and the reason for that is very, very simple. it's exactly what i said to cpac in chicago in 2012. the reason we have to start talking about what we're for and not continuing to rail against what we're against is because of one simple reason, our ideas are better than their ideas and that's what we have to stand up for. if you need any further example of that, look at what goes on in terms of what they are for in washington, d.c. what they are for in washington, d.c., the leader of the senate democrats stand up and rail against two american entrepreneurs who have built a business created jobs and creat created wealth and philanthropy in this country. that's typical. it's typical --

>> and right now on andrea mitchell reports, all of the news, chris christie giving his cpac speech. breaking away, crimea's parliament threatened to vote in ten days on spreparating from ukraine and becoming part of russia. president obama slaps sanctions on russia. and hillary clinton gives her take on on putin. >> i know we are dealing with a tough guy with a thin skin. >> coming up here, the first television interview with the u.s. ambassador to ukraine. >> deeply concerned that there seems to be a further rach eting up a de facto of crimea.

>> hitting the stage to start off cpac. >> god bless cpac. >> featuring also the republican senate leaders retirement gift to senator tom coburn, cpac style. we'll discuss. and happening now after being dised last year, chris christie welcomed back to the cpac podium. we'll share a remarkable moment of prayer at the senate namaste. >> we make our word. our mind is center and proceeds, speak or act with your pure mind and happiness will follow you.

good day, i'm andrea mitchell in washington. the state department today imposed a ban on visas for uk crane yan officials and business leaders. this on top of an executive order from president obama that would allow the public naming of these parties and the seizing of their assets. these penalties did little to stop the russian authorities in crimea who today moved a referendum that gives citizens a choice of remaining part of the ukraine or becoming part of the russian federation. joining me now is ian williams. the situation seems to be dialed up, not dialed down. we talked to the ambassador there and we'll have that interview coming up. it seems as if russia is ignoring all threats and sanctions and like and taking its own course as crimea moves to break away from ukraine.

>> reporter: that's right, andrea. the only conclusion from this is that vladimir putin seems in a real hurry to annex crimea formally, maybe thinking if he can establish that fact on the ground it becomes more difficult to unravel later on. as you say, this referendum was supposed to have been held at the end of march. and the question was one of great autonomy, we saw the crimean parliament pass a vote today for joining up with russia and also for this referendum in just ten days' time which will have a clear choice between being part of ukraine or russian federation. sinister also, we saw the storming of armed men in crimea of the ukrainian television stations replacing those with russian broadcasts and also the deputy leader down there recently installed pro-russian, saying that the armed forces of

ukraine, unless they surrendered would be regarded as an occupying force. all worrying developments and it's inconceivable this wouldn't have happened without the urging of russia. a real gauntlet to western powers struggling and meeting and looking for ways to respond to this, andrea. >> as you know, john kerry meeting with sergei lavrov in rome and they have yet to agree with getting russians and ukrainian acting government together. if they are not going to meet, it's unclear how this could ever be mediated. >> that's right. that's really a big disappoint here in kiev, where the foreign minister, the new foreign minister of ukraine, having traveled with john kerry, had high hopes of being able to sit down with his russian counterpart and start to talk the matters through. without talking about it, without beginning say discussion, it's very difficult to see how they can go anyway

towards finding a solution and of course we still see sergei lavrov speaking almost a different language. he's still denying that those soldiers occupying crimea are russian soldiers insisting they are an independent defense force acting beyond the reach of russia. a very difficult situation and one which is being watched anxiously here in ukraine, which has denounced today's move, today's announcement of a referendum as illegal. as of course has the e.u. but all eyes on today's meeting and the u.s. to see what sort of sanctions and what sort of reaction there is to this clear stepping up by russia, andrea. ian williams on the scene in kiev. thank you. for more about the crisis in ukrainant american response, i'm joined by congressman mike rogers, chair of the house intelligence committee.

there was talk yesterday and i want to ask you as intelligence chair, if you agree with what john mccain was pursuing in the senate when he was interviewing -- he was questioning, i should say, secretary hagel about the intelligence on all of this. did we not see this coming, the moves of russian forces into crimea? >> well, there were indicators, there were two pieces of analysis by two different agencies. one said they didn't believe they would move in in 24 hours and one said that the indicators could suggest that they would move in. nobody knew certainly definitively. and that's certainly a question. we're doing a pretty thorough review of that but there are lots of indicators to understand that, even before they went into the olympics in sochi, we knew the russians had an interest of ramping up all through intelligence collection and activities in the ukraine and many, including me were stating at the time, listen, right after -- we better watch what happens after the olympics.

they are going to pay attention to the ukraine. so it's -- i think it's hard to say they just didn't know at all. i don't think they knew for certain that's for sure. >> well, there's also been some reporting that the cia analysis was that something was up but defense intelligence did not agree or did not have the same sense. did you see disagreement in the analysis among the 16 intelligence agencies? >> there were two different agencies that produced an analytical product on the crisis. one suggested that the indicators were there and one of the possibilities was there could be troop movement into the crimean peninsula and one did not believe that was going to happen within -- i forget what they said, maybe 48 hours in the report. we're doing a review. this is not uncommon. it's a little bit science and art because you have a few pieces of a very large puzzle and they are trying to make a conclusion on it. we're reviewing that information

and say was there collection gaps, meaning is there a piece of information that the intelligence community should have been had to make that analytical conclusion? was that missing or did you just not believe and feel comfortable you could make that conclusion or was there something else that we're missing that led them to that conclusion? that's the review we're going to go through. >> i know it's easy outside to do monday morning quarterbacking but this isn't north korea or even iran. this is the russian federation. we have a lot of assets there and we were in sochi, we have people on the ground. we have the nsa. it's hard to believe that we wouldn't have had a better handle on what their thinking was? >> i mean, obviously there's concerns about what we didn't know. remember, again, the indicators and i went back and reread some of that material, is that the indicators did show that they had a pretty good understanding that certain things were happening, certain units were moving, that would indicate the

real possibility of doing it. the one last piece is something called leadership intent, which as you recall got the united states intelligence community in a lot of trouble for trying to determine leadership intent. we're trying to work all of these things out to make sure that we have a good idea about what leaders intend to do, actions certainly can project what those conclusions might be but not in all cases. we're going to go back and give the benefit of the doubt up front and the review of the analytical products, knew about the troop movements near the polish region, we knew about the troop movements that would at least indicate there was going to be some activity in the crimean peninsula that didn't know what was the decision going to be made to do it or not. that was the one missing piece. we're going to go a thorough review to find out why did we miss that piece. >> going back to what angela merkel said to president obama,

does vladimir putin have a grip on realty? he said the other day those aren't russian troops in crimea or all part of his tactics as well? does he not realize that long term at least, long term, russia is economically vulnerable with these kinds of moves if it is going to be isolated by europe and the rest of the world? >> you have to look at it through his perspective not necessarily our perspective. that gets you in trouble if you look only through your lens. in his lens he sees he successful occupied south o seck ya and increasing borders and nobody is saying anything, aggressive cyber attack in estonia. he can ramp activity up with no one pushing back. he believes and there was a series of events that led up to

this. he didn't wake up and say i'm i think i'm going to go after the crimean peninsula. actions dictated the fact that his pick for governance didn't work all that well. but chaos he saw as an opportunity and had things lined up, including parliament voting to allow russian troops to go into the ukraine. the fact that they've already laid out the case in the legislature and you know how long it takes even to get things through. they already laid out the case for the possibility of partitioning the crimean peninsula. this was a well thought out plan and intelligence indicated they have intentions here that are concerning, including mall dove va, by the way. you see it playing out. you have to look at it through his eyes. he looks at it that he's in a position of success. has the crimean peninsula and they just took the vote to be partitioned and likely that will pass. his legislature said you're welcome into the federation of

russia. that changes the whole calculation about where we're at and what his advantages from his perspective he sees he has. >> congressman mike rogers, chair of the intelligence committee, thank you very much. >> thanks, andrea. >> an hour ago i spoke with the top u.s. official in ukraine who has been in kiev from day one of this crisis. >> ambassador, thank you very much for joining us today. first of all, the parliament in crimea said it's going to hold a referendum, vote in ten days to break away from ukraine and join the russian federation. what is your reaction to that? >> well, we're obviously concerned about all of these developments, the invasion of crimea was illegal by any measure. the administration has tried to create off ramps to address russian concerns, including the possibility of international observers, but right now it seems like the russian -- the russian forces and their local

