and powerful speech on the situation in ukraine, potentially could be seen as a very provocative set of remarks on the part of the u.s. president as it was being received by president putin and that's the crux of what we're hearing from lawmakers, starting with senator rob portman earlier today on "meet the press." take a listen. >> i think all of us believe the world would be a better place without vladimir putin. but second, that's not the official u.s. policy, and by saying that, that regime change is our strategy, effectively, it plays into the hands of the russian propagandists and into the hands of vladimir putin. so it was a mistake, and the president recognized that. >> reporter: now, we've seen, obviously, secretary of state tony blinken joining the anonymous white house officials yesterday who said this does not represent a new policy. but it was interesting to see the response and reaction of one democratic congressman, tom malinowsky of new jersey, a former state department official and former presidential speechwriter.