Monks & Merrill

 Experts warn that more drivers are watching YouTube and TikTok behind the wheel—a growing and deadly trend driven by a digital economy designed to capture constant attention. As concerns mount, legal scrutiny is intensifying, with cases targeting platforms like Instagram for addictive design features that may reshape product liability laws, according to WashU’s Oliver Roberts. At...

A Section 8 tenant filing dozens of $100,000 lawsuits is spotlighting growing tensions in Southern California’s rental market. As LA County moves to strengthen tenant protections by raising eviction thresholds, experts like landlord attorney Avi Sinai weigh in on the shifting legal landscape. Meanwhile, Orange County cities are struggling to keep up with rising rents and eviction trends, eve...

Hour 1 - A record-breaking March heat wave is set to scorch California, with experts calling it potentially one of the most extraordinary events in history. KTLA meteorologist Vera Jimenez joins Monks & Merrill to break down the alarming “Godzilla El Niño” and what it could mean for the state in the coming months. Plus, Kandace Redd from the Automobile Club of Southern Calif...

Hour 2 - Former Los Angeles Mayor and current gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa joins Monks & Merrill for a wide-ranging conversation—from personal stories about being picked last at recess to his vision for California’s future. Villaraigosa weighs in on the state’s regulatory challenges, environmental concerns, and infrastructure struggles in L.A. County, whi...

Hour 3 - A landmark social media trial is putting platform design under the microscope, questioning whether addictive features could trigger product liability. As the legal battle unfolds, new lawsuits raise serious concerns about AI safety—teens allege that Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok generated explicit images involving minors, fueling a broader debate about accountability in emergin...

Hour 1 - Concerned advocates say Los Angeles officials still haven’t reviewed a critical plan addressing homelessness and human trafficking tied to the upcoming Olympics. On the Monks and Merrill Show, Stephanie Richard of Loyola Law School discusses a coalition of 50 leaders and organizations calling on the LA City Council to release human rights protections for the 2026 World Cup and the 2...

Hour 2 - Controversy surrounds an upcoming gubernatorial debate hosted by USC and ABC7 after critics point out the absence of candidates of color. The conversation also looks at Antonio Villaraigosa’s latest political setback, new insights from the PPIC survey on Californians’ views of government, and the growing influence of Los Angeles County’s powerful chief executive role. Pl...

Hour 3 - In this episode of Monks and Merrill, they discuss the financial struggles of the City of Los Angeles. City Controller Kenneth Mejia joins the show to break down the city's $200 million budget deficit and the potential consequences of overspending. They explore the city's plan to increase revenue through hotel taxes and taxing unlicensed cannabis businesses, sparking a debate about the ef...

Saturday Hour 1 - In this episode of Monks and Merrill, they discuss the concept of hard work and its perception in Los Angeles. They dive into a WalletHub study that ranked the city's work ethic, sparking a conversation about what it means to be a hard worker. Monks shares his personal experience of moving to LA and the city's indifferent attitude towards its residents. The hosts also discuss the...

