David ! You DID miss one: Andelman Unleashed ... published by the former East Europe (and Balkan) bureau chief of The New York Times who watches the World, with special attn to EEurope!! https://daandelman.substack.com/.
Hi David! sorry - I was looking at newsletters more directly focused on the region :/ I know you cover it quite well but the whole world is in your domain expertise!! :)
Honestly, I'm sure I missed a ton of great options. This was just a start and I want to do more to share what I'm reading along with my writing!
Thank you, David ... so very much appreciated from such an expert commentator and chroncler of the land of my ancestors [ Edineț ], my grandfather a draft dodger from the Czarist army (where Jews were cannonfodder), fleeing before the end of the 19th century with my grandmother to Cambridge (Mass) where his son and grandson (my father & I) went to Harvard and the rest is history !!
There are a few good sources that focus on what Russia is up to - I realise not directly what you selected, but I find them essential to getting a better understanding of the threats facing Eastern Europe. And, more specifically, me.
Very short but powerful pieces on the world view from Moscow, Obviously he can't say everything he would like to, but his observations are REALLY insightful.
He digs into Russian telegram channels and the like, reporting on what Russian soldiers and supporters of the war are saying, (They are NOT happy). He does not publish gory clips.
I think these are worth mentioning because the large news organisations are terrible at reporting on Russia - they tend to have a mix of treating Russia like the USSR, ignoring the endemic corruption that cripples it, or taking what Putin says seriously. There's a secondary problem where economic specialists ignore the military side of Russia and visa versa.
The antidote to that is Prof Scot Lucas, who crops up all over YouTube and is always clear, and easily understandable.
Hey Nick! thanks for the list. I intentionally left Russia out because it would consume any list - people on the war, people on internal politics, etc. I also agree that much coverage of Russia is lacking which makes it harder to present a list with a credible range.
Mostly though, I wanted to share newsletters from countries with similar dynamics and challenges to Moldova.
I hope to refresh this list from time to time so I'll think more on how Russia can be included for sure!
Fully agree that the old "Report what is said by both sides as if it's fact" has failed profoundly. I'm reminded of a Churchill quote: “I decline utterly to be impartial between the fire brigade and the fire,”
Thanks for the comment and link Vitali! I know of Visegrad Insight but I'm not a subscriber so I haven't followed their work closely. Right now I have so many subscriptions that I'm already in trouble :)
David ! You DID miss one: Andelman Unleashed ... published by the former East Europe (and Balkan) bureau chief of The New York Times who watches the World, with special attn to EEurope!! https://daandelman.substack.com/.
Here's what Claude says about me!
https://claude.ai/share/aa894c3d-6e42-404d-98df-807cde63f617
Hi David! sorry - I was looking at newsletters more directly focused on the region :/ I know you cover it quite well but the whole world is in your domain expertise!! :)
Honestly, I'm sure I missed a ton of great options. This was just a start and I want to do more to share what I'm reading along with my writing!
Thank you, David ... so very much appreciated from such an expert commentator and chroncler of the land of my ancestors [ Edineț ], my grandfather a draft dodger from the Czarist army (where Jews were cannonfodder), fleeing before the end of the 19th century with my grandmother to Cambridge (Mass) where his son and grandson (my father & I) went to Harvard and the rest is history !!
There are a few good sources that focus on what Russia is up to - I realise not directly what you selected, but I find them essential to getting a better understanding of the threats facing Eastern Europe. And, more specifically, me.
Best of BBC Russian, in English:
https://bbcrussian.substack.com
Steve Rosenberg reports from Moscow.
Very short but powerful pieces on the world view from Moscow, Obviously he can't say everything he would like to, but his observations are REALLY insightful.
https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveRosenberg
Chris O'Wiki
https://bsky.app/profile/chriso-wiki.bsky.social/post/3mitw65o5fs2s
(I think he's also on Twitter)
He digs into Russian telegram channels and the like, reporting on what Russian soldiers and supporters of the war are saying, (They are NOT happy). He does not publish gory clips.
I think these are worth mentioning because the large news organisations are terrible at reporting on Russia - they tend to have a mix of treating Russia like the USSR, ignoring the endemic corruption that cripples it, or taking what Putin says seriously. There's a secondary problem where economic specialists ignore the military side of Russia and visa versa.
The antidote to that is Prof Scot Lucas, who crops up all over YouTube and is always clear, and easily understandable.
Hey Nick! thanks for the list. I intentionally left Russia out because it would consume any list - people on the war, people on internal politics, etc. I also agree that much coverage of Russia is lacking which makes it harder to present a list with a credible range.
Mostly though, I wanted to share newsletters from countries with similar dynamics and challenges to Moldova.
I hope to refresh this list from time to time so I'll think more on how Russia can be included for sure!
Understood.
It still surprises me how badly the big news agencies handle it.
I've made a huge shift for ALL news coverage I consume away from big names, and onto subject specialists, (Like Moldova Matters!)
This started with Brexit, where the approach of "Report what is said by both sides as if it's fact" collapsed completely.
Fully agree that the old "Report what is said by both sides as if it's fact" has failed profoundly. I'm reminded of a Churchill quote: “I decline utterly to be impartial between the fire brigade and the fire,”
David thanks for sharing.I look forward to reading them.
Omitting Visegrad Insight from the list of top CEE newsletters is a crime!
https://visegradinsight.eu/
Yes, it requires a subscription, but it is certainly worth it.
Thanks for the comment and link Vitali! I know of Visegrad Insight but I'm not a subscriber so I haven't followed their work closely. Right now I have so many subscriptions that I'm already in trouble :)
Thanks for the recommendation!!