Macedonian Content Farmers podcast

With the first round of the presidential elections drawing near, Jason and Cvetin get together for a podcast covering the latest in the campaign. Which is getting dirty, and dangerous. We cover a politically linked shooting, SDSM getting a journalist to do their bidding (and get himself arrested) as well as a slight change of tack by the US embassy (and a fun gaffe by their boss Blinken). As the polls show a handsome victory for VMRO in the making, SDSM tries to dispute the polls, but they could also face a leadership challenge shortly after the elections. Oh, and a beloved symbol of the city burnt down. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

The US blackisted an active (long shot) presidential candidate, and a familiar face who they created and now destroyed. Meanwhile, the parties are naming their candidates, and SDSM is feeling the reality of the pre-election polls, as their coalition partners run to the hills and their candidates demand an (increasingly rare) safe spot on the list. And DUI is going full Red Scare on the country, hoping that they will get their political opponents on the US black list - or at least avoid being put on it themselves. All of this and more in the latest Macedonian Content Farmers podcast - and finally we also have a bit of feel-good news at the end Our Farmers’ Pick: https://efterklang.net/news/2024/cph-dox-makedoniumband https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/efterklang-unveil-new-single-getting-reminders-alongside-a-documentary?utm_content=buffer4f26a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

The race is on, the presidential candidates have been announced - all seven of them - and just like the US, we are set for a replay of the previous presidential elections. SDSM is nominating the incumbent Stevo Pendarovski, and VMRO-DPMNE are again running with Gordana Siljanovska. But this time the Albanian vote is divided and won't stand behind Pendarovski (if they vote at all - there is talk of boycott), and SDSM's polls are flatlining. Siljanovska is not without her faults and SDSM did show some signs of life during the collection of signatures in support of Pendarovski, who is proving again that he is a dirty player in his opening attacks on the opponent. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

You find yourself stuck in one of the smallest European countries with no possibility to leave? You might as well record a podcast. This is how you find us, with Jason roaming the great wide spaces of the American SouthWest, but Cvetin is stuck in tiny Macedonia, with an invalid passport, together with over half a million others. The disastrous mishandling of the process to replace passports and print new ones with the loathed name "North Macedonia" led to the biggest case of mass house arrest in history. And Macedonians are seething at the Government, which will pay an even higher price in May for its antics. As for the elections, the Government's plan to unite all Albanians against VMRO failed spectacularly. There are now two serious competing Albanian groups, and DUI likely won't join SDSM in a coalition, to try to keep its nationalist street cred. This all spells disaster for SDSM. We explore the potential presidential candidates as well. We also discuss a major Politico article about Kosovo, which is very very relevant for Macedonia, as we are going down the same path or high level corruption and colonial management. Give it a listen, and give this article a read - https://www.politico.eu/article/how-the-us-broke-kosovo-and-what-that-means-for-ukraine/ Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

The Albanian nationalist cause strikes another major victory in the Balkans, as former UCK commander Talat Xhaferi is named the first Albanian Prime Minister of Macedonia. If SDSM and DUI have their way, Xhaferi may remain in this position for a while, or may continue in this role for the next two years, as a politically elected Prime Minister - this is apparently the concession that SDSM is willing to make to DUI in exchange for their votes in the approaching elections. This marriage made in Langley heaven is threatened by the opposition Albanian parties who are teaming up and plan to challenge DUI and its leader Ali Ahmeti. Hilarity ensues as Ahmeti - and his mentor, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama - accuse the Albanian opposition, and their mentor, Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti, of interfering in Macedonia's internal affairs. Meanwhile, Macedonians are nowhere to be seen or consulted about the running of what was, until less then a decade ago, their nation state. Join us for the latest episode of the Macedonian Content Farmers podcast where we discuss this major development. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

The Macedonian Content Farmers podcast comes back to recap 2023, including a God awful development that came near its very end. We talk about the political background of the actors who carried out the murder of young Vanja, and how did we come to produce such people. We also talk about the coming elections, the expansion of the US black list and the very open support for DUI and SDS by the US State Department. And in the end, some predictions for 2024. And yet, we end on a note of hope. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

The Americans finally put their golden boy Zoran Zaev on their poop-list, and the ambassador openly calls for him to be prosecuted. Meanwhile, two of his confidants are on trial - one of them not exactly carrying himself manly, even as he was more than happy to threaten political prisoners from the opposite side. Is this all happening because Zaev did not pay his dues, got tried to do business with a pro-Russian oligarch, or was he really planning to divide SDSM ahead of the elections? Jason Miko and Cvetin Chilimanov discuss the latest political drama in Macedonia on the new episode of the Macedonian Content Farmers show. Plus some culinary tips Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

