Red Star Newsletter - May 2026

Hello from Red Star! Curious about what we’ve been up to? Read on to find out!

National Work Update

NPC Update

Developing Chapters

Red Star and NPC member Hazel W led the Office Matching Funds grant program to help chapters across the country open new offices. The first round has concluded and was a resounding success, awarding $140,000+ to 20 chapters across all regions of the US. That means 20 new socialist strongholds in Lincoln Nebraska, Tampa Florida, Portland Oregon, Salina Kansas, and more. Red Star NPC members drove the effort to refund the program to the tune of $200,000 to support future rounds. This effort to help chapters develop socialist bases across the country aligns with Red Star’s convention vision to Build the Foundation to Raise the Roof.

NPC member John L ran training sessions for several chapters and membership coordinators to teach them how to improve their member onboarding, how to run neighborhood circles, and the usefulness of running member cohorts for retention. Onboarding acts as the first step in bringing in new Socialists and getting them aligned, neighborhood circles can be especially useful in sprawling chapter territory where there may not yet be enough organizing activity to justify a branch. Member cohorts have shown success in engaging a diverse range of DSA members and helping by being a step to expand the active and supporter levels of chapter membership! If you’re interested in materials, you can contact John at johnl@dsacommittees.org.

Abolish ICE Grants Fund

Red Star members Hazel W and Brett R have been the driving force behind national’s new Abolish ICE grants fund. With ICE agents terrorizing, kidnapping, and murdering people across the country, it’s more important than ever that DSA chapters take a leading role in protecting our communities. ICE surges, and efforts to build new detention centers are coming to cities, towns, and rural areas across the country. We need you and your chapter to be in the best possible position to help.

To help fund chapters’ fights against ICE, DSA’s National Abolish ICE Committee is opening applications for Abolish ICE grants. By filling out the form, your chapter can apply to receive funds to support your efforts to defend your neighbors. Grant uses include, but are not limited to:

(1) Printed materials for canvassing and Know Your Rights training

(2) Supplies for ICE watch programs (such as whistles, handwarmers, and food for volunteers)

(3) Mutual aid to community members impacted by ICE

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis. If your chapter is fighting the good fight, we want to help.

See the Abolish ICE Fund Guide for information about how to apply.

¡Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo!

Red Rabbits Security Commission Panel

Hazel W took the lead in organizing the national Red Rabbits Security Commission panel where DSA chapter leaders highlighted existing chapter-level security work around topics such as protest marshaling, de-escalation, and Stop the Bleed. Panelists from the Portland Safety Team, Philadelphia Red Rabbits, and more shared lessons learned, best practices, and practical guidance for building security committees in local chapters.

You can find the slide deck and video of the panel on the national discussion forums.

Budget & Finance Committee

The 2026 Q1 treasury report has been published. You can find the report, the recording of the National Budget & Finance call, and other financial data in this DSA Discussion Forum post.

Applications are now open for the Budget & Finance Chapter Support Subcommittee. If you’re interested in training, helping maintain a space for chapter treasurers, finance committee members, and comrades with financial know-how and experience making materials, sign up here. If you want to be on the list to be added to the space, fill out the Finance Comrade Contact form.

National Grievance Panel & CGO Reforms Passed

John helped with a process to reform the National grievance panel and Committee of Grievance Officers. As part of improving the system's ability to respond to issues and help clarify for members what issues may be policy violations and what are political issues, alongside helping resolve several issues involving chapters across the country. 

Growth & Development Committee Update

Red Star members Hazel W and Andrew T drove the effort to launch a new GDC website https://gdc.dsausa.org/, offering members a centralized place for trainings, resources, and grants.

We're about halfway through our first Training Semester, and we now have regular trainings on how to do democracy in DSA, chairing meetings, constructive criticism, and member development. The new Steering committee has been sworn in and we're really focusing this year on socializing and standardizing development goals across the organization, at the chapter level, primarily through the model of GDC-to-chapter mentorship.

International Committee

Anlin W hosted a webinar on how China’s government has been deliberately popping the country’s real estate bubble since 2021 with Professor Radhika Desai. He also helped launch a reading group of The East is Still Red, with enough signups for both an in-person reading group in NYC and an online version. Sign up here!

