The Beat with Ari Melber

Guilty: Russian agent admits conspiracy to push Kremlin NRA agenda

0.00 - The Wall Street Journal reports that there is a new criminal investigation into Trump’s inauguration. The reporter who broke the story joins "The Beat". 14.45 - Sources tell NBC News, Donald Trump was the third person in the room with Michael Cohen and National Enquirer Publisher David Pecker, in August 2015 talking about hush payments to women. 21.45 - Trump's powerful protectors are cooperating with the feds. 29.30 - Russian national Maria Butina has pleaded guilty, admitting to trying to influence U.S. Politics in the middle of the 2016 election.  35.17 - The Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to pull back support for the Suadi-led war in Yemen, rebuking Trump. 35.55 - New reporting alleges Trump is considering Jared Kushner as the new Chief of Staff. 41.10 - Michael Cohen will speak out for the first time since getting sentenced tomorrow

Presidency or Prison? NYT’s Goldberg warns Trump could be jailed with 2020 loss

0.00 - A legal storm surrounds Trump and his own allies are now worried. 13.45 - 44 former Senators, including 10 Republicans have warned that our Democracy is entering a “dangerous period” with “serious challenges to the rule of law”. 21.10 - A new reality show premiered today - the Donald, Chuck and Nancy show 30.25 - NYT's Michelle Goldberg joins us to discuss why the 2020 Presidential election could turn into a "banana republic-style death-match". 37.20 - The head of Google testified on Capitol Hill, rebutting GOP claims of political bias. 41.25 - Plus, find out where you can watch the latest episode of "Mavericks with Ari Melber".

Exclusive: House of Cards actor Boris McGiver

In this exclusive extra podcast, listen to Ari Melber's extended interview with House of Cards actor Boris McGiver, where they discuss the latest season of the hit Netflix show, filming a scene with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and his acting process, including working with directors like Steven Spielberg.

Paul Ryan owns himself for growing the deficit

Rep. Joaquin Castro tells Ari Melber he expects Roger Stone to be indicted for lying to Congress (0.00). Mueller's court filings could dial up the pressure on Donald Trump Jr. Trump’s close adviser, Sean Hannity, is publicly telling witnesses in the Mueller probe to withhold information about crimes that were committed (18.25). Co-author of Trump’s “Art of the Deal”, Tony Schwartz, joins Ari Melber to discuss stock market turbulence as Trump’s erratic comments about trade cause mass uncertainty (30.00). Ari Melber’s special report on Speaker Paul Ryan, reflects on his 20 year career in Congress in his final weeks as Speaker of the House. Melber breaks down that despite Ryan building a career on claims of fiscal discipline, promising to reduce the federal deficit and balance the budget, “he failed” and in fact has overseen a federal deficit that has continued to grow and is on track to surpass $1 trillion (36.40).

Bonus episode: Full interview with Mueller witness Jerome Corsi

In this week's bonus episode, listen to Ari Melber's entire blockbuster interview with Jerome Corsi, a key witness in the Mueller probe and an associate of Roger Stone. Corsi admits to Melber that he lied to Congress, that he tried to get stolen Clinton emails back to the Trump campaign in 2016, that he “absolutely” intended to help the Trump campaign by doing so, that he told Roger Stone about John Podesta’s emails and that his lawyers are still communicating with Trump’s legal team “as if” there is a joint legal defense. Ari Melber also presses Corsi on being a leader of the “birther movement” which Ari describes as a “total and complete lie” and asks him whether he is auditioning for a Trump pardon by bringing the subject of pardons up during the interview.

Exclusive: Pelosi Lawyer who beat Bush WH dishes on Trump subpoena plan

New pressure on Donald Trump's family, after reporting that Mueller is asking witnesses about Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr.'s roles in the Trump Tower Moscow project (0.00). Retired Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters tells Ari Melber he “can’t imagine a more serious national security threat that a U.S. President who is compromised” by Russia and says he does not “buy” that Trump is a patriot, and does not believe “he would sacrifice his life to save the lives” of Americans (18.50). The Trump administration could refuse to comply with Democrats who attempt to investigate issues like Trump’s ties to Russia, or corruption in the White House in 2019. Former Counsel to Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the Bush administration, Irvin Nathan, who was also the first House Counsel to take a White House to court over an administration subpoena, won his case. He joins Ari Melber exclusively to discuss how Democrats can subpoena top White House aides if they refuse to comply with subpoenas. Nathan also reveals Pelosi is already considering candidates for the Counsel role, and hopes the court battle begins “very quickly” (25.45). Plus, Actor Boris McGiver, from House of Cards, Journalist Eleanor Clift and Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Peters join Ari Melber for Fallback Friday (37.55).

