November 30:
At the last minute, Israel and Hamas extended their truce – apparently by one day – to allow more hostages to be released. In Jerusalem, three people were killed in an apparent terrorist attack this morning. Meanwhile, the UN said the people of Gaza are “in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe.”
***
November 29:
Regardless of diplomacy, the key question remains, though, what happens on the ground whenever and however this iteration of the conflict ends, with the Israeli government appearing committed to its aim to “eliminate Hamas”.
Meanwhile in the US, three young Palestinian students were shot and critically injured in Burlington, Vermont. A man was later arrested.
The crucial, but “forgotten” conflict in Ukraine continues its unpredictable course, with US support set to be an intensely argued issue in coming months.
And with 50 days to go until the GOP caucuses in Iowa, it looks like health care could also be to the fore in next year. Or it could be that Trump is casting around for “policy” issues to distract from his personality flaws and increasingly unapologetic authoritarian aspirations.
***
The COP28 conference is under way in Dubai, with some 167 world leaders and 70,000 visitors expected, along with their very own carbon footprints.
In the US, legal fallout continues for the ‘Orange Jesus’ and his followers, while there are yet more warnings about what a second Trump presidency could bring.
Rep George Santos faces another vote to expel him from the House tomorrow. This evening’s debate has been quite a ride…
While two presidential hopefuls – although not necessarily this time around – face off this evening.
***
November 29:
Equal parts influential and controversial over decades of American politics, Henry Kissinger died tonight aged 100. He was Richard Nixon’s National Security Adviser and then Secretary of State – the first person to hold both posts simultaneously.
He was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Vietnam War, but later admitted he didn’t deserve it. His co-recipient, Le Duc Tho, refused to accept the award.
Specncer Ackerman doesn’t hold back in his obit for Rolling Stone, which says “A deeper shame attaches to the country that celebrates him.”
***
November 28:
On the first of a two-day extension to the temporary ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and as incremental hostage releases continue, the White House is pushing for further exchanges as well as military restraint on the part of Israel. CIA Director Burns is in Qatar for talks aimed at an “expansive” deal.
Jon Karl’s latest book about Donald Trump, ‘Tired of Winning’, is prompting yet more revelations about the period after the 2020 election. Today’s story is about former VP Mike Pence’s apparent testimony to Special Counsel Jack Smith
Meanwhile, there will apparently be no Fulton County plea deal for his former boss…
But the Koch Brothers appear to be betting on someone other than the former President.
Rep George Santos could be closer to expulsion from the House tonight after a third resolution to expel him was introduced.
Elsewhere, in Smartmatic news…
***
November 27:
On the final day of the four-day temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, but with a number of hostages still being held in Gaza, Qatar announced a deal had been reached for an extension to the cessation.
Regardless of diplomacy, the key question remains, though, what happens on the ground whenever and however this iteration of the conflict ends, with the Israeli government appearing committed to its aim to “eliminate Hamas”.
Meanwhile in the US, three young Palestinian students were shot and critically injured in Burlington, Vermont. A man was later arrested.
The crucial, but “forgotten” conflict in Ukraine continues its unpredictable course, with US support set to be an intensely argued issue in coming months.
And with 50 days to go until the GOP caucuses in Iowa, it looks like health care could also be to the fore in next year. Or it could be that Trump is casting around for “policy” issues to distract from his personality flaws and increasingly unapologetic authoritarian aspirations.
***
November 24:
The world held its breath as the negotiated – temporary – truce in Gaza took effect this morning, and the exchange of hostages and detainees started. Tension and violence continued right up until the designated moment for the cessation to begin. The emotional hostage exchange process will be spread over the next four days.
Elsewhere today, in a particularly chaotic and vulnerable world…
And at home…
*
***
November 22:
Israel’s government voted late last night to approve a US/Qatar-brokered deal that would free some hostages held by Hamas and bring a temporary halt to hostilities in Gaza. The details seem to be:
• Four-day halt in violence
• Fifty Hamas hostages released
• Hostage release spread over the 4 days
• Up to 150 Palestinian women and children released from Israeli captivity
• No time set for start of truce yet (likely tomorrow)
• Israel’s ground operations in North to continue
Meanwhile, the possibility of a wider escalation of the conflict remains active.
