The Beat with Ari Melber

April 15, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on mounting challenges facing President Trump, from the Iran war to growing backlash within his MAGA base. Reverend Al Sharpton and The New York Times’ Michelle Goldberg join. Plus, New York Attorney General Letitia James joins to discuss the verdict against Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

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April 14, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on the fallout over President Trump's feud with the Pope, and his post depicting himself as Jesus. Plus, Trump's behavior is alarming allies and critics who say it's hitting a turning point. Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Eugene Robinson joins.

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April 13, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on new fractures in President Trump's MAGA base as he feuds with the Pope. Semafor's Margaret Carlson joins. Plus, MS NOW’s Jason Johnson and Middle East Institute senior fellow Brian Katulis break down the latest developments in the Iran war.

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BONUS: Top Republicans are attacking what they call “woke” politics, and even passing laws designed to “stop” a supposed woke agenda. The singer who first brought that concept to the culture, in “Master Teacher,” Erykah Badu, reflects on social justice, culture and “woke politics” today – one of several topics the four-time Grammy winner tackles in this extended discussion with MSNBC anchor and music obsessive Ari Melber. Badu discusses her singing, deep links to hip hop, personal evolution, spirituality and approach to the music industry and business in general, including her new cannabis line with “Cookies.” She also reacts to earlier moments and videos from her career, and engages with an “assessment” of her work that an artificial intelligence chat bot generated by drawing on public writings about her music and its message. This in-depth discussion is the newest installment of “Mavericks with Ari Melber,” a series of interviews with artists, musicians and cultural icons (Aired in 2023)

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April 10, 2026; 6pm; The U.S. is preparing for a new round of peace talks in Pakistan. MS NOW’s Ari Melber reports on the latest developments in the Iran war and is joined by Max Boot, a senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Plus, Melber delivers a special report on AI, labor, and humanity, and is joined by The Atlantic’s Thomas Chatterton Williams and Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia University’s School of Journalism.

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