of muggers and drug dealers. —Marty D.

Hi Joe,

Thanks for your great work. Watching you here from Canada and appreciating you speaking truth in dark times. I donated to PAXIS—wishing it all the success.

I was thinking, for one of your topics, what about focusing on something like this? It might be worth considering flying this flag as a means of protest: https://www.amazon.ca/Half-USA-American-Canadian-Sticker/dp/B00K9BE4KM

Half U.S. flag, half Canadian. Proud to be an American, but Canada is looking really good right now as a liberal democracy where shit like this doesn’t happen.

We’re seeing a ton of Americans on social media wanting to be Canadian right now. It’s not really serious, but does speak to a recognition of how far the U.S. has strayed. Canada has its issues, but it’s a pluralistic and free society right up north.

It might strike a tone with people. Not suggesting that you advocate for Americans to be Canadian, but to use Canadian values as a foil for the shit you’re dealing with and to help America return to its values.

Keep it up. —Paul Y.

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.

• Tear gas deployed by federal agents reportedly hospitalized a 6-month-old infant and two juveniles —KSTP

• The standoff that has turned Minnesota into a tinderbox —The Wall Street Journal

• ICE agents raid St. Paul home, detain elderly U.S. citizen on frigid Sunday —Bring Me the News

• Army veteran says ICE agents detained him for hours without access to phone or his attorney —KARE

• A mistakenly deported Babson College student tells AP how her life turned upside down —AP

LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory ICE detain father—leave 6 year old daughter home alone. The little girl was found wandering the streets in tears, crying, "Where's Papi? Where's Papi?" "They took him and they left my baby in the apartment, all alone," said her mother. Father is a refugee with a clean record 2:18 PM · Jan 17, 2026 · 320K Views 556 Replies · 4.84K Reposts · 9.83K Likes

ICE of TikTok @ICEofTikTok Man shares video showing immigration officers believing he is following them and issuing him a warning. "Stop f*cking following us. You are impeding operations... This is your warning... go home to your kids. This is your last warning. I will arrest you." tt: broke.american 5:00 PM · Jan 12, 2026 · 164K Views 123 Replies · 789 Reposts · 2.18K Likes

hasanabi @hasanthehun this is straight up nazi shit we are allowing these fucking nazis to beat up random people in the streets for no reason other than spectacle and domination and it’s all paid for with our tax dollars, we will never have healthcare, housing & good wages for all. Furkan Gözükara @FurkanGozukara DAMN : ICE grabbed a 17yo Target worker at his job, despite him saying he’s a US citizen. After confirming he was, they dumped him in a Walmart lot 8 min away. Bystanders found him sobbing, bleeding: “They slammed me on the ground.” 4:42 AM · Jan 13, 2026 · 1.26M Views 1.3K Replies · 9.6K Reposts · 68.4K Likes

julie k. brown @jkbjournalist Everyone should be reading (and subscribing) to the Minnesota Star Tribune. @StarTribune The Minnesota Star Tribune @StarTribune A crowd of hundreds gathered at a St. Cloud strip mall parking lot to observe more than two dozen ICE officers near some Somali-owned businesses. Follow updates on the ICE operation in Minnesota here: https://t.co/Xd8B4r9a6U 11:22 PM · Jan 12, 2026 · 263K Views 55 Replies · 1.53K Reposts · 6.88K Likes

Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 @ScooterCasterNY Woman PULLED from car during Clashes between activists and Federal Agents. Chaotic Scenes Erupted in Minneapolis neighborhood after ICE detains what looks like a teenager from a house. Video by @noturtlesoup17 @FreedomNTV [email protected] to license 6:05 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 4M Views 393 Replies · 982 Reposts · 2.57K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨BREAKING: ICE agents in Minneapolis violently detained, threatened, and arrested a U.S. citizen for one reason only, he refused to prove his citizenship. In the video, agents immediately escalate to physical force. A man stands with his hands up, repeatedly saying, “I’m not 5:37 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 3.18M Views 6.08K Replies · 15.1K Reposts · 42.1K Likes

Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump During a protest outside a home being raided by ICE in Minneapolis, a woman drove onto a blocked street saying she was trying to get to a doctor’s appointment. ICE agents smashed her car windows, cut off her seatbelt, pulled her out, and arrested her 8:16 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 1.93M Views 2.67K Replies · 4.72K Reposts · 14.7K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨BREAKING: ICE/Border Patrol agents are assaulting U.S. citizens on public sidewalks in Minneapolis. In the video, agents are walking down a public sidewalk. A man is standing there, doing nothing but existing in public space. He glances back, and an agent uses both hands to 2:11 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 960K Views 1.25K Replies · 5.97K Reposts · 11.2K Likes

