The Beat with Ari Melber

Episode: Trump Defeated on Epstein, DOJ Prosecutor, and 2025 Elections
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Ari Melber
Guests: Alicia Menendez, Bill Kristol, Nick Ackerman, Walter Isaacson

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Beat with Ari Melber" centers on Donald Trump’s mounting political and legal defeats in his second term, particularly around the Epstein files, failed DOJ prosecutions against Trump’s perceived enemies, and the 2025 political/electoral landscape. Joining Ari are commentators Alicia Menendez, conservative-turned-Trump critic Bill Kristol, Watergate prosecutor Nick Ackerman, and historian/author Walter Isaacson. The discussion moves from the unprecedented string of losses for Trump to the implications for America's democracy and the lessons from U.S. history as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s “Hell Month”: Stacked Defeats and GOP Unraveling

• Historic Bad Month for Trump

  • Trump faces "the worst month of his second term," with a series of legal, political, and intra-party setbacks.
  • "Trump's revenge cases completely blowing up... by any legal timeline was a fast failure." (Ari Melber, 01:10)
  • No wins in three recent attempts to prosecute perceived foes.
  • Congress shows rare bipartisan unity in demanding release of Epstein files, which Trump has resisted.
  • New polling shows Trump’s job approval "crashing to record lows."

• Desertion and Discontent on the Right

  • Republican defections and threats to leave Congress grow; morale is referred to as a "tinderbox."
  • GOP members feel "run roughshod and threatened" by the Trump White House; more resignations are expected.
  • Conservative voices (e.g., Michael Savage, Tucker Carlson) are no longer uniformly defending Trump.

• The Economic Picture: Tech vs. Real Economy

  • While tech stocks soar, most companies and average Americans see little improvement—worsening inflation, stagnant wages, increasing layoffs.
  • "What people are feeling out in the real economy is that red line, which is pretty flat." (Ari Melber, 06:51)

2. Media & GOP Fractures: A Shifting Narrative

• Erosion of Trump’s Media Shield

  • Even traditionally MAGA-friendly outlets and personalities are openly acknowledging setbacks.
  • Comedians and conservative talk show hosts begin critiquing Trump’s record and priorities.
  • "The arrogance of this Trump White House team is, quote, offputting to members who are run roughshod and threatened." (Ari Melber, 08:07)

• Electoral Consequences

  • Democratic sweep in recent elections marks a shift in momentum.
  • As midterms approach, lack of unified GOP messaging and infighting threaten the party's majority.

3. The Epstein Files and Upcoming Deadline

• Scandal and Bipartisan Pressure

  • Congress is united, demanding Trump release hidden Epstein-related documents, fueling speculation and suspicion.
  • "Some people say they don't even want to know why Trump seems so intent on hiding them." (Ari Melber, 01:43)
  • The looming deadline stretches through the month and could trigger deeper political and legal crises.

• Impact on Trump’s Standing

  • Bill Kristol argues the Epstein mess is a “big crack” that encourages others to break with Trump.
  • "Epstein was just awfully, awfully important... when one of them becomes a big crack, other people think, oh, you know what, I'm allowed to break with him." (Bill Kristol, 19:17)

4. DOJ and Legal Implosions

• Failed “Lawfare”: Revenge Prosecutions Collapse

  • Every high-profile DOJ case against Trump’s critics (Comey, Letitia James, etc.) quickly fails in court.
  • Disqualified prosecutor Lindsey Halligan symbolizes the incompetence and legal risks facing Trump’s inner circle.
  • "All of this is going to rebound back on Trump. The politics of this is not—it's not good." (Nick Ackerman, 36:10)
  • Wall Street Journal calls Trump's approach “the gang that couldn't indict straight.”