Key Mueller witness: I lied and I'm ready to die in jail

President Trump says he is open to pardoning his former campaign manager Paul Manafort, after Mueller shreds his plea agreement with Manafort (0.00). In a blockbuster interview, key Mueller witness and Roger Stone associate Jerome Corsi admits to MSNBC’s Ari Melber that he lied to Congress, that he tried to get stolen Clinton emails back to the Trump campaign in 2016, that he “absolutely” intended to help the Trump campaign by doing so, that he told Roger Stone about John Podesta’s emails and that his lawyers are still communicating with Trump’s legal team “as if” there is a joint legal defense. Ari Melber also presses Corsi on being a leader of the “birther movement” which Ari describes as a “total and complete lie” and asks him whether he is auditioning for a Trump pardon by bringing the subject of pardons up during the interview (14.05). Former Federal Prosecutors join Ari to discuss the interview (36.15). Plus, Stormy Daniels is criticizing her lawyer Michael Avenatti, telling The Daily Beast he has not treated her with proper "respect and deference" (47.30)

Ari: Why Trump's illegal order to jail Clinton, Comey is illegal

Former Trump campaign aide, George Papadopoulos, has reported to a Federal prison in Wisconsin, where he will serve a two week sentence for lying to the FBI during the Mueller probe (0.00). U.S. border patrol agents used tear gas on migrants, including children in diapers, who tried to cross into the U.S. from Tijuana, an act that has provoked public outcry (15.50). In a special report, Ari Melber breaks down an attack on the rule of law by President Trump that is more serious and more criminal than the actions that led to the Mueller probe (24.00). Former U.S. acting Solicitor General, Neal Katyal, who wrote the rules outlining the Special Counsel’s power tells Ari Melber it’s easy to “suffer a little bit of amnesia” in the Trump era, because he keeps doing “crazy” and “unconstitutional things”, but that Trump trying to abuse powers by jailing his adversaries is impeachable (35.50). New numbers reveal the blue wave that powered Democrats to retake the House is even bigger than previously known (40.20).

Trump White House rattled by rare rebuke from Chief Justice Roberts

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, a life-long federalist society conservative rebuts President Trump in an unusual move, after Trump claimed that certain judges were “Obama Judges”. New reporting reveals Trump ditched an interview with Mueller planned for January. Democrats have smashed records in midterm voting and Trump's former White House counsel Don McGahn emerges as a key Mueller probe witness. Plus, Ari Melber's interview with musician Anderson .Paak.

Ivanka Trump busted for extensive use of personal email

Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal, joins Ari Melber to discuss his new suit against President Trump’s pick to replace Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, Matt Whitaker (0.00). President Trump has a new feud, this time with a Navy Seal commander who oversaw the mission to kill Osama bin Laden (19.50). Pressure is mounting for an alternative to Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, with more than a dozen House Democrats linking arms to publicly commit to voting against Pelosi (27.40). Ivanka Trump, has been busted for using a personal email account to send hundreds of emails about Government business, according to a new Washington Post report. Carol Leonnig, one of the reporters who broke the story, tells Ari Melber that Ivanka was “more frequently using her personal email in discussing Government business than anyone else in the White House”. Executive Director of “American Oversight”, Austin Evers, the official in charge of a FOIA request to obtain administration emails tells “The Beat”, “the scope of her use was pretty extensive” and her review process “absolutely mimics what Hillary Clinton did” (34.15).

Sam Nunberg spills on Mueller probe Grand Jury questions

President Trump confirms he is taking Special Counsel Mueller’s questions on collusion and providing written answers (0.00). Trump stressed that he himself was answering the questions, not his lawyers. Trump was defeated in court, his attempt to ban a TV reporter from the White House being struck down by a Federal Judge (15.25). The 2018 midterm blue wave is driving deeper into red territory (23.00) and a slip up from a prosecutor reveals prosecutors are preparing criminal charges against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (29.45). Plus, founding member of "The Supremes" Mary Wilson, joins Ari Melber, Attorney Maya Wiley and former Executive Editor of "The New York Times", Howell Raines, for Fallback Friday (36.00).

Busted: Fox News silent on 'caravan' after parroting Trump for weeks

New Democrats who flipped the House have arrived in Washington for the first time. Ari Melber notes how there is a stark divide between the new Republican Members of Congress and the new Democratic Members of Congress, who are younger, more diverse and more female (0.00). New reporting from the "Wall Street Journal” reveals Special Counsel Mueller is probing whether longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone tried to intimidate Randy Credico, a witness who is contradicting his version of events about contacts with Wikileaks (15.15). Trump and Florida Repulicans Marco Rubio and Matt Gaetz are pushing baseless claims of voter fraud against a backdrop of a massive National blue wave (20.45). President Trump, Fox News and other media outlets have fallen silent on the caravan of immigrants marching thousands of miles away from the U.S. Border (29.00). Plus, former First Lady Michelle Obama was joined by her mother Mary-Anne Robinson in a new interview (42.50).

Rep. Swalwell: "The days of Presidential immunity are over”

Ari Melber reports live from Florida, as the first-ever statewide recount is underway in Senate and Governor races (0.00). Democrats are planning investigations into Trump’s handling of the Mueller probe, after winning a projected 35 House seats – their biggest midterm haul in 4 decades (16.20). A Florida State Judge has denied Republican candidate Rick Scott's request to seize and secure all voting machines in Broward County, rebutting accusations of voter fraud (22.00). Florida Rep. Ted Deutch joins Ari Melber to discuss the historic recount taking place in his State (36.35). In Mississippi, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, who faces a run-off against Democrat Mike Espy, is under fire for comments about a "public hanging" (41.05).

