Made one's views known to a top communist (5)
I believe the answer is:
aired
'made one's views known' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'top communist' is the wordplay.
'top' becomes 'AI' (resembles A1, term for excellent).
'communist' becomes 'red' (red can informally mean communist).
'ai'+'red'='AIRED'
'to a' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for aired that I've seen before include "Exposed to breeze for freshening - say damp clothes" , "Ventilated, or hung out to dry" , "Expressed publicly" , "Ventilated in the outdoors?" , "Exposed for drying" .)