Socialists say No Blood For Oil after Trump attacks Venezuela; Metro DC DSA begins 2026 electoral mobilizations; ICE murders woman in Minneapolis, 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
No Blood for Oil: United States attacks Venezuela — socialists stand against imperialist war machine
After months of escalation, the supposedly anti-war President Trump bombed Caracas, Venezuela, last weekend, abducting President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores to the United States. Journalists on the ground in Caracas reported that there were “several bombings on the ground, on civilian populations, on military sites and also on electrical facilities,” with devastating loss of life and impacts on civilian infrastructure.
The Trump administration’s attack escalates more than two decades of US attempts to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty. These nakedly imperialist acts, which cost the lives of at least 100 Venezuelan and Cuban people, aim to force Venezuela to surrender its oil resources to US corporations and impose US control over Latin America — the new “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. This war is illegal both under international law and the laws governing the declaration of war within the United States. Of course, the War Powers Resolution hasn’t stopped past presidents from engaging in illegal military interventions (see Grenada, Panama, Yugoslavia, Syria, Iran), while in other cases Congress has simply rubber stamped imperial wars.
“Neocon Don” Trump’s war will only immiserate the people of Latin America. A war will also destabilize the international economy and lead to greater inflation for US workers as well as disrupt supply chains. This war will enrich and empower the same corporations and CEOs who prevent the US working class from accessing healthcare, housing, fair wages, and employment.
The only thing that can stop this unjust war and escalating gangsterism is mass resistance. Metro DC DSA members and socialists nationwide are fighting back against this imperialist aggression. Members and local leftists rallied against the attack on Venezuela last week, standing against the US war machine and the Trump administration’s continued attack on democratic rights in the states. All are encouraged to write to Congress and demand an end to Trump’s colonial war using this tool. Socialists are planning to rally in Lafayette Square this Saturday at 2pm as part of DSA’s national day of action, unified around the following demands:
Free President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores
Pass the War Powers Resolution
Impeach Trump for war crimes
No war for oil
End all sanctions against Venezuela
For extended reading and analysis, see “ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES” below.
DC-area socialists begin electoral mobilizations for endorsed candidates TOMORROW, Saturday, January 10
By dropping the United States into further imperial quagmire and domestic repression, the Trump administration has abandoned all pretense of relieving the struggles of the domestic working class. The majority of Americans stagger along in a state of stressed atomization, living paycheck to paycheck, as corporations and the wealthy see record-breaking largesse. Health insurance premiums are skyrocketing, plunging working Americans into despair and early deaths. Regulatory agencies and public workers have been sacked — leaving everyday Americans vulnerable to grifts, scams, and exploitation as public goods are raided by the wealthy and powerful. The peace, blood, wealth, honesty, and compassion of working people are seized by a domestic police state to fuel the imperial delusions of power-hungry madmen.
Locally, a contingent of democratic socialists in DC, Prince George’s, and Montgomery Counties aim to challenge this status quo and uplift the masses. Over the next six months, Metro DC DSA will be carrying out an ambitious electoral project designed to rally, and then anchor, working-class power in regional governments. (A current list of endorsed candidates can be found in the web version of this Update.)
To succeed, socialist electoral organizers must rally the hopes of the people by connecting the struggle against low wages, high rent, union-busting bosses, and rising utilities to the corruption and ambivalence of Trump's bankrupt regime and the capitalist order he serves. If victorious, socialists will have the opportunity to leverage state power to grow working-class resistance against decay and dictatorship. This will be no small feat. Victory will come through the mass mobilization of local socialists, workers, and tenants against ego-drunk liberals and crypto-Republicans that lurk within the local Democratic Parties. All socialists, progressives, workers, and allies in the region are encouraged to join this cause.
The DSA’s first electoral operations will begin this Saturday, January 10 in DC and Prince George’s County.Operations in PG County, in support of Imara Crooms, will be launching at 12pm from James Ryder Randall Elementary in Clinton, MD — socialists will be offering rides from the Branch Avenue Metro station. In DC, socialists will be converging at 1pm in Columbia Heights to support Aparna Raj’s bid for the DC Council (sign up for meeting location). All are welcome, regardless of canvassing experience; canvassing training will be provided before both canvasses. Canvassers are encouraged to bring a fully charged phone with the Signal and MiniVAN apps installed, and an external battery.
