The Beat with Ari Melber
Ari Melber delivers the biggest political and news stories of the day, with interviews and original reporting from around the nation. An Emmy-winning journalist, attorney and former Senate staffer, Melber cuts through the spin and the noise to tell you what's really happening. Real news, every night.
Candidates Eye "First AI Election"
October 6, 2026; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on President Trump’s declining support as the midterms approach. The New York Times’ Molly Jong-Fast and former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee join. Plus, Melber reports on what some are calling the “first AI election” and what the rise of AI could mean for the future of politics. Ed Zitron, journalist and host of the “Better Offline” podcast, joins.
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GOP's Thom Tillis on "The Beat"
October 5, 2026; North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis joins MS NOW's Ari Melber on "The Beat" for an extended interview. Plus, Melber reports on new brutal midterm signs for Republicans heading into the midterms.
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White House Rocked by Bad Jobs Report
October 2, 2026; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on President Trump’s “Red State Tour” and the latest jobs report. Political analyst Juanita Tolliver and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Eugene Robinson join. Plus, a new update on the Cornell University sexual assault investigation. Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance joins.
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MI Dem Senate Nominee Abdul El-Sayed on “The Beat”
October 1, 2026; Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed joins MS NOW's Ari Melber on "The Beat" for an extended conversation. Plus, fashion icon June Ambrose and MS NOW's Chris Jansing join for the latest "Fallback" installment.
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Leaked Audio: MAGA Candidate Paxton Hits Trump Convention
September 30, 2026; Leaked audio obtained by The New York Times reveals Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton apparently insulting President Trump’s convention. Paxton’s team disputes the claim that Paxton sees Trump as a drag. The New York Times' Molly Jong-Fast and former Democratic Congressman Mondaire Jones join. Plus, new fallout from former DOJ vet Jack Smith's hearing. NYU's Melissa Murray also joins.
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DOJ Vet Jack Smith Stands by Cases to Jail Trump
September 29, 2026; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on bombshell testimony from former special counsel Jack Smith, the first federal prosecutor to criminally charge a former president. Smith appeared before Congress today defending his two indictments of Trump. Plus, Trump gathers with nearly 20 tech CEO's at the White House. Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and tech critic, joins.
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Trump Approval Hits New Low
September 28, 2026; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on President Trump’s declining approval ratings as the midterms draw closer and is joined by legendary Democratic strategist James Carville. Plus, Melber delivers a special report on the backlash to AI and is joined by MIT’s Max Tegmark.
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Trump Bucks Base on AI
September 25, 2026; MAGA is breaking with President Trump over his embrace of AI. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Naomi Klein, journalist and bestselling author of "End times Fascism and the Fight for the Living World." Plus, spreading GOP panic ahead of the midterms. The New York Times' Molly Jong-Fast joins.
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Judge Blocks Trump's WH Ban on MS NOW, CNN & Politico
September 24, 2026; President Trump loses the first court test of his press ban. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports. Plus, Anthony Scaramucci, a Trump White House veteran who briefly served as communications director before leaving the administration and becoming a Trump critic, joins "The Beat" alongside Alex Wagner.
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Judge Skeptical of Trump Press Ban
September 23, 2026; President Trump’s White House press ban faced skeptical questions at an emergency court hearing. MS NOW’s Ari Melber breaks down what happened. Plus, Republicans distance themselves from Trump as the midterm elections draw closer. The New York Times’ Michelle Goldberg joins.
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MS NOW Exclusive: House GOP Privately Fears Midterm Doom
September 22, 2026; New MS NOW reporting details how House Republicans are privately worried about their prospects in the midterm elections. Melissa Murray reports and is joined by The New York Times’ Molly Jong-Fast and David Litt, former Obama speechwriter. Plus, Trump faces fallout over his White House press ban. Former FBI General Counsel Andrew Weissmann and Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute, join.
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MS NOW, CNN & Politico Sue Trump Admin Over WH Ban
September 21, 2026; In their lawsuit challenging President Trump’s White House press ban, CNN, MS NOW and Politico warn of the chilling effect the restrictions could have on press freedom. MS NOW’s Antonia Hylton reports and is joined by Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post. Plus, Hylton reports on the upcoming midterm elections and is joined by Christina Greer, professor of political science at Fordham University.
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Trump Claims To Ban MS NOW, CNN, Politico From WH
September 18, 2026; President Donald Trump says he is banning MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House. He did not cite specific reports that prompted the decision and suggested other news organizations could face similar action. The Trump administration has taken no formal action at this time. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports. Plus, Rep. Ro Khanna, who is leading the push for a second Epstein Files Transparency Act, joins.
