Monks & Merrill

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...

Hour 3 - As Orange considers a public smoking ban tied to homelessness enforcement, scrutiny is intensifying in Los Angeles over how the crisis is being managed. City Controller Kenneth Mejia is sounding the alarm, revealing at least $473 million in unspent homelessness funds over two years. The takeaway: the region’s homelessness emergency is no longer just about funding levels—it&rsq...

Hour 2- Monks and Merrill are talking all things SoCal and money. There is a $40 million pool project in Griffith Park, and a $114 million fund for Wildlife Crossing. We talked to  Herb Morgan  about his thoughts. PLUS there is a luxury estate that may actually be choking apartment construction out. All that and more on KFIAM-640! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3- Monks and Merrill want's you to know they are watching you! There are cameras EVERYWHERE and LAPD is installing more. Corona residents do not like the Flock cameras and Monks and Merrill are diving deep into that story and so much more. It's all on KFIAM-640! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Monks & Merrill with all new material for you to enjoy on your weekend. In this episode, Michael Monks and Chris Merrill  explore the lesser-known history of the mafia in Los Angeles, discussing its connections to the East Coast and the impact of its leaders. They also touch on the city's unique cultural landscape and the influence of the mafia on Hollywood. Later, they discuss recen...

Hour 1- Monks and Merrill are delving into the idea of forcing compassion for the unhoused in San Jose, and the problem with graffiti. PLUS, all things voter fraud. $5 for your signature on ballot petitions and if California really has a voters fraud problem. All that and more on KFIAM-640. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2- Monks and Merrill are getting into election irregularities in Riverside County. PLUS Trump vs Cali and County vs Trump, it's a fight against fraud and immigration. AND we are getting into Polyamorous couples and their rights with  Dr. Wendy Walsh.  It's all on KFIAM-640!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3- Monks and Merrill talk to Ken Levine about his newest project  'Guilty Pleasures- An Unapologetic Comedy'  and more on the Monrovia bear. We are taking calls and hearing from you. It's all on KFIAM-640.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are covering all things, Chavez. His sexual assault accusations and what could be renamed as a result. PLUS a bear funeral in Monrovia. It's all on KFIAM-640.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Monks and Chris Merrill are covering the housing crowd and talking to Michael Schneider, founder of  Streets for All , a Los Angeles-based advocacy organization dedicated to reallocating street space from cars to people, prioritizing safety, public transit, and active transportation, such as biking and walking. PLUS we are getting into all things Metro with the K Line extension and Me...

Gas prices are rising and making EV look really good. The prices aren't just hurting the driver, Monks and Merrill explain. PLUS texting isn't the only thing distracting drivers Pimping your ride comes at a cost. All that and more on KFIAM-640.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New “shocking” allegations tied to César Chávez are casting a shadow over Sacramento’s annual march honoring the labor icon, even as organizers push forward amid growing concern. At the same time, labor tensions escalate in Los Angeles, where the teachers union is poised to announce a strike date following an overwhelming 97% authorization vote by SEIU Loc...

 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...