Breaking news, Ukraine says Russia's new offensive in the East is now underway.

But the Pentagon questions if Russia is ready, saying its military still suffers, quote,

chronic difficulties.

Plus, China draws closer to Russia.

As the world tries to isolate Vladimir Putin.

China's foreign ministry says it will increase coordination with Moscow.

We'll talk about that and the other big story this morning.

The TSA no longer enforcing the mask mandate on planes and other public transit after a ruling from a federal judge. Good morning and

welcome to morning, Joe. It's Tuesday, April 19th, along with Willie Joe and me. We have the host

of way too early in White House Beard Chief at Politico, Jonathan Lemire, and former NATO

Supreme Allied commander, retired four-star Navy Admiral James DeVritus.

He's Chief International Security and Diplomacy Analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.

So, Samika, what do you think about the mask mandate being voided by the judge?

I mean, I just think that planes and trains are the one place where it's worth using them.

And what I think is, then you should use them.

Yeah, okay.

I like when Joe asked me a question.

You know, I'm just sitting here.

I'm being.

No, no, no.

But you think that this is the one area where not nightclubs, not like, hockey,

that. Well, you still wear a mask on a plane? I will for a few weeks. Thank you. That's all I need to do. But see, that's a different, I mean, that's a different question. I've just, so there are two things here. William, first of all, there's the judge's ruling, which is like one of these judges' rulings where a federal judge in Texas will rule that the Democratic Party is illegal.

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