The Americans finally put their golden boy Zoran Zaev on their poop-list, and the ambassador openly calls for him to be prosecuted. Meanwhile, two of his confidants are on trial - one of them not exactly carrying himself manly, even as he was more than happy to threaten political prisoners from the opposite side. Is this all happening because Zaev did not pay his dues, got tried to do business with a pro-Russian oligarch, or was he really planning to divide SDSM ahead of the elections? Jason Miko and Cvetin Chilimanov discuss the latest political drama in Macedonia on the new episode of the Macedonian Content Farmers show. Plus some culinary tips Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

While we are obviously keeping our eyes with horrified intensity on the highway pile-up that is the Israel/Gaza war, and the Ukraine war, we manage to gather enough strength to return somewhat to Macedonian news today including how it is seen through the lens of how Macedonians and especially Albanians view the coming broader war. Cvetin lays out his thinking that Macedonians are now firmly in the broader Slavic block and are looking out to see how the West and the Muslim world will duke it out, and if it means that the Slavs will try to ally with the West again. And will the Albanians manage to keep their Western allegiance, ignoring the fact that they are Muslim. Jason gives his own perspective on what's the role the Holy Land will play in the coming Apocalypse. We also cover the now overt Albanian territorial claims on Macedonia, coming from both sides of their political divide. Give it a listen! Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

While we are obviously keeping our eyes with horrified intensity on the highway pile-up that is the Israel/Gaza war, and the Ukraine war, we manage to gather enough strength to return somewhat to Macedonian news today including how it is seen through the lens of how Macedonians and especially Albanians view the coming broader war. Cvetin lays out his thinking that Macedonians are now firmly in the broader Slavic block and are looking out to see how the West and the Muslim world will duke it out, and if it means that the Slavs will try to ally with the West again. And will the Albanians manage to keep their Western allegiance, ignoring the fact that they are Muslim. Jason gives his own perspective on what's the role the Holy Land will play in the coming Apocalypse. We also cover the now overt Albanian territorial claims on Macedonia, coming from both sides of their political divide. Give it a listen! Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Surprisingly little Macedonian content in a show produced under this title, which is to be expected given the opening of another front in what is shaping up to be a new world war. Jason and Cvetin discuss Israel and Gaza, the massacre of civilians and children, and the coming Israeli response. Given that Macedonia is also on the geopolitical fault line, we cover how people here, Macedonians and Albanians, respond to the disaster, as well as the reaction of the opinion makers in the country. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

It's a weird one. We have a major spat in VMRO, between Mickoski and Gruevski, and frankly we don't know where to begin. There are so many conspiracy theories from all sides about this drama - is the Embassy involved? Who is coordinating with whom? Gruevski with Kovacevski? Mickoski with Zaev? Ahmeti with all of the above? Mickoski with Gruevski? (even this is among the theories put forward by SDSM). We don't pick a side, but near the end, Cvetin goes on a rant describing the good and the bad points with both offers - if we can call them that. So join us as we begin the new season of the hit HBO show (HBO is the short for NGO - the non-governmental sector, that did so much damage to the country). It's likely that we'll be unrolling this drama for months to come. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

It's a weird one. We have a major spat in VMRO, between Mickoski and Gruevski, and frankly we don't know where to begin. There are so many conspiracy theories from all sides about this drama - is the Embassy involved? Who is coordinating with whom? Gruevski with Kovacevski? Mickoski with Zaev? Ahmeti with all of the above? Mickoski with Gruevski? (even this is among the theories put forward by SDSM). We don't pick a side, but near the end, Cvetin goes on a rant describing the good and the bad points with both offers - if we can call them that. So join us as we begin the new season of the hit HBO show (HBO is the short for NGO - the non-governmental sector, that did so much damage to the country). It's likely that we'll be unrolling this drama for months to come. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Jason is in Macedonia! And weirdly optimistic about it (Cvetin does his best to bring him down to planet Earth). And the news help - the main news item is a morbid tale of thievery at the clinic where cancer patients are treated, with doctors and nurses apparently stealing chemo and selling it in Kosovo. We discuss this huge scandal, how it (likely) worked and the political ramifications. And also, the very strange decision by the SDSM majority in Parliament to change the criminal code overnight in a way that could help former VMRO officials who faced persecution over the past years, but also SDSM and DUI people in the future. Is it a sign of a deal on the Bulgarian amendments? Is there a deal with VMRO (or some in VMRO)? Is it an attempt to divide VMRO? We don't know, just asking questions. Oh yeah, and Macedonia celebrates its Independence Day. Or, should we say In Dependence Day. Give it a listen Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Jason is in Macedonia! And weirdly optimistic about it (Cvetin does his best to bring him down to planet Earth). And the news help - the main news item is a morbid tale of thievery at the clinic where cancer patients are treated, with doctors and nurses apparently stealing chemo and selling it in Kosovo. We discuss this huge scandal, how it (likely) worked and the political ramifications. And also, the very strange decision by the SDSM majority in Parliament to change the criminal code overnight in a way that could help former VMRO officials who faced persecution over the past years, but also SDSM and DUI people in the future. Is it a sign of a deal on the Bulgarian amendments? Is there a deal with VMRO (or some in VMRO)? Is it an attempt to divide VMRO? We don't know, just asking questions. Oh yeah, and Macedonia celebrates its Independence Day. Or, should we say In Dependence Day. Give it a listen Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

