SKOPJE, Macedonia — As Macedonians prepare for the most important vote in their nation’s history, scores of Facebook posts are urging voters to burn their ballots. And one news article, widely shared online, warns that Google may eliminate Macedonian from its list of recognized languages, depending on the vote. And the West is trying to fight back, albeit unevenly: A congressional effort to confront Russian disinformation has been hamstrung by divisions in Washington. To fill the void, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will travel to Skopje, the country’s capital, on Monday to show American support. “There is no going back from this,” said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of Macedonia.

Source: New York Times September 16, 2018 15:56 UTC