DAN PFEIFFER, White House senior adviser, told Playbook exclusively, when asked what President Obama hopes to accomplish tonight: “This is the President’s fifth State of the Union Address, and his seventh opportunity to address a Joint Session of Congress. And while he will address Members of Congress and propose ways they can work together to tackle the challenges we face, tonight is about speaking to the American people. In a time when they get their news in many different ways from many different sources, this is a rare opportunity to address tens of millions of Americans directly, unfiltered by the Beltway lens of the reporters who cover it and the pundits and politicos who tweet about it.

“Over the six years I have worked for him, the President has had a single, consistent economic theory: our economy grows best not from the top-down, but from the middle-out.  Simply put: America is stronger when our middle class is stronger. That was his theory in the 2008 campaign, that was his theory throughout the first term, and that was his theory during last year’s campaign. So you can expect the State of the Union to be very consistent with what the President has been saying for years. A thriving middle class has always been America’s engine of economic growth. Reigniting that engine is the defining challenge of our time. The President’s plan strengthens the middle class by making America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing, equipping every American with the skills they need to do those jobs, and ensuring hard work leads to a decent living.

“That’s what the President will talk about tonight. The President has always viewed his Inaugural Address and the State of the Union Address as two acts in the same play, and you can expect him to expand on the issues he raised in the Inaugural. He will continue to push for many commonsense initiatives that have been historically supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the past. He’ll lay out his plan for balanced deficit reduction. He will unveil some new initiatives in manufacturing, infrastructure, education and clean energy. And there might even be a surprise or two along the way.”

VIEWER’S GUIDE – “5 things to watch for in the State of the Union,” by Carrie Budoff Brown and Reid J. Epstein: “The president views the speech as finishing a thought that began with the Inauguration, aides say, with a deeper focus on job creation and the economy but no shortage of attention to the controversial social issues that top his to-do list. … 1. Soft, strident or somewhere in between? Obama irritated Republicans with his unapologetically liberal inaugural address — and the lack of any perceived olive branch quickly became the news. But as Obama prepares to move his agenda into legislation, he’ll need congressional — and at least some Republican — support. … Obama hasn’t exactly moved out of campaign mode. … Obama name-checking the Republicans who are working with Democrats on guns and immigration may look like a magnanimous act to the world outside Washington but here, it could be fatal to the delicate talks. …

“2. Will there be a breakthrough jobs plan? … Aides said the president will push for investments in four areas: infrastructure, strengthening the manufacturing sector, clean energy and education. None of this is particularly surprising. …

“3. How far does he go on guns? … There has been little support beyond Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for a proposed assault weapons ban, and virtually all of the White House’s gun efforts have been focused on universal background checks — which has yet to receive much support from Republicans in the House or Senate. …

“4. What will the Obama vs. Rubio dynamic be? Obama will have to do something he’s not used to: share the stage. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), whose meteoric rise has been compared with Obama’s, will deliver the Republican response to the State of the Union, a proving ground for potential presidential candidates. And his performance may generate as much post-game punditry on the cable news shows as the president’s. … The path to a bipartisan immigration deal runs through Rubio’s office. … Publicly, White House aides have been nonchalant about Rubio. Behind the scenes, they are intrigued by his every move. Does Obama acknowledge Rubio or continue to ignore him? For Rubio, the calculus is tougher: He must appeal to Republicans searching for an Obama alternative for 2016 and present and defend the broad GOP agenda, all while not alienating the base by getting too close to Obama. ‘From Rubio’s point of view, it’s less offering a rebuttal of the president’s speech and more an audition for a leading role in a future Republican Party,’ said Jim Kessler, the senior vice president of the centrist think tank Third Way. …

“5. What’s the hashtag? … [I]n 2010, Obama’s theme was ‘We won’t quit, I won’t quit.’ After being gashed in the midterm elections, in 2011, Obama offered a more aspirational ‘We do big things’ and a call to ‘Our generation’s Sputnik moment’ as he urged people to get behind his ‘winning the future’ slogan. And building into his reelection campaign, Obama in 2012 described his vision as ‘An America built to last.’ One possibility for Tuesday night: ‘Now is the time,’ the phrase Obama and Biden have used repeatedly to describe the White House gun control push.” http://politi.co/V2K3tK

