Alan Minsky is an influential American political organizer, journalist, and Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA). Raised in a Jewish family, Minsky earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale University. Before transitioning to full-time political advocacy, he spent years in broadcast journalism, serving as Program Director for KPFK Radio in Los Angeles, executive producer for the “Ralph Nader Radio Hour,” and a producer for The Nation podcast “Start Making Sense.”
As Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America, Minsky manages grassroots organizing campaigns aimed at shifting the policy platform of the Democratic Party. Under his leadership, PDA has advocated for policy proposals including “Medicare for All,” a Green New Deal, and an Economic Bill of Rights. Minsky supported the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns of Senator Bernie Sanders and contributes commentary to progressive news outlets including Common Dreams, The Nation, and Truthdig.
Minsky uses his position at PDA and his platform as a Jewish activist to critique U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and advocate for Palestinian rights. He has led campaigns calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the conditioning or ending of U.S. military aid to Israel, and opposition to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in primary elections. Minsky argues that political attacks equating criticism of Israeli government policy with antisemitism weaponize Jewish identity to stifle debate over military action and human rights in the Occupied Territories. Minsky is also one of the signatories of the 2025 public statement, “Global Jewish Call on the UN and World Leaders to Sanction Israel.”