From DC to Minnesota, ICE out of our communities — ICE murders woman in Minneapolis
On Wednesday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) murdered a community responder, Renee Good, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The city’s mayor has already condemned the action, reiterated the demand of ICE out of Minneapolis, and rebutted the president’s claims that the agent was acting in self-defense.
“This nightmarish act reaffirms that this federal occupation was never about safety for anyone in Minneapolis, DC, or beyond. Federal agents act to preserve state power and all the inequities required to uphold it, they have never been guided by the principles needed to truly keep people safe. To this end, MDC DSA’s Abolition and Community Defense Working Groups continue their work to push back on such state-sanctioned violence and the systems that perpetuate it,” the Metro DC DSA statement read in response (full chapter statement here).
This senseless violence was preventable, and communities across the country mobilized to honor Renee Good’s memory and to demand the immediate end to ICE’s reign of terror and violence. In DC, community members marched to ICE headquarters, where organizers spoke about the shooting in Minneapolis and their own experiences with the masked gestapo in DC. (A new report, from a hearing covered in the Washington Socialist, calls on Mayor Bowser and the interim police chief to rescind executive orders on MPD cooperation with ICE.) ICE agents do not make communities safer; they are one of the many tentacles of state power, and communities nationwide will only be safe once they’ve been severed. Those interested in helping build truly safe communities can plug in with the MDC DSA Abolition and Community Defense Working Groups on the chapter Slack.
BRIEFS
Political Education Working Group holding spring 2026 reading groups — sign ups now open
Want to be part of a collective that’s learning and reading together? Kicking off in late January, Metro DC DSA is assembling 10 distinct reading and discussion groups including Palestinian poetry, publications and propaganda, healthy relationships for radicals, crafting and knitting while reading, Black Power and Palestinian Resistance, Political Economy, Labor, and more — sign up here. The chapter’s reading groups provide an opportunity to learn in a group, either online or in-person, and help members develop their organizing prowess and knowledge alongside comrades while providing a forum for debate and discussion. These reading groups are also a great opportunity for new members to get introduced to the chapter and its ongoing work. Register now using the sign up form.
Chapter space search is starting soon — interest form open until Monday, January 12 at 11:59pm
Metro DC DSA will soon begin the process, approved during convention, to find a physical location for the organization, and member assistance is needed. The only requirement is that you are willing to dedicate two to four hours a week to the search process. The chapter’s goal is to have a location approved, funds raised, and lease signed by the end of the calendar year of 2026. Previous real estate experience is not necessary. Those living outside of DC are also greatly encouraged to apply so the committee can ensure the spaces presented to the chapter will accommodate all the diverse transportation needs of our organization. Fill out the search committee interest form by the end of the day on January 12.
NoVA Mutual Aid Working Group holding next mutual aid distribution — Sunday, January 11 at 11am
Join MoCo DSA to protect Takoma Park rent stabilization — Saturday, January 24 at 11am
The Takoma Park City Council has approved a study of the city’s current rent stabilization law, potentially laying the groundwork to weaken the existing protections. Takoma Park's rent stabilization law is stronger than Montgomery County's 2023 rent stabilization law — for example, Takoma Park's law only allows rent increases equivalent to the Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation, while the county's law allows rent increases of 3% plus the Consumer Price Index.
Weakening Takoma Park’s strong renter protections would represent an attack on the city’s working class andlay the groundwork for other attacks on tenant rights in the region. Join MoCo DSA members in Takoma Park on Saturday, January 24 at 11am to strategize around protecting Takoma Park's strong rent stabilization law. RSVP here.
Protect immigrants in Montgomery County and stop ICE collaboration — Trust Act hearing on Tuesday, January 13 at 1:30pm
Join MoCo DSA and partners CASA and MoCo Immigrant Rights Coalition in advocating for the passage of the Trust Act. The Trust Act (Bill 35-25) will fully codify the county's obligation to prevent any voluntary cooperation with ICE. The coalition needs as many DSA members and allies as possible to attend the public hearing on the bill on Tuesday, January 13, beginning at 1:30pm, to support the brave testimony of families directly impacted by abductions and deportations. RSVP for the hearing here.
If you can’t make the hearing you can also email the Council in support of the Trust Act and submit written or video testimony ahead of the hearing to voice your support.