***
November 21:
The Israeli cabinet is meeting to discuss the details of an expected deal to free some Hamas hostages and institute a pause in hostilities.
Yesterday’s ruling affecting the Voting Rights Act by a federal appeals court makes it more difficult for individuals and advocacy groups to bring legal cases against electoral abuse. The ruling looks likely to end up in the Supreme Court.
*
*
***
November 20:
For yet another day, a hostage deal is still “close” in Gaza.
President Biden’s approval rating continues to slip among younger voters, mainly because of his handling of the Middle East situation.
Lawyers for Biden’s likely GOP opponent were in court today arguing for the lifting of the gag order against their client in the January 6th case.
Wait… who really knows what’s happening with Open AI now? It’s not clear even the parties involved do. Check back in an hour. (it looks like Microsoft won)…
Argentina shifted to the right overnight.
Amid growing concern over global emissions levels, the US says it will make a major announcement on fission at the COP28 conference
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***
November 19
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed away tonight, aged 96.
And when they went to Braves games, they would always pucker up for the kiss-cam…
In Gaza, a deal to release at least some hostages still seems to be elusive and yet noises indicate is close.
Whatever happens during the remainder of the conflict and after, President Biden could find it difficult to rebuild support he has lost over the issue – particularly among younger voters.
Biden turns 81 on Monday 20th, making him six years older than the state of Israel.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to release “all” of the Jan 6th footage is still being celebrated in right-wing circles, but no-one seems sure exactly why. People will continue to see what they want to see, it seems.
Meanwhile, the GOP frontrunner was in Iowa today.
*
One leading free agent is off the market and staying in Philly. Plenty more to follow, though…
***
Meanwhile, the rift between the US and Israel appears to be intensifying.
The number of major advertsers are dumping X/Twitter grows after anti-semitic posts by the platform’s owner Elon Musk.
Another tech boss, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI – described as “the Oppenheimer of our age” was ousted. Or was he?
A judge in Colorado found that, while Donald Trump had engaged in insurrection & intended the Jan 6th violence, there was no legal basis for barring him from the ballot.
Meanwhile, the former President could end up campaigning from custody…
As Brian Stelter does the rounds promoting his new book, more details emerge of the role Fox propaganda played in the 2020 election and its aftermath, as well as in our civic discourse in general.
Whatever the existential outlook for Fox, the picture for the nation’s newspapers is even worse than first thought.
***
November 18:
With the supposed deal for Hamas hostages apparently going quiet – just as the families’ protest march arrives in Jerusalem – the military focus of the conflict remains firmly on the worsening situation around Al Shifa hospital in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the rift between the US and Israel appears to be intensifying.
The number of major advertsers are dumping X/Twitter grows after anti-semitic posts by the platform’s owner Elon Musk.
Another tech boss, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI – described as “the Oppenheimer of our age” was ousted. Or was he?
A judge in Colorado found that, while Donald Trump had engaged in insurrection & intended the Jan 6th violence, there was no legal basis for barring him from the ballot.
Meanwhile, the former President could end up campaigning from custody…
As Brian Stelter does the rounds promoting his new book, more details emerge of the role Fox propaganda played in the 2020 election and its aftermath, as well as in our civic discourse in general.
Whatever the existential outlook for Fox, the picture for the nation’s newspapers is even worse than first thought.
***
November 16:
Israel and Hamas appear to be on the verge of a mediated deal for the return of an as-yet unspecificed number of hostages, in exchange for a pause in Israeli hostilities.
The conflict will inevitably continue to impact US domestic politics, including lobby group AIPAC targeting ‘The Squad’.
While President Biden was being lauded for what was widely acknowledged as a successful summit meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping yesterday, Biden’s potential GOP opponent next year was being spoken of in the same sentence as other, long-dead, leaders…
Yet…
And there are some interesting developments concerning Trump and the Latino news network Univision.
The House Ethics Committee found “substantial evidence” that Rep. George Santos (R-NY) “violated federal criminal laws,” including using campaign funds for personal purposes. In response Santos said he would not seek re-election, but the Committee Chairman is expected to introduce a resolution tomorrow to expel Santos from Congress.
