Welcome to inside politics. Im john king in washington. Very busy news day. Thank you for your time. Provocation or pretext, the creme lun accuses ukraine of trying to assassinate Vladimir Putin with a drone attack. The president said, we dont attack russia. Plus a surge and a search for a solution. Migrants prepare to overwhelm the southern border. The Biden Administration snaps into Action Ordering troops to the border, o traiting a new deal with mexico and erecting new processing centers. And reading is believe ing. The text message that said the fox decision to fire Tucker Carlson are reveals him rooting for a mob to kill someone. We begin with dramatic images of red scquare and the kremlinses expla thags na ukraine launched drones at the heart of the russian government with the goal of killing Vladimir Putin. The kremlin statement came after social media reports showing explosions over the president s residence. We regard these actions as a planned Terrorist Act and an attempt on his life. We rezeserve the right to take measures where and when it sees fit. Ukraines president in finland says his country had nothing to do with his attack, saying we dont attack putin or moscow. Lets begin with Nic Robertson in eastern ukraine. Its a drama in any event, whether it is an actual ukraine strike in moscow or russian propaganda. Reporter it is. And in a way, russia has ratcheted up the potential for what could come next by claiming without providing evidence so far that cnn is aware of that this was an actual attack on president putins life, an Assassination Attempt is the way the kremlin is framing it. The fact that the drones appeared over the kremlin at 2 27 and 2 43 a. M. Local time this morning is a blow to the narrative to the kremlin is well defended to putins narrative that the war in ukraine, he call it is a special military operation, is something they are doing well at, and isnt touching mainland russia. So that myth has been busted. What worries people in ukraine is how putin and the kremlin having ratcheted up the narrative that this was an Assassination Attempt by ukraine, how will they respond . Volodymyr zelenskyy has been very clear, we do not attack putin or moscow. Indeed, he said we dont have enough weapons to fight on our own territory at home, which is what president zelenskyy said the country is doing. Another official describe d wha the kremlin is saying as trickery, that this is a maneuver, an obvious maneuver by their enemy. They say this is the kremlin trying to Gin Up Support for this stalling, failing war in ukraine, and in particular ahead of an important parade in moscow kplem kmem rating the losses of tens of millions of troops during the second world war. Big parades opt red square. Theres a lot that we dont know, but a lot now hangs in the air, larcenily because putin may use this potentially to rain something down on ukraine. That ukrainianss say would with be more terrorism. Back and forth, Nic Robertson grateful on the ground for us. Lets get more reporting from Matthew Chance live in london. Theres a the lot we dont know that were still trying to sort through. But you see in the images, even nic was mention ing the bleaches set up, striking to see images of two drones over that complex. Thats one way of putting it. Striking, astonishing is what i would say, having been in that position watching that Kremlin Palace for so many years, and seeing it attacked in this way is unprecedented. I have not seen anything like this ever before. Youre right. And you can see the parade set up outside just on red square. Sex days from now, the Victory Day Sprad was scheduled to take place. I wouldnt be surprised if the kremlin pulled back. Theres not going to be an air show. I wouldnt be surprised given the situation and these Drone Attacks if they are real, then that the kremlin wouldnt go further and to perhaps scale back the Victory Day Parade even further. Well wait to see what they say over the next couple days. Extraordinary images and extraordinary show of vulnerability on the part of the kremlin. Remember, this is a war that the kremlin doesnt even call a war. It call it is a special military operation. It does that bhauz it wants to perpetuate this idea to the russian people that its not really a fullon conflict. Its at arms length. S its happening somewhere else. This is a stark potent reminder, a wakeup call, it you like, for people inside russia who are watching this on the Television Screens that that war is coming home. So thats going to be something significant as well. If the russians have done this on purpose, that will be the price they bay pay for it. The days ahead from the russian leadership, grateful for that reporting. Lets continue the conversation with the bureau chief Jill Dougherty and National Security reporter natasha bertrand. Let me just start first. Heres a picture of the kremlin complex. This is about the palace. Now lets look at this video thats remarkable to see. If you watch closely, you see the flag. You see a drone come into space. Then im going to stop the video. This building that our viewers are seeing, what is it . How important . Well, the yellow building beyond the kremlin wall is the senate building. And that is inside the fortress of the kremlin. That also includes the president s residence. We understand that he was not there at the time because he does have many other residences. One is outside of moscow and then he has several in various parts of russia. So again, what you can deduce from that, that video originally was shot by a neighbor that lives on the other side of the river, kind of behind the kremlin. So i think its very interesting. Who was up at that hour at 2 00 a. M. With a video on the kremlin. Maybe they do it all the time. Maybe not. Then it eventually kind of slowly to my mind comes out on the russian immemedia. So many questions. And well see how this develops. Well see how it develops. Nat natasha, i want to bring you in. You see the drone. We have verified its a drone. Right there above where the president president lives. Russian social media showing some images and try to verify, but they say the information that they have from the damage that it could be an attack drone. Thats what the russians are saying. We know ukraine has this capability. Let me ask you from the pentagon per sspective. Its no secret the United States and nato have eyes on the skies. They know when things go Up In The Air Ask where they come from. Do we have information . Can the pentagon say where this drone came from . The short answer is no, not at this point. Thats exactly what intelligence officials across the u. S. Government, including at the pentagon are looking at right now. Now we are told that u. S. Officials do not have any indication at this point that there was chatter overnight suggesting that an attack was being planned either by Ukrainian Forces or by russian partisans or really anyone at this point. They did not have any fore warning. But they are pouring over intelligence, including intercepted communications, including Satellite Mechanical ri to try to figure out what might have happened here and who might have been responsible for it. But at this point, they are pretty much coming out and saying publicly, look, you need to take the russian claims with a grain of salt. Secretary of state Antony Blinken said that at a recent event they dont have any evidence yet it was the ukrainians. They dont know what happened here. But at this point, the United States has also been warning ukraine privately not to conduct these kinds of attacks inside russia. We saw with the leaked documents a few weeks ago that allegedly ukraine was planning an attack and the u. S. Kind of walked them back from that. This is something that ukrainians are well aware that the u. S. Does not want them to do things like this and president zelenskyy is denying it. The u. S. Doesnt know one way or another, but thats what analysts are now really digging into. To that point, we have seen headlines in recent weeks and months about Cross Border Attacks and the ones close to the russian border, everyone would say thats part of the war. If you get deeper into russia, thats been part of the debate. Be careful if its true. But i want to come back to this in a moment. As i come back, lets listen to president seth will lent skit. He said, no way. I can repeat this message, and i think it will be understandable for everybody. We dont attack putin or moscow. So as someone who understands how the putin communications, the Propaganda Machine works so well, im going to stop this video here. This is, as you said, the building that includes putins residence. If this happened from outside force, what does it say . We have seen battlefield of this war. But that you could fly two drones what is supposed to be the most secure facility in the heart of moscow, whether this was somebody inside russia, some decent, some and the Russian Military preparedness for this government. I think that is the big question. Because if that really did happen, where did it come from . If it came from ukraine, how did he evade an entire country. Kilometers and kilometers to get to the kremlin, how did it get so close to the kremlin. How was it drat dramatically video taped. Thats a beautiful shot. So we got this kind of propaganda side going. Could be the ukrainians. They denied. It could be groups that support the ukrainian government. It could be russians, but it could also be the kremlin trying to gin up fear and patriotism as we get farther into this war. If it is that last option to gin up fear and patriotism, you might succeed with that, but at the same time, youre telling your people if its a lie, thats pretty weak. Thats supposed to be part of the government. Thank you both. Up next, the border crisis. A bus full of migrants arrives in new york sent by the governor of texas. This as cities along the border and governments brace for an influx. While loading up our suv, one extra push and. Crack so, we scheduled at safelite. Com. We were able to track our technician and knew exactly when hed arrive. We can keep working synth music woman safelite came to us. Tech hi, im kendrick. Woman replaced our windshield, and installed new wipers to protect our new glass. Thats service on our time. Singers safelite repair, safelite replace. Harry and david makes mothers day easy. Share a gift made with love with a mom in your life. Choose from hundreds of stunning baskets and towers. Its the pfect way to say thank you for everything. Rry and david. Life is a gift. Share more. To finally lose 80 pounds and ep it off with golo is amazing. Ive been maintaining. The weight is gone and its never coming back. With golo, ive not only kept off the weight but im happier, im healthier, and i have a new lease on life. Golo is the only thing that will let you lose weight and keep it off. Who loses 138 pounds in nine months . I did golos a Lifestyle Change and you make the change and it stays off. soft music but now that i got the inspire implant, its making me think of doing other things ive been putting off. Like removing that tattoo of your first wifes name. Inspire. Learn more and view Important Safety Information at inspiresleep. Com. Weaver going to move to politics and policy collision over the southern border. A potential crisis moment when title 42 comes off the books and more migrants are expect ed to