A case involving the first female member of the Islamic State group to be prosecuted in the U.S. begins Tuesday in Brooklyn Federal Court, according to a law enforcement official. The jury has been selected and opening statements will begin in United States v. Halima Salman.

According to court documents, Salman is charged with receiving military-type training from IS when she was 18 years old.

Happy Tuesday in New York City. We hope you all had a restful three-day weekend!

Tonight marks the first and only public debate between Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman in the gubernatorial race — a chance for Hochul to slam the door shut on her opponent and for Blakeman to gain ground before the election. Polls show Hochul leading by a margin somewhere between 9 and 19 points, leaving Blakeman with a formidable, but far from insurmountable, gap to close in the remaining three weeks, and few opportunities left to do so.

Though this is the first public debate between the two candidates, it is far from the first time the two have sparred in the public arena. This election has seen a particularly nasty messaging war on television and social media. Blakeman has increasingly turned to AI-generated content to mimic Hochul’s voice and likeness, prompting public backlash and a formal complaint from the state Democratic party.

One person who won’t be on the stage tonight, but plays a very active role in this race, is President Donald Trump. While some national Republicans have tried to distance themselves from the president during this election cycle, Blakeman has hitched his wagon even tighter. Last Friday, Trump appeared alongside Blakeman at a rally in Syracuse, where the president told the crowd to “please pretend I’m on the ballot,” come November.

Though 9 points is hardly a hopeless deficit, there may not be enough undecided voters left to make up the margin. A Marist Poll last week found only 5% of New York voters had yet to make up their mind. Instead, the candidates tonight will be looking to galvanize their base and boost turnout on Election Day.

The hourlong debate will air on NY1 at 7 p.m.

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In June 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear appeals of two lower court rulings that challenged assault weapons restrictions. The high court will decide whether the Second and 14th amendments protect the right to possess semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15. This marks a reversal for the court, which for years has declined to consider such challenges.

Two lower court rulings followed the Supreme Court announcement. On July 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit upheld Illinois’ assault weapons ban. And on July 17, the 33rd Circuit struck down New Jersey’s ban on semi-automatic assault weapons, making it the first federal appeals court to so rule.

Some analysts suggested that these decisions had an eye on the Supreme Court’s fall review.

As a gun policy scholar, I believe this flurry of legal activity brings to a head the multi-decade dispute over restricting assault weapons that extends far beyond legal arguments. The source of the conflict ranges from elements of gun culture identity to the technical characteristics of these weapons. Much of this controversy remains misunderstood, including conflicting claims about the weapons’ origins and definition.

Where the court ultimately stands will have to do with its answers to these tough questions. Is an assault weapon a weapon of war or a sporting rifle? Is it a machine gun or simply a tricked-out hunting rifle? Does it really pose a risk to the public compared to other guns?

Read on to learn more.

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