The Beat with Ari Melber

WIth 4 days until the midterms, 48-million people have already voted. Democrats are feeling good and Republicans are... not. Strategist Chai Komanduri and MS NOW Political Analyst Juanita Tolliver join Ari Melber to discuss. Plus former Trump White House lawyer Ty Cobb talks about Trump's dubious legal attempts to meddle in the Alaska Senate race. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts witho...

October 29, 2026; With just 5 days until the midterms, MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on Donald Trump's meltdown over Barack Obama's 'cheesecake' diss. Plus, Melber sits down with Former DNC chair, and architect of Democrats' famous '50-state-strategy,' Howard Dean to discuss the GOP's struggles. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. H...

October 28, 2026; 6pm: MS NOW's Ari Melber examines the final stretch of the midterms, with Barack Obama and Donald Trump holding dueling rallies, Republicans confronting affordability backlash, and Democrats pointing to early-vote enthusiasm. Guests Alex Wagner, Michelle Goldberg, Larry Sabato, and Rebecca Bennett discuss polling shifts and competitive House and Senate races. To listen to this sh...

October 27, 2026; 6pm: MS NOW's Ari Melber breaks down a federal grand jury rejecting the DOJ’s bid to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, then interviews Wes Moore and Sherrod Brown on Democratic strategy, Ohio’s Senate race, affordability, tech billionaire spending and accountability. MS NOW's Ali Velshi maps the House battlegrounds Democrats are targeting one week before Election Day. To listen to this...

October 26, 2026; 6pm: MS NOW's Ari Melber breaks down the Trump DOJ’s new James Comey indictment, Barack Obama’s midterm push, and how Democrats could use House oversight powers if they win next week. The episode’s key takeaway is that investigations, subpoenas, and cabinet impeachment could become central tools for accountability over alleged corruption, war crimes, ICE tactics, and weaponized j...

October 23, 2026; Republicans are on defense with 11 days until the midterms. MS NOW's Ari Melber is joined by political strategist Chai Komanduri and MS NOW political analyst Juanita Tolliver. Plus, Melber is joined by legendary DJ Grandmaster Flash for an extended conversation. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simpl...

October 22, 2026; With just 12 days until the midterms, MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on the latest developments and is joined by the Rev. Al Sharpton and The New York Times’ Molly Jong-Fast. Plus, Melber delivers a special report on an emerging shift in the midterm elections, as more Democrats run on expanding access to health care through Medicare for All. To listen to this show and other MS podca...

October 21, 2026; With just 13 days until the midterms, MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on the state of American politics as President Trump’s approval rating plunges and Republicans fear an electoral apocalypse. Plus, Melber sits down with MS NOW’s Chris Hayes to discuss his interview with Rep. Ilhan Omar, her first television interview since federal agents searched her home. To listen to this show a...

October 20, 2026; With just two weeks until Election Day, Republicans are on defense as President Trump’s approval rating drops to 31%. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by former RNC Chair Michael Steele and Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Plus, Melber reports on rising prices, including the Trump Organization’s MAGA hats, now selling...

October 19, 2026; With just 15 days until the midterms, Republicans are scrambling. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Brett Meiselas, co-founder of the MeidasTouch Network, and Democratic strategist Alencia Johnson. Melber also sits down with acclaimed author Michael Lewis for an extended interview on Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration, new revelations from his book “Blockers,...

October 16, 2026; President Trump’s White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is out after just five days on the job. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Joe Lockhart, former White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton, and The New York Times’ Molly Jong-Fast. Plus, Melber sits down with “Saturday Night Live” comedian Michael Che for an extended conversation on free speech,...

October 15, 2026; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on the latest developments following a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon. Plus, with less than three weeks until Election Day, Republicans are in panic mode as the midterms approach. Melber is joined by former SDNY civil prosecutor Maya Wiley and Fordham University's Christina Greer. Later, the co-author of "The Art of the Deal" joins Me...

October 14, 2026; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on President Trump's failure to tame inflation and the broader political fallout for the GOP. Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg join. Plus, Trump's DOJ is escalating its controversial probe into Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar. Melber reports on the latest developments and is joined by NYU's Melissa Murray....

October 13, 2026; The Trump administration is facing backlash for allegedly defying a judge’s order, reportedly missing a deadline to stop running taxpayer-funded campaign-style ads after a judge temporarily barred them. MS NOW’s Ari Melber is joined by former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance. Plus, Texas Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa joins Melber to discuss her race against Republi...

October 12, 2026; MS NOW's Peter Alexander reports on The Wall Street Journal's reporting that Kimberly Guilfoyle, the new U.S. ambassador to Greece, boasted of private jet trips paid for by two wealthy Greek tycoons while working at the World Economic Forum. Trump vet Sarah Matthews joins. Plus, Alexander reports on the GOP's growing midterm panic as Election Day draws closer and is joined by MS...

October 9, 2026; The GOP reaches a new level of panic ahead of a potential midterm reckoning. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen and political strategist Chai Komanduri. Plus Melber is joined by Hollywood super-agent Ari Emanuel to talk mergers, AI and political censorship. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on...

October 8, 2026; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on a new legal loss for President Trump in his ongoing war on free speech. Andrew Weissmann, former FBI General Counsel and former Mueller prosecutor. Plus, Melber recaps MS NOW's live event "Together In Texas." 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 compan...

October 7, 2026; With just four weeks until the midterms, Republicans are trailing in most polls and playing defense in what Politico calls “triage mode.” MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Jelani Cobb, dean of the Columbia Journalism School, and Christine Quinn, vice chair of the New York State Democratic Party. Plus, Melber is joined by Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson on t...

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. To lis...

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. 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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

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. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NO...

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. 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 pcm.adswiz...

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...

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. To listen to th...

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. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by...