David Smith
@dsmith890.bsky.social
American entrepreneur living in Moldova. I write a newsletter about Moldovan political and economic news each week in English at Moldova Matters.
https://moldovamatters.substack.com
https://moldovamatters.substack.com
As Moldova faces the coldest January in years the talk of the town remains President Sandu’s comments on union with Romania. Also - we look at the resolutions of some important court cases and other updates. See the full Weekly Roundup at Moldova Matters
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
January 20, 2026 at 12:27 PM
As Moldova faces the coldest January in years the talk of the town remains President Sandu’s comments on union with Romania. Also - we look at the resolutions of some important court cases and other updates. See the full Weekly Roundup at Moldova Matters
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Maia Sandu’s podcast remark on union with Romania sparked confusion far beyond Moldova. It wasn’t a policy signal - but it does echo a century of hard security choices. It’s a a Hypothetical with History.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
January 18, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Maia Sandu’s podcast remark on union with Romania sparked confusion far beyond Moldova. It wasn’t a policy signal - but it does echo a century of hard security choices. It’s a a Hypothetical with History.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
This is an excellent episode of the War & Peace podcast about how Europe must react to what they call the American "betrayal."
podcastaddict.com/war-peace/ep...
podcastaddict.com/war-peace/ep...
War & Peace - Can Europe Solve Its U.S. Dilemma?
Listen to War & Peace - Can Europe Solve Its U.S. Dilemma? by International Crisis Group on Podcast Addict. In this episode of War & Peace, Olga and Alissa are joined by Nathalie Tocci, director of th...
podcastaddict.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:13 AM
This is an excellent episode of the War & Peace podcast about how Europe must react to what they call the American "betrayal."
podcastaddict.com/war-peace/ep...
podcastaddict.com/war-peace/ep...
The title kinda says it all - here’s my take on the viral (and fake) story about Transnistria and what it says about the information space surrounding the region on social media.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
January 14, 2026 at 8:38 AM
The title kinda says it all - here’s my take on the viral (and fake) story about Transnistria and what it says about the information space surrounding the region on social media.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
The holidays are finally winding down in Moldova and we’re doing a roundup of the stories that you may have missed while celebrating. How is Ilan Shor connected Venezuela? What is all this about a serial killer feeding people to pigs?!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
January 13, 2026 at 2:25 PM
The holidays are finally winding down in Moldova and we’re doing a roundup of the stories that you may have missed while celebrating. How is Ilan Shor connected Venezuela? What is all this about a serial killer feeding people to pigs?!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Reposted by David Smith
youtu.be/bYQlvaHHvIg
Long interview, in English, of Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova.
Putin's attacks, methods, how Moldova defended against them, and the threat he presents to the whole of Europe.
Long interview, in English, of Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova.
Putin's attacks, methods, how Moldova defended against them, and the threat he presents to the whole of Europe.
Holding the Line Between Democracy and Putin | President of Moldova, Maia Sandu
YouTube video by The Rest Is Politics: Leading
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 6:45 AM
youtu.be/bYQlvaHHvIg
Long interview, in English, of Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova.
Putin's attacks, methods, how Moldova defended against them, and the threat he presents to the whole of Europe.
Long interview, in English, of Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova.
Putin's attacks, methods, how Moldova defended against them, and the threat he presents to the whole of Europe.
Reposted by David Smith
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRnZ...
Interview (in English) by the UK's Telegraph, with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, their politician of the year.
Covers Moldova as a testing ground for attacks on the rest of Europe, how she goes about tyhe job, and much more.
Interview (in English) by the UK's Telegraph, with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, their politician of the year.
Covers Moldova as a testing ground for attacks on the rest of Europe, how she goes about tyhe job, and much more.
Moldova president: We are just a testing ground for Putin | Exclusive interview
YouTube video by The Telegraph
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:55 AM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRnZ...
Interview (in English) by the UK's Telegraph, with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, their politician of the year.
Covers Moldova as a testing ground for attacks on the rest of Europe, how she goes about tyhe job, and much more.
