Resistance continues in occupied DC, MDC DSA Electoral Endorsement Applications open, General Body Meeting this Sunday, and more ...
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is
produced by local members of the chapter's Publications Working Group. The Weekly Update publishes every
Friday at 9am. Want to fight fascism from the heart of empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism!
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
UP FRONT
OCCUPIED DC — Trump emergency control expired, but occupation set to continue
Over the weekend, tens of thousands of protesters marched from Malcolm X Park to the White House in a demonstration of local opposition to Trumpist occupation and Bowser’s puppet regime. The wide affair produced striking imagery and demonstrated the power of the coordinated Popular Front mobilized against the occupation that has been terrorizing residents over the past month.
Mass public opposition to the occupation appears to be working in deterring expanded control over DC. As of Thursday, Trump’s control over the police department officially expired. Trump previously floated extending federal control, but as of Thursday his official seizure of the police department has expired — under the Home Rule Act, Trump would technically need an authorization from the House and Senate to extend control for more than 30 days. Massive national coverage and local mobilization against the regime, including instances of the public accosting of Trump, has almost certainly soured the Orange Emperor’s appetite for continued control.
Although the Metropolitan Police Department is no longer reporting formally to Trump, the transformation of “Mayor” Bowser into a Trump collaborationist leaves MPD under effective fascist control. ICE and the federal Gestapo will also still be operating in the city, and will continue informal coordination with MPD. An investigation published in Bellingcat this week shows how ICE and federal law enforcement exploit MPD’s ambivalence and quiet submissiveness to conduct their raids and jump-out programming. The National Guard deployment is expected to continue past October.
DC is still also under threat from Congress, which is considering 13 bills designed to further subordinate DC autonomy. One would prevent residents from electing their own attorney general; the current Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, has used his office to go after landlords, wage theft, and other corporate plots, and has openly defended DC from Trumpist rule. Additional bills would reduce restrictions on police, end no-cash bail, and expand prison sentencing for youth and young adults. These demands aren’t rogue requests from Congress, but are in fact demands from the extortion racket calling itself the "DC police union," which has eagerly invited and exploited federal takeover of the city. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council have been unwilling to challenge the shakedown, allowing MPD to raid public coffers in provisioning officers a raise of over 13% in the upcoming year.
Trump has threatened DC-style invasions of Chicago and Baltimore, but deep resistance from Chicago Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker appears to have given Trump cold feet, looking instead to red-state cities that will more easily buckle to his whims. If Trump truly backs down, the sustained resistance of DC’s working class will have played a crucial role.
Metro DC DSA is continuing resistance coordination efforts. The chapter is organizing members to conduct patrols in ICE hotspots to make sure eyes and ears are on the streets. Metro DC DSA members, and locals interested in getting involved, can sign-up for vetting using this link.
Metro DC DSA’s 2026 Electoral Endorsement Applications are open — deadline to submit questionnaires is October 20
Endorsement Questionnaires are due Monday, October 20
Endorsement Resolution deadline is Monday, October 27
First read at GBM on Sunday, November 2
Candidate or Ballot Measure Campaign Q&As week of Monday, November 17
Endorsement meeting in early December at Local Convention (exact date TBD)
All who wish to submit a request for endorsement in the 2026 general election cycle must return their completed endorsement questionnaire to [email protected] by the deadline of Monday, October 20.
Two resolutions up for debate at Metro DC DSA’s September 14 General Body Meeting — amendments due TONIGHT
Metro DC DSA will be holding its next General Body Meeting on Sunday, September 14 from 2 – 4:30pm. The hybrid meeting will be at Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library (3935 Benning Rd NE) and on Zoom. The General Body Meeting will include debate on two resolutions:
For Steering Committee Experience with Conduct Violations and Grievances
Invest in Party Infrastructure: Staff for Metro DC DSA
Please see #announcements for the text of each base resolution. Furthermore, the amendment period for both resolutions closes tonight at 11:59pm. To propose an amendment, members can submit a Red Desk ticket under "Agenda Item / Submit Resolution" and indicate within the ticket that it's an amendment rather than a new resolution. It is recommended to include a shared Google Doc with the full amendment text to avoid the webpage timing out while writing, and to check your email afterwards for confirmation that it was submitted.
BRIEFS
The fight to elect democratic socialists in Maryland continues as Frankie and Omodamola pick up new endorsements
On Sunday, September 14 at 6pm, join a fundraiser for MDC DSA (and now, Progressive Maryland and CASA in Action!) endorsed electoral candidates Frankie Fritz and Omodamola Williams.
Canvassing operations also continue this weekend. In Greenbelt, MDC DSA will be knocking doors for Frankie on Saturday and Sunday at noon. Omodamola’s campaign is also planning canvasses on Saturday at 11am and 2pm (rescheduled from 1pm) and on Sunday at 11am — see #volunteer-board on Slack for details. Everyone is welcome, including and especially newer members who have never canvassed before.
