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GOP Senator unveils bill to ban abortions nationwide.
GRAHAM: "if GOP wins House and Senate we'll have a vote on abortion ban." "The way voters think about midterms is, they are angry at the party in power, the party that is making changes to American life...and the party in power, for many voters, is the Republican Supreme Court." -- Chai Komanduri
Sept 13, 2022
Midterms in high gear after Labor Day
Biden draws Trump into midterm clash and slams MAGA GOP as threat to Democracy.
Sept 6, 2022
Biden Blasts Maga Republicans
Biden pushes Tough on crime stance ahead of primetime speech.
Aug 30, 2022
Primaries reveal diverging paths for US Democracy
From Coup talk to Gerrymandering MAGA election deniers win more Primaries putting a spotlight on the GOP's plan to end Democracy.
Aug 24, 2022
From politics to culture, many root for the villain
Obama vet, Chai Komanduri, on Trump's 'Pacino Appeal": GOP finds villainy exciting.
Aug 22, 2022
Far right escalates dangerous rhetoric after FBI Trump search.
Despite no evidence, Trump world implies FBI planted evidence at Mar-a-Lago.
Aug 10 2022
"Huge Win for US" FOX host reports on Biden's "Bin Laden moment"
ne Fox host reports on Huge Win for the US while Fox host Tucker sCarlson ays US LESS safe after killing of Al Qaeda Leader.
Aug 2 2022
Trump lashes out at Some Fox hosts as they hit him for Jan 6th insurrection
GOP kingmaker eyes DeSantis and coverage shifts against Trump.
July 26 2022
Running from yourself
Many riveted, disgusted by video showing Sen Hawley running from the mob that he cheered.
July 22 2022
Final house hearings feature Trump aides who quit.
@ChaiKomanduri discusses Donald Trump's inaction on Jan. 6, adding "Nero fell because the Roman Senate declared him an enemy of the state. The Imperial Romans 2000 years ago had higher ethical standards than Mitch McConnell and current U.S. Senators"
July 19 2022
Republican, Rusty Bowers, who fought Trump Coup invokes God
Author of the NYT's Essay 'Decline of the Religious Right ' joins Chai Komanduri on The Beat with Ari Melber.
June 22 2022
January 6th Committee
Trump failed to take timely, significant action to stop the violence at the capitol. "What do you see as the challenge for Democrats and how are they navigating it and trying to wake everyone up in these hearings without having it sound like every hearing is, oh, my god, a five alarm fire in a way that reduces the significance? How do you navigate that?"
June 10 2022
Congress touting new evidence, videos, and testimony at Jan 6. hearing
"I think the reality is what this committee is going to try to do is present a narrative for the American people to follow and understand. You know, one of the big things that has happened in America over the last year and a half I would say is Americans have felt demoralized.
Basically the site of seeing Donald Trump get away with one thing after another. The fact that he is not being held accountable for any of his actions time after time has really created a narrative that has been deeply hurtful to America and to American democracy. The idea that he`s this MAGA superman and everything can just bounce off his chest, everything that`s thrown off of him."
June 7th 2022
Rep Cawthorn concedes in NC GOP House Race
Why did he lose? "Madison Cawthorn broke what the mafia calls the code of Omerta, the code of silence, he attacked his own caucus,...As far as the GOP is concerned, your heart needs to belong to Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell. The fact that his heart belonged to Donald Trump was not enough..."
May 16th 2022
People may have heard a bit about J.D. Vance. But the voting is on Tuesday, the Trump endorsement would appear to matter over there. The video is devastating. Will that matter and what does it say about where the Republican Party is headed? " "J.D. Vance sort of mirrors a journey where the Republican Party has gone from a political party to a cult of white male anger. "
April 28th 2022
"Despite his tightening grip on the GOP, Donald Trump’s power and influence in broader political culture are waning. Since leaving office, new data reveals his online engagement has hit new lows, according to reporting by Axios. Though Trump created a blog and his own social media site in order to gain back some of his previous influence, both have failed to gain traction. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by Obama’s former campaign manager David Plouffe and political strategist Chai Komanduri to discuss Trump’s dwindling influence.