*
Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna are your MVPs, the first time both award-winners were unanimously chosen.
While there are some comings and goings (or stayings) in the world of ballparks…
***
November 15:
Presidents Biden and Xi met near San Francisco on the Chinese leader’s first visit to the US in six years. It was the first meeting between the leaders in over a year.
That agreement comes after the US released its five-yearly climate report. It’s not encouraging..Here’s why…
But…
As confusion reigns around the situation at the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza, negotiations are apparently continuing which would see the release of some Hamas hostages in return for an extended halt in Israeli attacks. There was also the first call by a senior political figure since the war started for PM Benjamin Netanyahu to resign.
The Senate looks set to pass the CR to avert a government shutdown – at least until we have to do it all again in a couple of months.
And the more we know about Speaker Johnson, the harder it seems to be to read his next moves, or the degree of internal opposition he will face.
In Donald Trump’s legal pantomime multiverse, this seems to be something of a Hail Mary…
Elsewhere, (Fulton County, Georgia, to be specific…)
Although where Rudy might get that sort of money from isn’t clear…
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***
November 14:
The House voted to pass GOP Speaker Mike Johnson’s Continuing Resolution for a short-term funding bill aimed at averting a government shutdown. With some extreme Republicans committed to opposing, the Democratic caucus pledged its support to get the measure through.
(And it’s been an angry, petty, frustrating day in Congress already…)
Speaker Johnson and other politicians from both parties – as well as controversial evangelical pastor John Hagee – appeared at a large rally on the Mall in Washington in support of Israel.
*
***
November 13:
For the first time in its history, the Supreme Court has adopted a code of ethical conduct, following recent revelations in the press about relationships between justices and conservative donors.
Does it mean anything? Maybe. Maybe not…
The House has four days to advance a measure that could avoid a government shutdown.
Former President Donald Trump may have crossed a line this weekend with his language referring to his enemies; will it – finally – mean a change in how reporting of him changes? Don’t hold your breath.
Having failed to make inroads into cutting Trump’s lead in the GOP Presidential primary, Sen Tim Scott is suspending his campaign.
Meanwhile, after the electoral setback for Virginia’s GOP Gov Glen Youngkin this week, a prominent Democrat has indicated she will seek to replace him when he is term-limited in 2025.
Amid increasingly difficult scenes from hospitals in Gaza and the absence of progress on the Israeli hostages, the diplomatic rift between US and the Netanyahu government grows over apparent post-war plans for the enclave. There are also ongoing fears of the conflict escalating within the region through growing proxy exchanges.
*
***
November 11:
Today is Veterans Day.
This came two days after election officials in Fulton County, GA received letters containing a suspicious substance.
After something of a roller-coaster week that began with Democrat jitters after poor polling and ended in the wake of some crucial local election victories, President Biden and VP Harris formally launched their campaign for re-election in the new first-in-the nation Democratic primary state of South Carolina; and there are signs they might be about to be more aggressive in highlighting the contrast between the President and his prospective opponent.
The former President, meanwhile, wants his trial to become a national stage for grandstanding and fundraising. He likely won’t get it.
But with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu apparently hardening his position on occupation of Gaza, the shadow of the conflict in the Middle East and its possible aftermath hangs over both candidates’ next campaign steps.
The House is away for the Veterans Day weekend, with now only six days remaining until a possible government shutdown.
Meanwhile, the permutations surrounding Sen Joe Manchin’s decision not to run again are being laid out.
And, yeah, of course he could…
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Dominican League baseball comes to New York.
And this is another outstanding piece by artist Andy Brown…
***
November 10:
As bombardments of Gaza continue amid intensified fighting, Israel apparently agreed to a daily ‘four-hour pause’ in hostilities to allow humanitarian aid and any possible negotiations for the release of hostages. It’s short of what President Biden has been pressing for, but it seems the US still wants to publicly embrace Netanyahu, despite unease at his comments about the apparent de facto occupation of Gaza.