Interview (in English) by the UK's Telegraph, with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, their politician of the year.
Covers Moldova as a testing ground for attacks on the rest of Europe, how she goes about tyhe job, and much more.
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command"
www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
January 6: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
Discover the real January 6 story: peaceful protest turned tragedy, Deep State entrapment, media deception, and President Trump's triumphant pardons restoring justice to patriotic Americans.
www.whitehouse.gov
January 7, 2026 at 11:07 AM
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command"
www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
"An ally just doesn’t say these things or behave in this way."
"It took the bloc an entire year to accept the loss of the transatlantic relationship. The question for 2026 is, will it turn this acceptance into action?"
www.politico.eu/article/opin...
"It took the bloc an entire year to accept the loss of the transatlantic relationship. The question for 2026 is, will it turn this acceptance into action?"
www.politico.eu/article/opin...
Europe’s 5 stages of grief
It took the bloc an entire year to accept the loss of the transatlantic relationship. The question for 2026 is, will it turn this acceptance into action?
www.politico.eu
December 31, 2025 at 8:33 AM
"An ally just doesn’t say these things or behave in this way."
"It took the bloc an entire year to accept the loss of the transatlantic relationship. The question for 2026 is, will it turn this acceptance into action?"
www.politico.eu/article/opin...
"It took the bloc an entire year to accept the loss of the transatlantic relationship. The question for 2026 is, will it turn this acceptance into action?"
www.politico.eu/article/opin...
We start with Irina Vlah's insane rap video, and then turn towards some of the most consequential months in Moldovan history. Months that passed like years. Enjoy the Year in Review Part 2: July - December.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 30, 2025 at 12:15 PM
We start with Irina Vlah's insane rap video, and then turn towards some of the most consequential months in Moldovan history. Months that passed like years. Enjoy the Year in Review Part 2: July - December.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
What a year! It’s time for Moldova Matters’ annual year in review. In part 1 we look at the events of January - June 2025. From a high stakes election in Romania, to USAID being “fed into a wood chipper,” it was a wild ride.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
2025 - Year in Review (Part 1)
January - June
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:11 PM
What a year! It’s time for Moldova Matters’ annual year in review. In part 1 we look at the events of January - June 2025. From a high stakes election in Romania, to USAID being “fed into a wood chipper,” it was a wild ride.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Reposted by David Smith
Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave
Trump: "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. It sounds a little strange but President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices."
December 29, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave
I waste my time reading the work of political scientists, and then some guy says "it's like everyone is 12 now" and damn is he right. We live on the stupidest timeline.
December 23, 2025 at 7:36 AM
I waste my time reading the work of political scientists, and then some guy says "it's like everyone is 12 now" and damn is he right. We live on the stupidest timeline.
Transnistria is weaker than ever - but reintegration won’t be quick or easy.
Drawing on closed-door discussions with officials and diplomats, I examine Moldova’s emerging “convergence” strategy how a new approach could see slow but steady progress to a resolution
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Drawing on closed-door discussions with officials and diplomats, I examine Moldova’s emerging “convergence” strategy how a new approach could see slow but steady progress to a resolution
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Moldova's Approach to Reintegration
Why the Country Is Betting on Convergence, Not a Quick Fix in Transnistria
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Transnistria is weaker than ever - but reintegration won’t be quick or easy.
Drawing on closed-door discussions with officials and diplomats, I examine Moldova’s emerging “convergence” strategy how a new approach could see slow but steady progress to a resolution
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Drawing on closed-door discussions with officials and diplomats, I examine Moldova’s emerging “convergence” strategy how a new approach could see slow but steady progress to a resolution
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
As the year winds to a close we look at some fresh rumors of military preparations in Transnistria and what’s new from the 2026 national budget.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
As the year winds to a close we look at some fresh rumors of military preparations in Transnistria and what’s new from the 2026 national budget.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Solarpunk Stork! Misha Zeldin-Gipsman, Director of the Moldovan School of Economics writes an op-ed about how Moldova needs to seek its own path towards rapid economic growth - learning from past examples from small countries, but charting a unique path.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Solarpunk Stork! Misha Zeldin-Gipsman, Director of the Moldovan School of Economics writes an op-ed about how Moldova needs to seek its own path towards rapid economic growth - learning from past examples from small countries, but charting a unique path.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Reposted by David Smith
This is the message that European leaders must share with their citizens. The situation for our dear Europe is serious and dire. We must prepare for war, and the best way to do so is to speed up our arms industries and send as many guns as we can to Ukraine. No use for them in our storages.