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South Park Rebrands As “South America” To Mock Trump
September 17, 2026; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on new warning signs for President Trump’s economy. Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and The New York Times’ Molly Jong-Fast join. Plus, “South Park” returned with a new name, “South America,” in a jab at President Trump’s decision to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
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Morgan Freeman joins Ari Melber: America, Blues & Purpose
September 16, 2026; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on new fallout from President Trump’s war and economic challenges, from the Fed to the markets. Slate’s Jacob Weisberg and The New York Times’ Michelle Goldberg join. Plus, Oscar winner Morgan Freeman joins to discuss his new project, “Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience.”
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Kimmel Outwits FCC: Talarico Interview Hits 5X Usual Audience
September 15, 2026; The Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s bid to halt a judge’s order blocking federal mail-in ballot restrictions for the midterm elections. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Andrew Weissmann, former FBI general counsel. Plus, Jimmy Kimmel says FCC pressure kept his interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico off TV. The YouTube interview has since drawn 10.4 million views. Melber is joined by author David Corn and Democratic strategist Alencia Johnson.
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AI Rivals Unite With New Call: “Slow It Down”
September 14, 2026; AI rivals are coming together with a new message: “Slow it down.” Leaders from OpenAI, SpaceX and Anthropic are responding to growing concerns over the rapid pace of artificial intelligence. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Will Knight, senior writer for WIRED. Plus, the latest on the upcoming midterm elections. Political strategist Chai Komanduri and MS NOW contributor Juanita Tolliver also join.
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U.S. marks 9/11 amid Iran war & political division
September 11, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber hosts The Beat and reports on the U.S. marking 25 years since the September 11th attacks. Plus, new scrutiny on the Trump administration and censorship as Jimmy Kimmel alleged the Trump Administration "threatened" him and ABC over his planned TV interview with Democratic Senate candidate from Texas, James Talarico. Jason Johnson, Michelle Goldberg, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Busta Rhymes join.
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AI Insider Warns of Risk To Humanity
The firing of Fox host Maria Bartiromo has caused a huge rift among MAGA, pitting the conservative network against the president. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports. Plus, Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, sounds the alarm on rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.
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Trump Aide Peter Navarro on "The Beat"
September 9, 2026; MS NOW's Ari Melber is joined by Trump aide Peter Navarro on "The Beat" for an extended interview on the Fox-WH feud and more.
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Gas Prices Hit Record High For Labor Day
September 8, 2026; With 56 days until the midterm elections, MS NOW’s Antonia Hylton reports on the latest developments and is joined by The Nation’s Joan Walsh and former Obama speechwriter David Litt. Plus, Hylton examines President Trump’s fight to restrict mail-in voting with Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
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Trump Loses Mail Voting Ruling as Judge Blocks Midterm Scheme
September 4, 2026; A federal judge temporarily halted a Trump-directed Postal Service requirement that would exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the midterms. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on the breaking news.
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Remembering Feminist Trailblazer Gloria Steinem
September 3, 2026; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on a pivotal court hearing challenging President Trump’s plot to corrupt the midterm ballots and is joined by Ty Cobb, a former Trump White House lawyer during his first term. Plus, Melber remembers Gloria Steinem, the women’s rights leader who has died at the age of 92.
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The Notorious Lawyer Who Shaped Trump’s Outlook
September 2, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on signs that President Trump is rattled by the upcoming midterm elections and is joined by Brett Meiselas, co-founder of the MeidasTouch News Network. Plus, Melber delivers a special report on Roy Cohn, the notorious lawyer widely considered to be Trump’s “fixer” when he was a budding real estate developer.
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DOJ Under Fire Amid New Epstein Document
September 1, 2026; 6pm; The Trump DOJ is facing new questions over its handling of the Epstein case. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Bloomberg’s Jason Leopold. Plus, legendary strategist James Carville joins to discuss the latest from the Trump White House and the upcoming midterm elections.
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Trump Reignites Iran War Amid Troubled Economy
Aug 31, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Antonia Hylton reports on the latest on the Iran war and is joined by Reverend Al Sharpton. Plus, President Donald Trump calls for NBC anchor Kristen Welker to face “rebuke or punishment” from the Federal Communications Commission over her comments about his primary endorsement record. Hylton reports and is joined by NYU's Melissa Murray.
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Iran War Hits Six Month Mark
Aug 28, 2026; 6pm; The war in Iran has reached the six-month mark. MS NOW’s Jackie Alemany reports and is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Eugene Robinson and Bloomberg’s Jeff Mason. Plus, Alemany reports on how a growing revolt against Big Tech could shape the upcoming midterm elections.
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Bill Gates Issues AI Warning
Aug 27, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on tech innovator and Microsoft founder Bill Gates issuing an extensive warning about the current AI boom. Plus, President Trump faces a polling crisis amid an unpopular war and high prices. Also, Jason Johnson and rapper E-40 join for the latest installment of “Fallback.”