4.20.22
You have a Trumpist base in the GOP. And Trump understands that nature abhors a vacuum. You can`t replace something with nothing. Trump is -- whatever you think of it, is offering him -- offering voters something, GOP base voters something.
4.20.22
"Despite his tightening grip on the GOP, Donald Trump’s power and influence in broader political culture are waning. Since leaving office, new data reveals his online engagement has hit new lows, according to reporting by Axios. Though Trump created a blog and his own social media site in order to gain back some of his previous influence, both have failed to gain traction. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by Obama’s former campaign manager David Plouffe and political strategist Chai Komanduri to discuss Trump’s dwindling influence.
4.18.22
"Madison Cawthorn is the first Republican to wholly come of age in the Palin/Trump era," explains @ChaiKomanduri. "The only Republican world he really knows is a Palin/Trump Republican world. It is a world that is a post-truth world."
4.12.22
President Obama returned to the WH to celebrate the passage of Obamacare and Biden’s new plans to strengthen it. @AriMelber and Obama vet @ChaiKomanduri discuss the warm reunion, Obama’s comments on the GOP efforts to repeal Obamacare, and the midterms.
4.5.22
GOP on defense as Trump saddles up to Putin during war. Trump asks Putin to attack Bidens again. "The enemy is really the other American."
3.30.22
Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson are underway, and Judge Jackson appeared largely unflappable throughout her first day of questioning. MSNBC's Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber is joined by political strategist Chai Komanduri and Yodit Tewolde, host of "Making the Case" on The Black News Channel, to discuss the GOP's insistence questions about issues like Critical Race Theory were legitimate lines of inquiry and the double standard Judge Jackson faces as a Black woman nominated to the Supreme Court.
3.22.22
As the Western world unites against Russia, Donald Trump and some U.S. conservative leaders are still praising Vladimir Putin. MSNBC’s Ari Melber interviews Obama veteran Chai Komanduri about the GOP’s shift toward Putin, which predates Trump and involves several intersecting dynamics from authoritarianism and governing "style" to domestic conservatism, ethnonationalism, and petro-politics. The two also quote some related foreign policy concepts from Sen. John McCain, Muhammad Ali, and a character from Hulu's "The Great."
3.2.22
McConnell roasted for 'nothing campaign' in echo of 'Seinfeld'
As early voting in the 2022 midterm election gets underway in Texas, GOP leader Mitch McConnell is admitting that the GOP will not be running on policy this year, but rather tap into the nation’s general negative mood. MSNBC’s Ari Melber breaks down why one political party ceding all policy is a significant development and explains what this means more broadly.
2.15.22
D.C. Debates Pence’s late push-back on Trump coup.
Many long for courageous leaders as U.S.found it faces democracy crisis. What does political courage actually mean? Mitch McConnell breaks with the Republican National Committee over its censure of Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and its characterization of the insurrection. D.C. Debates Pence’s late push-back on Trump coup. Many long for courageous leaders as U.S.found it faces democracy crisis.
2.7.22
President Biden recently revived a debate over Fox News by comparing it to other legitimate news outlets. In this special report, Ari Melber shows the “equivalence” push by some politicians is dangerous by delving into research showing Fox often misleads and misinforms its viewers.
1.27.22
President Biden recently revived a debate over Fox News by comparing it to other legitimate news outlets. In this special report, Ari Melber shows the “equivalence” push by some politicians is dangerous by delving into research showing Fox often misleads and misinforms its viewers.
1.27.22
Democrats again having to explain why, even though they are in power, it doesn`t always feel like they`re in charge. Eugene Robinson and Chai Komanduri discuss... Where do we go from here with a lot of winter left?
