Here’s what you need to know about the rail strike Congress is trying to stop

A danger that the White House thought had been averted two months ago is back with a vengeance.

A national rail strike could kick in just a couple of weeks before Christmas, with potentially disastrous effects for the economy and inflation. It would also infuriate millions of Americans whose desire to get the goods they want during the holiday season would almost certainly be thwarted.

The specter of a strike had loomed in September but had seemed to be resolved by a tentative...