After our summer haitus, Cvetin and Jason come back - and not a moment too soon: the Albanians are becoming unruly and Parliament will begin discussing the constitutional amendments requested by Bulgaria this week. First things first: Even SDSM supporters were shocked by the aggressive displays of Albanian nationalism during the visit by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti - all together with maps of Greater Albania. The outrage is partly feigned - we are approaching elections and the Government has ignored worse from its approved Albanian partners (handlers?) But still, it's an interesting moment when the frog turns around and asks "it's gotten pretty hot 'round here, hasn't it?" Meanwhile, US ambasssador increases her presure on VMRO over the amendments, and Zaev, who may be offering a different type of a deal, is warned not to get too ahead of himself, as the noose around his top lieutenants draws closer. Give it a listen and get a head start on the events that are coming in September. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Arrests are back on the menu in Macedonia, as the Govenrment is running out of time and needs to force opposition members of Parliament to vote for their little deal with Bulgaria. Jason and Cvetin discuss the details of the new charges against opposition officials, and how they undermine Macedonian national identity - even after we witnessed what the similar concessions made to Greece in 2019 did to the country. We have an amusing example of how identity politics backfired - as the left was trying to redefine gender, it immediately has consequences for the national identity. We also talk about the extremely rare example of American scrutiny for the Albanians, and even rarer that it's directed at the DUI party. Is it the real deal, or is the Embassy just trying to provide some cover for itself, as it orders more arrests of VMRO people? We're about to find out. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Arrests are back on the menu in Macedonia, as the Govenrment is running out of time and needs to force opposition members of Parliament to vote for their little deal with Bulgaria. Jason and Cvetin discuss the details of the new charges against opposition officials, and how they undermine Macedonian national identity - even after we witnessed what the similar concessions made to Greece in 2019 did to the country. We have an amusing example of how identity politics backfired - as the left was trying to redefine gender, it immediately has consequences for the national identity. We also talk about the extremely rare example of American scrutiny for the Albanians, and even rarer that it's directed at the DUI party. Is it the real deal, or is the Embassy just trying to provide some cover for itself, as it orders more arrests of VMRO people? We're about to find out. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Jason and Cvetin are forced to do an emergency podcast, as suddenly all the political rules in Macedonia got thrown out the window, and the three key parties, VMRO, SDSM and DUI are putting out all sorts of crazy ideas - a grand coalition, a Macedonia first grand coalition without DUI, voting on the Bulgarian amendments but with a long time delay fuse... In short, VMRO is trying to get the all-powerful DUI out of the Government and divide this party into factions that would scrabble with each other and the other Albanian parties. SDSM and DUI are trying to get VMRO inside the Government, and get it to vote on the Bulgarian amendments, hoping it will poison the support this party has among ethnic Macedonians. Zaev is supporting the first option, but is he secretly trying to orchestrate the second option? Is Gruevski somehow involved? Will this end with a pyre of bribery, intimidation and arrests of members of Parliament, like the one that followed the Prespa Treaty? Will there be a Red Wedding? All this, and more, in the latest episode of the Macedonian Content Farmers podcast. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Even experienced Balkan watchers are confused at the recent dramatic change in tone from the United States (and the EU, but who cares about them) toward Kosovo. After decades of taking the Albanian side even when they were obviously in the wrong (hint: attacking Macedonia), the US is now praising Serbia for its attitude toward the recent Ohrid agreement and is condeming Kosovo as the uncooperative side. In light of this tectonic change, Cvetin and Jason sit down to discuss what could be behind it, and what it will turn in to. Could it mean that Kosovo is now also on the menu and how will it affect Macedonia (which is most defintiely on the menu). Tune in for this latest episode of the Macedonian Content Farmers podcast. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Even experienced Balkan watchers are confused at the recent dramatic change in tone from the United States (and the EU, but who cares about them) toward Kosovo. After decades of taking the Albanian side even when they were obviously in the wrong (hint: attacking Macedonia), the US is now praising Serbia for its attitude toward the recent Ohrid agreement and is condeming Kosovo as the uncooperative side. In light of this tectonic change, Cvetin and Jason sit down to discuss what could be behind it, and what it will turn in to. Could it mean that Kosovo is now also on the menu and how will it affect Macedonia (which is most defintiely on the menu). Tune in for this latest episode of the Macedonian Content Farmers podcast. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