Chapter members Omodamola and Frankie seek election in Gaithersburg and Greenbelt, respectively. On Sunday at 6pm, join Metro DC DSA at Clear Skies Meadery (15201 Display Ct, Rockville, MD 20850) for a fundraiser to support these working-class heroes. Donations are strongly encouraged but not required.
New report: Socialist-backed rent stabilization policy delivering big results to Montgomery County’s working class
This week, the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs released data showing that the number of properties determined to be “troubled” or “at risk” by the county’s code inspectors decreased 69% over the last year. The county attributes this drop to the county’s 2023 rent stabilization law as well as other recent legislation that strengthens tenant protections. The rent stabilization law prohibits landlords from raising the rent when properties are listed as “troubled” or “at risk,” giving landlords a financial incentive to fix conditions. This evidence flies in the face of the landlord lobby’s claims that capping rent increases will lead landlords to neglect their properties and shows that the opposite is true. Metro DC DSA was a key partner in passing Montgomery County’s rent stabilization law and the chapter will continue to fight to protect and strengthen rent stabilization across the region.
Stomp Out Slumlords meeting on RENTAL Act and community defense updates — September 17 at 6pm
Join Stomp Out Slumlords on Wednesday, September 17 at 6pm to hear a report back on community defense efforts in Columbia Heights and how the tenants movement is mobilizing to protect our neighbors. Those interested in getting more involved in community defense are especially encouraged to join this meeting. The meeting will also share updates on the fight against the RENTAL Act, Mayor Bowser’s sweeping attack on DC tenant rights. SOS will be in Meeting Room 1 at the Mt. Pleasant Library.
DC Spanish Club for Socialists holding weekly meetup in Adams Morgan — Monday, September 15 at 7pm
Spanish Club for Socialists, a project of multiple area socialist and mutual aid organizations including Metro DC DSA, is a free weekly event where folks meet up to practice their Spanish. The event is about 90 minutes long and is split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups, so learners of all levels should feel welcome. The next session is scheduled for Monday, September 15 from 7 – 8:30pm at Potter's House (1658 Columbia Rd NW). Sign up here for calendar updates and conversation guides.
Program Development Committee to hold two Chapter Program feedback sessions — September 18 at 7pm & September 20 at 2pm
Metro DC DSA’s Chapter Program Commission will be hosting two upcoming listening and feedback sessions on the developing, two-year Chapter Program being drafted by the Program Development Committee. Member feedback is critical as this program will help guide the chapter’s work and be a front-facing statement of our values and organizing for the next two years. The feedback session will review drafted components of the Chapter Program, dive into data from our member-wide survey (that received over 200 responses), and create space for commentary and feedback before the program is finalized and presented to the chapter. Register for the session on Thursday, September 18 at 7pm and for the session on Saturday, September 20 at 2pm.
Socialists set to participate in Whitman Walker's 39th annual Walk and 5k to End HIV — Saturday, September 20
Support Metro DC DSA’s Bodily Autonomy Working Group's team for Whitman Walker's 39th annual Walk and 5k to End HIV. On September 20, members of Metro DC DSA will be walking Anacostia Park to help Whitman Walker raise money for HIV prevention programs and research. The foundation’s efforts have allowed them to administer nearly 15,000 HIV and STI tests last year in the DC area. To show your support, please consider signing up for the free walk or making a donation.
Abolition’s KYR Training on DC’s Family & Domestic Violence Courts — September 27 at 3pm
Join Metro DC DSA's Abolition Working Group for a Know Your Rights presentation about DC's Family Court and Domestic Violence Court on Saturday, September 27 from 3 – 4:30pm on Zoom, with Spanish interpretation available. Participants will learn how to navigate child custody matters without a lawyer, discuss how to file a Civil Protection Order and the impact that has on custody cases, and get resources on legal organizations that provide free legal advice or representation. Folks will leave this event empowered to fight for themselves and their children.
INFO ACCESS
The DMV is under siege by militarist authoritarians. Want to fight fascism from the heart of the empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism! We’re the alternative that works for people, not profiteers and their captive politicians. The next session of MDC DSA’s “Why You Should Join DSA/New Member Orientation” isa virtual version, set for Wednesday, September 17, 7 – 8pm. Learn about the Metro DC chapter — branches, working groups, campaigns, current activities, and enduring values — anytime right here. Members are encouraged to join our Slack for real-time info on working group and campaign events, strategy/tactic exchange, and inspiration. Email [email protected] with your most recent DSA dues receipt to get access.
