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BUYING ONE MORE WEEK — Congress is looking for a little extra time. Action is expected on a one-week stopgap spending bill to extend Friday’s deadline to fund the government as negotiations continue on a deal to settle disputes over a full year funding agreement with new topline spending levels. The short term measure could be introduced as soon as today, with House action as soon as Wednesday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) put members on notice to expect the short term continuing resolution on the floor this week.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) told reporters Monday night that “I think we’re closer” and that she’s “optimistic we can get to yes.”

While talks have continued, Democrats and Republicans have been stuck for weeks on topline numbers for defense and nondefense spending, with about a $26 billion discrepancy on the total amount for domestic spending.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said that “we were negotiating up to two minutes ago and I’ve got another meeting in five minutes.”

More on the latest spending details from Caitlin, Sarah and Burgess.

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, Dec. 13, where we hear there is hot competition underfoot for holiday decorations across the Hill. Send your Huddle host photos.

SOLVING A PROBLEM LIKE SINEMA— That’s the task for the Democrats’ next Senate campaigns chief. And it's not like there is a line of eager candidates for the job.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s (I-Ariz.) exit from the Democratic party is agitating how the party approaches 2024, including who wants to lead the campaign arm. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Gary Peters (D-Mich.) won’t stay on for the next cycle and whoever takes the helm will have to navigate a tricky path in Arizona.

Sure, Sinema’s move means there won’t be a contested Democratic primary. But for Democrats, it opens the door to something even worse: a three candidate battle where Sinema and a Democrat siphon votes from each other and give a Republican the plurality path to victory.

The DSCC backs Democratic incumbents, but does someone who left the party and won’t attend caucus meetings count? Burgess and Marianne dig into where Sinema’s situation diverges from Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and how the Democratic caucus is approaching it at this early point.

SUDDENLY UNAVAILABLE — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was set to testify (remotely) before the House Financial Services Committee today about how his Bahamas-based crypto exchange went bust. And then he was arrested.

Earlier in the day, Bankman-Fried said that his testimony would be “frustrating and underwhelming in some ways” because he wasn’t going to be able to answer the questions as honestly as he wants to, Sam Sutton reported.

The show must go on: House Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said she was “surprised” last night by the arrest of today’s star witness, but pledged to continue with the hearing and testimony from restructuring expert John J. Ray III, who now leads FTX in the aftermath of its collapse. Read Ray’s written testimony here.

McEACHIN SEAT — There won’t be a long wait to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) last month. A special election will be held Feb. 21, but first Democrats in the 4th District will pick between nominees at a party-run "firehouse primary" on Dec. 20. The district is heavily Democratic and the Dem candidate is expected to face Leon Benjamin, who lost to McEachin by 30 points in November. Mary Ellen McIntire from CQ Roll Call has more on who is weighing a run.

Peak Don Young… The Senate agreed on Monday night to rename Mt. Cerberus, a 2,600-foot volcanic mountain in the Aleutian Islands, for the late Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska).

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said the state’s delegation was looking for monuments to name after Young and that a volcano “that continues to blow its top” would be fitting, given his reputation for being, at times, explosive.

Mr. Mayor… The Chair of the Committee on House Administration is nicknamed the “Mayor of Capitol Hill,” but last night the ranking member owned that title. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) was feted at a surprise farewell party by his colleagues. Olivia captured Davis, decked out in a mayoral sash.

QUICK LINKS 

Mark Meadows Exchanged Texts With 34 Members Of Congress About Plans To Overturn The 2020 Election, from Hunter Walker, Josh Kovensky and Emine Yücel at Talking Points Memo

Feinstein says she won’t step down early from Senate, from Nolan D. McCaskill at The Los Angeles Times

Why one rising GOP senator is tapping out for a governor's race instead, from Burgess

TRANSITIONS 

Rising with Hudson: There’s a slate of promotions in Rep. Richard Hudson’s (R-N.C.) office, including chief of staff Billy Constangy’s move to leadership chief of staff following Hudson’s ascension into GOP leadership. Elliott Guffin will replace Constangy as chief and Molly Lolli replaces Guffin as legislative director.

Samantha Carter is now director of marketing and comms for the House Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. She most recently was the digital director for Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and is a House Budget Committee alum.

Craig Kwiecinski is joining Rep.-elect Hillary Scholten’s (D-Mich.) office as chief of staff. He previously was chief of staff for Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.).

Ryan Dierker will be legislative director for Rep.-elect Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.). He previously was legislative assistant for Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and is a Mark Amodei and Brad Wenstrup alum.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House convenes at noon for legislative business.

The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. and will resume consideration of Dana M. Douglas to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, with a vote expected around noon. The Senate will vote again at 2:15 p.m. The Senate will vote again at 7 p.m. on a procedural step on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) proposal on ending the U.S. military support of the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

AROUND THE HILL

12:30 p.m. House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Assistant Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) hold a press conference after the Democratic Caucus meeting (Studio A).

1 p.m. House Rules Committee meeting on legislation expected on the floor this week (H-313).

3 p.m. Senate Rules and Administration Committee hearing on oversight of the U.S. Capitol Police at 3 p.m. (301 Russell)

2 p.m. Senate Democratic and GOP leaders hold separate press conferences following closed door caucus lunches (Ohio Clock Corridor).

MONDAY’S WINNER: Jasmine Daniel correctly answered that Bush v. Gore, deciding the 2000 presidential election, was decided on Dec. 12, 2000.

TODAY’S QUESTION from Jasmine: Who was the first Black Nobel laureate?

The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to [email protected]

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Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus