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A TALE OF TWO CAMPAIGNS — Despite poll after poll showing Americans unenthused about a JOE BIDEN/DONALD TRUMP rematch in 2024, the current and former presidents are barreling toward the next campaign. And they’re taking notably different approaches, as several new stories revealed today.

The voice in Biden’s ear: First lady JILL BIDEN was skeptical about her husband making another presidential run as recently as early fall — but she’s now done a 180 and is enthusiastically backing a reelect, CNN’s Kate Bennett reports. “[I]n the month since the November midterm elections … friends noted a change. Jill Biden is now ‘all in’ on the idea, according to a person who works with the East Wing. Even though the last several weeks of high-profile events have left her ‘exhausted,’ said another person, ‘she has begun to say the quiet part out loud.’”

But will Biden get his way on the 2024 presidential primary order? His surprise recommendation to put South Carolina first has elicited blowback from Democrats, The Hill’s Hanna Trudo reports, and quiet conversations are circling around Georgia, Nevada or North Carolina as possible compromise alternatives. That leaves plenty of Dems in the uncomfortable position of opposing the White House but trying to replicate what it likes about South Carolina elsewhere.

Trump’s officially in the race, but his early path to 2024 looks rockier than Biden’s, thanks to controversy over his dinner with antisemites, tough midterms results and a growing polling threat from Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS. Now his campaign is eyeing a refreshed approach for the new year: Trump will forgo big rallies for “smaller policy events, focusing on crime, border security, foreign policy, big tech and the economy,” WSJ’s Alex Leary reports.

On that same note: Trump will speak to the Log Cabin Republicans tonight and Jewish leaders Friday. A campaign website is expected next week.

Actual Trump cards: Not everything is so sober-minded in Trump world, of course. He’s also getting into NFTs. Today, after teasing a “MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT,” Trump shared on Truth Social that he’s rolling out an official digital trading card — “very much like a baseball card, but hopefully much more exciting,” he wrote.

This was something less than politicos had buzzed about, as NYT’s Maggie Haberman notes. “The speculation from other Rs and even some Dems was rampant that the ‘major announcement’ would be about his campaign or [House GOP Leader KEVIN] McCARTHY. But, instead it’s a quick money-making opportunity trussed up with a meme.” (Biden’s social media team quickly found a way to poke fun.)

Good Thursday afternoon, and thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line with the Trump Digital Trading Card you covet most: [email protected].

SINEMATOGRAPHY — Slate’s Christina Cauterucci has today’s most enjoyable read: a deep dive on what appears to be Sen. KYRSTEN SINEMA’s (I-Ariz.) extensive side hustle of personally reselling secondhand clothes and items on Facebook Marketplace. The piece is a fascinating tour through the world of high-end athletic gear and Sinema’s schedule, which often seems to combine selling items online the same day as momentous happenings in Congress. Sinema’s spokesperson’s non-confirmation confirmation: “‘What is the story you’re working on about?’ she asked. ‘Kyrsten’s athletic hobbies? The fact that many Ironman / triathlete competitors resale gear?’”

The best moment is when Cauterucci buys a pair of heels from Sinema: “I wondered for the first time if she had thought to Google my name. I’ve written several critical pieces about Sen. Sinema’s fashion and politics, so part of me was grateful that I wasn’t A-list enough to rouse Facebook Sinema’s suspicions. (REBECCA TRAISTER could never!) The other part of me was deeply offended and ready to drown my sorrows in a like-new pair of stilettos.”

The Arizona Mirror’s Jim Small, who’s Facebook friends with Sinema, confirms it is really her.

CONGRESS

THE WHEELS ON THE OMNIBUS — Congress has to act fast to avoid a government shutdown, which will happen at the end of Friday if they don’t pass a stopgap continuing resolution. The Senate just announced a 2 p.m. vote to start the process of passing a one-week CR. State of play on the funding patch from Caitlin Emma and Marianne LeVine

New wrinkle: But there’s a potential holdup to final passage of the CR and the National Defense Authorization Act, per CNN’s Manu Raju: Sen. DAN SULLIVAN (R-Alaska) “wants a vote to cap lawyers’ fees on lawsuits related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune.” Sen. JOHN THUNE (R-S.D.) told Raju “‘Democrats are a little apoplectic about how to deal with it.”

The bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate foreign relations panels asked congressional leaders today to include emergency funding to sell more weapons to Ukraine and Taiwan in the omnibus, Connor O’Brien reports for Congress Minutes.

Senate Appropriations ranking member RICHARD SHELBY (R-Ala.) today pushed back on McCarthy’s criticism of the omnibus. Shelby told reporters that McCarthy might not be right in thinking Republicans could get a better deal next year: “Another deal is another day, another deal never comes.”

