By MICHAEL FALCONE ( @michaelpfalcone )

NOTABLES

• NEW YORK REP. MICHAEL GRIMM EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO FELONY TAX CHARGE. Rep. Michael Grimm is expected to plead guilty to a felony tax charge, federal officials told ABC News. Grimm, R-New York, is alleged to have solicited and accepted prohibited campaign contributions, caused false information to be included in campaign finance reports and allegedly made a deal with a foreign national to collect campaign contributions in exchange for help getting a green card. A plea hearing has been scheduled for today at 1 p.m. ET in a Brooklyn court, ABC's JOHN PARKINSON and JOSH MARGOLIN report. http://abcn.ws/1E3LGgr

• THE SPEAKER HASN'T SPOKEN: As PARKINSON notes, so far House Speaker John Boehner has not weighed in on Grimm's case. Convicted felons are not compelled to resign from office, so Grimm could still hang on and be sworn into the 114th Congress next month. Still, a felony conviction could pave the way for the House Ethics Committee to rule on Grimm's case, potentially prompting expulsion or censure by the House.

THE ROUNDTABLE

ABC's RICK KLEIN: It might end up being the hottest ticket on the Hill - the only question being which party gets to claim premiere rights. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., wants a screening of "The Interview" at the Capitol. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., thinks President Obama should show the movie at the White House. Sen. Mark Kirk, D-Ill., wants to feature the comedy at a campaign fundraiser. It's only a matter of time before someone wants a giant drive-in set up on the National Mall. If Sony is serious about wanting willing exhibitors, could it be that one of these political stunts actually results in the film being seen?

ABC's SHUSHANNAH WALSHE: Just two days before Christmas, Rep. Michael Grimm is expected to plead guilty today to a felony tax evasion charge. Speaker John Boehner has not spoken up on whether he thinks Grimm needs to stay or go and convicted felons are able to stay in Congress so he could still begin serving another term next month. But, will he or will he be pressured to step aside? It's likely Boehner and other GOP leaders are quiet because they prefer Grimm to make that decision-and announcement-on his own, without prodding. But, if he does step down do both parties have possible candidates in the wings? Democratic contender Dominic Recchia lost to Grimm last month in what turned out to not even be a close race, despite the Staten Island congressman's indictment. Will Recchia make another run for it or will Democrats puts up a stronger challenge? It's likely all this is being sorted out now, behind closed doors, probably not what anyone wanted on their Christmas to-do list.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

FROM PATTING DOWN GRANDMAS TO PRE-CHECK: RETIRING TSA CHIEF LOOKS BACK ON LEGACY. When you think about airport security these days, do you think about long lines and babies being patted down? Or has your view of the Transportation Safety Administration softened? ABC's DAVID KERLEY, MATT HOSFORD, and JORDYN PHELPS reports on the man who is retiring and thinks he has changed the "TSA brand." http://yhoo.it/13r1VD8

THE BUZZ

with VERONICA STRACQUALURSI

MIDDLE EAST PEACE, IRAN DEAL ON KERRY'S WISH LIST. This holiday season, Secretary of State John Kerry is probably looking for some things that can't fit down a chimney or under a tree. ABC's ALI WEINBERG notes a few items that are likely on his wish list - plus what he's more likely to get in the New Year. http://abcn.ws/1vhz3F1

ARIZONA SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO SUES PRESIDENT OBAMA OVER IMMIGRATION ORDER. A lawyer for controversial Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio urged a federal court judge to stop the president from "ramming" new immigration policies "down the throats of the American people." ABC's STEVEN PORTNOY reports, Larry Klayman, founder of the conservative legal group Judicial Watch, urged Washington, D.C. District Court Judge Beryl Howell to issue an injunction blocking Obama's executive actions, which Klayman called a "blanket amnesty." "The president does not have the right to take matters into his own hands and ram it down the throats of the American people because he thinks he's above the law," Klayman told reporters Monday after a hearing on his motion that lasted more than an hour. http://abcn.ws/1E3jH0r

WHAT'S NEXT FOR BOWE BERGDAHL? The Army has forwarded its investigation results of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl's disappearance to a four-star general who will decide if any disciplinary action is warranted. ABC's LUIS MARTINEZ reports, the general could decide on a number of possible outcomes, ranging from no further action to a possible court martial for the soldier held by the Taliban for five years after he left his post in eastern Afghanistan. http://abcn.ws/1JKpet1

OBAMA IN HAWAII: SCENES FROM A PRESIDENTIAL MOTORCADE. In DC, everyone's used to seeing motorcades clogging up traffic. But on the quiet shores of Oahu, noisy VIP convoys are not the norm. (A Washington Post pool reporter counted 18 cars in the president's motorcade on Sunday.) ABC's JON GARCIA shows what Obama's visit looks like to residents and visitors in the area. http://abcn.ws/1AmVKgt

NBA COMMISSIONER TO CHRIS CHRISTIE: JOIN ME TO EXPAND SPORTS BETTING. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is inviting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to join him in lobbying Congress to rewrite federal laws on expanding legalized sports gambling. ABC's RICK KLEIN notes, the NBA and the other major professional sports leagues are actually fighting New Jersey in court to enforce a federal ban on most sports betting outside of Nevada. But Silver said that rather than fight New Jersey and other states, his league can work with them to establish a uniform federal structure. "Governor Christie, and I'm happy to join him, should turn his attention to Washington, DC, to Congress, and say, 'Here are all the reasons it should be regulated, but let's come up with a framework that makes sense on a national basis presumably that would allow states to opt in,' " Silver said. http://abcn.ws/1E3qfMC

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

HOW NOT TO BE 'NAUGHTY' WITH YOUR DRONE THIS CHRISTMAS. Just in time for Christmas, we learned that the Federal Aviation Administration apparently has its own "naughty-or-nice" list. ABC's ERIN DOOLEY writes, the FAA, which regulates civil drone use, released a holiday-themed video advising unmanned aircraft operators to stay off the agency's "naughty list" by flying drones lighter than "the world's largest bunny rabbit." http://abcn.ws/1xbAY4i

WHO'S TWEETING?

@washingtonpost: China is reluctant to join the U.S. in punishing North Korea over cyberattacks: http://wapo.st/1vjBzup

@GlennThrush: Tough morning for GOP press release writers MT @davidjoachim : Wowzer --> Economy grew at a 5% rate last quarter, biggest advance since 03

@rebeccagberg: Chris Christie is quietly honing his foreign policy chops with after-hours conference calls http://news.yahoo.com/night-christie-doing-2016-foreign-policy-homework-155906409-election.html …

@rollcall: There's a decent shot congressional ethics will get more attention in the new year from both the public & Congress: http://roll.cl/1v9c5Pu

@peterbakernyt: In picking @SteveCollNY to look at discredited U-Va piece, @RollingStone picked the best in the business. @Hadas_Gold http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/12/columbia-journalism-school-to-conduct-rolling-stone-200284.html?hp=b2_l3 …