partners are tightening their grip in a way that is causing additional concern. >> and how can you have international monitors when the u.n. mediator or monitor, was surrounded by thugs and chased out of crimea? >> no, what happened to ambassador was deeply concerning. i know the united nations will talk about this in the hours ahead. we also had a group of observers from the osce in vienna invited by the government of ukraine to go and assess the military situation. they also have not yet been able to enter crimean territory. we believe this is the right answer to the concerns that russia has expressed about curety of russian speakers in crimea and stability and safety of their basing facilities. we're trying to decree acreate s

to deescalate. >> what you're trying to deescalate it seems that the people in crimea supported by russia and russian officials in moscow, are escalating. >> no, deeply concerned there seems to be a further rach eting up in crimea. there's no way that a referendum could be construed as legal under international law. i'm sure we'll have more to say about this in the days ahead. we want to create a dynamic which allows the international community to address the concerns that have been raised. addresses russia's legitimate concerns and legitimate interests in crimea, but does so in a way that's consistent with international law. >> the acting government in ukraine has said that if crimea takes this vote and breaks away, that they will take military

action. up until now, the ukrainian officials have under advice from the u.s. and others, have been very careful not to do anything to give russia a pretext. what would happen then if ukraine does take military action? >> well, as you said, andrea, the ukrainian government has been extremely prudent. we welcome the fact they have avoided provocations, there were remarkable scenes at the air base in crimea where it looked like occupying forces were trying to provoke violence and armed ukrainian air force officers marched up to the gates with flag and said we're not going to be removed. we hope very much the ukrainian government, the ukrainian military sticks to that prudent approach. because this is a crisis that needs to be defused through diplomacy not military action.

>> ambassador suri was threatened and in a tough spot there. let me ask you about yourself and own safety. you and victoria newlin -- they are out to get you as well. how do you feel walking around and moving freely around ukraine? >> let me say this, andrea, the security of our whole american mission here is a top priority. but we get superb support from the ukrainian government and one of the remarkable things that's happened here over the past two weeks is how the self-defense forces and regular ukrainian police have begun to integrate into a single operation. we saw during secretary of state kerry's visit that you were part of. i feel quite safe at this point and we enjoy superb support from the ukrainian government and

security forces and local police here. >> just to give you a chance to respond to what vladimir putin said about the u.s. starting this whole crisis and u.s. meddling in what he considers understandably his territory, the president acknowledged the long relationship between crimea and russia preceding in the 50s when that was turned over to ukraine. there is a territorial issue here. how do you respond to putin's charge of your meddling and they heard you and ambassador newlin talking about who should be in the government who shouldn't be in the government? >> our role here in ukraine has been a diplomatic one. to suggest that the dramatic changes that have happened over the past three months were somehow instigated by the united states is crazy. this is a victory for the ukrainian people. and the united states role as the new government has taken

power has been to signal support. but in no way have we been involved in inty gating what happened. there have been extraordinarily outrageous allegations made, especially in russian media, that somehow what happened in ukraine has been instigated from abroad. that's far from the truth. it is a reflection of the ukrainian's strong yearning to live in a democratic society and standing in the cold through three months of demonstrations and building a better future for their country. >> the treasury is implementing sanctions but they are also against crimean and russian officials and business leaders involved in all of this. but there are only american sanctions, europe hasn't joined in. they won't bite unless they are much more broadly implemented? >> no, what we've been coordinating very closely with

our european partners throughout our engagement here in ukraine. the united states has promulgated both an earlier set of visa sanctions and today the white house has an executive order that decree sacreates add tools and tools targeted at those that have threatened ukraine's territorial integrity. the fact is europe is moving ahead in a strong way. today in brussels, europe announced the seizing of financial assets for a long list of ukrainian or former ukrainian government officials. so i think although our systems tend to move in a different rhythm, they are having the same objective, strengthen a ukraine which is sovereign and democratic and increasingly seeing -- signal to russia in particular, the illegal acts in crimeax

crimea through invasion and subsequent step s will not go unanswered. >> thank you for your service and being there and representing america in a very, very difficult situation. and thank you for talking to us today. >> thanks, andrea. >> that was ambassador jeffrey pyatt. it was another day in south africa in the oscar pistorius murder trial. a neighbor gave his act of rushing into the home immediately after hearing gunfire. he testified to screaming to oscar saying, i shot her, please save her. he was covering his ears and crying during testimony. he's charged with murder after shooting his 29-year-old girlfriend in the home. he believed steenkamp was an intruder and faces 25 years in prison if convicted. ♪