WarMonitor @TheWarMonitor ICE arrested a 55-year-old U.S. citizen in Minneapolis for acting as an observer. She stayed on a public sidewalk, did not interfere, was tackled, handcuffed, put in an unmarked vehicle, and held for hours while family tried to find her. 7:38 AM · Jan 13, 2026 · 361K Views 3.08K Replies · 6.89K Reposts · 13.5K Likes

Suzie rizzio @Suzierizzo1 ICE agents in Minnesota snatched a young Latino boy who was allegedly around 14 y/o walking home from school! They put him in the car without any parents around which they aren’t supposed to be allowed to do,but obviously they aren’t listening so there will be another lawsuit! 🤬 7:02 AM · Jan 13, 2026 · 981K Views 4.02K Replies · 14.4K Reposts · 35K Likes

Rep. Jimmy Gomez @RepJimmyGomez BREAKING: New footage from Minnesota of ICE detaining a kid in the freezing cold. Imagine if this was your child. 8:25 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 456K Views 5.5K Replies · 7.03K Reposts · 13.8K Likes

WarMonitor @TheWarMonitor ICE detained a U.S. citizen teacher during student drop-off at a special education school in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Agents broke her window, pulled her from her car, used tear gas near children, and blamed her after ramming her vehicle. 9:29 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 50K Views 135 Replies · 1.27K Reposts · 2.7K Likes

Senator Chris Van Hollen @ChrisVanHollen Arlit Maria Martinez’s only request was to visit her son, Kevin, who was dying of cancer. ICE refused and he died later that day. This Administration has no decency nor sense of humanity. We are in contact with Arlit's family and ICE must allow her to attend her son’s service. 7:08 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 424K Views 2.49K Replies · 4.52K Reposts · 12.4K Likes

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @ReichlinMelnick ICE agents choked a 16-year-old when they arrested him alongside his undocumented father. He filmed much of it, but ICE didn't give his phone back when he was released. He later found it in a vending machine for used electronics; suggesting an agent stole it and sold it for cash. Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein We showed former police and immigration officials videos of agents using chokeholds and other moves that can block breathing. They said agents are out of control. One said it’s “the kind of action which should get you fired.” https://t.co/xjUM47Ov2R 1:36 AM · Jan 14, 2026 · 949K Views 597 Replies · 9.07K Reposts · 26.5K Likes

Lakota Man @LakotaMan1 ICE employee Alexander Steven Back, 41, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota was arrested as part of “Operation Creep” for attempting to solicit sex from a minor. During his arrest Back said to police, “I’m ICE boys.” The cops were not impressed and hauled him off to jail. 5:09 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 168K Views 414 Replies · 5.69K Reposts · 12.1K Likes

LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory “I pleaded with him, call an ambulance.” “I thought I was going to bleed out on the floor of the federal building with the DHS officer holding my head down to the ground like a trophy.” Instead, the agents taunted him, “laughing at the fact that I would never get to see out of 1:52 PM · Jan 14, 2026 · 49.1K Views 73 Replies · 1.67K Reposts · 2.4K Likes

Aaron Rupar @atrupar Rep. Angie Craig: "In my district, two days ago a special ed teacher who pulled up into her school parking lot, her windows were smashed, she was taken and detained for 12 hours ... I've never seen such an out of control agency. That's why as soon as I leave, I'm gonna be joining 3:45 PM · Jan 14, 2026 · 138K Views 152 Replies · 2.64K Reposts · 8.71K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨BREAKING: ICE agents are now pulling people out of restrooms, refusing ID, and taking them without identifying who they are. In Clearwater, Minnesota, a video shows a group of agents waiting outside a men’s restroom inside a truck repair shop. Seconds later, you hear a man 7:08 PM · Jan 14, 2026 · 638K Views 1.98K Replies · 4.92K Reposts · 9.56K Likes

Jeremy Konyndyk @JeremyKonyndyk This is incredibly evil. ICE & CBP are broken beyond salvage. You can't "retrain" an institution that is willing to do this to children. Joshua Reed Eakle 🗽 @JoshEakle This video shows ICE holding children hostage to bait parents out of their homes. Just unspeakable levels of cruelty and inhumanity. 11:04 PM · Jan 14, 2026 · 109K Views 64 Replies · 1.43K Reposts · 3.33K Likes

