Quick Answer
Clue: “Left-leaning political org.”
Answer: DSA
Answer length: 3 letters
Clue number and direction: 4-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Left-leaning political org.” is answered with DSA, short for Democratic Socialists of America.
Why DSA Is the Right NYT Answer
- Crossword explainer sites and the NYT Mini roundups for January 30, 2026 all list DSA as the 3-letter solution for this clue.
- The Democratic Socialists of America are explicitly described as a socialist, left-wing political organization in the United States, matching the “left-leaning political org.” description.
- The 3-letter length further locks in DSA, since other left-leaning abbreviations (like ACLU, AFL-CIO, or DNC) don’t fit this slot.
What DSA Means in Plain English
- DSA stands for Democratic Socialists of America, a U.S. political organization that advocates democratic socialism and left-wing policies.
- It supports ideas such as expanded social welfare, labor rights, and economic democracy, positioning itself clearly on the left of the political spectrum.
- In everyday political coverage, “DSA” is widely used as the shorthand for the group and its members.
Crossword-Specific Help for DSA
- In the grid, DSA appears as D S A; with a few crossings you might initially see _SA or D_A, but any clue referencing “left-leaning political org.” in recent puzzles strongly points to DSA.
- Crossword databases now log DSA as the primary answer to this exact clue for the NYT Mini and similar American-style crosswords.
- Because it’s short and politically topical, DSA has become a familiar entry, similar to older staples like DNC, PAC, or NGO.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- For 3-letter clues like “Left-leaning political org.,” “Group backing democratic socialism,” “Org. for some progressives,” think DSA first.
- If the clue mentions “democratic socialist” or references figures commonly associated with DSA, it’s almost certainly pointing to this abbreviation.
When crossings give D_A or _SA in a modern U.S. politics context, DSA is a strong candidate to test.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 30, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | “Top Gear” | View Answer |
| 6A | Announcement that causes groans among travelers | View Answer |
| 7A | Middle of a drum kit, typically | View Answer |
| 8A | Political staffers | View Answer |
| 9A | Bottom-line figure | View Answer |
| 1D | French-speaking nation in West Africa | View Answer |
| 2D | Sharp part of a sword | View Answer |
| 3D | This text mark: ^ | View Answer |
| 4D | Left-leaning political org. | View Answer |
| 5D | “Right you are!” | View Answer |