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Big Tech to Pay Billions for Hooking Kids on Facebook, Instagram
Aug 26, 2026; 6pm; Meta and a group of state attorneys general announced a settlement agreement in which the social media giant will pay up to $17 billion and make changes to its apps following allegations that its technology harms children’s mental health. MS NOW's Ari Melber delivers a special report. Obama campaign veteran Chai Komanduri joins Melber to discuss AI and social media.
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Country Music Legend Dolly Parton Dead at 80
Aug 25, 2026; 6pm; Tributes pour in for country music legend Dolly Parton. MS NOW’s Ari Melber remembers the singer, songwriter, musician, businesswoman and philanthropist. Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren, Martha Ackmann, author of “And Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton,” and Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, join to discuss Parton’s legacy.
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Trump Picks New Trade Fight with Canada
Aug 24, 2026; 6pm: President Trump revives a tariff clash with ally and trading partner Canada. Veteran journalist Kurt Andersen joins to discuss. Plus, MS NOW's Ari Melber delivers a special report on a key area where Trump is trying to skirt or break the laws that oversee prosecutors. Renowned civil rights attorney Nancy Erika Smith joins.
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Trump Ripped for Inflation, Debt, War, Ahead of Midterms
Aug 21, 2026; 6pm: MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on a flashing “Code Red” for President Trump and Republicans as Trump’s poll numbers continue to sink. Plus, Melber reports on a troubling new power grab in Trump’s retribution campaign and is joined by former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance. And in a special digital extra, listen to part of Melber’s interview with YouTube’s Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen on his interview series, “On Wax.”
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Heat Grows on MAGA Tech Billionaires
Aug 20, 2026; 6pm; MAGA allies are making huge bets on AI amid new signs that a tech “bubble” could rattle the economy. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and journalist Ed Zitron. Plus, Melber is joined by The New York Times' Maggie Haberman for an extended discussion on the latest from the Trump administration.
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Who is Natalie Harp? Trump's "Favorite" Aide
Aug 19, 2026; 6pm: MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on new results and signals emerging from the primaries, including bruising losses for Trump-endorsed candidates. Reverend Al Sharpton and Bill de Blasio, former New York City mayor join. Plus, who is Trump aide Natalie Harp? Melber breaks down her role and influence.
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Trump Hits Second-Term Low as Midterms Approach
Aug 18, 2026; 6pm: New polling from Reuters shows President Trump’s approval rating at 33 percent. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman. Plus, ABC is suing the FCC over threats to force its stations off the air. Melber breaks down the lawsuit with NPR’s David Folkenflik.
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Trump Loses At Supreme Court Again
Aug 17, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on President Trump’s latest legal setbacks with former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann. Plus, Rose Horowitch, author of The Atlantic’s “The End of Reading Is Here,” joins Melber and The New York Times’ Michelle Goldberg to discuss America’s decline in reading, and what it could mean for culture, politics, and society.
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AI Bubble About to Collapse? Exposé on MAGA Ally David Ellison's debt bomb
Aug 14, 2026; 6pm;MS NOW’s Ari Melber delivers a special report on the tech boom, deregulation and the MAGA allies reshaping AI and media. Melber draws from a New York Times investigation, “Larry Ellison Bet It All on the A.I. Boom. Will He Be the Face of an A.I. Bubble?” New York Times reporter Jim Rutenberg joined Melber later on “The Beat.”
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Bank Ties Trump's Org to Money Laundering Concern for "First Time"
Aug 13, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Ari Melber is joined by former Trump White House lawyer Ty Cobb to discuss growing backlash to President Trump’s power grabs. Plus, Melber reports on new revelations that a major U.S. bank believed the Trump Organization was potentially linked to money laundering. NYU’s Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins for analysis.
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Trump Plows $900M Into White House Construction
Aug 12, 2026; 6pm; New reporting from The Washington Post reveals that President Trump’s White House construction projects are expected to cost nearly $1 billion, with taxpayers footing most of the bill. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Alex Wagner and CNBC’s Ron Insana for analysis. Plus, new fallout over Trump's secret plane swap.
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Trump’s Secret Flight Ruse Exposed as Corruption Fears Spread
August 11, 2026; 6pm; Evidence of President Trump’s autocratic ambitions is mounting. MS NOW’s Ari Melber examines allegations of corruption involving Trump and is joined by acclaimed novelist Gary Shteyngart and Josh Marshall, founder and editor-in-chief of Talking Points Memo. Plus, Trump upends childhood vaccine guidance with an executive order calling for major changes to vaccine recommendations for children.
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