Monks & Merrill

Hour 1 - Spencer Pratt addresses controversy surrounding his Los Angeles mayoral run after relocating to Santa Barbara County when his Pacific Palisades home was lost in a wildfire. Questions about his eligibility—sparked by a report from the Los Angeles Times—take center stage as Pratt pushes back hard, calling the coverage misleading. He doubles down on his campaign, discusses his co...

Hour 2 - Spencer Pratt leans into bold promises in his run for Los Angeles mayor, vowing to eliminate homeless encampments and crack down on fentanyl in public spaces. As new polling from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs shows a wide-open race with 40% of voters still undecided, Pratt frames himself as a disruptive outsider in a city where even incumbents are campaigning on change. The convers...

Hour 3 - Professor of Law Andrew Guthrie Ferguson from George Washington University joins the conversation to explore how our own bodies may be betraying our right to privacy in an increasingly surveilled world. We also dive into the latest CSU survey highlighting the need to verify AI-generated content for accuracy, shifts in Orange County’s food landscape that could impact hunger, and the...

Hour 1 - The so-called “paradise” of downtown LA hits a snag as the high-stakes battle over Oceanwide Plaza raises serious doubts about whether the deal will close at all. But that’s not the only shocker—Olympic fever is heating ahead of 2028 Summer Olympics, and fans are already reeling from unexpected ticket fees that could derail excitement before it begins. See omnystud...

Hour 2 - California takes center stage with a whirlwind of political shakeups and Hollywood drama. CNN gears up to host a high-stakes gubernatorial primary debate, while Donald Trump throws his support behind Steve Hilton—adding fuel to an already unpredictable race. Back in LA, city attorney candidates clash over remote work policies, raising bigger questions about the future of public serv...

Hour 3 - The spotlight turns to Los Angeles’ deepening homelessness crisis—and the tough questions surrounding it. Under Karen Bass’s $300 million initiative, reports show nearly 40% of participants have returned to the streets, raising concerns about long-term effectiveness. From a mass brawl at a Venice Beach encampment to growing tensions at a Westlake post office and a grim d...

In this Saturday episode of More Monks and Merrill they dive into the issue of California's tourism industry and its impact on local communities. They discuss the city of South Lake Tahoe's decision to allow mushroom homes. The conversation touches on the importance of preserving the character of resort towns and the need for sustainable solutions to the state's housing crisis. They also discuss a...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (04/03) - The Monks and Merrill Show breaks down falling rents across Southern California and what it means for tenants in a softening market. As downtown L.A.’s real estate landscape shifts—with wealthy renters buying distressed properties—and office vacancies hit record highs, the team explores whether this is a temporary dip or a deeper reset. See omny...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (04/03) - The Monks and Merrill Show covers a proposed rare earth mining project near Joshua Tree with expert insight from Virginia Tech’s Aaron Noble, alongside updates on Southern California wildfires. Plus, a look at Rose Bowl upgrades for the 2028 Olympics and new World Cup developments in Los Angeles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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...