1.18.22
Can Democrats play hardball to finally reform the Senate filibuster?Democrats began 2022 vowing a new pressure campaign to end obstruction filibusters of voting rights bills. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on the effort, and how Pres. Biden and Sen. Schumer must grapple with most Republicans and two Democratic senators thwarting voting rights legislation, with a nod to Pres. Bush and J Cole.
1.17.22
Chai Komanduri and Maya Wiley join Ari to react to the news January 6th committee is requesting information from House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy who spoke to former President Trump directly while the violence was underway.
Dr Zeke Emmanuel and Chai join Ari to discuss the changing nature and politics of COVID and why Trump is fighting DeSantis on vaccines
1.12.22
Now, one of his accomplices, Trump veteran Peter Navarro, has leaked information detailing the plan to rally Congressional Republicans to interfere with certifying Biden’s 2020 election win.
MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber is joined by Democratic strategist Chai Komanduri to discuss the revelation and Navarro’s comments likening the effort to the “Green Bay Sweep.”
12.28.21
Chai Komanduri, a friend of THE BEAT and strategist, says that Trump has basically hacked the media in ways Biden does not, hitting journalists with so many lies and weaponizing a penchant for both-sides-ism that basically gets him more of the coverage he wants,
Trump taking advantage of the need to seem objective, rather than reporters choosing to really cover him honestly as what he was clearly then and is now, an anti-democracy candidate.
You can see the false equivalence in how pundits will say, well, gosh, if both sides are unhappy, they must be doing something right.
12.14.21
Chai Komanduri back on THE BEAT talking about what he calls a cult of celebrity in the GOP, why it`s about more than hypocrisy and affects the demise of policy as we know it.
12.7.21
As the GOP launches an assault on U.S. elections, MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber and Obama vet Chai Komanduri discuss the underlying right-wing fear of losing power in America. Komanduri argues Republicans are convinced they need something like voter suppression tactics to win elections.
12.2.21
McConnell roasted for 'nothing campaign' in echo of 'Seinfeld'
As early voting in the 2022 midterm election gets underway in Texas, GOP leader Mitch McConnell is admitting that the GOP will not be running on policy this year, but rather tap into the nation’s general negative mood. MSNBC’s Ari Melber breaks down why one political party ceding all policy is a significant development and explains what this means more broadly.
2.15.22
D.C. Debates Pence’s late push-back on Trump coup.
Many long for courageous leaders as U.S.found it faces democracy crisis. What does political courage actually mean? Mitch McConnell breaks with the Republican National Committee over its censure of Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and its characterization of the insurrection. D.C. Debates Pence’s late push-back on Trump coup. Many long for courageous leaders as U.S.found it faces democracy crisis.
2.7.22
President Biden recently revived a debate over Fox News by comparing it to other legitimate news outlets. In this special report, Ari Melber shows the “equivalence” push by some politicians is dangerous by delving into research showing Fox often misleads and misinforms its viewers.
1.27.22
President Biden recently revived a debate over Fox News by comparing it to other legitimate news outlets. In this special report, Ari Melber shows the “equivalence” push by some politicians is dangerous by delving into research showing Fox often misleads and misinforms its viewers.
1.27.22
Democrats again having to explain why, even though they are in power, it doesn`t always feel like they`re in charge. Eugene Robinson and Chai Komanduri discuss... Where do we go from here with a lot of winter left?
1.18.22
Can Democrats play hardball to finally reform the Senate filibuster?Democrats began 2022 vowing a new pressure campaign to end obstruction filibusters of voting rights bills. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on the effort, and how Pres. Biden and Sen. Schumer must grapple with most Republicans and two Democratic senators thwarting voting rights legislation, with a nod to Pres. Bush and J Cole.
1.17.22
Chai Komanduri and Maya Wiley join Ari to react to the news January 6th committee is requesting information from House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy who spoke to former President Trump directly while the violence was underway.
Dr Zeke Emmanuel and Chai join Ari to discuss the changing nature and politics of COVID and why Trump is fighting DeSantis on vaccines
1.12.22
Now, one of his accomplices, Trump veteran Peter Navarro, has leaked information detailing the plan to rally Congressional Republicans to interfere with certifying Biden’s 2020 election win.
MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber is joined by Democratic strategist Chai Komanduri to discuss the revelation and Navarro’s comments likening the effort to the “Green Bay Sweep.”
12.28.21
Chai Komanduri, a friend of THE BEAT and strategist, says that Trump has basically hacked the media in ways Biden does not, hitting journalists with so many lies and weaponizing a penchant for both-sides-ism that basically gets him more of the coverage he wants,
Trump taking advantage of the need to seem objective, rather than reporters choosing to really cover him honestly as what he was clearly then and is now, an anti-democracy candidate.
You can see the false equivalence in how pundits will say, well, gosh, if both sides are unhappy, they must be doing something right.
12.14.21
Chai Komanduri back on THE BEAT talking about what he calls a cult of celebrity in the GOP, why it`s about more than hypocrisy and affects the demise of policy as we know it.
12.7.21
As the GOP launches an assault on U.S. elections, MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber and Obama vet Chai Komanduri discuss the underlying right-wing fear of losing power in America. Komanduri argues Republicans are convinced they need something like voter suppression tactics to win elections.
12.2.21
Former White House Chief of staff Mark Meadows agrees to give testimony to the House investigation of the insurrection. The Supreme Court prepares to examine Roe v. Wade once again. The CDC starts tracking for the Omicron variant. Noubar Afeyan, chairman and co-founder of Moderna, discusses his company`s vaccine efficacy against Omicron. Dr. Anthony Fauci pushes back against far right attacks.
11.30.21
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri recently devoted an entire speech to an extended analysis of why so many men appear stuck in a cycle of "idleness and pornography and video games" .
11.23.21
Alabama Representative Gary Palmer touted funding in the infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed into law this week, leaving out the fact that he voted against it. Senator Dick Durbin reminds viewers that unlike the Trump administration`s tax cuts, Joe Biden`s Build Back Better plan is paid for. Republicans from Reagan through the Trump era have found one lane so they can go at education or vaccines or the democracy debate and keep it all sounding familiar and allegedly mainstream, as an attack on your government.
11.16.21
President Biden hits the road to talk about a historic win on spending and infrastructure. Kyle Rittenhouse takes the stand. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger speaks out. Big Bird takes on Ted Cruz..
11.10.21
Education has become a major policy issue across the United States, especially in Virginia where Republicans out of power are seizing on the chance to stir up racial tension. Virginia does not formally teach critical race theory, but the Republican candidate for governor is pledging that he will ban it from the state. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by political strategist Chai Komanduri and political contributor Errin Haines to discuss the clash.
11.2.21
Voters will soon cast their ballots for the next governor of Virginia, an election that will serve as a major test for MAGA politicians and Trumpism. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by political strategist Chai Komanduri to discuss the significance of the race and whether Trumpism can successfully survive without Trump.
10.26.21
A new Mother Jones report reveals Senator Manchin is threatening to leave the Democratic party if the price tag on President Biden’s spending plan isn’t slashed. Manchin denies the report. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by political strategist Chai Komanduri, who explains why he believes Manchin won’t be leaving the Democratic party any time soon.
10.20.21
After Mitch McConnell blinks in Congress' debt showdown, MSNBC’s Ari Melber and Obama vet Chai Komanduri discuss what the clash reveals about McConnell’s weakness.
10.12.21
A main GOP argument against Biden's spending proposals is that the U.S. cannot "afford" a plan that costs several trillion dollars. In a fact-check, MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on how the modern GOP spent that much on tax cuts, and strategist Chai Komanduri says Biden's plan offers a major “return on the investment." Melber notes that the spending facts do not resolve whether people should support or oppose the Biden plan, but rather shred one of the GOP's main supposed objections, that the price tag is too high for the U.S.