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welcome back, as the united states imposes economic sanctions on russian and ukrainian officials and business leaders i'm joined by a very special guest, former secretary of state madeleine albright who currently chairs thealbright stone bridge group. you have been through this territory and you know this region so well. what is vladimir putin up to? >> i think he's trying to expand the kind of sphere of interest he thinks is owed to him. when he said the greatest disaster of the century was a break-up of the soviet union, i think what he's trying to do is make sure that he continues to have a very strong group of people that support russia's interest in the region. >> what do we do if crimea votes and they have a vote to break away and join the russian

federation and ukrainian officials, these acting leaders, have been incredibly responsive to american appeals to not do anything to give russia a pretext? but if they take military action it's game on. >> i think the ambassador, great interview with him, i think made clear that this is -- we see it as an illegal act. i think it is something that we will obviously take steps in a variety of tools, one is to pursue the diplomatic options and make even stronger a lot of economic sanctions and then i think one of the other things we're going to do is reinforce with the surrounding countries our relationship with them. article 4 of the nato treaty and keep making it clear to putin it he is the loser in all of this, that ultimately he's going to be isolated. >> how do we respond to putin's claim that this is american meddling in his backyard? >> i think this is probably what

led angela merkel to say that he wasn't operating in a realistic world. america is not meddling. i think that what was very clear and you were just there and saw the crowds, these are people that want to be a part of europe. being part of europe doesn't meannessly that it's anti-russian. one of the things we talked about the fact we wanted russia to be a part of europe, to see things differently than a zero sum game of the cold war. this is the ukrainian people speaking out for wanting a different way of life. they look across the border to poland and see they also were a communist country and all of a sudden their people are living well and traveling and people want to go there. that's what they want. >> one of your successors, hillary clinton, secretary of state made comments comparing it to europe before world war ii. let me play that for you. >> the claims by president putin

and other russians that he had to go into crimea and maybe further into eastern ukraine because they had to protect the russian minorities and that is reminiscent of claims that were made back in the 1930s. >> and what she's talking about clearly is -- she went on to say, when adolph hitler moved into your homeland choe slovakia. that is an apt comparison? >> historical analogies are not always the same thing. i think she's absolutely right in talking about the lessons learned and what did happen was that there was a claim that the german minority needed protection. and so i do think there are lessons and part of the issue here was that during munich, which was the result of all of

this, the british and french made an agreement with the germans and italians over the heads and they were never consulted. what is so different here is the amount of time secretary kerry and others are spending with the ukrainian people and what we want to see is generally the will of the ukrainian people made very clear. this is up to them. they want to be a sovereign territorially integrated country that is able to have a good life. >> what should we do if crimea does split off? >> well, i think that what we have to do is continue to press, to -- i think the part andrea, here, we really wanted to try to have russia integrated into the system. they are about to be isolated. i don't think that putin and others have thought through what the effect of the isolation is. in terms of their economy -- >> will europe join us? they are so dependent on their natural gas? >> they are. they are beginning also to see

the necessity of us acting together. i think there are many things we can ultimately do in changing the energy flows and not having them be so dependent. we're about to have the summer so that the issue about the gas is not as great. but i do think what has to happen now and secretary is working on getting the europeans united. >> you're heading to the czech republic, the former check slovakia where you are a hero, the hometown girl made good. what do you think europe wants to hear from us? >> i think they want to hear they want to work with them, that we understand their issues, that the united states is engaged and that we are not spoiling for a fight. i think what's interesting here, we're not talking about the return of the cold war. we're talking about using all of the different tools that we have. and diplomacy is one of them. and then working economically

with them and especially in central and eastern europe, they want to hear we're paying attention to them. whenever i go there, they say you've pivoted to asia. i say the united states is an atlantic and pacific power and we can and should pay attention to both. >> the current crisis has never been -- proves all the more how important it is to maintain all of these relationships. >> and we can do that and have to. nato is obviously looking to how to make clear that the nato members have our support. there are a variety of exercises that are going on. >> madeleine albright, great pleasure. safe travels. >> great to be with you. >> our daily fix, cruising cpac, the latest coming up next. >> the 2012 election didn't go exactly as we had planned it. last year i got to tell you, it was pretty tough to be optimistic after a loss like