RNC is using #NotSerious … YouTube http://bit.ly/Y6mwmb

--“GOP launching SOTU website,” by Jake Sherman: “The House Republican Conference, led by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state, will unveil www.GOP.gov/SOTU on Tuesday, to provide a ‘second-screen experience’ … ‘We’re taking [the] president’s speech text and pairing it with fact check and responses by Republicans,’ said Tim Cameron, who runs social media for the GOP conference. ‘Those can come in the form of your traditional fact check and also embedded tweets, and infographics and so forth. It’s going to be a living and breathing document online for us for the next week or so as we continue to flesh it out and our members continues to respond, whether that’s in the media or whether they develop research material to refute one of Obama’s points.’ … The site will feature tweets from members of Congress, and top communications aides in leadership offices like Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) press secretaries Michael Steel and Brendan Buck, and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) press secretaries Erica Elliott and Mike Long.” http://politi.co/14PIIHn

--NEW ON THE TWITTERS:@GOPEspanol, from the House Republican Conference

BULLETIN – “N. Korea threatens further action if U.S. remains ‘hostile’” – Reuters/Seoul: “North Korea's Foreign Ministry said its nuclear test … was an act of self-defence in response to hostility from the United States … ‘This nuclear test was only the first response we took with maximum restraint,’ … the ministry .. said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. ‘If the United States continues to come out with hostility and complicates the situation, we will be forced to take stronger, second and third responses in consecutive steps.’ … The North said the test had ‘greater explosive force’ than … 2006 and 2009 tests. … North Korean leader Kim Jong-un … has presided over two long-range rocket launches and a nuclear test during his first a year in power, pursuing policies that have propelled his impoverished and malnourished country closer to becoming a nuclear weapons power.”

--1:48 a.m. “Statement by the President on North Korean announcement of nuclear test”: “North Korea announced today that it conducted a third nuclear test. This is a highly provocative act that, following its December 12 ballistic missile launch, undermines regional stability, violates North Korea’s obligations under numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions, contravenes its commitments under the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks, and increases the risk of proliferation. North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs constitute a threat to U.S. national security and to international peace and security. … The danger posed by North Korea’s threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community. The United States will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies.”

**A message from the National Association of Manufacturers: Today manufacturers are releasing “A Growth Agenda: Four Goals for a Manufacturing Resurgence in America.” This blueprint for competitiveness will unleash the power of manufacturing and spur economic growth. When the state of manufacturing is strong, then the state of our union is strong. Visit www.nam.org  for more information.**

FIRST LOOK – “The Carlyle Group Names Barrett Karr to Lead Government Affairs in U.S.”: “Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group … announced that Barrett Karr will join the firm as a Principal in the Global External Affairs Group where she will lead the firm’s U.S. government affairs. In this position Ms. Karr will provide insights, analysis and strategy to the firm, its funds and portfolio companies. Ms. Karr comes to Carlyle from the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where she serves as Majority Staff Director. She begins her duties in March and will be based in Washington …

“Karr succeeds Bryan Corbett, who has taken a new position in Carlyle's Executive Group. … David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, said, ‘As the private industry grows and matures, thoughtful and timely dialogue with policymakers at all levels of government is increasingly important. We are fortunate to have someone of Barrett’s caliber join our firm.” As Majority Staff Director of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Ms. Karr oversees a team of 50 people, designs the committee agenda and schedule, and coordinates legislative operations with House, Senate and Administration counterparts. Prior to becoming Staff Director in 2009, Ms. Karr was Deputy Assistant for Legislative Affairs to President George W. Bush. From 1995-2005, Ms. Karr served in the Office of Congresswoman Kay Granger, the latter four years as Chief of Staff. Ms. Karr is a graduate of Texas Christian University and earned her MA in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University.”

CLICK DU JOUR – “The Dirty Game, … a six-month, multiformat AP examination of how organized crime is corrupting soccer through match-fixing” – Part 1, out this a.m., “Soccer faces epic fight against match-fixing,” by AP Assistant Europe Editor Sheila Norman-Culp in Zurich: “Internet betting, emboldened criminal gangs and even the economic downturn … make soccer … a lucrative target. … At least 50 nations in 2012 had match-fixing investigations — almost a quarter of the 209 members of FIFA, soccer's governing body … Europol, the European Union's police body, announced last week that it had found 680 ‘suspicious’ games worldwide since 2008, including 380 in Europe. Sportradar, a company in London that monitors global sports betting, estimates that about 300 soccer games a year in Europe alone could be rigged. … Globalization has propelled the fortunes of … soccer teams like Manchester United and showered millions in TV revenue on clubs that get into tournaments like Europe's Champions League. Criminals have realized that it can be vastly easier to shift gambling profits across borders than it is to move contraband.” http://yhoo.it/WXE1ri

