Happening now.

U.S. gas prices hit their highest level ever.

The latest sign that soaring inflation is taking a very serious toll on the U.S. economy.

President Biden says the price hikes are now his top domestic priority

laying out new efforts to tame the surge.

Is there any relief in sight?

In Ukraine, the key city of Odessa under intense bombardment from hypersonic Russian missiles.

Civilian targets, including hotels and a shopping mall, flattened by the Russian strikes.

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence warns Putin is planning for a, quote, prolonged conflict, and that his ambitions extend far beyond eastern Ukraine.

We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world.

I'm Wolf Blitzer, you're in the situation world.

We begin our coverage tonight with President Biden clearly on the defensive as he battles

surging inflation and record gas prices. Let's get straight to our chief White House correspondent

Caitlin Collins. Caitlin, president says his the economy is now

his top domestic priority but today he was quick to place the blame. What more are you

learning? Yeah well if you talk about him being on defense he's also going on offense a little bit and calling out Republicans, of course, who have been very critical of President Biden and his handling of the economy as they have seen what voters are saying about that. and the president is saying this is at the

top of his to-do list and well mainly that's because it's a top concern for

voters and that is something that the White House and Democrats are well aware

of so six months away from the midterm elections you are

seeing President Biden taking an entire speech today to address these rising

prices but also trying to push the debate back on Republicans because you've

started hearing President Biden used this

...