Democrats may influence U.S. foreign policy after midterms, historian says

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum discussed on Morning Edition how a Democratic-controlled Congress might alter U.S. foreign policy following recent midterm elections, according to wknofm.org and kedm.org.

Applebaum noted that foreign policy decisions during the Trump administration have significantly impacted domestic issues such as gas prices and business costs. A voter poll cited by wknofm.org showed that a majority of voters viewed U.S. support for Israel as too strong and considered the war in Iran a wrong decision, with many factoring these issues into their votes.

The ongoing war in Iran has cost American taxpayers an estimated $47.1 billion as of mid-October, with Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. military bases in the Gulf, wknofm.org reported.

Applebaum highlighted that while Democrats controlling Congress may restore some confidence among U.S. allies in American democracy, the extent to which this will translate into foreign policy changes remains uncertain.

She outlined three areas where Congress could influence policy, including the war in Iran and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, but also noted limits to congressional power in these matters, according to wknofm.org.

The election results have also sparked international reactions, including AI-generated videos and social media memes, reflecting global interest in U.S. political shifts, wknofm.org reported.