“The Beat With ___ Melber”

ARI

["This MSNBC host is also known for his legal analysis and previously worked as a correspondent for another major news network. His first name is short and starts with the same letter as \"anchor.\""]

This clue references the MSNBC news show "The Beat with Ari Melber," where the blank is filled by the host’s first name. The answer is "ARI," which is short for Ari Melber, a well-known political commentator and lawyer. It’s a straightforward fill-in-the-blank based on the show’s title, with no hidden wordplay.