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
Today I’m announcing a new non-profit that I co-founded - the Moldova Resilience Fund. This US based 501c3 will support independent media, civil society and civic activism groups in Moldova. Read this announcement to find out more - and how you can get involved.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 10, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Today I’m announcing a new non-profit that I co-founded - the Moldova Resilience Fund. This US based 501c3 will support independent media, civil society and civic activism groups in Moldova. Read this announcement to find out more - and how you can get involved.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Today the Journo Birds team write about the story of Simpals - one of Moldova’s most successful local IT companies and a veritable factory of innovative startups!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Today the Journo Birds team write about the story of Simpals - one of Moldova’s most successful local IT companies and a veritable factory of innovative startups!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
The EU gives Moldova high marks on reforms, Gagauzia backtracks on Shor, Plaha says he would be out already if there wasn’t this pesky “justice reform” and a truly ludicrous MMA match planned in Chisinau. All this and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 7, 2025 at 11:30 AM
The EU gives Moldova high marks on reforms, Gagauzia backtracks on Shor, Plaha says he would be out already if there wasn’t this pesky “justice reform” and a truly ludicrous MMA match planned in Chisinau. All this and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Check out Part 2 of my Meet the Ministers series. I look at who’s in, who’s out and what it all means for Moldova’s new government.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Check out Part 2 of my Meet the Ministers series. I look at who’s in, who’s out and what it all means for Moldova’s new government.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
In Part 1 of our Meet the Ministers series we take a deep dive into Prime Minister Munteanu’s new cabinet. Who’s out, who’s in, and what does it signal going forward?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
In Part 1 of our Meet the Ministers series we take a deep dive into Prime Minister Munteanu’s new cabinet. Who’s out, who’s in, and what does it signal going forward?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Alexandru Munteanu presented the program of his new government yesterday for a vote of confidence in parliament. We take a deep dive into this program to see what the new PM has planned for the next 4 years.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 1, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Alexandru Munteanu presented the program of his new government yesterday for a vote of confidence in parliament. We take a deep dive into this program to see what the new PM has planned for the next 4 years.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Alexandru Munteanu has named his proposed government. In today’s roundup we look at this and other updates of the week from Moldova.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Alexandru Munteanu has named his proposed government. In today’s roundup we look at this and other updates of the week from Moldova.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Patricia Mihailă tells the story of Moldova’s migration from hand scribbled medical prescriptions to a secure, online e-prescription system. It’s just one more fascinating story of how Moldova is using digital infrastructure to simplify people’s daily lives.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Patricia Mihailă tells the story of Moldova’s migration from hand scribbled medical prescriptions to a secure, online e-prescription system. It’s just one more fascinating story of how Moldova is using digital infrastructure to simplify people’s daily lives.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
The Patriotic Bloc has fractured, leaving only 1 MP in the Kremlin’s primary election vehicle. This week Parliament was seated, factions were formed and the process of appointing a new Prime Minister officially began.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The Patriotic Bloc has fractured, leaving only 1 MP in the Kremlin’s primary election vehicle. This week Parliament was seated, factions were formed and the process of appointing a new Prime Minister officially began.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Prime Minister Candidate Alexandru Munteanu has 3 citizenships, Plaha gets 30 more days behind bars and Voronin continues to piss off Igor Dodon. All this and more in the Weekly Roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 21, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Prime Minister Candidate Alexandru Munteanu has 3 citizenships, Plaha gets 30 more days behind bars and Voronin continues to piss off Igor Dodon. All this and more in the Weekly Roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
In a new story, the JournoBirds team explores cybersecurity for SMEs and startups like Pinky Cybersafe in Moldova.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM
In a new story, the JournoBirds team explores cybersecurity for SMEs and startups like Pinky Cybersafe in Moldova.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
President Maia Sandu addressed the Venice Commission on what may be the political question of our time - are our democratic institutions capable of handling hybrid attacks via crypto, social media and other new channels?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 18, 2025 at 8:34 AM
President Maia Sandu addressed the Venice Commission on what may be the political question of our time - are our democratic institutions capable of handling hybrid attacks via crypto, social media and other new channels?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Moldova has a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Who is he (like, really) and what does his selection say about the direction of the country? In my latest article I try and answer these questions and more.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Moldova has a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Who is he (like, really) and what does his selection say about the direction of the country? In my latest article I try and answer these questions and more.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
