Activists push voting rights on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day. How high up the chain is the FBI looking into the January 6 insurrection? The Democratic outlook for the midterms elections is examined. Do Democrats need to play more political hardball? A Texas synagogue hostage situation ends in a dramatic escape.
NICOLLE WALLACE, MSNBC HOST: THE BEAT WITH ARI MELBER starts right now.
Hi, Ari. Happy Monday.
ARI MELBER, MSNBC HOST: Happy Monday. And happy Martin Luther King Day to you, Nicolle. Nice to see you.
I want to welcome everyone to THE BEAT. I am Ari Melber.
And we do have a special show for you live right now, including Neal Katyal coming up on accountability, and our report on how the Senate could actually learn from some of what`s happening today, while we begin our broadcast here at the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington on this Martin Luther King Day, as his family leads a march for voting rights, invoking this holiday with a rallying cry -- quote -- "No celebration without legislation."
King`s eldest son calling for action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN LUTHER KING III, PRESIDENT & CEO, REALIZING THE DREAM: Holiday should be a day on, not a day off. Today, we`re not here to celebrate.
We`re here to be on. We`re here to call on President Biden and the Senate to pass the Freedom to Vote John R. Lewis Act and to warn that our democracy stands on the brink of serious trouble. History will be watching what happens tomorrow. Black and brown Americans will be watching what happens tomorrow.
In 50 years, students will read about what happens tomorrow and know whether our leaders had the integrity to do the right thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MELBER: That is the larger call at the higher altitude.
Now, down in the weeds of governing, Democratic leaders are rallying for action against an obstruction that`s green-lit mostly by Republicans and two Democratic holdouts, which has this scene starting the week where Democratic leaders claim they`re continuing to try to apply pressure, but it already feels like they have hit a brick wall.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These things, voter suppression and election subversion.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): If you want to honor Dr. King, don`t dishonor him by using a congressional custom as an excuse for protecting our democracy.
BIDEN: Where do we stand? Who side are we on?
SEN. KYRSTEN SINEMA (D-AZ): There`s no need for me to restate my longstanding...
Original Source of the original story >> Transcript: The Beat with Ari Melber, 1/17/22 - MSNBC