Communist stooge goes outside before sunrise (7)
I believe the answer is:
predawn
'before sunrise' is the definition.
'communist stooge goes outside' is the wordplay.
'communist' becomes 'red' (red can informally mean communist).
'stooge' becomes 'pawn' (I've seen this in another clue).
'goes outside' indicates putting letters inside.
'red' inserted within 'pawn' is 'PREDAWN'.
(Other definitions for predawn that I've seen before include "when the night is very far spent" , "Before the sun begins to rise" , "Before first light" .)