Saturday Hour 2 - In this episode of Monks and Merrill, they explore the intersection of technology and responsibility. They discuss how companies are using data collected from apps like Pokémon Go to create visual positioning systems, which are being used in automated systems like delivery robots. The hosts question whether we're volunteering for self-surveillance and what the consequ...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/13) - Rachel Frazin of The Hill joins Monks and Merrill to unpack the White House’s push to ease shipping rules in an effort to lower fuel prices, rising fears of a global food shock, and the decision by the Trump Administration to allow Russian oil sales amid soaring energy costs. The fellas also tackle major local headlines—from near-record February cargo...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/13) - Monks and Merrill, the fallout continues after a violent street takeover near Circa in Downtown L.A., as Councilmember Ysabel Jurado pushes the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to study street-calming measures in the area. The fellas also dive into a new Los Angeles City Council study examining homeowner trends across Los Angeles County and why corporate...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/13) - A new survey shows nearly half of California teachers are considering leaving the profession, raising concerns about the future of classrooms across the state. Monks and Merrill break down what’s driving the burnout and what it means for students. Guest Dr. Isha calls in to talk about “bubble-wrapped kids” and why many teachers say students are...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/12) - An Orange County father is facing child endangerment charges after his teen crashed a 60-mph e-bike, sparking a larger conversation about e-bike safety, accountability, and the role of parents. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer joins the show to discuss the case and the growing concerns around powerful e-bikes and young riders. Later, Consumer Watchdog...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/12) - Newport-Mesa schools are considering banning most student e-bike use after growing safety concerns, highlighting a broader debate about how cities and schools should regulate the fast-growing trend. At the same time, California officials are cracking down on a $20 million luxury car tax scheme known as the “Montana Loophole,” where buyers allegedly av...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/12) - Los Angeles leaders are now considering reforms to Measure ULA—the so-called “mansion tax”—as concerns grow over its economic impact and whether it’s actually helping solve the housing crisis. Susan Shelley, Vice President of Communications for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, joins the show to break down the policy debate, t...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/11) - Federal authorities warn that Iran has explored using drones to target California in retaliation for escalating conflict, raising new security concerns across the state. Former FBI special agent in charge Rich Frankel joins the show to break down the threat and how seriously officials are taking it. With Los Angeles set to host some of the wor...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/11) - The Boys break down a significant development as L.A. County reports the first drop in deaths among unhoused residents in a decade, raising questions about what’s driving the change. The show also examines a tragic and unusual case in which the family of a man stabbed outside the Downey Library—while charging his car—has filed a $40 mi...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/11) - On the Monks and Merrill Show, insurance watchdog Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders, joins the conversation to expose growing concerns about insurance companies using drones to survey private property without homeowner permission. The discussion also breaks down the impact of a 17% State Farm rate hike for California homeowners following a sett...

Hour 1 - Sergio Avedian, Senior Contributor at The Rideshare Guy, joins the Monks and Merrill Show to break down why Los Angeles International Airport is proposing steep rideshare fee increases that could make Uber and Lyft trips to and from the airport more expensive. The conversation also dives into major delays for the long-awaited LAX rail connection—now years behind schedule and potenti...

Hour 2 - Global bond markets are sliding as a spike in oil prices—driven by the escalating war in Iran—fuels fears that interest rate cuts could be delayed. Meanwhile in Southern California, drivers are seeing the immediate impact, with gas prices jumping about 50 cents in just a week. Veteran journalist Dan Walters joins the show to break down how much of California’s soaring ga...

Hour 3 - The world of elite dining collides with labor controversy as the chef behind famed restaurant Noma responds to abuse allegations just ahead of an ultra-exclusive $1,500-a-ticket Los Angeles pop-up. Neil Saavedra joins the show to break down the backlash, the chef’s response, and why labor advocates say the controversy highlights deeper problems across the restaurant industry. Meanwh...

Hour 1 - Santa Ana winds tear through Southern California, sparking fires in the canyons and even knocking a tree onto railroad tracks in Anaheim. The Monks and Merrill Show brings in TikTok’s Weather Daddy, Jason Farhang, who breaks down the science behind the powerful wind events and the extreme weather patterns driving them. Meanwhile, street takeovers continue to plague the region as a m...

Hour 2 - Monks and Merrill examine what shifting economic signals could mean for Southern California with insights from a leading, unbiased economic forecasting organization that has analyzed global, national, state, and local economies for more than 70 years. The conversation turns to major retail shakeups as Saks Fifth Avenue announces closures in Orange County and Palm Desert, while Neiman Marc...

Hour 3 - Monks and Merrill dig into a growing debate at Los Angeles City Council over whether officers with the Los Angeles Police Department should stop using minor traffic violations as a reason to investigate other potential crimes—commonly known as “pretextual stops.” The discussion comes as city leaders consider whether the Los Angeles Police Commission will support changes...