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Ari Melber’s path to the anchor desk of MSNBC’s The Beat is as unique as the show itself.
His journey –– weaving together legal expertise, a deep-seated passion for hip-hop, and a keen understanding of the political landscape –– has resulted in a news program that both informs and keeps it real.
“There’s a humanity and a part of life that you can still capture because these are still shows where people sit down and talk to each other,” Melber told Newsweek. “So that’s something we think about in terms of capturing life and joy and the whole spread of things within the confines of what is still a factual news show. This is not going to be all things to all people.”
Melber’s legal background provides a crucial framework for his approach to news –– dissecting complex legal and political issues with precision. In fact, he’s known for navigating intricate arguments and holding his guests accountable, sometimes with a rap verse to back it up.
But he doesn’t do it alone. “Anyone who has been around TV has seen that if you have a great team, you’re good, and if you don’t, you might be decent, but if not, it’s not gonna work. Because it’s such a collaboration,” Melber said of his team.
Beyond the courtroom and the legal briefs, Melber’s passion for hip-hop is a defining characteristic. It’s not a superficial interest; it’s a genuine appreciation for the art form, its cultural significance, and its power to tell stories. This love for hip-hop often adds a unique dimension to The Beat. Whether it’s a carefully chosen lyric woven into his commentary or a segment exploring the intersection of hip-hop and politics, Melber’s understanding of the genre is evident.
“For The Beat, we had a very good nightly TV average of one and a half million viewers. And our YouTube average nightly if you break it out nightly was over 700,000,” he shared. “We’re in an era where everyone’s talking about podcasts and the future, so our actual Beat audience combined was one of our largest ever nightly. If you add TV viewers and YouTube viewers, we were at like 2.2 million a night.”
The Beat has also become a platform for a wide range of voices – including prominent figures from the entertainment world. Melber has interviewed notable individuals like Erykah Badu and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Viewers can watch The Beat on MSNBC weeknights at 6 p.m ET.
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