December 13, 2025 at 11:24 AM
This is the message that European leaders must share with their citizens. The situation for our dear Europe is serious and dire. We must prepare for war, and the best way to do so is to speed up our arms industries and send as many guns as we can to Ukraine. No use for them in our storages.
Today we take a deep dive into the current situation in Transnistria. We look at their recent “election,” the changed power dynamics between Chisinau and Tiraspol and how internal Transnistrian politics might impact future reintegration.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Today we take a deep dive into the current situation in Transnistria. We look at their recent “election,” the changed power dynamics between Chisinau and Tiraspol and how internal Transnistrian politics might impact future reintegration.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Europe’s in a pickle. Trump's Administration new National Security Policy spells out what should have been clear for nearly a year - the transatlantic security consensus is dead. The US is moving on and Europe does not seem to have internalized this as a *fact.*
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 9, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Europe’s in a pickle. Trump's Administration new National Security Policy spells out what should have been clear for nearly a year - the transatlantic security consensus is dead. The US is moving on and Europe does not seem to have internalized this as a *fact.*
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Michael Druckman writes for Moldova Matter’s new series “The Next Economy: Moldova 2030” and argues that Moldova’s renewable energy transition can play a key role in the eventual reconstruction of Ukraine.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 8, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Michael Druckman writes for Moldova Matter’s new series “The Next Economy: Moldova 2030” and argues that Moldova’s renewable energy transition can play a key role in the eventual reconstruction of Ukraine.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Shor signals he’s closing up shop in Moldova? We look at what this means for the Kremlin’s hybrid war. Russian drones cause Moldova to briefly close its airspace, and the Moldovan army gets some new ket. All this and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 5, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Shor signals he’s closing up shop in Moldova? We look at what this means for the Kremlin’s hybrid war. Russian drones cause Moldova to briefly close its airspace, and the Moldovan army gets some new ket. All this and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Curious what fun seasonal events are happening in Chisinau this month? Check out Moldova Matter’s new “The Month Ahead” series and learn about the musical and cultural events coming up in the capital!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 4, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Curious what fun seasonal events are happening in Chisinau this month? Check out Moldova Matter’s new “The Month Ahead” series and learn about the musical and cultural events coming up in the capital!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
In this first article of our new The Next Economy: Moldova 2030 series, former Deputy PM and Minister of Economy Dumitru Alaiba makes the case for one important policy that could help Moldova shift from a consumption to an investment economy.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 3, 2025 at 8:57 AM
In this first article of our new The Next Economy: Moldova 2030 series, former Deputy PM and Minister of Economy Dumitru Alaiba makes the case for one important policy that could help Moldova shift from a consumption to an investment economy.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
This week, Moldova and Romania commemorated the passing of Ilie Ilașcu - a national hero for his role in confronting the Transnistrian “authorities.” We also look at the latest political news, and an archeological find by 2 Moldovan grade school students.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This week, Moldova and Romania commemorated the passing of Ilie Ilașcu - a national hero for his role in confronting the Transnistrian “authorities.” We also look at the latest political news, and an archeological find by 2 Moldovan grade school students.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Russian drones violated Moldovan airspace multiple times with one crash landing on the roof of a house. Also, Moldovan and Romanian customs officers seized a shipment containing anti-tank missiles and MANPADS leaving Moldova. This week’s roundup:
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Russian drones violated Moldovan airspace multiple times with one crash landing on the roof of a house. Also, Moldovan and Romanian customs officers seized a shipment containing anti-tank missiles and MANPADS leaving Moldova. This week’s roundup:
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...