The Beat with Ari Melber

August 7, 2025; 6pm: NBC News has confirmed top Trump officials huddled to strategize about Jeffrey Epstein, directly contradicting Vice President JD Vance’s vehement claims that no such meeting was in the works. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports it’s a clear sign of how rattled Trump officials are. Plus, rapper Gashi and economist Justin Wolfers join for the latest Fallback installment. 

August 6, 2025; 6pm: The Trump White House is scrambling to quell the Epstein uproar, and is reportedly holding a high-level meeting tonight at the vice president’s residence in the U.S. Naval Observatory. JD Vance denies there is a meeting to strategize on Epstein. MSNBC's Ari Melber also reports on the largest MAGA revolt of Trump’s second term. Plus, Oscar-winning director James Cameron makes his Beat debut to discuss his new film, Ghosts of Hiroshima. For more, watch our latest special reports on YouTube at msnbc.com/ariTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

MSNBC’s Ari Melber hosts “The Beat” on Monday, August 4, and reports on brand new letters from Epstein victims, federal officials confirming they’ve launched an investigation into Jack Smith, over 50 Texas Democrats leaving their home state to derail a MAGA power grab and new fallout over Trump’s abuse of government power. Michelle Goldberg, Ken Casey and Andrew Weissmann join.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Friday, August 1, and reports on President Trump's trade war entering a new phase and his firing of the Commissioner of Labor Statistics after the latest report fell far short of expectations. Melber also covers Kamala Harris' first major interview since the election and renewed scrutiny over Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Plus, hip hop duo Clipse join the show, along with Bill Kristol, Margaret Carlson and Paul Krugman.

MSNBC’s Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Thursday, July 31, and reports on the escalating Epstein uproar and mounting pressure on President Trump as the families of victims demand answers. Melber also reports on Trump’s self-imposed trade deadline that hits at midnight on the East Coast. Jason Johnson, Joan Walsh, Andrew Ross Sorkin and Jacob Soboroff join.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Wednesday, July 30, and reports on the Epstein scandal spiraling out of President Trump's control, increasing backlash to Trump's power grabs and Trump's escalating attacks on free speech. Gary Shteyngart, Geraldo Rivera and Asha Rangappa join.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Tuesday, July 29, and reports on President Trump's agenda being smothered by the torrent of Epstein developments, a bombshell out of Trump's Justice Department and Trump's battle with the free press. Andrew Bakaj, James Carville, Molly Jong-Fast and Julie K. Brown join.

MSNBC’s Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Monday, July 28, with reporting on the all-consuming Jeffrey Epstein scandal engulfing the Trump administration, a New York Times report on Hegseth clashing with top generals, growing turmoil inside Trump’s Justice Department and a major media merger raising alarms among free speech experts. Anna Gomez, Ankush Khardori, Mark Leibovich and Michelle Goldberg join.

MSNBC's Antonia Hylton hosts "The Beat" on Friday, July 25, and reports on the Jeffrey Epstein whirlwind around Donald Trump, major developments in Trump’s power grab, and campus outrage nationwide as the Trump administration revs up its deportation agenda targeting student activists. Mahmoud Khalil, Frank Kendall, David Litt, Asha Rangappa and Tara Setmayer join.

In this podcast extra, Rappers Pusha T and Malice join MSNBC’s Ari Melber for an extended interview, and open about reuniting as Clipse after 15 years, losing their parents, stepping inside the Obama White House, and how working with Pharrell and Kendrick Lamar shaped their ever-sharpening lyrical edge. Plus, listen to Melber's 2022 interview with Pharrell.