Staff Reports
Julian Epstein, a onetime Democratic chief counsel for the House Judiciary Committee, told a national conservative radio audience that “a Free Press” investigation found 51% of the Democratic Socialists of America’s policy committee openly embrace communism, Marxism, or Marxist‑Leninism. That claim landed on the Alex Marlow Show and instantly reignited an old debate: how far left does the DSA really sit, and how much influence does that sway have over mainstream Democrats like Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders?
What Epstein said — and what we still don’t know
Epstein’s line was blunt and punchy: a majority of the DSA’s governing body are self‑described communists. He credited “The Free Press” for the figure. Problem is, nobody can find the promised Free Press piece or its methods. The DSA’s governing board is officially called the National Political Committee, a roughly 25–27 person body, not merely a vague “policy committee.” Counting methods matter. Was anyone counted by caucus control, by public statements, or by membership lists? Without the underlying data, the neat 51% number is a headline dressed up as a fact.
Why the numbers matter: caucuses, control, and real influence
There’s reason to take the broader claim seriously. Multiple fact‑checks and reporting note that communist and Marxist caucuses inside the DSA have grown and, by some tallies, control a majority of NPC seats since 2023. But “caucus control” is not the same as everyone wearing a Marxist label on their fundraising page. A slot won on a slate backed by a Marxist‑leaning caucus doesn’t automatically mean every person in that slot describes themselves as a communist. Still, when organized factions move from fringe to majority, they shape endorsements, strategy, and the pipeline of activists who challenge moderate Democrats in primaries.
Political consequences and the demand for transparency
This is where conservative voters and mainstream reporters should stop shrugging and start asking hard questions. If an organization that helps elect or pressure sitting members of Congress has a governing board dominated by people who favor Marxist ideas, voters ought to know the facts. Democrats who claim “democratic socialism” while letting communist caucuses steer policy should answer whether the word “democratic” is a policy position or a marketing slogan. Breitbart ran the audio clip. Epstein named a source. Now someone needs to produce the data, or else independent reporters should compile a public NPC roster and show, step by step, who was counted and why.
Call it accountability. Call it curiosity. Call it what you will — but don’t let a bald percentage do the arguing for you. If the 51% claim is true, DSA members and Democratic voters deserve a clear accounting. If it isn’t, conservatives will want the correction and Democrats will owe the public an explanation for the confusion. Either way, the question is no longer academic: it’s political. And in politics, shadowy statistics should make way for bright light — or at least a better spreadsheet.
