Had a row with a communist -- nothing starting it (5)
I believe the answer is:
oared
'had a row' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a communist nothing starting it' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'communist' could be 'red' (red can informally mean communist) and 'red' is found in the answer.
'nothing' could be 'o' (O resembles 0) and 'o' is found within the answer.
A single letter 'a' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'with' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oared that I've seen before include "As some boats flew" , "(Of a boat) provided with rowing blades" , "Rowed" , "Equipped with rowing blades" , "Adore (anag.)" .)