• Danger to DOJ Careers

  • Continuing these dubious indictments could end legal careers: “You’re going to wind up in the Rudy Giuliani hall of shame for disbarred Trump lawyers.” (Nick Ackerman, 38:26)

• DOJ and FBI Turmoil

  • FBI Director Cash Patel under scrutiny for corruption, lack of qualifications, and misuse of resources.
  • "There's never been an FBI director quite like this. J. Edgar Hoover had some problems, but nothing quite as bad as this." (Nick Ackerman, 40:47)

5. Voter Sentiment and the 2025 Election Landscape

• Economic Promises vs. Reality

  • Despite campaign pledges, Trump has failed to deliver on affordability, job growth, or controlling inflation.
  • "He told voters incomes will skyrocket, inflation will vanish completely, jobs will come roaring back. None of that has happened." (Alicia Menendez, 11:48)
  • Voters, especially in New Jersey and Virginia, have responded by turning against Trump in key elections.

• Latino and Nonwhite Voter Trends

  • Majorities of Latinos now disapprove of Trump’s economic and immigration policies.
  • “There were people who believed him when he said I’m gonna focus on the economy. And now they’re looking up and saying, I guess that wasn’t true.” (Ari Melber, 17:37)

• Organizing for a Post-Trump Era

  • Democrats see opportunity for realignment but recognize sustained grassroots organizing is required.
  • "That's not just people showing up two weeks before an election and suddenly making a pitch. That is right now, organizers on the ground beginning to develop those relationships. And it's not sexy, but it is the work." (Alicia Menendez, 17:45)

6. History’s Lessons: Democracy, Tolerance, and American Identity

[Featuring Walter Isaacson, 22:18–33:36]

• America’s Enduring Mission Statement

  • Isaacson reflects on the aspirational values of the Declaration of Independence as a “forcing mechanism throughout our history to become more and more true that all men are created equal.” (Walter Isaacson, 23:26)

• Transcending Political Division

  • The anniversary of the nation is used as an opportunity to stress unity and shared values amid contemporary polarization.

• Historical Parallels: Innovation, Dissent, and Diversity

  • Isaacson draws lessons from Jefferson, Lincoln, Einstein, and Franklin about risk-taking, diversity, and the perils of intolerance.
  • "What they did in 1776… was a town filled with diverse groups of people... they created a new type of nation based on the tolerance or even respect for all religions." (Walter Isaacson, 31:41–33:20)

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Momentum in Politics:
  “Momentum matters so much in politics… suddenly 1, 2, 3, 4, a bunch of defeats. I think it really matters.”
  — Bill Kristol, 16:56

• On the Real State of the Economy:
  “People are going to the grocery store saying, I can’t afford the beef I used to be able to afford. You told me you would bring prices down, and you have only succeeded in bringing prices up.”
  — Alicia Menendez, 13:18

• On Legal Setbacks:
  “I think it just shows a total incompetence… they’re just flailing out trying to go after people who they perceive as their enemies… they’re not bringing real cases based on real evidence.”
  — Nick Ackerman, 36:10

• Reflecting on American Democracy:
  “This was a whole new concept on Earth… the notion that power derives from the social contract we the people do… changed the world.”
  — Walter Isaacson, 26:02

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump’s "Hell Month" and GOP Crisis: 00:55–10:06
• Economic Realities and Midterm Fallout: 11:17–15:17
• Latino Voter Shift & Organizing: 17:13–19:03
• Epstein Files: Political & Legal Fallout: 19:17–20:27
• Walter Isaacson on Democracy’s Foundations: 22:18–33:36
• Collapse of DOJ Revenge Cases: 34:48–40:47
• Trump and the New NYC Mayor-Elect: 41:45–42:59

Tone & Style

Ari Melber’s tone remains incisive but accessible, mixing legal analysis, political commentary, and pop culture references. Guests contribute with sharp, candid insights, often drawing on their own expertise and experiences. Occasional moments of humor and levity lighten a mostly serious review of Trump’s mounting troubles and their consequences for American democracy.

For Further Viewing

• Ro Khanna interview (on upcoming compliance deadlines and legislative strategies): see [Ms. Now, Ari] YouTube playlist.

Conclusion:
This episode is a detailed chronicle of a presidency in crisis—marked by legal defeats, loss of party unity, collapsing public approval, and a changing political landscape. Via expert analysis and historical context, it offers a sobering yet occasionally hopeful reflection on American democracy’s capacity to withstand turbulent times.