Red Star Newsletter - April 2026
Hello from Red Star! Curious about what we’ve been up to? Read on to find out!
National Work Update
NPC Update
Office Matching Funds Update
Office matching fund distributions that have been spearheaded by Red Star have continued, with now about half of assessments completed and nearly $75,000 distributed. Red Star NPC members are also assisting with fundraising efforts for the leftover costs. The success of this effort demonstrates Red Star’s commitment to a strong national organization using its resources to support chapter development.
New Rapid Response Protocol
On the NPC, Red Star and its allies have instituted a new rapid response protocol that allows us to be more nimble in our response to the continuously unfolding contradictions of capitalist imperialism. We have identified DSA’s rapid response capabilities as in need of improvement, and have pursued a collaboration with our allies in Springs of Revolution to improve these capabilities. These efforts have been fruitful, with DSA’s response to the war against Iran being a particularly successful example. In the past, DSA’s rapid response has been marked by confusion, incoherence, lack of direction, and lack of a clear distribution of labor. In the case of the Iran War, however, DSA was able to mobilize its chapters to create more than 12,000 Action Network events, turn out 1,500+ people to a mass call, and distribute action toolkits with clear next steps.
The difference this time was that the Temporary Rapid Response Committee was established, division of labor on that committee was clearly defined, coordination with national bodies on overflow work was baked in from the start, and action was swift and effective as a result. All this was accomplished without sacrificing Democratic decision-making. In fact, since action was not directed ad hoc by those who chose to take it on, Democratic decision-making was significantly enhanced. This retooling of our rapid response capabilities has been remarkably successful. Though flaws remain, such as our ability to sustain momentum past the initial crisis response into longer-term work, Red Star and its allies on NPC are working to synthesize these lessons into an even more effective rapid response infrastructure, using a scientific, dialectical approach to continually improve our response to the inevitable future crises.
Work Portfolios Project being Launched
Since the National Political Committee passed Red Star member Hazel W’s proposal to institute work portfolios for NPC members so that the organization may keep track of which NPC member is responsible for what and whether they are carrying out their responsibilities, Red Star has been working to launch this project. The NPC’s expansion from sixteen to twenty-five members has not eased the workload on each individual member or increased participation in vital NPC duties. Low participation in Loomio votes, an increased diffusal of responsibility adding to the workload of more active members making up for less active members, and a rapidly growing glut of ideas that fail to be acted upon have all proven that the promises of mega-NPC have failed to be borne out. These work portfolios are intended to elevate NPC transparency, erase confusion about the division of assigned tasks, and ensure NPC members are held to account for completing tasks. NPC members will now be expected to complete these portfolios biannually, describe the breadth of their responsibilities, and tie their success to specific benchmarks. Read more about the purposes of this project and discuss on the DSA forums.
Red Star in the Spotlight: Our Members Share their Socialist Analysis
Since our last newsletter, Red Star members have been actively engaging with the broader Left, contributing vital socialist perspectives on a range of critical issues.
Megan R. Speaks at Party of the European Left Congress in Brussels
DSA Co-Chair and Red Star Member Megan R. represented DSA at the 8th Congress of the European Left in Brussels, Belgium this past weekend to discuss the international struggle to fight austerity and militarization. She was joined by former Labour Party Leader and current Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, General Secretary of the Worker’s Party of Belgium Peter Mertens, and Ambassador and Head of the Mission of Palestine to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg Amal Jadou Shakaa. Below are some excerpts from her speech.
On bloating military budgets and brutal austerity:
“‘Protection’, ‘defense’, ‘security’, these are euphemisms that naturalize a harsh, man-made reality. We are destroying each other, and making our entire planet unlivable because we cannot confront global inequalities and envision a future without war” [21:02]
On the resistance of workers and states to the Iran War:
“We see these acts of principled resistance to militarism and we are inspired to act in kind. However tenuous this moment feels, we are reminded that another world is indeed possible! And we must work urgently to bring it to bear” [22:52]
On the inadequacy of a fight against austerity without confronting imperialism:
“Many of us in this room grew up in societies locked in an uneasy social truce between social democratic struggles from below, and an expanding military apparatus, a truce that is now dissolving….and as we organize in the United States, we will hold the lesson of the 20th century close to our hearts- to win a truce is no victory at all. We must not just seek to make our societies more equal through small acts of redistribution, we must invest in the kinds of projects, form the international bonds of solidarity that make global peace possible. We don’t just need a new spirit of international solidarity, we need a new project of international solidarity to lift up together” [23:09]
Watch the full panel here.
Megan R. Marks Five-Year Anniversary of revitalized DSA Worcester Chapter
Megan R. visited DSA’s Worcester Chapter in Massachusetts on April 11th to mark the fifth anniversary of their chapter’s revival after it went inactive during the pandemic. During the chapter’s general meeting, comrades listened to Megan speak, there was a presentation on the history of the chapter, they debated a bylaws amendment, and heard from committees. Points of pride the chapter highlighted was its support for a nurses’ strike in 2021, and its strong democratic culture. Read more here.