The contrast between ‘investigations’ of the 45th and 46th Presidents continues. After Ivanka Trump’s failure to recall anything she was asked about, the Trump civil fraud trial resumes on Monday with the defence expected to call her brother, Donald Trump Jr.
Democrats’ success in this week’s elections was at least partly deflated when Sen Joe Manchin announced he wouldn’t be running for re-election in West Virginia, hinting at a potential third-party Presidential run.
Meanwhile…
https://twitter.com/petestrzok/status/1722745810658455768
Dysfunction continues in the House with the Nov 17 shutdown deadline approaching.
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In play, run (s)…
November 8:
It was a big, positive night for Democrats, driven largely by the issue of abortion rights, more than a year after the overturning of Roe v Wade. In Ohio, voters enshrined access to abortion in the state’s constitution, but if the local GOP has anything to do with it, that won’t be the last word.
Across the river in Kentucky, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear won re-election over the state’s GOP Attorney General, the Trump-endorsed Daniel Cameron, a proponent of an abortion ban. In the 21st century, every Kentucky gubernatorial election has predicted the next presidential winner.
In Virginia, where there had been a pre-election ‘purge’ of the voter roll, Democrats retained control of the Virginia and flipped control of the House of Delegates, blocking a legislative trifecta for Governor Glenn Youngkin, who some Republicans had seen – perhaps wistfully – as a potential late entrant to their presidential field.
The GOP’s one bright spot was in Mississippi, where their not-so-bright scandal-ridden Governor Tate Reeves won re-election, holding off a challenge from a relative of Elvis Presley. Ah, Mississippi… On a serious note, though, there were problems with the voting process as one county ran out of printed ballots.
This, however, may turn out to be among the evening’s most significant outcomes …
Elsewhere, Philadelphia’s 100th Mayor will be its first woman incumbent, Democrat Cherelle Parker; while in New York, one of the exonerated ‘Central Park Five’ Yusef Salaam, was elected to represent Harlem on the city council. In 1989, Donald Trump had called for Salaam and the others to be executed.
The NBA again took election day off to encourage fans to go to the polls.
While it’s still uncertain what these results might mean for an election a year from now – apart from making it less likely that Democrat jitters over recent polls will actually lead to replacing their candidate – the results are one more example of how Trump-endorsed candidates or positions have backfired on the GOP and extended their national losing streak.
Ivanka Trump is giving evidence today in her father’s civil fraud trial in New York.
The House GOP is wrestling with how to avert a government shutdown in ten days – or at least how to make sure Democrats get blamed for it.
Meanwhile, the House voted to censure its only Palestinian-American member, Rep Rashida Tlaib.
As Israeli bombardments continue in Gaza, there appears to be an increasing rift between the US and Israel over PM Netanyahu’s comments about the future of the enclave.
It’s the third GOP presidential debate in Miami, with five candidates – none of them named Donald Trump, who still leads the field by a considerable distance. Those on the stage tonight are fighting it out not even for second place, but apparently to be some kind of viable alternative should Trump somehow *not* be the nominee.
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The Mets are fully focused on pitching for the new season, I see…
Meanwhile…
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November 7:
Tuesday is Election day and as well as an indicator of public mood a year out from next year’s Presidential election, there are some key off-year contests in a number of states around the country; with ballot measures on abortion in Ohio and Virginia, and interesting Governor’s races in Kentucky and Mississippi.
Hour-by-hour guide from Semafor here
Real-time results from the New York Times here
It is one month since the Hamas attack on Israel that prompted the current conflict. Amid close fighting and continued Israeli air strikes in Gaza, the US is trying to push back on comments by PM Benjamin Netanyahu implying that Israel was planning to take “overall responsibility” for Gaza after the end of the current fighting.
After Donald Trump’s performance on the stand in his fraud trial yesterday, his daughter Ivanka is set to testify on Wednesday. Later that evening there is another largely pointless GOP presidential debate.
Meanwhile, attempts by Trump’s legal team to delay or dismiss the Jan 6 case were unceremoniously slapped down by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
And some big diary news for Trump’s potential second-term AG…
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It was probably time for change at both franchises, but…the news that David Ross is out at Wrigley and the Cubs are hiring Craig Counsell from their division rivals the Milwaukee Brewers certainly came as a shock.
