President Biden's reluctance to acknowledge his physical limitations at age 81 is causing some tension on his team, as senior aides and First Lady Jill Biden push him to rest more and be vigilant about his health going into 2024, Axios' Alex Thompson reports.

• Why it matters: Current and former aides say Biden is extraordinarily energetic for his age. But his repeated insistence that he feels so young can draw eye rolls: Some current and former aides believe Biden doesn't realize how old he can come across.

In conversations with aides and friends, Biden frequently says some version of: "I feel so much younger than my age."

• Managing Biden's schedule and energy has become crucial to his re-election campaign, given widespread voter concerns about his ability to do the job until January 2029, when he'll be 86.

What's happening: Current and former Biden aides say he often pushes to do more travel and events than they think he should.

• This creates a cycle in which he wears himself out, then appears fatigued during public events — which can increase concerns about his age.

📅 Behind the scenes: Jill Biden and her team are deeply involved in the president's day-to-day schedule.

• She often works to get him as much rest as possible, and to improve his diet.

💭 Ted Kaufman, Biden's longtime friend and another former chief of staff, told Axios: "This is something that Biden's been doing for his whole life — he always wants to do more."

After resisting, Biden has made very occasional self-deprecating jokes about his age. He quipped at a September fundraiser:

• "I've never been more optimistic about our country's future in the 800 years I've served."

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Wastewater analysis sites nationwide are showing high levels of COVID as we head into the holiday travel season, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Alice Feng report from the latest CDC data.

• Almost every state reporting such data is showing at least "high" levels compared to baseline trends, with 22 reporting "very high" levels.

🧮 By the numbers: There have been nearly 67,200 COVID-related deaths this year. That's down significantly from 246,200 last year and 463,300 in 2021 — but is still a considerable toll.

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The 118th Congress, which ends after next year, is on track to be one of the most unproductive in modern history, with just a couple dozen laws on the books so far, Andrew Solender writes for Axios Sneak Peek.

• Why it matters: Divided partisan control of Washington — plus infighting in the House Republican majority — have routinely ground legislative business to a halt.

Just 20 bills have passed both chambers and been signed into law this year, with another four awaiting President Biden's signature, according to data that the public affairs software firm Quorum provided to Axios.

• That's far below even historically unproductive first years: The 104th, 112th and 113th Congresses, in which Republicans controlled one or both chambers with Democrats Bill Clinton and Barack Obama in the White House, passed between 70 and 73 laws.

🔬 Zoom in: When you dig into the laws passed by this Congress, the picture is even bleaker.

• The vast majority were uncontroversial bills that passed by unanimous consent or with minimal opposition. They include multiple measures to rename Veterans Affairs clinics — and one to mint a coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps.

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Bill Gates used his annual year-end letter to predict a massive wave of AI innovation beginning in 2024.

• "The work that will be done over the next year is setting the stage for a massive technology boom later this decade," Gates writes.

Why it matters: Gates draws on his vast experience with technological disruption to urge us to keep the faith in AI's potential. But Gates admits that the new technology sometimes confuses even him, Axios' Ryan Heath writes.

⏰ The timeline: Gates says we're 18–24 months away from widespread AI adoption in the U.S., and three years away in Africa.

🥊 Reality check: "I thought I would use AI tools for the foundation's strategy reviews this year, which require reading hundreds of pages of briefing materials," Gates admitted, but "I ended up preparing for them the same way I always do."

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a multinational maritime security force — Operation Prosperity Guardian — to protect ships in the Red Sea from missile and drone attacks from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.

• "The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law," Austin said.

Why it matters: The attacks in the key commercial shipping route have prompted some cargo shippers to halt transits through the Red Sea.

What's happening: Since the Israel-Hamas war started, the Houthis have launched more than 70 drones and ballistic missiles toward Israel, which is more than 1,000 miles away from Yemen, the IDF said.

• Houthis are targeting commercial ships in the vicinity of the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea, which they claimed were owned by Israeli companies or were heading to Israel.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed unusual legislation that authorizes state officials to arrest and seek the deportation of migrants who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization.

• Why it matters: The new law, due to take effect in March, is a major escalation in Abbott's pushback against President Biden's border policies. Critics say it's unconstitutional and could lead to racial profiling, Axios' Rebecca Falconer writes.

The law makes it a state misdemeanor to illegally cross the border and a second-degree felony for illegal re-entry, with punishments ranging from 180 days in jail to 20 years in prison.

• It permits a judge to order an undocumented person to return to Mexico.

👓 What we're watching: SB 4 is likely to face legal challenges.

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Shares of U.S. Steel surged after Japan-based Nippon Steel announced plans to purchase the iconic American producer in a deal valued at $14.9 billion — nearly double what U.S. rival Cleveland-Cliffs had offered for the company just four months ago.

• Why it matters: Founded in 1901, U.S. Steel was a 20th century industrial giant, and remained the largest steelmaker in the country as recently as 2014, Matt Phillips writes for Axios Markets.

U.S. Steel now is the third largest steelmaker in the U.S., behind Nucor and Cleveland-Cliffs.

• Nippon Steel is the world's fourth-largest steel producer. The acquisition boosts its presence in the U.S., where post-pandemic trends are fueling demand.

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"Wonka" debuted at No. 1 ($39 million in sales) at North American box offices over the weekend — a strong start for the Willy Wonka musical that underscores the draw of 27-year-old Timothée Chalamet, AP reports.

• Why it matters: "Wonka" is expected to be the go-to choice for families over the holidays. Its main competition will be Universal Pictures' animated "Migration."

"Wonka," which cost about $125 million to produce and played at 4,203 locations, was the first big Hollywood release to launch following the end of the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike.

🔎 Between the lines: Musicals have been tough sells in theaters in recent years — so much so that Warner Bros. downplayed the song and dance elements of "Wonka" in trailers.

🧮 By the numbers: Chalamet is drawing younger ticket buyers. Moviegoers under the age of 25 accounted for 36% of the audience, which was split evenly between 51% females and 49% males.

• "Chalamet is a true movie star who's been developing his craft and his reputation over many years," says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. "Everybody's looking for who's the next big movie star. Is it all about the old-school leading men? Chalamet is definitely that."

Watch the trailer.