The Beat with Ari Melber

Rachel Maddow’s new podcast “Burn Order” is out now! Listen to a special preview.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard are in critical condition after being shot near the White House. MS NOW's Michele Norris reports on the latest developments.

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2025

MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on Trump's approval ratings sinking to record second-term lows after suffering a humiliating defeat on the Epstein files. Alicia Menendez, Bill Kristol, former Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman, and acclaimed author Walter Isaacson join.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

A federal judge has dismissed the cases against James Comey and Letitia James after the judge determined the interim U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports and is joined by John Flannery.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025

November 21, 2025; 6pm: MS NOW's Ari Melber breaks down the Epstein emails, including newly-surfaced messages from lawyers who went on to represent Trump. Margaret Carlson, Cornell Belcher, and former Justice Department attorney Mike Romano join.

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2025

November 20, 2025; 6pm: Trump signs the Epstein files release bill, meaning the DOJ has 30 days to release the files. New reports show Trump secretly lobbied GOP senators to slow-walk the bill, MS NOW's Ari Melber reports. Joan Walsh, Chai Komanduri, Gary Shteyngart, and Patton Oswalt join.

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2025

November 19, 2025; 6pm: MS NOW’s Ari Melber hosts The Beat and reports on Congress passing legislation to force the DOJ to release its Epstein files. The legislation now awaits Trump's signature. Plus, new reporting on ties between former Trump advisor Steve Bannon and Epstein. Michelle Goldberg, Michael Hirschorn, and Andrew Weissmann join.

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2025

November 18, 2025; 6pm: A major loss for Donald Trump today, MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on how Republicans went from opposing any vote to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act to joining Democrats to back it almost unanimously, and how that weakens Trump's legislative strategy. Rick Wilson, Ayanna Pressley, Alex Wagner, and Molly Jong-Fast join.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

November 17, 2025; 6pm: MSNBC’s Ari Melber hosts The Beat and reports on Trump's apparent reversal of stance on the release of the Epstein files. Maya Wiley, Gretchen Carlson, and Bill Kristol join. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2025

MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on Trump now trying to deflect the Epstein emails, calling on his Justice Department to investigate Epstein's relationship with Bill Clinton and other figures and institutions. Jason Johnson, Emily Bazelon, and Margaret Carlson join. Plus, political podcast host David Pakman.

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2025

MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on the damning Epstein emails rocking the Trump White House. Andrew Weissmann and Rep. Melanie Stansbury join.

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2025

Damning emails allege President Trump knew of Jeffrey Epstein’s conduct. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports.

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2025

MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on the affordability crisis in the US, with recent polling showing that 66% of Americans say Trump has fallen short on his campaign promise to tackle inflation and cost of living. Vanity Fair's Molly Jong-Fast and Democratic Strategist & Pollster Cornell Belcher join.

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

Legendary Democratic Strategist James Carville joins MSNBC’s Ari Melber on “The Beat” to discuss the Democratic surge and New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s campaign.

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2025

Polling shows that affordability and economic anxiety drove the GOP losses as millions of Americans are going to food banks unable to access their SNAP benefits, MSNBC's Ari Melber reports. New York Times' Michelle Goldberg, Emily Bazelon, and MSNBC's Jason Johnson join.

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2025

MSNBC’s Ari Melber analyzes Democrats’ 2025 election sweep and the growing ripple effects across U.S. politics.

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2025

MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on the string of Democratic wins upending politics.

Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2025

New York City's Democratic nominee for mayor joins The Beat ahead of November 4th's election. Donald Trump held a "Great Gatsby" themed Halloween party, drawing backlash amid government shutdown. Barack Obama campaigns for Democratic candidates in New Jersey, Virginia. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Zoran Mamdani and Eugene Robinson.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2025

Food assistance is on the brink of expiration as the government shutdown hits one month. A federal judge in Rhode Island Ruling ordered the Trump administration to fund the SNAP program for November, despite their vows to let that funding expire. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Juanita Tolliver.

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2025

The Pentagon orders the National Guard to establish "quick reaction" forces in every state for civil unrest, meaning as many as 500 soldiers will receive non-lethal crowd control training, MSNBC's Ari Melber reports and is joined by Reverend Al Sharpton and Staff Sergeant Demi Palecek.

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2025

Trump is planning to replace some regional ICE leaders with Border Patrol officials for a more "aggressive" crackdown, MSNBC Ari Melber reports. John Flannery and Chai Komanduri join to discuss Trump's expanding presidential power.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

President Trump won’t rule out seeking a third term in 2028. MSNBC's Jason Johnson reports.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

Trump ally Steve Bannon says President Trump will serve a third term, despite the 22nd amendment. MSNBC’s Jason Johnson reports and is joined by Ankush Khardori and Molly Jong-Fast.

