You need to understand the ‘Democratic Socialist’ threat

Let’s discuss the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), because you need to understand the threat:

The DSA was founded in 1982 by Michael Harrington through a merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and the New American Movement. Harrington had… https://t.co/RZvU9fKxkf

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Let’s discuss the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), because you need to understand the threat:

The DSA was founded in 1982 by Michael Harrington through a merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) and the New American Movement. Harrington had previously resigned from the Socialist Party of America, notably criticizing what he called “obsessive anti-communism” and favoring diplomatic engagement with the Soviet Union. The organization describes itself explicitly as “the largest socialist organization in the United States” and currently claims nearly 100,000 members. Unlike a political party, it operates as a decentralized grassroots collective with local chapters across the country.

The DSA is not monolithic: it contains openly Marxist and communist factions operating internally. Several caucuses within the DSA’s National Political Committee (NPC) are explicitly communist, including Red Star (a self-described Marxist-Leninist caucus), Marxist Unity Group (MUG), and Groundworks Caucus. Red Star has publicly stated that “communists belong in DSA” and that DSA is “the most effective place to serve” as communists. At one point, roughly 13 of the NPC’s seats were held by communist caucus members.

Internal DSA documents reviewed by Newsweek revealed a consistent pattern of engagement with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) dating back to at least 2021. Key findings include:

– DSA members made multiple visits to China to meet with CCP officials, framed under “anti-imperialism”

– A DSA “China Working Committee” was established explicitly to “strengthen connections with Beijing”

– Members were reportedly directed to refrain from discussing sensitive China-related political topics during meetings

One member described the materials as showing “ideological alignment, narrative manipulation, and interconnected networks indicative of influence at both the discursive and organizational levels”

The DSA’s relationship with communist Cuba has deepened substantially since 2019, when it formally joined the National Network on Cuba. More recent developments include:

– In October 2025, a DSA delegation including both co-chairs and 11 NPC members met directly with Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

– The DSA established the Venceremos Fund to finance future delegations and humanitarian shipments to Cuba

– Internal discussions revealed a deliberate workaround of U.S. financial restrictions on Cuba, routing funds through a 501(c)3 partner (Global Health Partners) to legally ship medical supplies to the Cuban Ministry of Health

– DSA leaders have explicitly stated that medical supplies go to the Cuban government, not independent parties

Legal analysts have noted DSA’s activities risk running afoul of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)

There are internal directives that all coordination with the Cuban government must run through the DSA’s International Committee to maintain centralized control.

Critics, including scholars like Dr. Paul Kengor, argue that the distinction between “democratic socialism” and communism is largely semantic, pointing out that many socialist traditions, including the DSA’s own internal caucuses, openly view socialism as a transitional stage toward communism. The DSA does not call for the elimination of free markets outright, but its internal factions and foreign alignments suggest a more radical ideological core than its public platform implies.