Trump stares down a ticking economic time bomb

Government aid propping up the economy could soon disappear, schools are scrambling their plans and new shutdowns are slamming businesses — just before a key stretch of the general election.

It’s crunch time for the key issue President Donald Trump’s aides and advisers believe will determine his fate this November.

A stretch of critical decisions from mid-July until Labor Day will lay the foundation for what the U.S. economy will look like in October before voters make their final decisions. And White House officials are scrambling to prevent a dangerous...