ELEVATOR FODDER – NYDailyNews.com, “BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE! … how a Bronx Democrat has become king of the State of the Union AISLE HOGS – grabbing a front row seat and a handshake from Presidents since 1989,” by Dan Friedman: “Presidents come and Presidents go, but … [Rep. Eliot] Engel … will be seated on the center aisle, perfectly positioned to shake hands with the President … ‘I will be in my district somewhere in December and someone will say to me, “I saw you on TV’ … I'll think it was one of the many interviews I've done, but they'll say “No. You were shaking the President's hand.” People remember me shaking the President's hand.’ … For rank-and-file lawmakers, … State of the Union is strictly festival seating … He said he would arrive on the House floor by 10 a.m. Tuesday and stake his claim … He can leave for the bathroom, lunch, even for brief meetings near the chamber. A colleague will keep an eye on the spot. The congressman has meetings with constituent groups and an interview with MSNBC scheduled during his wait.” http://nydn.us/WheXeS

--WashPost A1, below fold, “SQUATTERS: Lawmakers wait hours on the aisle for a few seconds of presidential showtime,” by David A. Fahrenthold, with Ed O’Keefe: “The payoff … lasts about five seconds. But oh, those are five good seconds. There’s you, on national TV. And the leader of the free world seems to be laughing at your shared, private joke. ‘I said, “Don’t forget us in North Carolina!” . . . And he would say, “How could I?”’ said Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) … ‘And we would erupt in laughter.’ … For the people on the aisle, the State of the Union is a rare night when a low-ranking legislator can score both a TV appearance and a personal audience with the president. ‘“Stand by Israel, now,” or “Stick with Israel, now,”’ said Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), recounting what he used to say to President George W. Bush. ‘Bush would usually say, “Oh, I believe that.” “Oh, I will.”’ …

“Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.) will bring an illegal immigrant. Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Tex.) will bring fiery anti-Obama rocker Ted Nugent. This is the newfangled way to grab some of the president’s spotlight. … ‘Members will not be allowed to reserve seats prior to the joint session by placement of placards or personal items. Chamber Security may remove these items from the seats,’ said a note sent out Monday by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the majority whip. ‘Members may reserve their seats only by physical presence.’” http://wapo.st/Z7gCrx

BREAKING – “Pope's brother: Benedict seeks quiet retirement,” by AP’s Frank Jordans in Regensburg, Germany: “Pope Benedict XVI is planning to stay out of the public eye following his retirement at the end of the month and will probably not even write any more, his brother said Tuesday after talking with the pontiff.  … 89-year-old Georg Ratzinger said his brother also has no plans to move back to his German homeland but would instead stay in the Vatican. … ‘He has been thinking about it for several months … He concluded that his powers are falling victim to age.’ … A prolific writer during his papacy, Ratzinger said that was also something his brother would now likely end. ‘I don't think he will write anymore,’ Ratzinger said. Rudolf Voderholzer, the bishop of Regensburg who is also in charge of the pope's theological institute that publishes his work, said even if Benedict does write, not more would be published during his lifetime. ‘Anything he published could be conceived as interference in the work of the next pope,’ he said. As for his successor, Ratzinger said only that his brother ‘feels that a younger person is needed to deal with the problems of the times.’”

--HOW IT’S PLAYING: N.Y. Post cover, “I’M OUTTA HERE, GUYS!” … N.Y. Daily News, “POPE SHOCK” … N.Y. Times banner, “POPE RESIGNS, WITH CHURCH AT CROSSROADS” … Financial Times, “‘My strengths are no longer suited to the Petrine ministry’” … The (London) Times, “‘I’m too frail to go on’” … USA Today, “A FINAL ACT TRANSFORMS CHURCH” … WSJ 4-col. lead, “Pope Resigns in Historic Move” … WP 5-col. lead, “Pope Benedict to step down” … L.A. Times banner, “POPE STEPS DOWN: Benedict cites his frail health in surprise announcement” … Chicago Tribune banner (with “2 charged in teen’s killing” above flag), “The first pope to step down since the Middle Ages, Benedict XVI gives up leadership of a church that’s seeking renewal” … Boston Globe banner, “A sudden papal resignation.”