***
November 6:
With Israeli bombing of Gaza intensified, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Turkey as calls continue from the UN and others for a ceasefire. The IDF is now encircling Gaza City, and Israel again reiterated its calls for civilians to move south.
Meanwhile Ukraine’s President Zelensky’s frustration is understandably showing as his country’s war against Russian aggression threatens to be marginalised, with military support in limbo in the US Congress.
In the latest episode of his political theater, former President Trump is testifying/fundraising this morning in his New York fraud trial.
In other Trump-related legal news…
https://twitter.com/girlsreallyrule/status/1721507587873525981
Ahead of some crucial elections on Tuesday (including an Elvis relative’s strong showing), this weekend’s swing state poll numbers sent some Dems into a panic, with President Biden trailing in five battleground states he won in 2020.
But even reminders that President Obama’s poll numbers were at an equivalent low point in 2011 seemed particularly pointless.
What is worrying is a possible erosion of Biden’s core constituencies – for example, young voters – which brings us back to how far we are out from election day, and whether any poll now is a meaningful indicator, given that “normal” people don’t generally engage until much closer to polling day.
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As Jeff Passan reminds us with just about 140 days to go until Spring Training, in an offseason “filled with intrigue… we’ll get Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s free agency and big-name trades.” Speculation over the future landing spot for Ohtani will be like little other.
As the Cincinnati Reds declined to pick up their option on Joey Votto, a genuine end of an era seems to have happened by default.
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November 5:
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday made an unannounced visit to Iraq as part of a whirlwind diplomatic push in the region as fears continue that the conflict could escalate amid intensifying air strikes. As well as returning to Israel, Blinken visited Jordan and the West Bank; then from Iraq he will travel on to Turkey, where there have been protests near the US airbase.
Earlier, a ultranationalist Israeli minister was “suspended” after saying that dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza “was an option”.
In domestic politics, there’s now a year until the 2024 Presidential election, with one of the candidates already openly planning a dictatorship, and of course there are some key elections this coming Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the former President is set to testify on Monday at his civil fraud trial in New York City.
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The Hanshin Tigers beat the defending champion Orix Buffaloes to win the Japan Series for the first time since 1985 and end what is probably baseball’s only Kentucky Fried Chicken-related curse.
***
November 3:
With Israeli troops now engaged in street combat in Gaza City, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in the region attempting to press for some kind of humanitarian pause or slow-down in the fighting – even if such a move seems immediately unlikely – as well as talking to Arab nations about prospects for stability amid whatever might come next.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah is making a important speech outlining the position of his organization.
The impact of the conflict on domestic US politics continues to intensify.
The House last night passed the GOP bill providing aid for Israel, but tied to an offset reduction in funding for the IRS. The measure is unlikely to be taken up in its current form in the Senate.
In case you’d forgotten, there are elections next Tuesday…
Donald Trump’s adult sons both testified in the punitive phase of the former President’s fraud trial in New York. Eric is set to resume his testimony on Friday, before their father’s scheduled appearance on Monday.
https://twitter.com/ABCWorldNews/status/1720246328536465476
‘Crypto King’ Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all counts. But at least he has a flattering courtroom sketch.
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As we head into baseball’s busy “off-season” the Arizona Fall League ‘Fall-Star’ Game is this weekend at Sloan Park in Mesa, as the League winds up.
https://twitter.com/MLBazFallLeague/status/1720258124366664128
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November 2:
The Israeli military said it had “encircled” Gaza City as the exit of the wounded and foreign nationals continued for a second day. Sen Dick Durbin became the first US Senator to call for a ceasefire, going further than President Biden’s call for a “pause” (although judging by Israeli rhetoric tonight, such a development is “not on the table”.)
Meanwhile, Bahrain has reportedly withdrawn its Ambassador from Tel Aviv and cut economic ties with Israel – if confirmed, this would be the first of the Abraham Accord states to take such action.
Pressure continues to grow on Benjamin Netanyahu, with the US now believing the Israeli PM’s political future is increasingly in doubt.