Unionists, socialists, and worker allies set to rally against federal union busting — Wednesday, January 14 at 12pm
In March, the Trump administration signed an executive order to end collective bargaining for 85% of the unionized federal workforce. This amounted to more than one million workers losing union rights, making Trump the single biggest union buster in American history. The Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA) would restore these union rights by voiding the March executive order and requiring the administration to abide by collective bargaining agreements for the length of their stated terms.
PAWA passed the House in a bipartisan vote on December 11, and there is a real chance of getting this bill passed through the Senate. To push it past the finish line a host of local organizations and unions, including Federal Unionists Network (FUN), FUN DMV Hub, Free DC, and 50501 DC are sponsoring the Rally for America's Workforce on Wednesday, January 14 from 12pm – 1:30pm in the Upper Senate Park (200 New Jersey Ave NW). RSVP here.
Informational Picket at The Duck and The Peach — TODAY at 6pm
A new year means new opportunities to stand with organizing workers. Join DC restaurant workers TODAY at 6pm to let DC know there is no union contract at The Duck and The Peach.
In December, over 70% of workers at The Duck and The Peach, La Collina, and The Wells came forward asking for a fair process to form a union. Shortly after, managers made them sit through a union-busting pre-shift meeting. During the meeting, the company told workers they should file for an NLRB election. Workers won an NLRB election at Steven Starr's St. Anselm months ago, only to have the restaurant refuse to recognize the results of that election. The Duck and The Peach has now hired the same lawyer as Starr. The general counsel of the NLRB is prosecuting St. Anselm for allegedly breaking labor law in the lead up to the election there. Workers at Eastern Point Collective have been crystal clear about what they want, yet the company refuses to respect their decision.
People interested in helping with volunteer mobilization to get community members to show up to these pickets are encouraged to fill out this interest form. This is open to DSA and non-DSA members alike — anyone who wants to help grow the labor movement is welcome.
Then, on Saturday, January 10 at 10am, spread the word about the boycott of Le Diplomate. Workers at Le Diplomate, one of DC’s most prominent and lucrative restaurants, have been organizing to join UNITE HERE Local 25. These workers have endured close to a year of union busting from their employer, STARR Restaurants. Join the DSA Labor Working Group tomorrow, Saturday, January 10, to put up posters around DC and spread the word about the boycott of Le Diplomate in light of Starr's union busting.
All materials (and training) will be provided — just dress for the weather and bring friends. RSVP here.
Metro DC DSA Street Team monthly meeting — Saturday, January 10 at 1pm
Join the Metro DC DSA Street Team virtually at its next monthly meeting on Saturday, January 10, from 1 to 2:30pm to learn how to build power and visibility for the chapter’s working groups at community events in the DMV. Organizers of all experience levels are welcome to discuss topics ranging from event coordination to talking about socialism and connecting prospective members to the chapter. The working group’s mission is to expand the chapter’s base and build a more democratic society by listening to residents talk about what’s going on in their everyday lives and connecting them to DSA. RSVP here for the Zoom link
INFO ACCESS
Entering 2026, the DMV (like many parts of the globe) continues to be under siege by militarist-minded authoritarians — with many local officials’ complicity. 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. MDC DSA’s chapter spans NoVA, DC, and the big Maryland suburbs. There’s organizational info on our Metro DC chapter — DMV branches, working groups, campaigns, current activities, and enduring values — right here. What grounds our activism? See the rich archive of our acclaimed Socialist Night School. Details? Join an MDC DSA Reading Group. 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.
How to stay current with MDC DSA — Weekly Updates, like the one you are reading, are sent every Friday — sign up here; current and past Updates are available anytime on our website. 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 Fall 2025 issue is available now and winter issue article submissions are currently in editing. 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
Have an allied event, action, or resource we should know about? Share it with us by using our tip line.
Volunteer Seed Packing and Film Screening on January 14 | Slow Food DC
Help repackage bulk vegetable and flower seeds to be donated to the DC community. On January 14, from 6 – 7:30pm at the MLK Library, join Slow Food DC to separate bulk seeds into smaller seed packets. While packing, watch a screening of SEED: The Untold Story. Sign up here.
Spring Fellowship — apply by January 16 | Rising Organizers
Applications for the Spring 2026 class of the Rising Organizers fellowship are now open and due by January 16. Learn the fundamentals of organizing, leadership, and strategy. Practice real-world skills like relationship-building, storytelling, and strategy development, and join a cohort of people who care. Learn more here.
