mclaughlin, acting cia director. kristen, the mixed messages from the president continuing. sarah sanders trying to say yesterday that the president wasn't saying that he believed russian intelligence, even though he said that, and another interview with cbs where he for the first time came down hard on vladimir putin. what are we to make of all of this and what is the intelligence community to make of all of it? >> reporter: i think first of all, in terms of what to make in terms of what's happening here at the white house, andrea, this is a white house in full damage control mode. the president clearly realizing it, trying to take a much tougher tone when it comes to vladimir putin during that interview with cbs news in which he finally says yes, he does agree with the intelligence community's assessment that russia meddled in the 2016 election. he caveated that by saying "because he's the head of the country." the mixed messaging is something the president's critics have seized upon. we saw that in full display yesterday when my colleague, cecilia vega, asked the president whet