Jason and Cvetin do a rare in-person recording of the Macedonian Content Farmers podcast, at the foot of Vodno mountain in Skopje. We cover the news of the 2025 and give our expectations for 2026, in the political sphere, the economy and how the turmoil in Europe can affect Macedonia. 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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Important local elections took place both in Macedonia and in NYC, with some similarities in the candidates, but different outcomes. We dive deep into the elections in Macedonia, the inter-ethnic angle, and discuss who is now the largest opposition party in the country. We also lament what New York is about to be exposed to - may it serve as a warning to others.

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

The local elections in Macedonia resolved a number of issues - such as the hastening end of Ali Ahmeti, but also raised a number of new ones. Cvetin and Jason discuss the major dual victory of VMRO and VLEN, the splintering of SDSM, the dirty tricks (literally) played in the capital, and how will VMRO manage the Albanian parties in the future. 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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

With local elections a week away, Cvetin and Jason sit down to talk about the overwhelming advantage VMRO enjoys in the race, but also the plans to set a trap for VMRO in the future, using the DUI party that wants to be a thorn in the side of the Government.

And of course, because a lot of things happened since our last episode, we talk about the Charlie Kirk assassination, the raging left and the potential for peace in the Middle East. And Ukraine. And other stuff. 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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

A rare, in-person episode of the Macedonian Content Farmers podcast is before you, with Jason visiting Macedonia in time for our 34th independence anniversary. And he's here just in time for the major wiretapping scandal, as revelations are coming up that the SDSM - DUI regime was spying on Mickoski, a group of critical journalists and even on some of their own who strayed from the reservation.

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Jason and Cvetin get together for an update on the generally slow political summer in Macedonia. The game is now firmly one of VMRO vs DUI, with SDSM in a secondary role supporting Ahmeti's party. And the field chosen by DUI is one of ethnic strife and tensions - which is the only area they can compete in. We also discuss the uphill battle Macedonia faces in getting its truth across on social media. 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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Cvetin and Jason are back to discuss several burning issues about Macedonia. For one, the attempt to include the Macedonian national identity and language in the progress report of the European Parliament, which would then have put Macedonia on the spot to meet the Bulgarian demands, failed. Bulgarian members of the European Parliament managed to drum up support among most of the other representatives to delete all mention of the Macedonians from the report, and we are back to square one.

In another curious issue, Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska and a good chunk of SDSM aligned media decided to go all in to help DUI win the municipality of Cair in the coming local elections. The plan appears to be to deny VMRO the possibility to remain in coalition with VLEN and force them to take DUI on some time next year, hoping it will weaken Mickoski's government from within.

And an interesting testimony in the US Congress shed light on the US funding of the Colored Revolution.

Give it a listen.

Link to the Judiciary Committee hearing and Mike Gonzalez's testimony

https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/gonzalez-testimony.pdf

Music by:

- Toby Keith (Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

An initiative to secure national identity guarantees for Macedonia from the European Parliament faces loud opposition from the Bulgarian representatives, who are even accusing a hapless Austrian Green MEP of corruption. Cvetin and Jason discuss whether this is something that could unlock the dispute and allow Macedonia to open the EU accession talks.

We also discuss the state of play in the Albanian parties, and the intervention from Mayor Danela in their affairs.

And Jason opens with a sad bit of news about an old friend of Macedonia.

Music by:

- a-ha (Take on Me)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

Macedonia is on the verge of a strategic partnership agreement with the United Kingdom. The unexpected news broke over the past few weeks, and it will enable the country to borrow billions under favorable terms to develop infrastructure. The deal is likely to cause a deep political realignment, which has the left panicking, and even launching a migrant-panic campaign, as they lose yet another major international supporter.

Meanwhile, there are rumblings in the Albanian camp that can even lead to early elections. We discuss all of 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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com

More than a month later, Macedonia is still reeling from the disastrous nightclub fire in Kocani, that killed over 60 young people. The magnitude of the disaster deeply shook the nation. We are still looking for ways to cope with its effects.

There is a push for soul searching and looking for steps we could take that would bring some closure to the families. One thing that all agree on is the need for a major anti-corruption push, which is happening, with dozens of top and middle level officials being prosecuted, for actions that have, through corruption or negligence, contributed to the disaster. There are, of course, political ramifications and attempts to take advantage of the wounded public opinion, and we cover this as well.

Article on the ancient city discovered near Bitola:

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-military-outpost-in-north-macedonia-might-be-birthplace-of-alexander-the-greats-grandmother

Music by:

- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)

With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit macedoniancontentfarmers.substack.com