Monks & Merrill

California’s Senate Bill 79, known as the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2025 and takes effect July 1, 2026. The law overrides certain local zoning rules to allow higher density housing near major transit stops. Supporters call it essential to fixing the housing shortage. Opponents say it guts local control and risks displacement. The Los A...

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation published a report in February with similar findings: Tariffs created an average tax increase per U.S. household of $1,000 in 2025 and are expected to lead to an increase of $1,300 for 2026.  Alex Durante, senior economist at the Tax Foundation, joins the show to talk about it. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down most of the broad tariffs imposed under the Intern...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 [Best Of] (02/21) - Monks and Merrill want a little more of an introductory of themselves for the audience. Let's get to know them! Plus, LA is unaffordable for homebuyers. Also, a blackjack bust. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 [Best Of] (02/21) - Edison is making Eaton fire victims pay. The crime rate is going down and we talk about safe golf courses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (02/20) - We begin the show talking about the Hollywood reset and the Warner Bros deal, as production still remains low. Even Los Angeles "can't afford" to be in Los Angeles. Can you even operate the industry that made California what it is? Hollywood isn't Hollywood anymore - the below the line workers are hit hardest. KFI's Heather Brooker joins the show to tell more. Pl...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (02/20) - LA recorded its second annual budget deficit. Plus, sixth street bridge problems. More money for the homeless problem, and there is nothing to show for it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (02/20) - ABC News legal analyst Royal Oaks joins the show to talk about the Trump Tariff Problems. SCOTUS says Trump's tariffs are illegal. How much have tariffs been costing you? Tariff refund frenzy and changes - don't expect prices to change much. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (02/19) - LAPD formally urges middle and high school students to stay in class instead of walking out to protest ICE. LAUSD is struggling to retaining students to begin with, and layoffs are looming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (02/19) - California cardrooms brace for layoffs amid new rules, huge impacts to jobs and local communities; listen to how, when President  of the CA Gaming Association Kyle Kirkland joins the show. Also, Tom Steyer wants a special election in 2027. Bernie Sanders VS The Billionaires and Gavin Newsom, plus, a Roblox reckoning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (02/19) - We go over The Great Catalina Deer Massacre and why it's increasing wildfire risk. ABC News legal analyst Royal Oaks joins the show to talk about former Prince Andrew's arrest this morning, which just so happen to also be his birthday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 - Outrage grows in Altadena as residents say Southern California Edison could stick them with bills as high as $20,000 — with Altadena homeowner Connor Cipolla sharing his firsthand battle. The hosts also break down why California ranks among the highest property-taxed states in 2026 and how a $100,000 salary shrinks to under $66,000 in major cities after taxes and cost of living. Plu...

Hour 2 - Los Angeles golfers sound off over black-market brokers scooping up public tee times and flipping them for profit, while new data shows a 27% homicide drop in 2025 across the city’s most violence-impacted areas. ABC News tech reporter Mike Dobuski joins to break down Mark Zuckerberg taking the stand, and Jensen Rader from sister station KFBK reports on the tragic skier deaths near L...

Los Angeles’ escalating homelessness battles — from aggressive encampment cleanups to explosive claims that recovery centers are recruiting out-of-state clients only to abandon them locally. They break down pushback from the Left, including Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez’s stance supporting hillside camp clearances, respond to listener talkbacks, and examine proposed “gut pu...

The city secured grant funding to fix the corridor where a deadly crash occurred, so why does it have to return money it already has? Michael Schneider from Streets For All joins us to explain the funding fiasco and the pothole nightmare plaguing Los Angeles. We also break down new data on the city’s most common roadkill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We break down California’s first-gen homebuying programs and how its opening doors for new buyers across the state. We also tackle the big question: is it still worth living in Los Angeles despite its flaws? Plus, we dive into Zillow doom-scrolling culture and Monk’s undeniable love for Hancock Park. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - Michael Monks and Chris Merrill crack the mics together for the first time on their new show Monks & Merrill. They cover how the recent rain is stalling delivery robots and self-driving cars, the 2028 Summer Olympics facing a new cheating twist, and Los Angeles and Long Beach becoming the least affordable for homebuyers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.