The Beat with Ari Melber

March 19, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on new testimony from Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer before the House Oversight Committee. Nancy Erika Smith, renowned civil rights attorney, joins to discuss. Plus, Melber reports on the drawbacks and benefits of the music streaming era. Melber also covers Bad Bunny topping both global and U.S. charts, his Super Bowl performance as a ratings hit...

March 18, 2026; 6pm; President Trump’s DOJ is being pressed for hiding more Epstein documents. Top House Oversight lawmakers met with embattled Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche over hiding files and alleged abuse of redactions. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports, joined by New York Times Magazine writer Emily Bazelon. Plus, Melber reports on the latest in Iran. To listen to this show...

March 17, 2026; 6pm; The Trump administration’s top counterterrorism official, Joe Kent, has resigned. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on the highest-level defection from Trump’s administration over Iran. Plus, Melber reports on how iconic artist Banksy is shaking up politics and art. Rev. Al Sharpton and The New York Times' Molly Jong-Fast join. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ad...

March 16, 2026; 6pm; The war with Iran enters its third week as oil prices spike and the U.S. endgame remains unclear. MS  NOW’s Ari Melber reports on the latest and delivers a special report on President Trump escalating attacks on the First Amendment, with former FBI General Counsel Andrew Weissmann weighing in. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium...

In this podcast extra, Chef Mario Carbone joins Ari Melber for a conversation about restaurants, cooking and his path from shucking shrimp to building the Carbone empire. Then Ari hosts Ish from The Joe Budden Podcast for an extended discussion on rap today, Jay-Z, Jay Electronica, Lyor Cohen, haters, the impact of streaming, music that plays best outside and even the “Verizon Man.” These new inte...

March 13 2026; 6pm; A Federal judge quashes grand jury subpoenas in the DOJ's probe into the Federal Reserve chair. Plus, the latest on the Iran war, with the Pentagon confirming six additional American deaths. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Jelani Cobb and Isiah Thomas. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by...

March 10 2026; 6pm; The FBI and local law enforcement agencies give briefings on attacks on Temple Israel in West Boomfield, Michigan and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Plus, the latest on the Iran war, with mideast strikes threatening economic upheaval. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by Marc Santia, Marq Claxton, Brian Katulis, and Dylan Ratigan. To listen to this show a...

March 11, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Ari Melber delivers an in-depth special report, presenting a new timeline of Jeffrey Epstein’s death. Julie K. Brown, investigative journalist with the Miami Herald and leading expert on Epstein, joins Melber. 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...

March 10 2026; 6pm; One company backed by MAGA billionaire Larry Ellison is on track to own Paramount, Warner Bros., CNN, HBO, and CBS, along with a vast array of media properties, if its massive new $100 billion merger goes through. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports and is joined by founding partner of Puck News, Matt Belloni. Plus, Melber reports on the latest developments in the Iran war. To listen t...

March 9 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Ari Melber is joined by a panel of experts to discuss the latest developments in President Trump’s war with Iran. Guests include former Under Secretary of State Rick Stengel, CNBC senior economics reporter Steve Liesman, and legendary Democratic strategist James Carville. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podca...

In this podcast extra, hear MS NOW’s Ari Melber in conversation with Tom Hanks for an in-depth discussion about his novel, "The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece", his iconic films, doing the right thing, and who he thinks should play him in a biopic. This installment is part of The Summit Series with Ari Melber, featuring conversations with leaders at the top of their fields. To listen...

March 6 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Jason Johnson sits down with economist Justin Wolfers and award-winning author Juanita Tolliver to break down President Trump’s sputtering economy. Plus, Congressman Seth Moulton to discuss the latest on the Iran war. 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....

In this podcast extra, longtime Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein discusses current U.S. policy, inequality, AI, the current risk of a "bubble," criticism of Wall St. and Goldman Sachs, Pres. Trump's trade war and Federal Reserve meddling, and Blankfein's career, in this wide-ranging discussion. Blankfein also outlines how to assess risk, a functioning market, investor discipline, what money is go...

March 5, 2026; 6pm; Kristi Noem has been ousted as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports and is joined by Ty Cobb, who served as a White House lawyer during Trump's first term. 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 a...

March 4, 2026; 6pm; Former DNC Chair Howard Dean joins MS NOW's Ari Melber on "The Beat" to discuss the latest political developments, including the Iran war, President Trump’s approval rating and the start of the 2026 midterm elections. Plus, the House Oversight Committee has voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, with five Republicans voting yes. Melber reports on the escalating pressure...

March 3, 2026; 6pm; The 2026 midterms kick off tonight with primaries in three states, unfolding at a critical moment in the Trump presidency. MS NOW's Ari Melber breaks down the political stakes, from the president’s controversial war with Iran and widespread frustration over the economy to the Epstein scandal looming over the administration. MS NOW Senior Contributing Editor Michele Norris and R...

March 2, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on escalating attacks in the Mideast and more U.S. forces heading to the region. Plus, Donald Trump's war with Iran now creating a rift with his base and to his own campaign promises. 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 fo...

The legal and journalistic scrutiny of Jeffrey Epstein's horrific crimes was slow and late - Ari & NYT's Emily Bazelon discuss that problem, dynamics behind the scenes, and how the main story was never a "conspiracy theory." Then Russian-American novelist Gary Shteyngart tackles parallels between Putin and Trump. These NEW interviews are a Beat bonus from our new podcast series "The B-Side": Real...

February 26, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s closed-door deposition on Jeffrey Epstein before the House Oversight Committee. Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Eugene Robinson and veteran journalist Gretchen Carlson join. Plus, the Trump-allied billionaire owners of Paramount have won the bid for Warner Brothers Discovery, beating out Netflix. To...

February 25, 2026; 6pm; President Trump is facing heat over an Epstein cover-up, as NPR reports that the DOJ “withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump.” MS NOW reports that three of those files involve accusations against Trump, who has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Emily Bazelon, legal writer with The New York Times Magazine, and Nancy Erika Smith, renowned civil r...

February 24, 2026; 6pm; NPR reports that the DOJ “withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump.” MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports. Plus, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear join ahead of President Trump's State of the Union. 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. S...

February 23, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber examines President Trump’s plummeting approval rating in a special "Beat" report. The latest Washington Post–ABC–Ipsos poll shows 60% of Americans disapprove of the president ahead of the State of the Union address. Another poll from Economist/YouGov finds Trump’s support among independent voters has dropped to a new low across both terms in office. Poli...

February 20, 2026; 6pm; In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump cannot unilaterally impose tariffs. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports and is joined by former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal. 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 abou...

February 19, 2026; 6pm; British authorities have arrested former Prince Andrew and are investigating him on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has faced public accusations of sexual misconduct from Epstein survivors. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports. Plus, economist Paul Krugman joins to discuss billionaire influence in America. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign u...

February 18, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on new testimony from billionaire Les Wexner in the House Epstein investigation. Plus, Ty Cobb, who served as a White House lawyer during Trump’s first term, joins "The Beat" for a wide-ranging discussion. 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 compa...