Monks & Merrill

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (04/03) - The Monks and Merrill Show welcomes space expert Rod Pyle to break down Artemis II’s journey to the moon and the physical toll of space travel. Back on Earth, the team tackles rising costs—from the possibility of $10 gas to increasing bottled water prices—and dives into a volatile L.A. mayoral race, where 40% of voters remain undecided. See omny...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (04/02) - In this episode of the Monks and Merrill Show, we dive into a striking contradiction shaping California politics: voters say democracy is under threat—yet head to the polls focused on affordability and everyday survival. We unpack new tensions revealed in statewide polling, the legal battle over sealed records in Riverside County’s sheriff election pr...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (04/02) - Matt Mahan joins to make his case for a statewide shakeup—starting with homelessness. He breaks down San Jose’s “shelter-first” approach as a real-world test model, touts the city’s rise as one of the safest large cities in America, and lays out a blunt critique of California’s political status quo. Now stepping into a crowded...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (04/02) - On this episode of the Monks and Merrill Show, climate concerns take center stage as Andrew Schwartz breaks down the alarming rate at which Lake Tahoe is losing snowpack—raising red flags for water supply and an intense wildfire season. Then, Kyle Kirkland joins to unpack the high-stakes legal fight between California cardrooms and the state over blackjack...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (04/01) - New data shows people leaving California are finding cheaper living and better odds at homeownership, while Kevin Kane joins Monks & Merrill to explain what Los Angeles County’s population decline means for the region’s future. Plus, which cities are seeing the most “stale” home listings, and how a little-known legal issue is...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (04/01) - A political and financial clash is brewing as Donald Trump takes aim at California’s insurance giants over wildfire payouts, while the state investigates State Farm amid fallout from Los Angeles fires—even as a major rate hike moves forward. Then, Tim Campbell joins Monks & Merrill to examine whether Los Angeles is getting results from i...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (04/01) - Hollywood’s job market is drying up fast, with industry insiders warning Hollywood could become the “next Detroit auto” as production slows and uncertainty grows. Gavin Newsom rolls out expanded tax credits in an effort to revive filming, but questions remain about whether it’s enough to stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, Royal Oakes joins Monk...

Hour 1 - A surprising new poll in the Los Angeles mayor’s race shows Nithya Raman ahead of Karen Bass, raising questions about shifting momentum—Fernando Guerra joins Monks & Merrill to break it down. Plus, the Los Angeles Police Department warns of a major officer shortage and a nearly $100 million security cost for the 2028 Summer Olympics, and a grim outlook for L.A.’s upc...

Hour 2 - Concern is growing as former Los Angeles Zoo elephants Billy and Tina reportedly struggle after relocation, while the Supreme Court of the United States rejects an appeal from Joe Exotic. Anais Medina Diaz joins the show to explain the surge of tiny black flies swarming faces across Southern California, as a spreading avian influenza outbreak impacts wildlife along the coast. Plus, NASA p...

Hour 3 - Tariq Malik joins Monks & Merrill to break down how NASA is preparing for worst-case scenarios in deep space. Then, the Supreme Court of the United States declines to take up a challenge to Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors, a decision that could ignite legal and political battles nationwide. Reporter with News Nation, Rich McHugh weighs in on why this case may be...

Hour 1 - UCLA’s women stun Duke with a thrilling rally to punch their ticket to the Final Four. Meanwhile, Long Beach police crackdown on a chaotic street takeover involving teens and illegal e-bikes. Plus, Commerce Mayor Kevin Lainez joins the conversation as local leaders weigh controversial sales tax hikes amid new state restrictions on card room gaming—raising bigger questions abou...

Hour 2 -  Investigative editor Matt Drange breaks down the California Attorney General’s findings of “systemic failures” in how the El Monte Union High School District handled sexual abuse and harassment complaints. The conversation continues with a deeper look into a sweeping $22 million contracting scandal involving Los Angeles Unified School District, highlighting how mas...