surge. The white house is making critical decisions now hoping to blunt their impact on overwhelmed border facilities. And continuing mexico to take back migrants. The politics are beyond unavoidable. Republicans have long assailed the white house saying the president has been absent on this issue. Governors continuing to Bus Pie Grants to democratled cities. Were covering this story here in washington. Let us begin right now in one of the blue cities taking in migrants. In New York City Bus loads arrived this morning. What are you seeing . Reporter we have seen this political theater in the past with Governor Abbott in texas tapping into state funds to offer free rides to Asylum Seekers after they have been processed and free to travel anywhere they would like. More times than not, were hearing new york continues to be one of their main destinations because they might have someone or they are hearing about the services. So once again, we saw that this morning with a abbott chartered bus. The Port Authority bus terminal, about 41 people left and arrived and expect another bus to arrive today. Its important to point out it really is just a small fraction of the hundreds of Asylum Seekers that have been arriving per day here in new york city. However, every single migrant that arrives here certainly further strains the resources of the city. So the big concern now as we get ready to see a potential increase is how that will translate in new york city, a city that struggles to take fair of other a Asylum Seekers. Polo, thank you. Lets go to the white house. I ticked through some of the new steps they are take ing. Connect the dots for us. Is the hope that it will significantly impact the number of crosses, modestly impact the number crossings . Reporter thats the hope. This would drive down border crossings. The bottom line here is that this is shaping up to be a massive logistical and political challenge for the Biden Administration and for this white house, which is aware the issue is a political vulnerability for the president who received criticism from democrats and republicans. They are trying to show they are putting preparations and plans in motion in anticipation of the covidera restriction. That includes sending additional 1500 troops to be in a Support Capacity along the border, as well as sending nonmexican nationals back to mexico. That would be the first time the u. S. Deported nonmexicans to mexico. Another show of force from this administration to say theres consequence if people cross illegally. Politics looms large. You saw it there in new york. Mayors have been criticizing the administration on this. Im told from a source the department of Homeland Security yesterday was having calls with cities and local Law Enforcement across the country to brief on their preparations knowing whats to come. Whats to come likely includes more migrants to cities that are willing to take them. We appreciate the reporting. Lets bring the conversation in the room to sar their reporting and insights. Lets listen to somebody the president knows well. He served with him in the who thinks the administration is trying to do its best, but needs to stress things and stress them better. I would be constantly sending the message over and over again theres a right way and a wrong way to come here. They have been doing this, but in washington, you have to repeat yourself 50 time bfrs anybody listens. Is that all it is . They have had a lot of internal disagreements and now you have this crunch moment. Are they ready for it . I was just talking to a lawyer for migrants on the ground in El Pa Louisiana so and they said that it isnt just a messaging issue. There are so many migrants that are coming regardless of the fact that the white house is putting out this. When harris traveled to the northern triangle, she repeated that message. Migrants are still going to come. Especially now as they see title 42 being lifted for reasons due to danger, due to them seeking asylum for a better life, and the Immigrant Lawyer that i spoke to said that its really difficult for them right now to plan around title 42 being lifted because they arent actually hearing, she said, preparations from the administration about what their plan is to handle the influx. You hear this debate, whats the plan and the specifics. The president tried toot one thing, to send more troops. The troops will not be on the front lines of the administration. The border patrol, department of Homeland Security who are on the front lines, but senator menendez, they say the president and Vice President have been absent on this issue. Thats the political argument. The administration disagrees. Now mainenendez says the Biden Administrations militarization is unacceptable. Theres already a crisis deploying military personnel. Its a threat to contain. Nothing could be further from the truth. The madministration has a problm on its hand. The problem is going to mushroom quite soon. And even if their own party, some poking as well. If you continue reading senator menendezs statement, this was a trumpera policy that the administration has kept. That just shows its another example of the challenges that this administration has faced on the immigration issue, where obviously, then Vice President joe biden was a kcritic of what the president was doing. Once you get into office and look at your options, when congress is not helping you, when this situation is happening, when there are all these diplomatic issues, youre left with very few options. And i actually asked the white house about this yesterday. They said, look, troops have been sent to the border for two decades under both administrations to help with these more cle