 Asma Khalid, NPR News. Secretary of State Antony Blinken appears optimistic about a ceasefire in Gaza as Israel's prime minister prepares for a trip to Washington, D.C. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports the U.S. has been working with Arab allies on an agreement for weeks. Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum to NPR's Mary Louise Kelly, Secretary Blinken uses a football analogy to describe the state of play in Middle East diplomacy.