It's on! The US Embassy is now openly endorsing the DUI - SDSM Government, and wants Macedonians to accept the Bulgarian demands for constitutional amendments, and to just shut the bleep up about the travesty of the Bechtel highway deal. Cvetin and Jason had to jump back in the podcasting saddle (after a long - too long break due to pressing matters of international importance) to shed light on the Embassy arm twisting - the likes of which we haven't seen since 2016. If VMRO was trying to make a deal with the Embassy (asking for early elections in exchange for secretly promising that the next Parliament will vote in the Bulgarian amendments) now it seems that the US will stick to its favored coalition of DUI and SDSM, and pressure tactics are back in play. And with Parliament expected to have a proposal in the summer, things are going to move fast. Some push-back is coming from the EU, on the issue of Bechtel, but on the other hand, EU is even more intent on having Macedonia accept the Bulgarian demands - a German diplomat came to Skopje to darkly warn about uncertain future for the country is we don't vote on the matter ASAP (and Serbian and Bulgarian politicians are openly talking about war and partition). Meanwhile, actually Kovacevski seems eager to turn up the heat in the fight with Bulgaria, accusing them of acting as bad as Russia does toward Ukraine. Now you know why we had to do a podcast, and will probably have to keep a more regular schedule in the weeks to come. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

It's on! The US Embassy is now openly endorsing the DUI - SDSM Government, and wants Macedonians to accept the Bulgarian demands for constitutional amendments, and to just shut the bleep up about the travesty of the Bechtel highway deal. Cvetin and Jason had to jump back in the podcasting saddle (after a long - too long break due to pressing matters of international importance) to shed light on the Embassy arm twisting - the likes of which we haven't seen since 2016. If VMRO was trying to make a deal with the Embassy (asking for early elections in exchange for secretly promising that the next Parliament will vote in the Bulgarian amendments) now it seems that the US will stick to its favored coalition of DUI and SDSM, and pressure tactics are back in play. And with Parliament expected to have a proposal in the summer, things are going to move fast. Some push-back is coming from the EU, on the issue of Bechtel, but on the other hand, EU is even more intent on having Macedonia accept the Bulgarian demands - a German diplomat came to Skopje to darkly warn about uncertain future for the country is we don't vote on the matter ASAP (and Serbian and Bulgarian politicians are openly talking about war and partition). Meanwhile, actually Kovacevski seems eager to turn up the heat in the fight with Bulgaria, accusing them of acting as bad as Russia does toward Ukraine. Now you know why we had to do a podcast, and will probably have to keep a more regular schedule in the weeks to come. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

Who says that societal decline can't be a laughing matter? Jason and Cvetin find the humorous side in the on-going gang war in Skopje, DUI's newfound appetite for majority rule and the planned bulldozing of archeological sites. We discuss how VMRO found a way to turn the debate about the Constitution on its head and actually score some points against SDSM and the Albanians by - gasp - demanding that Macedonians rolls back some of the endless national concessions they made over the decades. But also how their move prompted calls for federalization of the country from the Government's most recently added Albanian party. As we are contract bound, we also discuss how the Bulgarian elections may affect Macedonia and the harsh language with which Pendarovski refused their request to have a formal seat at the committee drafting the constitutional amendments. And we can't resist but talk about the Balkan Twitter sensation - Gunther the Austrian who is very good (too good?) at pushing buttons, and his antics in the Holocaust Museum in Skopje. All this, and more, in the latest Macedonian Content Farmers podcast. Music by: - Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute) With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name