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 Developing now, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019

• President Trump invites congressional leaders to the White House for a border security briefing on Wednesday as both sides look for ways to end the partial government shutdown
• U.S. authorities fire tear gas at Central American migrants trying to enter the country illegally at the southern border 
• Democrats are expected to start pushing a long list of big government bills when they take control of the House on Thursday
• Republican Utah Sen.-elect Mitt Romney, a frequent Trump foe, slams the president’s character in an op-ed for the Washington Post 
• An illegal immigrant accused of killing a California police officer is scheduled to be arraigned on murder charges Wednesday

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THE LEAD STORY – LET'S MAKE A DEAL? -  Congressional leaders from both parties are expected to attend a briefing on border security at the White House as the partial government shutdown approaches the two-week mark ... Funding for President Trump's long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has been the main sticking point since the shutdown began Dec. 22. The president on Tuesday suggested he would be willing to compromise with the Democrats, though he has repeatedly accused them of not caring about securing the border. “Border Security and the Wall ‘thing’ and Shutdown is not where Nancy Pelosi wanted to start her tenure as Speaker!” Trump tweeted. “Let’s make a deal?”
Wednesday's briefing, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, takes place the day before Democrats are to assume control of the House and end the Republican monopoly on government. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the top incoming House Republicans — Kevin McCarthy of California and Steve Scalise of Louisiana — reportedly plan to attend, according to aides. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to become speaker on Thursday, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also plan to attend.
Still, like most things in Washington, the briefing could be another game of politics between Trump and Democrats. The White House has accused Democrats of refusing to compromise. The invitation to the briefing on border security came after Democrats unveiled a plan to reopen the government without funding the border wall. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders later called that plan a "non-starter" that "fails to secure the border and puts the needs of other countries above the needs of our own citizens."

• Pelosi says Democrats plan to reopen government when they take control of House
• Rep. Steve Scalise: Democrats need to stop playing games with America's safety and fund border security now

TENSION AT THE BORDER: The new year brought continued tensions along the U.S.-Mexico border as U.S. authorities fired tear gas at migrants from the Central American caravan that has gathered there ... Authorities fired the gas into Mexico to keep roughly 150 migrants from breaching the border fence in Tijuana. An Associated Press photographer witnessed at least three volleys of gas launched onto the Mexican side of the border near Tijuana’s beach early Tuesday. It affected the migrants, including women and children, as well as members of the press. In a tweet Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen called upon Congress to address the border crisis by amending the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and ending the Flores agreement, a deal regarding the treatment of underage migrants that was negotiated during the Clinton administration. - Reported by Elizabeth Llorente

• Jason Chaffetz: If Democrats won't spend $5 billion on a wall they should spend $25 billion on border security

'FREE' STUFF FOR 'ALL,' STARTING THURSDAY: Expect to hear the words “free,” “guaranteed” and “for all” a whole lot more in the new year as Democrats prepare an arsenal of big-government bills that could actually see a floor vote once they take control of the House ... Come January, proposals like “Medicare for all” and a host of other generous-but-costly welfare programs that were little more than talking points in recent years could have a shot at passing a chamber of Congress. With the GOP’s expanded majority in the Senate, it’s unlikely these measures would make it to President Trump’s desk. But their consideration on the House side would mark a first step in formally considering major government expansions – concerning everything from education to health care – that Democrats increasingly favor. - Reported by Fred Lucas

• Justin Haskins: If Ocasio-Cortez's 'Green New Deal' succeeds in 2019 it will be the most radical plan offered in decades

ROMNEY WANTS TRUMP TO BE A UNITER: Mitt Romney, former presidential candidate and a Republican senator-elect in Utah, has written a scathing op-ed for the Washington Post, saying President Trump "has not risen to the mantle of the office" ... Published in the Post on Tuesday, Romney's piece reiterated past thoughts about Trump. While Trump wasn't his first choice to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee in 2016, Romney said he hoped the billionaire businessman would "rise to the occasion" to lead and unite the U.S.  But, Romney said, he's found that the president's actions have proven otherwise. - Reported by Nicole Darrah

• Romney denies he led 'never Trump' movement, says president's policies 'pretty effective'
• Romney predicts Trump victory in 2020

IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANT ACCUSED IN COP KILLING IN COURT: An illegal immigrant gang member accused of killing a California police officer is set to be arraigned on murder charges on Wednesday ... Authorities say Gustavo Perez Arriaga, a Mexican national, killed Newman Cpl. Ronil Singh after the officer stopped him last Wednesday on suspicion of drunk driving. Police say Perez Arriaga is member of a Mexican-American street gang with a long history of violence and was in the country illegally. He was arrested last Friday while trying to flee to Mexico. The killing rekindled a national debate over sanctuary policies and further fueled President Trump's call for tougher border security.

• Surenos street gang tied to accused California cop killer has history of murder, extortion, trafficking

THE SOUNDBITE
TRUMP STANDS BY HIS WALL - "We have a president who is resolute on the central campaign promise that he made that put him into office. Sovereignty is the defining issue of President Trump and his administration." – Syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin, on "FOX & Friends," weighing in on President Trump standing by his demand for border wall funding amid the partial government shutdown. WATCH

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STAY TUNED
On FOX News:
FOX & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Special guests include: Newt Gingrich on Nancy Pelosi preparing to once again become House speaker. The twin brother of the American veteran arrested in Russia on spy charges speaks out. An "angel mom" reacts to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo granting clemency to 22 immigrants reportedly facing deportation.
On FOX Business:
Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Special guests include: Kayleigh McEnany, RNC spokeswoman; Hank Smith, director and co-chief investment officer at Haverford Trust Company; Fred Fleitz, former National Security Council chief of staff and incoming president and CEO of the Center for Security Policy; U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.; Stephanie Pomboy, president of MacroMavens.
Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: U.S. Rep.-elect Max Rose, D-N.Y.; Bart Chilton, former commissioner at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission; George Allen, former Virginia governor.
After the Bell with Melissa Francis and Connell McShane, 4 p.m. ET: Art Laffer, former economic adviser to President Reagan and founder and chairman of Laffer Associates.
On FOX News Radio:
The FOX News Rundown podcast: With a new year comes new laws across the country. FOX News Headlines 24/7 anchor Brett Larson joins the podcast to go over new state laws going into effect in 2019. Klay S. Williams, lifestyle coach and author of “There Is Only Plan A: A Journey Toward Self-Discovery and Renewed Purpose" discusses how to turn New Year's resolutions life-long commitments. Plus, commentary by contributing editor with the National Review and FOX News contributor, Deroy Murdock.
Want the FOX News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.
The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET: Former U.S. Rep. Allen West on the latest in the government shutdown; political commentator Hank Sheinkopf on Elizabeth Warren exploring her chances in the 2020 presidential race; Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and FOX News contributor Andrew McCarthy on the latest in the Mueller investigation; U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on the showdown over Trump's border wall, the partial government shutdown, meeting with Trump over U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria and more.
#TheFlashback
1983: The original Broadway production of "Annie" closes after 2,377 performances.
1960: Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts launches his bid for the presidency.
1900: U.S. Secretary of State John Hay announces the "Open Door Policy" to facilitate trade with China
FOX News First is compiled by FOX News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Have a good day! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday morning.