Hour 3 - Dennis Richards joins to break down Los Angeles’ controversial plan to allow four-story buildings in some single-family neighborhoods while delaying SB 79. The discussion also covers the City Council’s push to raise streetlight assessment fees and a new wave of population loss across California—with migration trends revealing where residents are heading and why political...

In this weekend bonus episode of Monks and Merrill, they dive into a wild story about a woman who sued the Multi-State Lottery Association and the California State Lottery Commission for a billion dollars, claiming she won the Powerball jackpot. But here's the twist - she didn't even have a ticket! They also touch on the upcoming Olympics and the World Cup, and share a hilarious story about a job...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/27) - From record-breaking heat across California to a sudden cooldown bringing showers to Southern California, it’s a week of weather whiplash. A Ventura County teen’s rattlesnake encounter and warnings of a “very sharky summer” have residents on alert, while outrage grows over the killing of a beloved local bear. Plus, a proposed law would pub...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/27) - KFI host and KTLA personality Andy Riesmeyer joins to break down how AI is rapidly reshaping Hollywood—from Fiverr’s AI-powered video revolution to a new wave of “directors” challenging the traditional studio system. What’s behind the reported shutdown of Sora, and does it signal trouble for the AI boom? Then, legal expert...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/27) - From a burned-down home still facing a shocking $23,000 HOA bill to Altadena residents getting hit with water charges despite bone-dry lots, the financial pressure is mounting across Southern California. Meanwhile, home prices and sales are surging—especially in Orange County—raising questions about affordability. Orange Mayor Dan Slater joins to disc...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/26) - Live from Dodger Stadium, Tim Cates breaks down the latest on the Dodgers, while the show pivots to a major legal shakeup for Silicon Valley. With a jury finding platforms like Instagram and YouTube addictive and harmful to kids, Carolina Rossini joins to unpack what this ruling means, why leaders are calling it a “moment of reckoning,” and what could...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/26) - Baruch Feigenbaum exposes why Californians pay top dollar for the nation’s second-worst highway system, while Matthew Lewis of California YIMBY breaks down LA’s housing battles—from controversial four-story building plans to Newsom’s stern warnings to Bay Area cities. Plus, a shocking look at life on LA’s Metro, where buses and train...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/26) - Leslie Andrew Ridings, litigation associate at Sidley Austin and co-founder of a Downtown L.A. residents group, joins the show to break down what’s really ailing DTLA. From growing demands for law enforcement and accountability to big-money political influence shaping the June primary, the stakes are rising fast. Can revitalization plans—like subsidiz...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/25) - ABC News legal analyst Royal Oakes breaks down a groundbreaking jury verdict holding Instagram and YouTube accountable in a social media addiction case that could reshape the tech landscape. Then, the focus shifts to California’s turbulent housing market—rising home sales and prices, a surge in inherited properties far above the national norm, and the...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/25) - Description: NewsNation reporter Nancy Loo joins the show to break down a stunning $375 million verdict against Meta in a child exploitation case—and another landmark ruling holding Instagram and YouTube liable for social media addiction. Then, the conversation turns local as Los Angeles considers lowering the voting age to 16 for city elections, sparking a...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/25) - El Segundo resident Joseph Brandlin joins the show to share his story after being arrested for repainting what he says was a dangerous intersection—raising questions about safety, responsibility, and the law. Then, the focus shifts to Los Angeles’ ongoing homelessness challenges, from a multimillion-dollar Venice motel sitting empty years after purcha...

Hour 1 -  The first Los Angeles mayoral debate quickly turned into an anti-Karen Bass showcase after the mayor bowed out, citing a scheduling conflict. As Julia Wick explains, the race has been shaken by a series of pivotal moments—despite Bass maintaining a polling lead. While voters remain lukewarm, a powerful coalition of insiders, labor groups, and elected officials continues to ral...

Hour 2 - Xavier Becerra is calling foul after being excluded from a major gubernatorial debate, accusing organizers of an “election-rigging” setup as he makes his case directly to voters. Leaning on his record as former HHS Secretary and California Attorney General, Becerra argues he’s the steady hand who knows how to run government in a crisis—even as the race struggles to...