SPEAKER FOR YOURSELF — Moderate House GOP supporters of McCarthy’s speakership bid have gone so far as to discuss kicking his conservative opponents off their committees, CNN’s Annie Grayer and Melanie Zanona report. They “have not gone beyond casual conversations among rank-and-file members,” though.

— @Olivia_Beavers: “I asked GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy whether he will move the contested committee chair races to after Jan. 3 /the speaker vote. He said: ‘We don’t have the [freshmen] up here and because of the timing, you got to have the freshmen and the whole conference to approve.’”

TIKTOK ON THE CLOCK — After the Senate voted to bar TikTok on government devices, Speaker NANCY PELOSI indicated this morning that the bill’s status is still TBD in the House. She told reporters that the lower chamber hasn’t decided whether to take it up, and that time is running short this Congress.

In what may have been her final press conference as speaker, Pelosi also took a moment to reflect on her legacy, reiterating that she sees the Affordable Care Act as the crowning achievement.

TV TONIGHT — For the first time ever, Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER and Pelosi will sit down for a joint interview tonight at 8 p.m. with CNN’s Jamie Gangel.

CAWTHORN IN THEIR SIDE — “Legal troubles continue for NC’s Madison Cawthorn as his own lawyers sue him,” Charlotte Observer

JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH

COMMITTEE LATEST — The big report from the House Jan. 6 committee might drop a couple of days earlier than expected: Chair BENNIE THOMPSON (D-Miss.) told reporters they’re trying to print the report today, and most of it could become public at the Monday 1 p.m. meeting.

DAILY RUDY — A D.C. Bar committee today recommended that RUDY GIULIANI be disbarred for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Pennsylvania, per Bloomberg’s Zoe Tillman. Though the decision isn’t final yet, the finding that he probably broke an attorney practice rule is “a major initial setback for the former New York City mayor.”

ALL POLITICS

EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL — Presidential campaigns may run for two years these days, but the race to replace the late Rep. DONALD McEACHIN (D-Va.) is essentially compressed into one week: The Democratic primary is expected to crown the ultimate victor Tuesday. Early this morning, WaPo’s Meagan Flynn, Laura Vozzella and Gregory Schneider dove into the chaos of the three leading candidates’ extremely short-term campaigns. State Del. LAMONT BAGBY and state Sens. JENNIFER McCLELLAN and JOSEPH MORRISSEY were trying to cut radio and digital ads (no time for TV) and assemble phone banks or some semblance of a door-knocking/turnout ground game.

But one week is still long enough for plenty of drama: Just a few hours later, Bagby dropped out of the race and endorsed McClellan, as some Dems in the district try to coalesce around stopping the controversial Morrissey from winning the nod. “I want to be an example that sometimes you have to sacrifice for the greater good,” Bagby said. More from the Richmond Times-Dispatch

CLIP AND SAVE — “Chuck Schumer predicts Democrats will hold the Senate majority again in 2024,” by NBC’s Sahil Kapur

SPORTS BLINK — Outgoing Massachusetts Gov. CHARLIE BAKER will become the next NCAA president, as The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach reported. He’ll start in the role March 1, replacing MARK EMMERT.

BEYOND THE BELTWAY

POLITICAL VIOLENCE WATCH, PART I — Three men found guilty of links to the scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. GRETCHEN WHITMER were sentenced today to 12, 10 and seven years in prison — the longest stints behind bars that have yet been handed out in the case. More from the Detroit News

POLITICAL VIOLENCE WATCH, PART II — “Washington man charged with leaving more than 400 threatening voicemails for members of Congress,” NBC

THE WHITE HOUSE

STAMP OF APPROVAL — The White House today got behind a bill calling for Puerto Rico to hold a binding vote on its future status, including potential statehood, though its Senate odds remain long. The bill just passed the House, with 16 Republicans joining Democrats in support. More from WaPo

THE ECONOMY

BY THE NUMBERS — The Biden administration has gotten some good economic news lately, but today’s November retail sales report bucks the trend: Sales fell 0.6%, double the decline that economists had predicted, per new Commerce Department data. It was their biggest drop in almost a year. “Stocks fell sharply following a mostly disappointing round of economic data,” which raised fears of economic weakness, per CNBC. “The pullback was widespread across categories.”

WAR IN UKRAINE

IT’S OFFICIAL — The U.S. will start training more than twice as many Ukrainian troops as it does now in Germany, NYT’s Eric Schmitt reports. Biden signed off this week on the plan, under which the Pentagon will “enable American instructors to train a Ukrainian battalion — about 600 to 800 troops — each month.”