Staying current with MDC DSA — Weekly Updates, like the one you are reading, are scheduled and emailed on Fridays; current and past Updates are available anytime on our website. Not subscribed? DSA member or not, sign up to get the Update, the go-to source for the DMV Left. The MDC Dispatch is the chapter’s new video news series, published on the first and third Sunday of each month. Submit your Update or Dispatch suggestions (or DMV scandal tips) to our tip line. The Washington Socialist, published since the 1970s, offers in-depth analytical/opinion articles on a quarterly schedule; the Summer 2025 issue is available now. Anyone, MDC DSA member or not, interested in contributing to the Washington Socialist can email submissions or questions to [email protected]. Members, look in on us or join at #publications on Slack.
DMV LEFT COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Queers Say Free DC town hall on September 15 | Claudia Jones School
Join Free DC and the Claudia Jones School on September 15 from 6 – 9pm for a community town hall for LGBTQ+ DC residents to discuss the urgent issues threatening our communities in the wake of the Trump administration’s attacks on DC and the LGBTQ+ people at large. This will be followed by a Free DC campaign orientation to learn how our community can fight back. RSVP here.
Over 40 local organizations (including DSA) say BOYCOTT BOILER ROOM over Israeli occupation ties
On August 23, a group of 40 local organizations sent a joint open letter to Flash Nightclub in DC, the club responsible for hosting the “Boiler Room” events. Boiler Room is now owned by Superstruct Entertainment, which was recently acquired by KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.), a private equity firm with direct investments in weapons manufacturers, defense contractors, and tech companies fueling Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Every dollar spent on a Boiler Room ticket or sponsorship helps fund the machinery of genocide and enriches those enabling Israel’s genocide against the people of Gaza. Read the full letter on change.org, and club-goers can consider counter-programming at left-wing hotspot 618.
Blue State Blowback against war crimes
The University of Maryland’s SGA approved an emergency resolution Wednesday that said former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Steny Hoyer, (D-Md.), should not be welcomed at an event near campus this Friday. The resolution said the Student Government Association is against the representatives’ presence because of their political actions and legacies that are tied to the advancement of war and human rights violations. It passed in a 20-5-3 vote. Hoyer is set to come to The Hotel at the University of Maryland on Friday for the 2025 Women’s Equality Day Luncheon. The event will feature Pelosi as a keynote speaker.
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES are articles and opinion pieces of
interest to DMV leftists but not, generally, appearing in local media.
They should have links without paywalls. Readers are invited to submit
candidates at our tip line.
The Killing of Charlie Kirk Is Part of a Terrible New Era of Political Violence
Wide-open gun culture and hyper-polarization are bringing the “years of lead” to the USA. “If, as expected, the Kirk shooting is used as a pretext for more repression, Trump’s political opponents have to hold the line. The killing of Kirk was an atrocity that should be condemned without reservation. But Democrats have to be prepared to resist any onslaught against civil liberties, not least because a crackdown will only increase the likelihood of far worse violence.” The Nation
One not-so-little word: Why journalists are reluctant to call Trump an authoritarian
“Because authoritarianism is most visible in hindsight, people often don’t recognize it until it’s too late. Erica Chenoweth, a Harvard political scientist, notes that when it comes to democratic backsliding, ‘there are no bright lines … people often find out the world they’re in after the fact.’ That’s why it’s particularly important for journalists to label authoritarians as such when the evidence warrants. In Trump’s case, I believe the U.S. is well past that point.” The Conversation
The Israeli Firms Running Mega-Event Security Olympic security and surveillance are big business and that business is also enabling the genocide in Palestine. Editors, NOlympics LA; TX 5 Lefty Links
Right-wing “influencers” find gaps in foreign-interest law, work for highest bidder
“Throughout the 2024 election, President Donald Trump leveraged his campaign’s relationships with influencers to reach voters. Now that MAGA has regained power in Washington, the movement is expanding its reach abroad” — and it’s hard to tell which nations and factions are putting them on the payroll. “Part of the challenge with political influencers is that it's unclear the extent to which they're being paid by various competing interest groups and organizations,” says Samuel Woolley, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies digital propaganda. “Political influencers exist in this liminal space where they're one part campaign mouthpiece and another part independent actor.” WIRED Daily
Marx’s Last Studies focused on the first collective formations
Between 1879 and 1882, Marx studied the latest research and writing on communal clan-based social formations around the globe, focusing on the changing nature of land ownership and gender and family relations within these societies. Book review in Marx & Philosophy via Portside
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by
local members of the chapter's Publications working group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at
9am.
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
Thinking about it, but want to get this email Update every Friday? SIGN UP
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The flame of thought, the magnificence of art, the wonder of discovery, and the audacity of invention
all belong to revolutionary periods when humanity, tired of its chains, shatters them and stops inebriated to
breathe the breeze of a vast and free horizon. - Virgilia D'Andrea
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