Shutdown risk and debt ceiling fight escalate

H.R. 6500 funds the government through December 11 and keeps Social Security and core Medicare payments flowing, but twelve appropriations bills remain unresolved. Post-election disputes could encompass taxes, entitlements, immigration, defense and Iran-war funding, SNAP, reconciliation, grants, and the debt ceiling; federal-worker litigation, possible RIFs, and paused aid illustrate uneven household effects.