TONIGHT'S COVERAGE:

--POLITICO: “POLITICO LIVE’s special coverage of State of the Union 2013 kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with Rachel Smolkin and Jonathan Allen, plus analysis from Jim VandeHei and an interview with Gene Sperling at the White House. Primetime coverage continues at 8:30 p.m. with John Harris, Jim VandeHei, Lois Romano, Mike Allen and more.” POLITICO.com/live and NewsChannel 8

--ABC: “Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos will anchor live coverage from Washington … joined by … Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl and Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz reporting from the Capitol; ABC News Senior National Correspondent Jim Avila; ABC News Special Correspondent and Political Analyst Matthew Dowd, George Will, Donna Brazile and Nicolle Wallace … Diane Sawyer will anchor ‘World News’ from Washington … Terry Moran will anchor ‘Nightline’ from Washington. [Tomorrow] morning, George Stephanopoulos will co-anchor ‘Good Morning America’ from Washington …

“ABC News Radio will provide extensive coverage … anchored by ABC News correspondent Aaron Katersky, with ABCNews White House correspondent Ann Compton, ABC News correspondent Vic Ratner on Capitol Hill, ABC News Radio correspondent Steven Portnoy and ABC News political analysts Sam Donaldson, Steve Roberts and Trey Hardin.

--CBS: “Scott Pelley will broadcast live from Washington … He will also anchor the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY … live from Washington … Pelley will conduct a broad-ranging interview with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) for the broadcast. During the primetime coverage, Pelley will be joined by CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent and Anchor of FACE THE NATION Bob Schieffer and CBS THIS MORNING co-host Norah O’Donnell. CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett and CBS News Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes will … report during the coverage.”

--CNN: “Leading the network’s coverage will be anchors Wolf Blitzer, Kate Bolduan, Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Chris Cuomo and Jake Tapper. Special guests providing analysis and perspective include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. Dana Bash will report live from inside the U.S. House chamber and Jessica Yellin will provide updates from the White House. Commentary will be provided throughout the evening by chief political analyst Gloria Borger, senior political analyst David Gergen, along with political contributors Cornell Belcher, Donna Brazile, Alex Castellanos, Margaret Hoover, Van Jones and Ana Navarro. … On the magic wall, chief national correspondent John King will provide a report card on first term State of the Union promises.”

--Fox News Channel: “Bret Baier will anchor the special coverage with contributions from a rotating team of commentators including: political analyst Juan Williams and FNC contributors Charles Krauthammer and Nina Easton. Additionally, chief White House correspondent Ed Henry and chief congressional correspondent Mike Emanuel will provide live reports from the White House and Capitol Hill, respectively.

“On … FOX Broadcasting, … FNC’s Shepard Smith will anchor separate live coverage beginning at 9:00PM/ET. FOX News Sunday host Chris Wallace will join Smith to provide analysis of the address and the Republican response. FNC’s special programming will include: 8:00-8:55PM/ET – The O’Reilly Factor … 8:55-10:40PM/ET – State of the Union Address, the Republican Response and post-address analysis anchored by Bret Baier … 10:40-11:00PM/ET – On The Record with Greta Van Susteren (live) … 11:00PM-12:00AM/ET – Hannity (live).”

--MSNBC: “Coverage will be hosted by Rachel Maddow with Chris Matthews joined by Reverend Al Sharpton, Ed Schultz and Lawrence O’Donnell. Guests and contributors will include Chris Hayes, Melissa Harris Perry, Ezra Klein, Michael Steele, Eugene Robinson, Robert Gibbs, Victoria DeFrancesco Soto and Howard Fineman. Chris Matthews will anchor an additional live hour from 12 a.m. - 1 a.m. ET. Other guests for the midnight hour will include David Corn, Joy-Ann Reid, … Bob Shrum and Ron Reagan.”

--NBC: “The … broadcast will be anchored live from Washington, DC by … Brian Williams, joined by ‘Meet the Press’ moderator David Gregory, ‘TODAY’ co-host Savannah Guthrie, NBC News political director and chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd, and chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell, as well as Capitol Hill correspondent Kelly O’Donnell inside the House chamber. Following the Republican response, … Williams will get further reaction from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), joining from Capitol Hill, and Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA), joining from the Governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge.”