Nasser A reestablished the Palestine Working Group of DSA’s International Committee. Also, be sure to sign up for the A Free Palestine in our Lifetime: End Apartheid and War track of the DSA Organizing Conference.

Red Star on the Ballot

Congratulations to Red Star member Bobby Nichols on his historic win! 

On May 21st, Bobby was announced as one of the winners of the Tempe, Arizona City Council runoff, becoming the first socialist elected to the city council. This is a historic win, and we wish Bobby the best as he steps into his new role.

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.

Sudip Bhattacharya has published a piece, “Making the Case for Political Education” in the New Political Science journal. He also has been discussing the work of James and Grace Lee Boggs with Dr. Jared Ball on his Imixwhatilike Youtube show, followed by an appearance with Wise the Dome TV regarding fascism in the U.S. and revolutionary literature. He will be on a third time this month with Dr. Jared Ball discussing the analysis of Ghassan Kanafani, and also will appear on the National DSA’s Political Education podcast, Class to discuss some of his latest work on education and theory. Finally, Sudip Bhattacharya has been reappointed to serve as part of the national DSA’s editorial board and is managing editor of Socialist Forum.

Bob M co-wrote Black Voting Rights Under Attack in Louisiana for Democratic Left. This piece recounts the brazen electioneering and gerrymandering that took place in Louisiana during this primary election, resulting in the elimination of one of the state’s two majority black districts. This occurred after early and absentee ballots had already been cast, discarding 150,000 ballots in the process.

Red Star's Hazel W published a piece in Democratic Left about the rapid response protocol she helped develop, how it passed its first test during the Iran crisis, and why it represents a significant shift towards a more partyist approach on the NPC.

Red Star’s “Reading Now”

The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism

Join Red Star on June 4th for a discussion of The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism by renowned revolutionary Torkil Lauesen. By investigating the history of the development of socialism from the revolutions of 1848 to modern Socialist China, Lauesen offers a rigorous analysis of actually existing socialism past and present and of the current anti-imperialist struggle amidst global capitalism’s gradual decline. We will discuss the difference between capitalism and socialism, the importance of anti-imperialism in the socialist movement, and the role of China in the socialist transition.

After The Long Transition, on July 2 we’ll host a Red Start on Lenin’s Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism and then What Is To Be Done? on August 6!

Monthly Quote

Fidel knew, as all of us knew later, that it was a struggle like today's, in which the entire Cuban people would triumph or be defeated. Now he insists on the same terms and says: either we are all saved or we all sink. You know the phrase. The obstacles to overcome are difficult, as they were in those days following the Granma landing. But now our fighters are not to be counted by the ones or by the dozens but by the millions. All of Cuba has become a Sierra Maestra to fight, wherever the enemy may be, the decisive battle for freedom, for our homeland's future and honor. And at this point, unfortunately, Cuba alone is ready to wage this struggle.

Cuba's battle is the battle of all Latin America; not the definitive one, at least not definitive in one sense. Even assuming Cuba loses the battle, it would not be lost for all Latin America. But if Cuba wins this battle, the entire continent will have won the fight. That is the importance of our island, and that is why they want to suppress this “bad example” we are setting.

~ Che Guevara, Political sovereignty and economic independence

Recipe Korner

Spicy Cumin Lamb Skewers (Yang Rou Chuan)

https://www.seriouseats.com/spicy-lamb-skewers-chinese-street-food-recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon red chile flakes
• 1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds
• 2 teaspoons whole fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
• 2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, meat cut into 1-inch pieces (see notes)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
• 2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine

How to make it

1. Submerge the bamboo skewers in a container of cold water and let them soak for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
2. In a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, coarsely grind chile flakes, cumin, and fennel. Add granulated garlic and kosher salt and briefly grind to break salt into smaller pieces and thoroughly combine ingredients.
3. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the spice mix in a small bowl. Add lamb to a large bowl and toss thoroughly with the remaining spice mix, oil, and Shaoxing wine. Thread lamb onto skewers, making sure meat is bunched tightly together and leaving no parts of the skewer exposed except for a 3-inch handle at the bottom, and the pointy tip at the top.
4. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate.
5. Grill skewers, covered, over indirect heat until lamb is nearly cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.
6. Move skewers over direct heat, sprinkle with the reserved spice mix, and cook until well seared on both sides, about 1 minute total.
7. Remove skewers from the grill and serve right away.