In today’s roundup I look at what happens next in forming a government, why PAS just lost 2 new MPs, updates on Russia’s hybrid attacks - and we finally answer the question, where is Plaha’s lackey - Constantin Țuțu?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 6, 2025 at 9:42 AM
In today’s roundup I look at what happens next in forming a government, why PAS just lost 2 new MPs, updates on Russia’s hybrid attacks - and we finally answer the question, where is Plaha’s lackey - Constantin Țuțu?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
My first thoughts on what we should learn from the massive PAS victory in these elections. Also, on making house wine.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 3, 2025 at 5:43 PM
My first thoughts on what we should learn from the massive PAS victory in these elections. Also, on making house wine.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
PAS wins a decisive election. President Sandu’s party will be able to form a government and Moldova will continue its path to Europe. I dive into the results and reactions to the historic victory.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
PAS wins a decisive election. President Sandu’s party will be able to form a government and Moldova will continue its path to Europe. I dive into the results and reactions to the historic victory.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Yesterday I appeared on the Power Vertical Podcast for a discussion titled “The Battle for Moldova.” In a final article before the elections I also go through some final electoral updates - such as Victoria Furtuna’s being excluded from the elections.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 27, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Yesterday I appeared on the Power Vertical Podcast for a discussion titled “The Battle for Moldova.” In a final article before the elections I also go through some final electoral updates - such as Victoria Furtuna’s being excluded from the elections.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Police raids arrest 74 people accused of planning electoral violence. New polls show PAS ahead, but there are issues, and Plahotniuc is back in Moldova after 6 years. Here’s my latest pre-election update.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 26, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Police raids arrest 74 people accused of planning electoral violence. New polls show PAS ahead, but there are issues, and Plahotniuc is back in Moldova after 6 years. Here’s my latest pre-election update.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Today we look at the concrete promises and platforms of the top 4 election contenders. Who wants to build a wine city? what do the parties say on the EU / geopolitics? We dive deep into what they do (and don’t) propose.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 23, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Today we look at the concrete promises and platforms of the top 4 election contenders. Who wants to build a wine city? what do the parties say on the EU / geopolitics? We dive deep into what they do (and don’t) propose.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
President Maia Sandu just gave a live address to citizens speaking of the existential threat that the country faces due to Russia’s hybrid attacks and attempt to overthrow the country’s democracy. Here is the full address in English:
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
President Maia Sandu just gave a live address to citizens speaking of the existential threat that the country faces due to Russia’s hybrid attacks and attempt to overthrow the country’s democracy. Here is the full address in English:
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
New investigations from ZdG, the BBC and NordNews infiltrate the Shor network and expose Kremlin hybrid war operations. At the same time, Bloomberg reports on documents outlining the Kremlin’s plans. All this and more in the Weekly Roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 22, 2025 at 1:59 PM
New investigations from ZdG, the BBC and NordNews infiltrate the Shor network and expose Kremlin hybrid war operations. At the same time, Bloomberg reports on documents outlining the Kremlin’s plans. All this and more in the Weekly Roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
President Maia Sandu met with Pope Leo XIV this week at the Vatican where she spoke about Moldova’s work caring for Ukrainian refugees. We also check in with election updates, the official date of Plaha’s extradition to Moldova and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 16, 2025 at 12:52 PM
President Maia Sandu met with Pope Leo XIV this week at the Vatican where she spoke about Moldova’s work caring for Ukrainian refugees. We also check in with election updates, the official date of Plaha’s extradition to Moldova and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Hybrid war isn’t just bots vs. fact-checkers. From Britain’s black propaganda in WWII to today’s Moldova, info ops can go on offense too. My latest piece digs into a suspicious leak in Chișinău
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 13, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Hybrid war isn’t just bots vs. fact-checkers. From Britain’s black propaganda in WWII to today’s Moldova, info ops can go on offense too. My latest piece digs into a suspicious leak in Chișinău
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
President Maia Sandu addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg calling on all member countries to focus on defending democracy - “with teeth, and together.”
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM
President Maia Sandu addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg calling on all member countries to focus on defending democracy - “with teeth, and together.”
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
23 parties, blocs & independents are on the ballot—who really matters? My guide breaks down who can make parliament, who could spoil, and what coalitions/geopolitical lanes might look like. Read it all on Moldova Matters.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 9, 2025 at 1:29 PM
23 parties, blocs & independents are on the ballot—who really matters? My guide breaks down who can make parliament, who could spoil, and what coalitions/geopolitical lanes might look like. Read it all on Moldova Matters.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...