double down before he backs down. >> his decision to amp up his nuclear posture, i read one analysis that said that the u.s. should be careful not to overrespond because that's exactly what putin wants, that he's trying to take the focus off of the fact that he's failing in ukraine and he wants to make this a war with the united states, a war with the west. how do we balance that and still make sure we're keeping an eye on the idea that the thing we've always feared is a mad man with a nuke? what if we suddenly have a madman with a nuke? >> i think the administration, the biden administration's response to this has been spot on, and it is very prudent, not escalatory in any way, and just reassuring that the american deterrence posture, our nuclear force, is safe, it's secure, and it's the right way to go here. somebody's got to be the adult