Ed Luce at the FT called Netanyahu an “albatross around President Biden’s neck”.
With US national security concerns increasingly front and centre, Republicans’ patience with Sen Tommy Tuberville’s hold on senior military appointments appeared to boil over last night.
In the House last night, a vote to expel Rep George Santos failed after 31 Democrats voted against the motion, some arguing – not unreasonably – that the serial fabulist should not be banished before being found guilty, either in court or by the House Ethics Committee.
Amid fresh warnings to President Biden over his support among young voters, a new Quinnipiac poll – again with the usual caveats – shows independent RFK Jr running at 22 per cent – higher among 18-34s – in a three-way contest.
Meanwhile, the expected GOP nominee continues to lay out the world that would lie in store for a second term. With no legal or legislative constraints on him, any institutional guardrails would likely be dismantled.
The unpredictable and performative pantomime that is the House GOP under their new Speaker will continue through the run-up to the election. Whether it ends up doing more damage to President Biden or its own members will be one of the fascinating outcomes to watch for this time next year.
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The Texas Rangers won their first-ever World Series title last night, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 to take the series 4-1. Corey Seager was WS MVP for a second time, only the second player to win the award with different teams (and the first in both leagues); while Nathan Eovaldi won his fifth post-season start.
The victory is a remarkable achievement for Bruce Bochy and the Rangers, who of course lost a hundred games just two seasons ago. No team has won 11 road games in the post-season, and no team has ever won a World Series game after being scoreless through six innings, as they did in last night’s clincher.
Back when FT.com was in the process of making 24-hour coverage a normal thing, I got to write a game-by-game wrap of the 1998 World Series from a sleepy corner of the London newsdesk, as Bochy’s Padres were swept by the Yankees. Last night he became the sixth manager to win four World Series titles – joining Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel, Connie Mack, Walter Alston and the guy who beat Bochy in 1998, Joe Torre.
It was fun to start this season out in Phoenix for the WBC, and I was happy the DBacks and their fans had a great run this year, but sorry it ended like this for them.
***
November 1:
The crossing between Gaza and Egypt opened on Wednesday for the first time since this period of the conflict began, allowing some humanitarian aid in and some foreign nationals out. It’s still unclear how many Americans might be able to leave.
As Israel’s campaign in Gaza continues to ramp up, this has become a critical moment for the US-Israel relationship and a potentially dangerous time for Americans around the world. FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Congress that the threat is growing, along with anti-semitism across the US.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to return to Israel and other locations in the region later this week.
While the US is sticking with its initial steadfast backing of Israel, the Biden administration is facing unease among some of its supporters as the conflict continues.
Calder McHugh writes at Politico on how the conflict is reshaping the 2024 political landscape – even in terms of what is and isn’t acceptable language, with the word “ceasefire” as opposed to “humanitarian pause” proving divisive.
“As the IDF moves closer to Gaza City, the issue of unflinching U.S. support for Israel looks increasingly like a political wedge that will shape the contours of the 2024 election cycle and continue to be a divisive issue.”
Fallout continues from the air strike on the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, which Israel said had targeted a Hamas leader.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s provocative first Bill tying aid to Israel to a reduction in funding for the IRS has divided opinion across Congress. Meanwhile, the government is still heading for a shutdown on Nov 17.
Meanwhile, with a narrow GOP majority, the House looks set to delay voting on a resolution to suspend NY Rep George Santos.
Donald Trump Jr is set to testify on Wednesday in the punishment phase of his father’s New York civil fraud trial, the first of the Trump children to do so over coming days. Their father is also set to appear on the stand next week.
Not the beginning of the end; not even the end of the beginning.
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The Texas Rangers shook off the blow of losing Adolis Garcia and are now one win away from their first-ever World Series title, holding off a ninth-inning Arizona fightback to win Game Four 11-7. The Rangers are now 10-0 in the post-season when scoring first. This was also their 10th straight post-season road victory.
Teams have come back from a three-games-to-one deficit only six times in World Series history, the most recent being the Cubs’ win against Cleveland in 2016. For the Diamondbacks, their final home game of 2023 on Wednesday night has become “win or stay home”.
States of Play 