A far-left political network operating under the banner of “activism” is being accused of helping undermine American institutions while echoing propaganda from hostile foreign governments, according to a new report that will be examined by Congress this week. The House Ways and Means Committee is set to investigate what it calls “malign foreign influence” inside U.S. nonprofits during a Tuesday hearing.
The warning comes after a series of protests tied to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Following the killing of local resident Alex Pretti by federal agents working with ICE, a protester identified as “Andrew” told MS NOW he flew in from Colorado to help drive federal agents out of the city. Hours later, the Democratic Socialists of America labeled the killing a “murder” and identified “Andrew” as a member of its National Political Committee, declaring, “We are going to beat the Trump administration.” Shortly after, the local chapter even organized training on personal protective equipment to use against what it called “the pigs,” a not-so-subtle jab at law enforcement.
A week later, protests hit a Target store in Minneapolis’ Dinkytown neighborhood, demanding the company stop supporting what activists described as a “campaign of terror” by ICE. The local DSA chapter bragged online that it had helped “shut down” the store. Minneapolis City Council member Robin Wonsley publicly identified herself as part of the Democratic Socialists caucus and said she was “joining tons of socialists” to attack both Target and ICE.
Similar scenes unfolded elsewhere. In Boston, demonstrators compared ICE to Hitler’s Gestapo, with one protester wearing a DSA hat and carrying a sign resembling a Nazi-style eagle with “ICE” written on it. In Los Angeles, the local DSA chapter praised its adult members for “standing in solidarity” with students who skipped school to protest ICE raids.
According to a report by the Network Contagion Research Institute, a research nonprofit based in Princeton, New Jersey, this nationwide messaging campaign is not random. The institute found that DSA rhetoric mirrors the propaganda of foreign adversaries of the United States. The finding is especially significant as the organization gains political power, including the election of longtime member Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City.
“The same rhetoric used to attack America abroad gets recycled at home to attack American law enforcement. Different stage, same script,” said Adam Sohn, co-founder of the institute.
Sohn is scheduled to testify Tuesday at a 10 a.m. House Ways and Means Committee hearing titled, “Foreign Influence in American Non-profits: Unmasking Threats from Beijing and Beyond.” The Democratic Socialists of America did not respond to a request for comment.
The hearing is expected to focus on a network of nonprofits, including organizations funded by Neville Roy Singham, an American-born tech tycoon and self-described Marxist-Leninist now living in Shanghai. Singham has funded groups such as the People’s Forum, CodePink, BreakThrough BT Media, the ANSWER Coalition and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, all of which have worked closely with DSA in organizing protests aimed at disrupting federal immigration enforcement.
The institute’s report, titled “Democratic Socialists of America: Policy, Advocacy and Narrative Convergence with Hostile Foreign States,” says the group engages in “narrative convergence,” advancing messages that stir unrest at home while aligning with talking points of hostile governments. One of its recurring slogans equates the Trump administration with “fascism,” declaring, “Socialism Beats Fascism.”
The report also highlights efforts to coordinate a “National Shutdown” and “General Strike,” tactics commonly associated with communist movements to disrupt economic stability. It further warns that DSA participates in training “rapid responders” and “observers” to track and document law enforcement activity in multiple databases, which military and intelligence experts have labeled a serious national security threat.
