Monks & Merrill

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...

Saturdays Hour 1 - In this episode, Monks and Merrill dive into the rising cost of home insurance in California. They discuss how the state's wildfires have led to skyrocketing insurance rates, with some homeowners facing bills of up to $44,000 a year. The hosts talk to Lorraine Crawford, a homeowner in Agoura Hills, who shares her story of struggling to afford her insurance and considering downsi...

Saturdays Hour 2 - In this episode, Monks and Merrill dive into two pressing issues in Los Angeles. First, they discuss the city's homeless industrial complex, specifically the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LASA), with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. She shares her concerns about the agency's effectiveness and the need for greater accountability. The conversation also touches on the city...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/06) - Southern California drivers are feeling the global fallout at the pump, with gas prices jumping at least 30 cents per gallon since the start of the Iran war. As former President Donald Trump declares the only acceptable outcome is Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” Americans appear far less unified at home—new polls show skepticism about th...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/06) - Monks and Merrill look at major developments shaping Los Angeles—from recovery after the Altadena fire to the battle over historic preservation. Guest Adrian Scott Fine, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy, joins to discuss the impact of the Altadena fire and what it means for protecting historic communities. Meanwhile, Monks and Merr...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/06) - Lawmakers are pushing a proposal that could make a version of Daylight Saving Time permanent—reviving debate over why Californians approved California Proposition 7 (2018) but still change their clocks twice a year. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles City Council is weighing a resolution raising concerns about Casey Wasserman, head of the LA28 Organizing Committee,...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/05) - Pop star Britney Spears is reportedly arrested for DUI in California, while global tensions rise as North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders say they will not trigger NATO Article 5 after a missile tied to the Iran conflict entered Turkey airspace and was shot down. We’re joined by Orange County–based activist Roya Javaherchi of the Mahsa Army to di...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/05) - Major decisions shaping Los Angeles take center stage. A new report warns the city’s hotel industry could feel the impact of the minimum wage ordinance, while Los Angeles County officials urge Santa Catalina Island to sterilize its mule deer population rather than eradicate them. We also break down the potential ripple effects of Paramount Skydance’s...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/05) - Tensions are rising at Los Angeles City Council as city leaders consider pulling roughly $300 million in homelessness funding from Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority amid mounting frustration over oversight and results. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez has been particularly outspoken, questioning whether the current system is delivering meaningful progress. Sh...

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/04) - The hosts break down the Supreme Court siding with parents over “no secret genders” policies and the growing debate around medical privacy for transgender residents. They also dive into the sudden departure of Janisse Quiñones from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, a shocking case involving a 17-year-old allegedly building chemical wea...

Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/04) - Monks and Merrill Show, guest Rebecca Zandovskis, Senior Director of Business Development at Genesis Builders, shares how the company’s fixed-price Altadena homes — starting under $700K — are being put to the test as the community rebuilds. After losing her own home in the Altadena fire, Zandovskis discusses the emotional and financial realities...

Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (03/04) - The spotlight is on Los Angeles’ growing homeless funding crisis. The hosts unpack the mounting scrutiny facing Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority as it stands trial and risks losing critical funding. Payments are on pause for Stay Housed LA, leaving renters and service providers in limbo. Meanwhile, Gavin Newsom issues a blunt warning to local leaders...

Hour 1 - Monks and Merrill break down the latest developments involving Iran and turn to the growing federal scrutiny surrounding LAUSD, including an FBI raid reportedly sparked by a tip from New York prosecutors investigating alleged fraud tied to an AI firm. We’ll also discuss the expanding controversy surrounding Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, as past scandals resurf...

Hour 2 - Monks & Merrill, we’re joined by Bob Blue, co-founder and spokesperson for Angelenos for Historic Preservation, to unpack the growing controversy surrounding the potential demolition of the 1951 mid-century Barry Building.  We’ll explore whether the building is a landmark worth saving or a liability ready for the wrecking ball, and widen the lens to ano...

Hour 3 - Monks & Merrill  dive into a major shake-up proposed at City Hall: a Charter Reform Commission recommendation to expand the Los Angeles City Council from 15 to 25 members. Is fifteen too few for a city of nearly four million, or does this mean more bureaucracy and higher costs? We’ll also examine debate over creating a new Chief Financial Officer position to oversee th...

Hour 1 -  Jordana Miller, ABC News Correspondent in Jerusalem, joins the program as Israeli politicians publicly back expanding military operations expected to last weeks — while Donald Trump signals he’s prepared to go much longer. As the conflict with Iran intensifies and the U.S. pledges additional troops amid expectations of further casualties, the politica...

Hour 2 - California’s high-speed rail authority says a nonstop California High-Speed Rail Authority line from San Francisco to Los Angeles could be running by 2039 — but critics question whether the new business plan’s “creative” revenue projections truly add up. We break down the numbers, the skepticism, and what it means for taxpayers. Then, a lighter rail story: Lo...

Hour 3 -  An Agoura Hills homeowner says her annual premium with State Farm has skyrocketed to more than $44,000 — more than seven times what she paid when she bought her home in 2012. As wildfire risk becomes fully priced into California’s insurance market, the pressure on homeowners is reaching a breaking point.  Forecasters at the National Weather Service Los Angeles/...