US Domestic News Roundup: US anti-affirmative action group challenges West Point admissions policy; Trump's Republican rivals need to take him on at next debate, moderator says and more

Excerpts of his prepared remarks seen ahead of Wednesday's hearing showed that Garland is ready to push back against lawmakers who have criticized the Justice Department for its handling of the indictments of Republican Donald Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. On the Ohio-to-Michigan highway, US auto workers drive for solidarity A Toledo grocery store parking lot was full of Jeeps and Fords on Tuesday morning in a show of strength by auto workers on strike from Stellantis's nearby Jeep plant.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

US anti-affirmative action group challenges West Point admissions policy

The group that successfully challenged race-conscious collegiate student admissions policies at the U.S. Supreme Court sued the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Tuesday, saying the Army school's affirmative action practices unconstitutionally discriminate against white applicants. The Virginia-based Students for Fair Admissions, founded by affirmative action opponent Edward Blum, seeks in the lawsuit to erase an exemption tucked inside the Supreme Court's June ruling that allowed the prestigious U.S. military academies to continue using race as one of the factors weighed in student admissions.

Trump's Republican rivals need to take him on at next debate, moderator says

Donald Trump's rivals need to take him on more forcefully at next week's Republican presidential debate if they have any hope of cutting into the runaway front-runner's massive lead in opinion polls, one of the debate moderators said on Tuesday. "They're not going to be able to put a dent in his lead if they don't. President Trump has a commanding and seemingly very enduring lead. It's up to these candidates to show why they think that they would be better," said Dana Perino, a White House press secretary under Republican President George W. Bush and now an anchor and political commentator at Fox News.

Analysis-Novel Lahaina wildfire lawsuit asks 'when is wild grass inherently dangerous?'

The father of a woman who died in the Hawaii wildfires last month has launched a novel lawsuit against three major landowners, seeking to hold them responsible even though they did not start the fire and the blaze ignited on land they do not own. Harold Wells of Arizona, whose 57-year-old daughter Rebecca Rans perished in the deadly Lahaina blaze, contends the property owners should pay damages because they allowed invasive species of towering grasses to grow wild on their property, accumulating dense fire fuel next to the historic town. Scientists have said the invasive grasses were likely the largest factor in spreading the fires, more than warmer temperatures or hurricane weather.

Hunter Biden will plead not guilty to gun charges

U.S. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, will plead not guilty to federal gun charges, his attorney said in a court filing on Tuesday. THE TAKE

US attorney general to tell House Republicans: 'I am not Congress's prosecutor'

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland plans to tell a Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives committee on Wednesday that he runs a nonpolitical department that does not do the bidding of the president or lawmakers. Excerpts of his prepared remarks seen ahead of Wednesday's hearing showed that Garland is ready to push back against lawmakers who have criticized the Justice Department for its handling of the indictments of Republican Donald Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden.

On the Ohio-to-Michigan highway, US auto workers drive for solidarity

A Toledo grocery store parking lot was full of Jeeps and Fords on Tuesday morning in a show of strength by auto workers on strike from Stellantis's nearby Jeep plant. Dozens set out in an Ohio-to-Michigan convoy to rally support for their walkout, many Jeeps adorned with signs reading "No Justice, No Jeeps."

Republican infighting stalls spending bills in US House as shutdown looms

Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives failed to advance two spending bills on Tuesday, as party infighting threatened the ability of Congress to fund the government and avert a partial shutdown at the end of the month. The House voted 214-212 to defeat a measure that would have opened debate on an $886 billion fiscal 2024 defense appropriations bill, with five hardline Republican conservatives joining Democrats to oppose their party's own measure.

UAW strikes at automakers highlight skyrocketing US CEO pay

When the CEO gets a 40% raise, what do the workers deserve? That question is at the heart of the United Auto Workers union's strikes at assembly plants owned by Ford, General Motors and Chrysler parent Stellantis.

US House panel sets first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing for next week

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives is set to hold its first committee hearing on Sept. 28 on its long-shot impeachment inquiry against Democratic President Joe Biden launched by Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. The House Oversight Committee, led by Republican Representative James Comer, said it will explore constitutional and legal questions at the hearing, and also intends to subpoena personal and business bank records of Hunter Biden, the president's son, and James Biden, the president's brother.

US House moves ahead with defense policy bill, 'culture wars' fight ahead

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 393-27 on Tuesday to send its version of a sweeping bill setting policy for the Pentagon to conference with the Senate, paving the way for negotiations to narrow the deep divide between the two chambers over issues like abortion access and diversity initiatives. The massive bill - this year's National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA - authorizes a record $886 billion in military spending. It typically passes both congressional chambers in a largely bipartisan way.