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How do they "call in a mortgage"?

Depends on the mortgage, but it's not uncommon to have a balloon clause that makes the balance due on demand, perhaps with a small (30 day) response period. Theoretically, that allows the homeowner to arrange another loan, and there are reasons (monitored by the government - how convenient) why the lending agencies can't do it arbitrarily. But impending failure of the bank is a reason.

Similar clauses are addressed in things like loans to the Treasury (which are actually administered by the Federal Reserve system). They usually have an interest penalty if you 'cash' them in (call the loan) early, just as a certificate of deposit does, but you can get your money early . . . as long as everyone else doesn't want theirs at the same time.

I believe that the US federal debt is the true existential threat to the US. If we don't get it under control, it is entirely possible that there will not *be* as United States. If it weren't for the confidence in the future strength of the economy giving people hope that someday, somehow the US will pay off its debt, then the US would not be able to borrow any more money - and with a trillion dollars of deficit each year, that would truly result in a government shutdown, not this posturing that is going on now. China and non-governmental actors like George Soros are actively trying to get the world's trading currency to be something other than the US dollar. When that happens, we won't be able to borrow/print unlimited amounts of money without everyone (including US citizens) ceasing to believe the Federal Reserve Notes are worth anything. And then there will be runaway inflation.

You don't have to believe in that doomsday scenario. My original point was that it was silly to have gotten into this situation in the first place, but not silly to worry now that we're here. Think 2008 home mortgage crisis times 50.

but it's not uncommon to have a balloon clause that makes the balance due on demand, perhaps with a small (30 day) response period.

How not uncommon?

Similar clauses are addressed in things like loans to the Treasury (which are actually administered by the Federal Reserve system).

I don't believe I've ever heard of a loan to the Treasury, they're more commonly called T-bills, T-notes and T-bonds, that allows the holder of the security to get their money early.

Do you have a source that backs your claim?

Think 2008 home mortgage crisis times 50.

A couple of Yellow Vests emptying their bank accounts isn't going to even cause a detectable ripple.