FROM RUSSIA, WITH WARNING — After the U.S. said this week it will finally send Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, Russia today condemned the move and said Washington had “effectively become a party” to the conflict. A Moscow spokesperson threatened that the transfer “could entail possible consequences.” More from the AP

AMERICA AND THE WORLD

AS BIDEN MEETS WITH AFRICAN LEADERS — “Russia’s Influence Campaign in Africa Targets a U.S. Ally,” by WSJ’s Nicholas Bariyo, Gabriele Steinhauser and Benoit Faucon in Kampala, Uganda: “In a meeting at Uganda’s defense ministry shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian ambassador VLADLEN SEMIVOLOS and the embassy’s head of ideology, EVGENY KALASHNIKOV, told some top officials of President YOWERI MUSEVENI’s government that Western media, a key source of foreign news in the country, portrayed Russia’s actions too negatively … They promised to speed up deliveries of attack helicopters if Uganda began to run Russian government-funded news on Ugandan state television …

“Uganda accepted, they said. Now, for several hours a day, millions who tune into the country’s most widely watched national TV station, the Ugandan Broadcasting Corp., are seeing Moscow’s narrative of the war as a successful campaign to liberate Ukraine, and Western sanctions as the cause of worsening hunger in Africa.”

DANCE OF THE SUPERPOWERS — The Commerce Department today expanded the list of Chinese companies that are all but banned from getting certain U.S. military and tech exports. Thirty-six Chinese entities are newly on the trade blacklist, FT’s Demetri Sevastopulo, Kathrin Hille and Qianer Liu report.

KNOWING NED PRICE — Jewish Insider’s Gabby Deutch profiles the State Department spokesman, who “traces his devotion to public service — and the ideals that he holds dearest — to his Jewish upbringing.” From Temple Emanu-El in Dallas to watching smoke rise from the Pentagon on 9/11, Price reflects on the forces that pushed him toward the CIA, government service and the diplomatic perch he now occupies. He sticks to the script as a spokesperson, but he says being in the public eye (and the accompanying attacks) took some adjustment: “People are going to be watching everything that you do, everything that you say, and in some cases, trying to put that in the worst possible light.”

PLAYBOOKERS

AND THE AWARD GOES TO — Dave Rapallo, a Hill and White House alum now at Georgetown Law, won the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy’s Award for Excellence in Oversight Research for his paper “House Rules: Congress and the Attorney-Client Privilege.” Read it here

OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at a farewell event for Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) hosted by Altria on Wednesday, where remarks were made by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Boehner and Saxby Chambliss: Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Brooke Burr, Elaine Chao, Don Nickles, Ed Rahal, John Fish, Darryl Nirenberg, Becca Glover, Brian Vanderbloemen, Caitlin Carroll, Chris Joyner, Celia Sims, Dave Boyer, Carl Hulse, Robert Kadlec, David Crotts, Louis DeJoy, Jeff Kimbell, Jonathan Felts and Bob Stephenson.

— The new Discovery+ documentary “January 6th” had its D.C. premiere Wednesday evening at the U.S. Navy Memorial, where an audience largely made up of first responders heard from filmmakers Gédéon and Jules Naudet and Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger in opening remarks. They spoke about the bravery and compassion displayed by first responders on Jan. 6 and the importance of telling their stories. SPOTTED: Howard Owens, Igal Svet, Alexa Verveer, John Donnelly, Ian Alberg, Tyler Beardsley, Rebecca Cooper-Dupin, Jack Davies, Todd Flournoy, Michael Isikoff, Kay Kendall, Holly Kinnamon, Tara Palmeri, Adam Parkhomenko, Jocelyn Quinn, Susanna Quinn, Jennifer Simpson, Brooke Stroud Carnot and Kevin Varney.

WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE — Matt Hill will be comms director for the CHIPS program office at the Commerce Department, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond reports. He previously was senior associate comms director at the White House.

MEDIA MOVES — Ana Cabrera is leaving CNN, where she’s been anchoring the 1 p.m. hour, Variety’s Brian Steinberg reports. “She is not believed to have a new contract with any employer, but is widely expected to surface at NBCUniversal after sitting out a non-compete period … One potential landing spot: The 11 a.m. hour at MSNBC.” … Bryce Covert, Kim Kelly and Edward Ongweso Jr. will be the inaugural class of the “Reporters in Residence” program at Omidyar Network, where they will research and report on big-picture economic issues. Covert is a contributing writer at The Nation, Kelly is a labor columnist for Teen Vogue, and Ongweso is a staff writer at Vice’s Motherboard.