November 10, 2022

Unpacking the U.S. Midterm Elections, with Steve Erlanger and Doug Kriner

On Tuesday, November 8th, voters went to the polls in the United States for the first federal elections since President Joe Biden took office. With control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress hanging in the balance, the results of these midterm elections have been highly anticipated not only in the United States but around the world. Although full results are not yet in, it looks likely that Democrats will lose their majority in the House of Representatives, while the Senate remains up for grabs. The shift in Congressional power will raise questions about the Biden Administration’s future ability to execute on its foreign policy agenda. Most significantly, it is unclear to what extent Congress will continue to provide support for Ukraine amidst considerable isolationist sentiment in the Republican party. Other issues of particular concern to allies in Europe include U.S. efforts to tackle climate change, persistent trade tensions, the future U.S. policy toward China, and more. Steve Erlanger and Doug Kriner join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to unpack what the election results could mean for the future of the transatlantic relationship and international relations more broadly.

Steve Erlanger is the chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe for The New York Times. A two-time Pulitzer Prize recipient, he has previously served as the Times’ bureau chief in seven countries, including posts in London, Paris, Moscow, and Berlin.

Doug Kriner is The Clinton Rossiter Professor in American Institutions in the Department of Government at Cornell University. His research and teaching interests focus on American political institutions and the separation of powers, as well as on US foreign policy.

  • Podcast
    • March 14, 2025
    Will Trump Reshape the American Military

    Last month, the Trump administration carried out a large-scale firing of senior military leaders, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief of Naval opera...

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend

  • Podcast
    • March 13, 2025
    Russia’s Wartime Economy: Resilient or on the Edge of Collapse?

    Since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Russia's economy has proved to be robust despite sanctions, inflation and labour shortages. But how long can it last? Charles Pelleg...

    By Richard Connolly

  • Commentary
    • Foreign Policy
    • March 12, 2025
    Don’t Trust Russia to Mediate the Iran Nuclear Deal

    Preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon is of critical importance to U.S. security and the security of Israel and partners throughout the Middle East....

    By Jonathan Lord

  • Video
    • March 11, 2025
    Ziemba on Ukraine Peace Talks, Sanctions & OPEC

    Rachel Ziemba, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) speaks with Bloomberg TV’s Joumanna Bercetche on Horizons Middle East and Africa about...

    By Rachel Ziemba

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia