Democratic States Band Together to Counter RFK Jr.

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

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Caitlin McCabe (0:34)

Pete Hegseth joins NATO's defense ministers to discuss bolder action to combat aerial threats from Russia. Plus, as Israeli forces pull back in Gaza, Hamas begins a violent crackdown in a show of authority.

Betsy McKay (0:49)

And blue states band together to counter RFK Jr. Governors have formed this alliance because they're worried that federal funding cuts and policy changes, like changes to the vaccine policy, they're worried that they are putting citizens at risk and forcing the governors to find alternatives.

Caitlin McCabe (1:07)

It's Wednesday, October 15th. I'm Caitlin McCabe for The Wall Street Journal. And here is the AM Edition of What's News. The top headlines and business stories moving your world today. NATO is discussing new rules that could make it easier to shoot down Russian fighter jets. Changing NATO's rules of engagement is one of several moves to improve its defenses following recent incursions into the bloc's airspace. Here's the Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovila Šakaljene.

Dovila Šakaljene (1:37)

Lithuania has changed legislation to ensure that there is no need for political permission for each time that an object needs to be neutralized. I'm hoping that all other countries will ensure that exceptions that prevent immediate reaction by our air force are removed as fast as possible. Nobody can have time in the sky for political negotiations.

Caitlin McCabe (2:05)

While Russia has denied any involvement in drone and jet incursions over Poland, Denmark and Germany in recent weeks, ministers arriving at the meeting this morning, including Estonia's Hanoi-Pevkor, did not mince their words about the security threat facing NATO members.

Hanoi-Pevkor (2:21)

Communicating with Russia means that you can never expect that they will tell the truth. They will just tell what they want to say. It was the same also with Meeks. So they said that they were not in our airspace. So they were. So that's the reality.

Caitlin McCabe (2:35)

More support for Ukraine is also on the docket, with Dutch Minister Ruben Brekelmans among allies backing the provision of US longer-range Tomahawk missiles that can strike deep into Russian territory.

Ruben Brekelmans (2:48)

We always said as the Netherlands that we are supporting deep strike operations by Ukraine, that there is no limit or no boundary to this in terms of kilometers. There is also no limit when it comes to the type of missiles. It's up to the US to decide. But if the United States decides to provide Tomahawk missiles, we will definitely support that.

Caitlin McCabe (3:07)

US. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is set to press more allies to pay for US weapons for Ukraine. So far, deals worth just over $2 billion have been agreed, and Washington and Kiev want countries such as Britain, France, Spain and Italy to open their wallets, too. Turning now to the situation in Gaza, where a pause in the war between Hamas and Israel under the US brokered ceasefire has resulted in a violent crackdown between Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups in the enclave. Journal security correspondent Benoit Faucon says the group is trying to assert authority as the remaining governing power in Gaza.

Benoît Faucon (3:46)

The Israeli forces have pulled back from only part of the enclave and that's where Hamas is re-establishing power and they have been ready, they've been preparing for months to retake control. One thing they did is they set out a police force that was more focused on price gouging and looting and initially was actually sort of unarmed because they didn't want to be targeted by the Israelis. So Hamas officials told me that they really were working on this strategy and sort of setting new people on the ground. We also have a report from the Gaza Interior Ministry that I obtained that basically shows that they identified a dozen subgroups in Raqqa under Israeli control and they are so far out of reach unless Hamas launch an operation on effectively Israeli controlled territory. And so far the Israelis and Hamas have avoided to have a direct confrontation over these groups.

Caitlin McCabe (4:36)

And Benoit says the crackdown could complicate Israel's hope for Hamas to disarm, something the militant group did not agree to under the ceasefire deal.

Benoît Faucon (4:45)