The Beat with Ari Melber

August 28, 2025; 6pm: MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on the growing crisis at the CDC and the risks to public health. At the same time, outrage mounts after ICE agents detained firefighters while they were battling wildfires. GOP lawmakers also face heated backlash at voter town halls. And later, rapper 2 Chainz and actor Omar Epps join Melber for a wide-ranging conversation.

August 27, 2025; 6pm: Donald Trump's autocratic takeover of Washington D.C. is sparking national outrage, as he threatens to deploy the National Guard to other cities run by Democrats, including Baltimore. Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins MSNBC's Ari Melber to discuss. Plus, Nobel Prize winning economist and writer joins to discuss Trump's economy.

August 22, 2025; 6pm: The Justice Department has released transcripts and audio of an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former associate of Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell says she never saw President Trump engage in inappropriate behavior and denies the existence of a "client list." MSNBC's Antonia Hylton reports, and is joined by renowned civil rights attorney Nancy Erika Smith, New York Times Magazine legal writer Emily Bazelon and others to break it down.

August 21, 2025; 6pm: Democrats are punching back against what they call a Trump-fueled "power grab" to undermine American Democracy, as many experts warn that Trump, who has already tried to over-throw an election, is trying to game the system. Plus, MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on the Trump DOJ's deadline to start sharing the Epstein files with Congress. The NYT's Michelle Goldberg, California Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and other expert guests join to discuss the latest developments.

August 20, 2025; 6pm: Texas Democrats are condemning what they call President Trump’s “power grab” to give Republicans more seats in Congress. Meanwhile, California Democrats are vowing to wipe out GOP gains in Texas with their own new congressional map. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on the growing backlash to what critics call Trump’s assault on Democracy, and is joined by MSNBC’s Jason Johnson, NYU's Melissa Murray and more to discuss.

August 19, 2025; 6pm: The Epstein crisis continues to engulf President Trump and his administration. MSNBC’s Ari Melber delivers a special report tracing the path of crimes, investigations, corruption, insider deals and the suspicious death of Jeffrey Epstein while in Trump administration custody. Drawing on government reports, original sources and legal developments across local and federal cases, Melber examines Trump and Epstein’s ties, broken vows and Trump’s secretive responses. Former federal prosecutor John Flannery and victims advocate and attorney Nancy Erika Smith join to discuss.

August 18, 2025; 6pm: President Donald Trump met at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss possible paths to ending the war in Ukraine. Both leaders said the next step would be a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Afterwards, leaders of France, the U.K., and other nations joined for a larger session, emphasizing the need to stand united behind Ukraine. John Sipher, a former CIA officer who served in Moscow, joins to discuss what’s ahead. Plus, MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on the Jeffrey Epstein case that continues to haunt President Trump.

August 15, 2025; 6pm: President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, for a summit aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by NBC Chief Washington and Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, former Biden White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and others to discuss what’s at stake. 

August 14, 2025; 6pm: Disturbing new reports emerge in the Epstein scandal, protests erupt over Trump’s so-called DC takeover and California Governor Gavin Newsom launches a fiery attack electrifying Democrats. MSNBC's Ari Melber is joined by longtime journalist Don Lemon for a conversation on politics and culture, and Chance the Rapper discusses his new album.

August 13, 2025; 6pm: President Trump has federalized the DC police, deploying the National Guard along with other federal agencies under the false pretense of fighting crime in the city. MSNBC’s Jason Johnson reports on what "The Atlantic" is calling "the President’s police state." Plus, BBC News Special Correspondent Katy Kay joins to discuss what to expect from Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.