The People's Party on January 22
The People's Party DMV is throwing a fundraiser for Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid and Montgomery County Immigrant Rights Collective. Join them at as you are bar on Thursday, January 22, from 7 – 11pm. There will be games, astrology, tattoos, henna, and more. Tickets are $15, with sliding scale available. RSVP here.
Feed the People every Sunday | Harriet's Wildest Dreams and Dandelion Collective
Feed the People is a weekly community-led food sharing effort rooted in mutual aid and collective care. Every Sunday, community members can visit Dandelion Collective DC between 12pm – 4pm and take home fresh produce, artisanal bread, and nourishing meals for free — no intake process or screening required. More info on Instagram here.
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.
A reckoning over capitalism. People aren’t respecting capitalism. The twist is that this isn’t necessarily capitalism’s fault. A measured take in the WaPo (!) on three of capitalism’s clearest failures — health care, big tech platforms, and the private-equity extraction machine — and how the state has failed in its turn to take a role in market regulation that even Adam Smith said was necessary. Not a fire-breathing excoriation of market exchange relations per se, but a sober and detailed walk-through of capitalism’s baddest apples in a hypercorrupted state paralyzed by its dependence on corporate political finance. WaPo
How Protesters Became Content for the Cops
The tactics behind protest policing are changing — from one of cooperation to intentional antagonism for political marketing purposes. In 2025, protest policing in major US cities increasingly took on the character of a spectacle: overwhelming deployments, theatrical staging, and aggressive crowd-control tactics that emphasized signaling power over maintaining public safety. This was not a one-off episode; it followed the deployment of federal troops into multiple Democratic-led cities, prompting lawsuits and court challenges that local leaders described, with justification, as militarized intimidation. WIRED
Mamdani’s demand: excellence, not mediocrity, in an increasingly democratized polity and community
“Zohran Mamdani has introduced several changes to American politics—joining ideological maximalism to policy minimalism, crafting a winning political identity as a Muslim socialist, taking a stand on Palestine, listening to voters. One innovation has not received the attention it deserves: his pledge, on election night, to ‘leave mediocrity in our past’ and make ‘excellence…the expectation across government.’ Since the French Revolution, professions of excellence and proscriptions of mediocrity have been mostly the preserve of the right. True to form, Mamdani’s conservative opponents have warned that socialism will send the city slouching toward shabbiness. Since the 1970s, Democrats have largely ceded this rhetorical ground to the right. Instead of offering an alternative vision of excellence or mounting a robust case for different values.” Not Mamdani. Our comrade Corey Robin in the New York Review of Books via Portside
Over 8.3 Million Workers Will Benefit From Minimum Wage Increases on January 1 Nineteen states will increase their minimum wages on January 1, boosting earnings for more than 8.3 million workers by a total of $5 billion. In addition, 47 cities and counties will raise their minimum wages. For the first time, there will be more workers in states with a $15 or greater minimum wage than in states with the federal minimum of $7.25. Economic Policy Institute via Portside
And essential coverage from the Left on Venezuela and fascist colonialism redux:
Much remains unknown and uncertain about the US bombing of Venezuela, arrest of Maduro and his wife, claims to its oil — but what is certain is that this brutal display of imperial power is immoral, illegal, and a reminder that US militarism needs to be opposed in every form it takes.
Jordan Atwood, in Nation of Change, quotes extensively from interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, making clear that the Venezuelan government remains unified in its opposition to the Trump administration's attempted regime change. Similarly, Chris Gilbert, who lives in Venezuela, gives a sense of the broad opposition to US action within the countryand around the world in a CounterPunch article.
Michelle Ellner, a Venezuelan living in the United States, expresses her opposition to the assault on her country. Z magazine.
Vijay Prashad and Taroa Zúñiga Silva, writing shortly after the attack, put Trump's action in the context of the systemic opposition by every US administration to the Bolivarian Revolution: also in CounterPunch.
Chris Hedges in America the Rogue State: Under dictatorship, “absolute power at home and absolute power abroad expands. It feeds off of each lawless act. It snowballs into totalitarianism and disastrous military adventurism. By the time people realize what has happened, it is too late…If nations and people do not bow before the great Moloch in Washington, they are bombed. This is not about establishing legitimate rule. It is not about fair elections. It is about using the threat of death and destruction to procure total subservience.”
And finally, longtime activist Michael Albertprovides us with a call to action in Z, concluding with lines chanted by students during the Vietnam War: “out of the schools into the streets.” Albert adds “The times certainly do need to change.”
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.
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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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