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @ReichlinMelnick In many situations like this, the use of armed officers is 100% for show: they could have just called the guy in and arrested him at a standard check-in. Instead, they’re deliberately sowing fear while creating propaganda for the many cameras they bring along with them. The Associated Press @AP A Liberian man arrested after armed immigration agents used a battering ram to enter his Minneapolis home had checked in with federal authorities for years, his attorney said Tuesday. 2:03 PM · Jan 15, 2026 · 118K Views 71 Replies · 1.29K Reposts · 5.04K Likes

Nathan Bernard @nathanTbernard ICE is being deployed into Maine’s two largest cities next week to harass Somali people, sow chaos and attack communities. Mayors from Lewiston and Portland both issued statements warning citizens of the incoming fascists. No ICE for ME! 10:03 PM · Jan 14, 2026 · 118K Views 21 Replies · 205 Reposts · 492 Likes

The Tennessee Holler @TheTNHoller “An ICE officer told me: ‘You guys have to stop obstructing us. That's why that lesbian bitch is dead.’” 3:38 AM · Jan 15, 2026 · 61.7K Views 278 Replies · 2.75K Reposts · 5.99K Likes

@realdlhughley

realdlhughley on Instagram: "THREATENING EVERYDAY CITIZENS👍🏼
…

Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump Man: “Why are you asking me for my papers?” ICE agent: “Because of your accent.” How’s this legal? 4:34 PM · Jan 15, 2026 · 1.3M Views 1.54K Replies · 6.78K Reposts · 22.4K Likes

Suzie rizzio @Suzierizzo1 This is Ryan Eckland who is a well known & respected Realtor in the Twin Cities & he got behind a ICE vehicle in Woodbury & started filming & they ended up throwing him to the ground & detained him & took him to Whipple where he was for hours with other U.S citizens! 7:41 PM · Jan 15, 2026 · 640K Views 3.6K Replies · 4.68K Reposts · 14.5K Likes

Pablo Manríquez @PabloReports 🚨NEWS: Another migrant has died in ICE custody, this time in Clayton, Georgia, according to the Mexican Foreign Ministry. I believe this is 5th migrant to die in ICE custody this year ... and it's only Jan. 15 12:58 AM · Jan 16, 2026 · 153K Views 1 Reply · 2.72K Reposts · 5.1K Likes

The Washington Post @washingtonpost Breaking news: An employee of El Paso County’s Office of the Medical Examiner said it is likely to classify the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos at an ICE detention center as a homicide. A detainee says he witnessed Campos being choked to death by guards. wapo.st/49DynFF 10:58 PM · Jan 15, 2026 · 4.24M Views 1.16K Replies · 6.95K Reposts · 17.4K Likes

Wu Tang is for the Children @WUTangKids Insane….ICE Nazis kidnapped 4 members of Oglala Sioux Tribe….released 1 and now can’t "locate" the other 3 "There is nobody more American than American Indians! We are America, how can you possibly target Native Americans? It's legally impossible!" 2:21 AM · Jan 16, 2026 · 2.52M Views 1.4K Replies · 30.3K Reposts · 133K Likes

Brian Allen @allenanalysis 🚨 BREAKING: Tom Homan says the Trump admin is building a database of people attacking ICE and plans to broadcast their names and faces publicly. Then he says they’ll contact employers, schools, and neighborhoods to expose them. “We’re gonna MAKE ‘EM FAMOUS!” That’s not law 12:25 AM · Jan 16, 2026 · 1.13M Views 4.11K Replies · 5.96K Reposts · 22.1K Likes

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @ReichlinMelnick There are no words. ICE agents ate lunch at a small local Mexican restaurant in Minnesota, enjoyed their meal, then came back later that night as the restaurant was closing down and arrested the people who had served them. 3:34 AM · Jan 16, 2026 · 8.29M Views 7.08K Replies · 16.2K Reposts · 59.6K Likes