Denials demolished: Trump planned payoffs linked to Cohen crime

The Wall Street Journal has published new details on Trump’s central role in payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, including a personal ask to a tabloid executive (0.00). The midterm election results are not all in - Steve Kornacki breaks down contentious ongoing races in Florida and Georgia (14.15). Host of “The Last Word” on MSNBC, Lawrence O’Donnell, joins Ari Melber to discuss how Democrats crushed Donald Trump with a blue wave that won them more House seats than any party has won in 40 years (22.30). Senator Lindsey Graham said there would be “holy hell to pay” if Jeff Sessions was fired. Ari Melber breaks down how Graham has reversed so many of his positions on Trump that it has descended into a “hollowing out” of Republican leadership (31.45). Legendary musicians George Clinton and Carole King and award-winning journalist Harry Smith join Ari Melber for Fallback Friday on “The Beat”, discussing everything from “staying funky” to music royalties and the Trump era (34.20).

DOJ insider explains how Trump’s new AG could be stopped

President Trump has fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and installed a Trump loyalist as Bob Mueller's new boss. Renowned Presidential Historian Michael Beschloss tells Ari Melber that "if this is going the way it looks, this is 10 times worse than Nixon". Former Solicitor General Neal Katyal tells Ari Melber that Whitaker, who will now oversee the Mueller probe, is a "constitutional nobody" and breaks down how he could be stopped. Republican Congressman Ryan Costello tells Ari Melber that Trump is "deplorable" for mocking his fellow Members of Congress.

Bonus episode: Ari, Maya Wiley and Liz Plank at 92nd Street Y

Listen to Ari Melber, Maya Wiley and Liz Plank's full conversation at the 92nd Street Y in New York, where they discussed the upcoming midterm elections, the Russia probe, how media companies cover the Trump administration and more!

Bonus: Extended interview with Pulitzer Prize winner, Alice Walker

In a podcast exclusive, listen to Ari Melber's extended interview with Pulitzer Prize winning author, Alice Walker. Walker learns for the first time during the interview that hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar quoted her lyrics in the song "Alright" and says she believes President Trump has "an inferiority complex", particularly when it comes to former President Barack Obama.

Bonus episode: The Brett Kavanaugh hearings

Ari Melber walks through the key points of Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation process and breaks down what the public learned about Kavanaugh's character in his latest testimony before the Senate.

Bonus episode: Why Paul Manafort pleaded guilty and flipped

President Trump’s former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, has flipped, pleading guilty in the Mueller probe and agreeing to cooperate fully with prosecutors. Manafort is the highest-ranking former Trump official to plead guilty and was involved in the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians. Listen to the top reporting and analysis from "The Beat" this week, to understand how this story unfolded.

Bonus Episode: Full extended interview with Sen. Elizabeth Warren

In this week's podcast extra, listen to Ari Melber's full extended interview with Senator Elizabeth Warren, where they discussed Sen. Warren's plan to take on corruption in politics, why she believes the Trump administration is "the most corrupt administration in living memory", what can be done to help Puerto Rico alleviate the debt crisis and the guilty plea and conviction of Trump associates Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort.

Bonus episode: Julian Assange associate Randy Credico's journey to a Mueller probe subpoena

This week "The Beat" reported exclusively that Special Counsel Mueller planned to subpoena Julian Assange associate, Randy Credico. In today's podcast bonus episode, Ari Melber examines Credico's news-making appearances on the show, from describing Mueller's agents confronting him in New York, to revealing that Julian Assange was "ready" to meet with Rep. Adam Schiff.

Exclusive: ‘The Beat’ anniversary special with Michael Avenatti and Liz Plank

Ari Melber reflects on the first year of ‘The Beat’ on MSNBC with regular guests and friends of the show, Attorney Michael Avenatti and Vox Media’s Liz Plank. Michael Avenatti goes into more detail about his relationship with the media, why he is following Donald Trump’s lead in communicating with people through social media and why he’s not ruling out running for office. Liz Plank also comments on how both Democrats and the media must look to the success of candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in a New York primary and the particular way they use social media to reach voters.

Exclusive: Michael Avenatti extended interview

In a podcast exclusive, hear an extended version of Ari Melber's latest interview with lawyer Michael Avenatti, including his response to Michael Cohen hiring Clinton loyalist, Lanny Davis as his lawyer. Plus, hear more from a previous interview, where Michael Avenatti first discussed his view that Michael Cohen would flip.

Special episode: Dave Chappelle talks to Ari Melber about why he’s getting into politics for the first time

Comedian Dave Chappelle is getting personally involved in politics for the first time in his career, by endorsing his friend and candidate for Governor of Maryland, Ben Jealous. Chappelle and Jealous join Ari Melber to discuss Trump, Chappelle’s Emmy award-winning SNL monologue and why he’s endorsing a candidate for the first time.