Megan R. Joins Belgian Worker’s Party Leader Peter Mertens
After her trip to the European Left Congress, Megan joined the Belgian politician and Workers Party leader, Peter Mertens, to talk about why Gen Z is turning to socialism in America. The podcast can be found here on Peter Mertens’ YouTube channel.
Red Star Writes
“Elections, Not Electoralism: A Tactic in a Revolutionary Movement” by Bob M.
Red Star member Bob M’s latest article for Zenith details Red Star’s view of how elections under liberal capitalism should be utilized, not for the sake of winning elected office and implementing socialism through reforms, but as a tactic to reach the working-class, articulate our message to them, organize them into the party or a party-like structure if possible, and lay bare the irresolvable contradictions of capitalism to drive them towards a revolutionary horizon. Bob M. argues there is no need to make the false choice between “running to win” and “running to agitate”, since committed Marxists engaging in the electoral struggle must agitate against capitalism, parliamentarism, and the facade of liberal democracy, win or lose, and direct their adherents toward the struggle for socialism.
Bob M. further posits that DSA cannot simply be in the business of campaigning for candidates and give no thought to how they will govern. Building transparent accountability mechanisms not tied to personal relationships is crucial for ensuring that our elected members advance the cause of DSA, and the cause of socialism, not merely their careers. Pursuing elections in a way that is revolutionary means not only avoiding tailing the mainstream electorate, it also means reaching beyond the pool of likely voters and towards the sort of disaffected or even ineligible voters, because reaching the most marginalized among us is the best way to drive forward a revolutionary movement of the masses that goes beyond one campaign or one election cycle. To do any of this, Bob M. underlines, DSA candidates are organizers before politicians and must be cadre, involved in the organization, responsive to its membership, and committed to its goals, seeing their own electoral fortunes as part of a larger project. Read Bob M’s article for Zenith here.
Still a Bridge to Nowhere: Imperialism, Electoralism, & AOC
Zenith has published an article authored by NYC-DSA members Nasser A. and Jairo laying out the argument against NYC-DSA’s fifth consecutive re-endorsement of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and more broadly, why DSA should not hitch their wagon to electeds who are more invested in the Democratic Party than DSA, and who seek only to appease the organization which gave them their powerful position to begin with. Nasser and Jairo argue that AOC seeks to give voice to a popular upsurge of anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian sentiment in the Democratic Party, but chooses to water it down to make it more palatable to the Democratic Party, presumably in the hopes that it will improve her fortunes when she runs for higher office. Saying, as she did at the NYC-DSA endorsement forum, that the U.S. shouldn’t supply even “defensive” weapons for Israel may seem like a step forward, but when it’s paired with a savvy, J-Street crafted line about Israel being able to buy “their own weapons”, then she is very far from confronting the roots of Zionism, imperialism, or capitalism.
Furthermore, Nasser and Jairo argue, treating other DSA-endorsed candidates in New York as if they are any other candidate seeking her endorsement, shows plainly her lack of commitment to DSA. AOC has a long history of choosing the Democratic Party over DSA, whether it’s by endorsing Biden and Harris in 2024, parroting their lies at the DNC, or voting “present” on the Iron Dome. The Democratic Party is irretrievably tied to capitalist-imperialism, and if DSA follows AOC down this path, we will never achieve the break from the Democratic Party that is the broad consensus of the organization, and thus, we will never fulfill our commitments to anti-Imperialism and anti-Zionism. Read the full article here.
Red Star Organizing Highlights
“Good Cause” Eviction Passes in Troy, New York
Troy DSA members, including Red Star members Liz O. and Jude G., and dozens of other members and coalition partners, have prevailed in a two-year campaign to introduce “Good Cause” eviction regulations in the city of Troy, New York. This law forbids landlords from evicting tenants without a valid reason, such as nonpayment, lease violations, nuisance complaints, or illegal activity. The Troy city council voted to override Mayor Mantello’s veto of Just Cause Eviction on Thursday, April 9th, after a two-year pressure campaign to pass such protections, which included countless hours of making phone calls, canvassing neighbors, collecting signatures, holding events, and turning out to city council meetings. Troy DSA members and their coalition partners will now embark on a series of “know your rights” canvasses to make sure that the public is well informed of how they can resist evictions. Check out Troy DSA’s post on their victory here.
Monthly Quote
To mark Earth Day, this month’s quote highlights a gem of Karl Marx’s often overlooked eco-socialist philosophy-
“From the standpoint of a higher economic form of society, private ownership of the globe by single individuals will appear quite as absurd as private ownership of one man by another. Even a whole society, a nation, or even all simultaneously existing societies taken together, are not the owners of the globe. They are only its possessors, its usufructuaries, and, like boni patres familias, they must hand it down to succeeding generations in an improved condition”
- Karl Marx, Capital Vol. 3
Recipe Korner
Snickerdoodles
By Matt N.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. cream of tartar
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2 TBSP. sugar
- 2 tsp. Cinnamon
How to make it
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, shortening, 1-1/2 cups sugar and the eggs. Blend in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls.
- Mix 2 TBSP. sugar and the cinnamon; roll balls in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from baking sheet onto cooling rack.
- Makes about 6 dozen cookies