reported in 2023, noting "the Emmy-winning NBC News legal analyst... brings a methodical, 'follow the facts' style to the issues he addresses.

ET hour, notching nearly 2 million viewers and even beat the rest of MSNBC on occasion," his "understated and less partisan demeanor, and "willingness to welcome opposing viewpoints.. for fascinating if heated interviews.

He then joined Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign, working the Iowa caucus and as California deputy political director.

Melber reported President Trump's actions toward Ukraine provided a potential case of impeachment for "bribery" in October.

Politico followed up on Melber's scoop the next day,[35] and New York State prosecutors ultimately filed separate charges against Paul Manafort in 2019.

[41] On the night of the 2018 midterms, Melber broke a story[42] that Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee[43] "intend to request President Trump's tax returns.

[45] The Beat with Ari Melber has featured newsworthy interviews, such as Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who talked to Melber after receiving the first pardon of Trump's administration;[46] Eric Holder, Kamala Harris, Trump attorneys Jay Sekulow, Drew Findling and Joe Tacopina; WH aide Stephen Miller, Dave Chappelle, Robert De Niro, Meek Mill, Erykah Badu, Ken Starr, and a range of witnesses in the Mueller probe, including Steve Bannon, whose Beat interview was his first-ever appearance on MSNBC.

[47] Columbia Journalism Review stated Melber is "a remarkably effective interviewer", adding "his veins appear to contain ice water; he betrays no emotion at all" during intense exchanges.

[50] In June 2020, conservative commentator Tiana Lowe wrote "Ari Melber on MSNBC" runs a "good straight news hour.

"[51] Mediaite[52] wrote The Beat is a "thought-provoking" and "idiosyncratic show" that "avoids the singular focus on Trump's misdeeds that consumes some other hosts",[53] adding Melber's interviewing style uses "the facts of the story and logical reasoning, [not] partisan cheap shots" for "fascinating" exchanges.

[60] "Melber’s reach goes well beyond the dwindling number of people who watch cable television," wrote the Los Angeles Times in a 2023 profile, reporting The Beat's YouTube ratings were higher "than any other personality‘s at the network.

"[62] In 2024, The Ankler's Lachlan Cartwright reported "MSNBC has become the most-watched news network" on YouTube, "thanks to Ari Melber posting there regularly" along with videos by Rachel Maddow.

[72][73][74] A Vanity Fair article about MSNBC dubbed him the "secret fourth Beastie Boy", writing he is "shockingly smart and well read.

"[75] SNL's Marcello Hernandez played Melber in a "cold open" skit, portraying several anchors during "MSNBC Special Coverage.

"[82] Melber was a correspondent for The Nation; and he has been published in The Atlantic, Reuters and Politico and several books; he wrote a report about Organizing for America.