Megan Romer, a national co-chairwoman of the Democratic Socialists of America, has drawn attention for her refusal to call Cuba a dictatorship. Instead, she claims that “Cubans have access to their democracy in a way that we do not.” Romer additionally opposes continued U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, saying that the DSA “do not believe in pouring U.S. money, military weapons into anything” because “we don’t think it makes it better anywhere.” She then dodged the question of how Ukrainians are supposed to defend themselves.The DSA’s reputation for ill-considered foreign policy positions was further fueled on what would have been former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday this month. The DSA praised the dictator as a “stalwart symbol of anti-imperialist struggle and self-determination for the Global South,” while accusing Secretary of State Marco Rubio of waging a “genocidal war” against the Cuban people. When one of DSA’s national co-chairs was subsequently pressed on CNN about the tribute, he defended it by pointing to inequality before Castro’s rule, the Communist regime’s healthcare system, and the effects of American sanctions. He acknowledged the regime’s repression only in passing.The challenge is that these individuals represent a rising political force rather than the whims of a college protester. DSA candidates have won numerous primaries. Indeed, one of its members, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, now governs New York City! The DSA is clearly ascendant.