--PBS: “Jim Lehrer will anchor the NewsHour's special live broadcast coverage with analysis from columnists Mark Shields and Michael Gerson.”

MEDIAWATCH – DAVID LEONHARDT, N.Y. Times Washington bureau chief, announces a “new desk structure”: “Carl Hulse will resuscitate the title of Washington Editor and oversee all day-to-day operations in the bureau. I said when Carl started his current job, as a Deputy Bureau Chief, that you wanted him by your side on a big story, because he would make you smarter and make you laugh, and it’s even truer than I realized. … Joining us on the desk will be Elisabeth Bumiller, who has had as impressive and varied a run of political writing as anyone in this city. She has covered the Pentagon with flair and smarts since late 2008 and previously has covered the White House, McCain campaign, and Giuliani’s City Hall. … As a Deputy Bureau Chief, she will be overseeing much of our domestic coverage. Bill Hamilton also becomes a Deputy Bureau chief, continuing to oversee national-security coverage. Bill’s old colleagues, at The Post and Politico, told us that we were getting one of Washington’s finest editors when we hired him last year, and he’s proven them right. …

“Paul Volpe is already off to a flying start in the bureau after a highly successful run as Deputy Politics Editor during the campaign. … [H]e will take charge of our continuing expansion into journalism that extends beyond newspaper stories -- social media, video, dashboards, online enterprise work and other real-time coverage of news on the Web … He becomes Deputy Washington Editor. Sarah Wheaton returns to the bureau, as many of us hoped she would, to become a senior staff editor, after having edited the 2012 politics app. We have been missing having someone in a dedicated Web-production role for two years, and Sarah will take on a variety of areas. … And she will help us conceive and execute ambitious online enterprise. She’ll do so through a combination of editing, writing and producing. … Rebecca [Corbett], Len Apcar, Dave Joachim, Tom Redburn and I round out the desk.” http://bit.ly/Vd7vlA

--ABC and UNIVISION announce: “ABC and Univision today announced their joint venture news and lifestyle network for U.S. Hispanics will be called Fusion.  The ground-breaking media service launches in the second half of 2013. … Five of the nation’s biggest cable distributors have already agreed to carry the network, including Cablevision, Charter, Cox, AT&T U-verse and Google Fiber.Programming will focus on the issues most relevant for U.S. Hispanics, including the economy, entertainment, music, food, immigration, pop culture, education, politics, health and wellness and more. Fusion will be based in Miami.”

ABRAHAM LINCOLN was born 204 years ago (1809).

-- In honor of Lincoln's Birthday, H+K Strategies is kicking off “D.C. Social Media Week,” with four historic presidential twitter feeds. Follow along to win prizes and see how our former presidents would have fared in 140 characters or less: twitter.com/HKSDigital/follow-the-leaders.

BIRTHDAYS: Robert Griffin III is 23 … Susan Page … Jim VandeHei … MSNBC's Robert Zeliger (hat tips: Patrick Gavin) … Charlotte Sellmyer, press secretary for the House Homeland Security Committee (hat tip: Erika Masonhall) … Tiffany Adams from NAM (h/t Erik Rosedahl) … movie director Franco Zeffirelli is 90 … Joe Garagiola is 87 …  Bill Russell is 79 … Judy Blume is 75 … Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is 71 … Arsenio Hall is 58 … Josh Brolin is 45  (h/ts AP)

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Hugh’s mom, a.k.a. Johanna Maska, White House Director of Press Advance (hat tips: hubby Henry Jackson, Ashley Tate-Gilmore and Caroline Coscia, who were on time!) … Chris Hensman, director of the press office at State and former NSC, served in Iraq in between with wife, Oni, who works for Deputy Secretary Bill Burns (hat tip: Ben Chang)

BIRTHDAY TOMORROW: Alex Burgos (hat tip: Alex Conant) … FRIDAY: Kerry Feehery (hat tip: hubby John)

**A message from the National Association of Manufacturers: Today manufacturers are releasing “A Growth Agenda: Four Goals for a Manufacturing Resurgence in America.” This blueprint for competitiveness will unleash the power of manufacturing and spur economic growth. When the state of manufacturing is strong, then the state of our union is strong. Visit www.nam.org for more information.**