10.4.21
What will it take to get Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to say yes to a sweeping spending package? Neither Senator will say what their policy conditions are, and political strategist Chai Komanduri posits Manchin and Sinema are driven by their desire to appear centrist. Komanduri joins MSNBC’s Ari Melber to discuss the situation.
9.28.21
After a devastating year spent locked down and dreaming of vaccines, there are growing reports of the unvaccinated triggering “scorn” and “resentment” among the vaccinated. Some analysts now say this anger is already visible in elections. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by political strategist Chai Komanduri to discuss this growing anger and how it can be used as a political tool. Komanduri argues “it’s about time Democrats” use anger to mobilize voters.
9.22.21
United States Capitol Police said Monday they arrested a man in a truck who was armed with multiple knives, a bayonet and a machete near the DNC headquarters. George W. Bush compares violent extremists at home to 9/11 terrorists in 20th anniversary speech. Governor Newsom faces this recall election.
9.13.21
Now, as the January 6 right probe moves forward, there`s also new intelligence that`s putting Washington edge, but also ready to prepare, formally on high alert for this rally we have told you about. MAGA organizers are calling it a -- quote -- "Justice for J6 Rally." And it is scheduled for September 18.
9.9.21
Two Trump Organization executives are set to testify before a Manhattan grand jury this week. Protests erupt after an anti-abortion ban takes effect in Texas. New developments occur in the case of the death of an unarmed young man at the hands of police. Singer Russ speaks out.
9.1.21
The U.S. military ramps up efforts to get Americans and some Afghan allies away from the new Taliban rule that has taken over Afghanistan. Progressives try to team up with Biden to spend his capital. New January 6 video is released from the Justice Department. Critics blast the latest COVID move from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Will most Americans soon be eligible for a COVID booster shot?
8.17.21
The U.S. sends 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to aid in the withdrawal. COVID surges in places where Republican leaders are actively opposing safety measures. New reporting emerges from inside the Matt Gaetz open sex trafficking probe. Rudy Giuliani looks for ways to make money. Lil Baby discusses his music and his meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris.
8.12.21
A Trump-backed candidate lost in a special election, shocking the GOP. Meanwhile, Trump was also ignored by 17 Republican Senators who voted for a deal he rallied against and the former president is now struggling to sell tickets for his tour with Bill O’Reilly. Political strategist Chai Komanduri joins MSNBC’s Ari Melber to discuss the demise of Trump’s control of the GOP.
8.3.21
Law enforcement officers testify in the first hearing for the House select committee investigating the Capitol insurrection. Congresswoman Elaine Luria discusses the first insurrection committee hearing.
7.27.21
A somewhat unlikely clash on FOX News occurs over COVID. New pressure mounts on the January 6 committee and Republican lawmakers who voted to overturn the election. Tom Brady goes in on Donald Trump at the White House.
7.20.21
Senate Republicans unanimously voted to block the “For The People Act,” which sought to expand voting rights and respond to restrictive election laws in Republican-led states. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reacts to the vote, split 50-50 along party lines, and discusses what this means for Democrats with The New York Times’ Mara Gay and Emily Bazelon, Democratic Strategist Chai Komanduri, and Mark Thompson, host of the “Make It Plain” podcast.
6.23.21
President Biden begins his first trip abroad as president. The pressure facing Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg is examined.
6.9.21
In this edition of "Chai Day," political strategist Chai Komanduri joins MSNBC's Ari Melber to discuss how Republicans are now fully post-policy and entirely devoted to citizen Donald Trump.
6.1.21
Senate Republicans block January 6th commission. Democrats blast shame of GOP filibuster on January 6th commission. Senate Republicans block bipartisan riot probe. MAGA Representative Gaetz invokes armed rebellion at rally. Biden calls for 90-day review of COVID origins. Scrutiny on whether COVID accidentally leaked from lab.
