A key international body that, among other things, monitors democratic elections, has for the first time not been invited to observe the midterm elections in the United States.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has been observing US federal elections since its founding in 1975.

The OSCE, of which the US is also a member, has called Washington's failure to issue an invitation this year "regrettable" and "not in line with the commitments undertaken by all OSCE participating states."

Why are OSCE observers no longer welcome in the US? DW's Washington bureau chief Ines Pohl shares her insights.