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>> let me start with christie. he was not invited last year. context does matter. chris christie -- when you think of cpac, you're talking about the most conservative element of the republican party, this is not chris christie's natural element within the republican party. him being invited and speaking is worth noting. i would say however, very safe speech, sort of the enemy of my enemy is my friend and how the media wrongly cast the republicans. i thought he was politely perceived, it's not the exception rand paul or ted cruz will get from the crowd. >> let's listen to ted cruz because i want to ask you about him, mark murray. >> all of us remember president dole and president mccain and president romney. look, those are good men, they are decent men. but when you don't stand and

draw a clear distinction, when you don't stand for principle, democrats celebrate. >> so ted cruise criticizing all of the past nominees of the republican party and making it clear that he is a different kind of republican. >> we saw two different lines of argument on display. one ted cruz was saying, which is essentially, the past republican nominees were too moderate, too centrist and didn't really fight for the conservative principle. that's the kind of conservative that can win a presidential contest. on the other hand, chris christie, who ended up speaking later and chris was talking about that, he said all we need to do is win elections, baby. in ways in which this was kind of a speech that chris christie was given a year ago before the scandals hit his administration. sometimes we do need to have a bigger tent and do the things like expanding medicaid in states like new jersey and et cetera, embrace the president of the united states when he comes doling out hurricane sandy

relief and aid and comfort. that is sometimes a message that isn't the biggest thing received at the cpac conference. >> i'm not sure dole will respond to this, romney won't but senator mccain just might. >> here's what's fascinating, talking about his relationships with other republicans, it's quite clear he zntd care about his relationship -- what we would define as the republican establish many. he has no interest. he forced them to vote on the clean debt ceiling increase that none of the republican party -- >> own fellow texan john cornyn didn't want. >> this is the barrygoldwater argument articulated. since he mentioned bob dole, mccain, romney, those mnominees

they have insisted they didn't lose because people don't like republican principles but it's because the principles weren't stood by and arctticulatearticu. it's not we're too conservative but not conservative enough about explaining our conservative values. the question is he may win the cpac straw poll at the end of the event, that's a different thing than winning the nomination from the republican party and far different than being elected president of the united states. >> mark, in a new "washington post" poll, 30% of those republicans would not vote for chris christie. >> his base and way to win a presidential election was never through the conservative field. his appeal was always this crossover appeal that he did well with independents and democrats. one of the things that's so hurtful for him on this bridgegate scandal and as well as allegations from the mayor of hoboken, is that that really has hurt that crossover appeal.

when chris christie is speaking at cpac and saying all we need to do is win, every poll that you see on chris christie, he's not faring that well versus hillary clinton. for him to give that argument saying i can win and we should be able to win. those polls need to be a lot closer for the argument to resonate. >> right. >> elections matter. chris cillizza and mark murray, thank you. after a year of debate on an issue we've been covering intensively, conflicting proposals by kirsten gillibrand and claire mccaskill. long awaited votes on both measures for the way the military handles sexual assault cases. senator mccaskill would eliminate the good soldier defense, which allows perpendicul perpetrators as character as a defense. today the court-martial

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monopoly. they supply 30% of natural gas to europe and twice cut off the gas lines to ukraine during previous conflicts and threatening to raise prices. joining me now, penny prits ger. >> please to be here. >> is there anything we can do with our own natural gas to help the people of ukraine if russia cuts them off? >> the department of energy, they control the export of natural gas and i think as the situation evolves that will be taken into account as we consider what to do with natural gas exports. >> what about these unilateral sanctions today because they seem to be a signal of what our intent is but not strong enough given that europe is on a different track and much more reliant upon russian energy. how do we bring the world together economically? >> i think first of all, we are

saying, this is unacceptable behavior, the president and secretary kerry has said what the russians are doing is unacceptable. it is personally disappointing for me. i was with my counterparts and we were working on ways to make it more pal atable for american countries to invest in russia. all that work is for not now. >> they are meeting you with on new trade arrangements and have talks have as you say spensuspe >> absolutely. it's indisappointing, they were wanting us to bring our business to russia. there is nothing we can do now. >> you're about to leave for the persian gulf and going to the uae and saudi arabia. what is the economic mission you're on? >> taking a trade mission, it will be the second trade mission and taking 21 companies, all who

are focused on infrastructure, whether it's renewable energies or environmental technologies or project management or construction, we're going to all three countries because all three countries are investing in hundreds of billions of dollars in her own infrastructure, our american companies have goods and services to offer that are very much in demand in that region. >> the timing is sa little difficult because the saudis, bahrain and uae agree with qatar's support. how do you navigate that kind of terrain? >> i think one of the benefits is i'm the united states chief commercial advocate. i go with the hat on of helping our companies. there's enormous interest in having our companies present there. i'll continue with that effort and be present in all three countries.