5.28.21
We begin with Republicans voting against the facts and the policy common sense. There is an embrace of extremism and conspiracy theories. You know about that. There`s also the fear of Trump. But this is playing out on a significant national security issue live on the floor of the United States senate, Republicans using the filibuster for the first time in the Biden era to block what had already been negotiated as a fully bipartisan commission with Republicans in on it to try to get to the bottom of the facts of the January 6th riot. 54 senators voting for it, that includes 6 Republicans, which means a majority in both the house and senate want this, back this. But in our democracy right now, that`s not enough, not enough to overcome Mitch McConnell`s obstruction.
5.28.21
Top Republicans in Arizona are blasting members of their own party for peddling conspiracy theories with their "election audit." MSNBC's Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber discusses this growing fracture within the GOP with political strategist Chai Komanduri.
5.18.21
Americans now view Pres. Biden as more “moderate” than most first term presidents, providing a political strength that is repelling common conservative attacks. Obama campaign veteran Chai Komanduri talks to MSNBC’s Ari Melber about the key factors behind this trend, and Komanduri argues cultural and racial dynamics give Biden more room than Pres. Obama had.
5.12.21
After failing to launch a social media app of his own, Donald Trump launched a blog instead. At the same time, the Republican party is now trying to rebrand as populist and against big tech corporations like Facebook and Twitter. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by political strategist Chai Komanduri to discuss how this supposed “clash” with some companies is merely an attempt by Republicans to say they’re confronting corporations and representing “working class” voters.
5.5.21
Dems Eye lessons from when McCain crushed Trump's attempt at ORecent history shows a President's second 100 days in office can be more pivotal than the first - defining their domestic agenda and often shaping whether the opposition finds a way to thwart a new President. Democratic strategist Chai Komanduri joins MSNBC's Ari Melber with specific evidence of how several first terms turned on events in the second 100 days, from Clinton to Trump, with some impromptu movie analogies for good measure.
4.27.21
Congressional Republicans are attacking what they call "woke corporations" for opposing a voter suppression law, but the clash is exposing deeper rifts within the GOP. Ari Melber and strategist Chai Komanduri explore why the GOP is openly touting a re-branding to appear less "pro-corporation," as a new House GOP memo put it, and the limits of this criticism of Corporate America. The report also documents how Sen. Mitch McConnell wound up publicly contradicting his own long-standing position.
4.15.21
After Crushing Trump, Biden Channels His 'Inner-Bernie'. Biden has begun his presidency on a more liberal footing than the last two Democratic presidents, which makes this the most progressive start to any presidency in the past 40 years. MSNBC’s Ari Melber discusses Biden’s evolution as a politician and is joined by Chai Komanduri to debate if Biden is revealing his own values now that he has power, or if he’s just channeling Sanders.
4.6.21
After failing to launch a social media app of his own, Donald Trump launched a blog instead. At the same time, the Republican party is now trying to rebrand as populist and against big tech corporations like Facebook and Twitter. MSNBC’s Ari Melber is joined by political strategist Chai Komanduri to discuss how this supposed “clash” with some companies is merely an attempt by Republicans to say they’re confronting corporations and representing “working class” voters
4.4.21
President Biden proposes a $2 trillion infrastructure package. Congressman Matt Gaetz faces allegations of sex trafficking. Testimony in the trial of Derek Chauvin continues. Some police officers sue Donald Trump, saying he caused the insurrection. Republicans push back against the idea of COVID vaccine passports. .
3.31.21
Chai Komanduri calls out Fox News’ racist lies about immigration as a “contemptible way of trying to get more ratings
3.23.21
But the lesson for Democrats like Manchin is, repeatedly
criticizing and breaking with the president of your own party, when it
weakens the president, may be literally a worst political strategy than
trying to have a party and a president so successful that few can argue
with the results.
3.9.21
While most elected Republicans are publicly against Biden’s coronavirus bill, they are not taking extra steps to try to stop Biden’s top agenda item. In fact, the latest numbers show 59 percent of Republicans back Biden’s 2021 stimulus bill. MSNBC’s Ari Melber discusses this lack of resistance with Obama vet Chai Komanduri.
3.3.21