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2025

MSNBC’s Jason Johnson breaks down President Trump’s East Wing demolition, Trump’s $230 million demand from the DOJ, and Trump’s pardon of crypto billionaire Changpeng Zhao. Maya Wiley and Douglas Brinkley join.

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2025

President Trump is demanding that his own DOJ pay him $230 million, citing his own conduct that led to past federal investigations, according to The New York Times. Plus, MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on the White House's plan to demolish the East Wing.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2025

President Trump is demanding that his own DOJ pay him $230 million, citing his own conduct that led to past federal investigations, according to The New York Times. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports and is joined by House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2025

Organizers for the nationwide "No Kings" protests estimate that over 7 million people attended over the weekend. Molly Jong-Fast and David Litt join to discus.

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2025

Another court has stopped President Trump’s bid to seize powers and put troops in the streets. Legendary Political Strategist James Carville joins to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2025

Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly mishandling classified documents. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports and is joined by former FBI General Counsel Andrew Weissmann and former federal prosecutor John Flannery to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2025

President Trump is doubling down on his weaponization of the Justice Department. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Leslie Caldwell, former head of the DOJ’s criminal division and NYU’s Melissa Murray.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2025

MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on former DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith, the prosecutor who brought two criminal indictments against Donald Trump. Smith made a rare public appearance alongside former FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann, who joins to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on how President Trump is wielding government power to prosecute rivals, while cracking down on dissent with federal agents on U.S. streets. Vanity Fair’s Molly Jong-Fast and Maya Wiley join to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2025

Donald Trump's retribution campaign escalates as he bears down on yet another perceived enemy, Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton. The news comes one day after Trump's DOJ indicted NY Attorney General Letitia James. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports.

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2025

The Trump Justice Department has indicted New York Attorney General Leticia James, the top law enforcement official in New York. It follows the DOJ’s controversial indictment of Trump critic James Comey. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports.

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2025

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to charges of lying to Congress in 2020. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports and is joined by former FBI General Counsel Andrew Weissmann.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025

Pam Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the first time as Attorney General. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports and is joined by Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and the New Yorker Magazine's Jelani Cobb.

Transcribed - Published: 7 October 2025

President Trump is escalating the use of the military in cities across the country. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports and is joined by Reverend Al Sharpton and Vanity Fair's Molly Jong-Fast.

Transcribed - Published: 6 October 2025

MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on President Trump’s escalating power grabs and is joined by former SDNY prosecutor Maya Wiley and NYU's Ruth Ben Ghiat. Plus, Melber delivers an analysis of Taylor Swift's new album "The Life of a Showgirl."

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2025

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins MSNBC's Melissa Murray to discuss the ongoing government shutdown.

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2025

On day one of the government shutdown, President Donald Trump is exerting presidential pressure, targeting blue states in what Democrats claim is an abuse of power. MSNBC’s Melissa Murray reports, joined by The New York Times’ Michelle Goldberg and Vanity Fair’s Molly Jong-Fast.

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2025

President Trump delivered an unprecedented and disturbing call to arms in front of the nation’s top military leaders, urging them to attack “the enemy within” and use America’s cities as “training grounds for the armed forces.” MSNBC's Ari Melber reports.

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2025

MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on President Trump using his executive authority to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, amid escalating ICE clashes in Democratic-led cities. Plus, Melber delivers a special report on the playbook and peril for multinational companies balancing free expression and autocratic pressure around the world.

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2025

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury, just days after President Trump publicly called for it. MSNBC’s Ari Melber breaks down the legal implications with expert guests, including former Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissmann and Leslie Caldwell, former head of the DOJ’s Criminal Division.

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2025

The Trump justice department has indicted former FBI Director James Comey. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on the latest developments.

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2025

Jimmy Kimmel triumphantly returned to his show after staring down a government effort to censor him. His opening monologue racked up over 15 million views on YouTube in less than a day. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2025

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to the airwaves. MSNBC’s Jason Johnson reports and is joined by David Litt, former speechwriter for President Obama, and Tara Setmayer, co-founder and CEO of The Seneca Project.

Transcribed - Published: 23 September 2025

In a major reversal, Disney is bringing back Jimmy Kimmel after a massive backlash. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on the corporate shift, and ongoing First Amendment issues, as the Trump administration admits its likely unlawful efforts to use government power to censor criticism.

Transcribed - Published: 22 September 2025

President Trump is using his government power against comics, critics and reporters. MSNBC’s Ari Melber, a First Amendment attorney, breaks down Trump’s censorship.

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2025

ABC indefinitely pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" off the air after pressure from the Federal Communications Commission over his comments about the death of Charlie Kirk. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports and is joined by comedian D.L. Hughley, Julia Ioffe and Jameel Jaffer to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2025

ABC announced it will be pulling “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off air "indefinitely" over comments made by its host about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by former Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissmann.

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2025