>> a quick aside, coming from the private sector as you have and now a part of the cabinet, how do you find the difference between the way you can operate as a ceo as a business person and how you have to operate within the bureaucracy of the federal government and also the legislative branch and all of the other i am pediments to getting something done quickly? >> any large endeavor, whether it's a private business or the federal government is a team effort. the good news is what i'm finding, which has been extraordinary thing that's true for me, we're working well together. i find within the administration that there's a real team effort. in fact, i'm finding also working across the aisle. commerce, the good news about commerce, it's a bipartisan issue and something everyone can get behind. i'm encouraged by the opportunities of what we can accomplish. >> secretary pritzger, safe journey.

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so which political story will make headlines in the next

24 hours? chris cillizza is back with us. we're going to talk about a number of things, but first up is these votes, pairing of votes own gillibrand and mccaskill. the measures on sexual saults on the military. gillibrand was blocked from getting a vote but today it's coming to a head. >> she's getting her vote. i don't think her measure which would take the authority to prosecute these charges outside of the military structure, i don't think she's going to get the votes she needs. i would say if you asked a year ago or six months ago would she get to the point she's gotten to, given that carl levin, senate foreign armed services committee, are against doing what she wants to do, she has done a remarkable job in getting to it to a vote in and of itself. getting something on the floor to a vote is actually something of a victory.

i know washington works strangely, but something of a victory on an issue she has taken on not single handedly but led in a way i don't think people thought she would be able to. >> she raised her profile. she has we think at least 55 votes, which was pretty tough going up -- >> absolutely. >> and mccaskill has a different proposal and there's a question of competing rivalries there. they are not inconsistent with each other's proposals, both could pass, but mccaskill probably has a better shot because she has more support from the establishment, the military establishment. >> right, military establishment, as well as the sort of elders within the senate of the party who think this is the right way to go. gillibrand, younger generation of politician. i do think she's done herself a world of good in adopting this issue in really championing. she raised her profile considerably. i know we get ahead of ourselves

a lot of times but i would say if hillary clinton decides not to run for president, i do think gillibrand is a name we'll be talking about. >> we heard the president will give a statement on ukraine in the press room moments from now, we believe, shortly after 1:00 just as secretary kerry was supposed to have a news conference in rome. you'll hear from officials on both sides but the president clearly will be responding with the sanctions today and the move by the parliament in crimea to break away. >> and moving -- i think putting himself out publicly a lot more, more statements and more actions and activity to show he is on top of things. >> we'll leave it there. our viewers will be able to see it in next hour. that does it for us for this edition of "andrea mitchell reports." my thanks to chris matthews for taking helm. tomorrow, right here, senator john mccain. follow the show online and on twitter. ronan farrow has a look at

what's happening next. >> i think you've got the president of the united states? >> we have breaking news that the president is going to be heading into the briefing room and we'll carry that live. thank you for a great show. stay with us, everybody, chris christie is getting a big moment, mitch mcconnell is getting his gun and ted cruz gives what is sounding like a presidential pitch. we have shawn spicer of the rnc with the latest out of the cpac meeting and john boehner takes sides on the clash between issa and cummings. chris van hollen weighs in soon. reacting with the new shake-up to the s.a.t. we have that in a mere 180 seconds. stay with us. so stuffed up, i can't rest. [ male announcer ] nyquil cold and flu liquid gels don't unstuff your nose. they don't? alka seltzer plus night fights your worst cold symptoms, plus has a decongestant. [ inhales deeply ] oh. what a relief it is.

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is heading to the beriefing roo to speak about ukraine. we have got developing news out of cpac as chris christie takes the stage and promptly overwhemed by mitch mcconnell. on the s.a.t. shake-up, we have the tiger mom, amy chua, weighing in and stressing you out about what your kids scores are going to be. we're a perfect shoulder to cry on. ladies and gentlemen, this hour is so crazy, so exciting, hang on to your hats. that and lots more. we're going to start out with our headlines. >> christie will deliver the most anticipated speech of the conference. >> our ideas are better than their ideas and that's what we have to stand up for. >> major developments in the tense situation in ukraine. >> a dramatic confrontation, u.n. envoy