P a u l ◉ @SkylineReport “Papers, Please”: DHS Confirms Americans May Be Forced to Prove Citizenship DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has effectively confirmed that U.S. citizens can now be stopped, questioned, and required to prove who they are simply for being near an ICE operation, even if they’re not 4:43 PM · Jan 15, 2026 · 1.13M Views 933 Replies · 2.27K Reposts · 4.99K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨BREAKING: Border Patrol agents are caught on camera unlawfully stopping and threatening a U.S. citizen at a gas station, with zero legal basis. In the video, a Border Patrol agent approaches a man who is simply pumping gas into an unmarked vehicle and immediately demands, “Let 3:47 PM · Jan 13, 2026 · 1.39M Views 1.22K Replies · 6.6K Reposts · 17.8K Likes

Tom Hoefling 4d From A Mighty Girl: Christina Rank, a 25-year-old classroom assistant, was pulling into the parking lot of Concord Education Center -- a special education school in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota where she has worked for seven years -- early Monday morning when an ICE vehicle collided with her car. According to witnesses, agents quickly surrounded her vehicle, broke her window, and dragged her out. As masked agents… https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl/posts/pfbid032pRyjxr5Pc4j6LoFEjnrUazdJajUBARsjQGBV6RSWXVXfUjyE5Ap18fdpiZLbEqEl?__cft__[0]=AZZIB2zINRn7GtqCUzFdj9ng54pVMjjyHi1u5icvrK9uhMnqPvVQBVgdJXTV1NSf-dZhja2gWDoaCYUWjo4_Hx9DyKDusSCsBmT97NKL6Xb7VAvyqIXZyvg3ujp0BRxtOLQHXXGK3w1xS2HIYVGG08AykJShZSgYUD9y1XeSaTxisA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R 1.4K 849

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández @RepTeresaLF ICE detained a Navajo man for 4 hours after he identified himself, offered his Tribal ID, Certificate of Indian Blood, and birth certificate. They told him he must be stealing someone’s identity and that they would “get his family next.” As he described it: “I was treated as if 6:05 PM · Jan 17, 2026 · 817K Views 1.3K Replies · 15.4K Reposts · 36.2K Likes

Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC 🚨 BREAKING: ICE is now disappearing Native Americans. ICE and Border Patrol are not protecting anyone. They are trafficking and disappearing POC under the cover of “immigration enforcement”... And now, in Minnesota, agents are taking Oglala Sioux tribal members, U.S. citizens, 5:38 PM · Jan 17, 2026 · 131K Views 235 Replies · 2.3K Reposts · 3.68K Likes

Lincoln Square 4d Must Watch: Patty O'Keefe, a U.S. citizen, shares her experience of being violently arrested and detained by ICE in Minneapolis. Her firsthand account of the horrific conditions inside detention centers explains exactly why DHS continues to block oversight visits from Congress. 2.3K 1.2K

Tom Hoefling 3d What is it going to take for the people of this country to wake up to what is happening in Minnesota and elsewhere? Zach Tratar @zachtratar So much footage is coming out of Minnesota of ICE agents assaulting and kidnapping citizens for exercising their first amendment rights. You are allowed to record. They punch this guy in the face for blowing a whistle. Wake up. This is about our rights people. 929 504

Richard Hanania @RichardHanania Absolutely conclusive that Jonathan Ross killed Renee Good. NYT breakdown of what happened. He starts out by filming her with a cell phone in his hand. What kind of law enforcement does this? Doesn’t he need his hands for other purposes? If his job is dangerous, wouldn’t he need 1:43 PM · Jan 17, 2026 · 323K Views 1.23K Replies · 2.04K Reposts · 8.08K Likes

Ben Crump @AttorneyCrump A U.S. citizen and Coast Guard veteran Jose Martinez says he had his cruise cabin burst into at dawn — agents had flashlights, handcuffing him half‑dressed and ripping his wife’s phone away from recording. Martinez says he was mistaken for someone with warrants because of his 3:15 AM · Jan 19, 2026 · 223K Views 137 Replies · 1.8K Reposts · 4.95K Likes

WarMonitor @TheWarMonitor ICE agent tells a driver to stop filming, then reaches into the car to grab the phone, triggering a violent struggle inside the vehicle. This violates the First and Fourth Amendments, conduct a court ordered stopped just days ago. 3:29 AM · Jan 19, 2026 · 238K Views 422 Replies · 3.52K Reposts · 9.8K Likes

FIGHTING BACK

The Tennessee Holler @TheTNHoller MINNEAPOLIS — Hmong homeowners know their rights… randomly looking for Hmong & Asian families… a racial terror campaign, nothing less… @RepFaison 11:21 PM · Jan 14, 2026 · 413K Views 244 Replies · 3.88K Reposts · 16.5K Likes

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