Many modern observers and Cold Warriors cite the rapid switch from Anti-Fascism to Isolationism on the part of the Communist Party U.S.A. as a sign of the American Left being an arm of the USSR. This ignores how many abandoned the CPUSA in disgust over the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
POD: After a number of loud discussions (and occasional fistfights) at the New York headquarters in late August 1939, Earl Browder and several associates were bodily removed from the building and an announcement forswearing any obedience or loyalty to the "Red Cloaked Fascist" Stalin is made. Strictly speaking, this was a split in the party... but it was an embarrassingly uneven split in terms of 'overseas' funding (which Browder and his followers kept) and frankly everything else (membership/properties/etc.).
In substance, the American Communist Party remained a far left movement backing Labor, Racial Equality, Anti-Fascism, Anti-Colonialism, and so forth. However they made a point to lionize Debs more than Lenin and heavily back away from even suggesting the violent overthrow of any government willing to allow honest elections. The rise of Khrushchev resulted in a mild thaw in relations between the Party and Moscow beyond the "we want the same bastard dead for now" attitude from the height of WWII; however requests to assist in 'anti-imperialist' espionage were met with "When are you pulling out of Warsaw/Prague/Budapest/etc," from the head office and "Hand yourself in and we will find a lawyer, otherwise we are calling the FBI and you take your chances," when they find one of their number doing so.
POD: After a number of loud discussions (and occasional fistfights) at the New York headquarters in late August 1939, Earl Browder and several associates were bodily removed from the building and an announcement forswearing any obedience or loyalty to the "Red Cloaked Fascist" Stalin is made. Strictly speaking, this was a split in the party... but it was an embarrassingly uneven split in terms of 'overseas' funding (which Browder and his followers kept) and frankly everything else (membership/properties/etc.).
In substance, the American Communist Party remained a far left movement backing Labor, Racial Equality, Anti-Fascism, Anti-Colonialism, and so forth. However they made a point to lionize Debs more than Lenin and heavily back away from even suggesting the violent overthrow of any government willing to allow honest elections. The rise of Khrushchev resulted in a mild thaw in relations between the Party and Moscow beyond the "we want the same bastard dead for now" attitude from the height of WWII; however requests to assist in 'anti-imperialist' espionage were met with "When are you pulling out of Warsaw/Prague/Budapest/etc," from the head office and "Hand yourself in and we will find a lawyer, otherwise we are calling the FBI and you take your chances," when they find one of their number doing so.