Michael Monks Reports

By KFI AM 640 (KFI-AM)

Michael Monks joined KFI in 2024 after fulfilling a longtime dream of moving to L.A. He is a native of Covington, Kentucky where in 2011 he founded a multimedia local news operation called T... more

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FAQs about Michael Monks Reports:

How many episodes does Michael Monks Reports have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.

Michael Monks Reports episodes:

March 23, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: LA's Billion-Dollar Budget Crisis & Parking Enforcement Debacle
@MicMonksLA Reports: LA's Billion-Dollar Budget Crisis & Parking Enforcement Debacle Description: Michael Monks breaks down the alarming $1 billion budget deficit haunting the city of Los Angeles, exploring exactly how city officials got it so wrong. With revealing clips from Mayor Bass and city administrators, Michael revisits the warnings and promises that didn’t add up. Plus, how is LA spending tens of millions more on parking enforcement than it brings in? Michael investigates the costly mismanagement behind LA’s parking problem.
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35min
March 23, 2025 @MicMonksLAReports: Homeless Spending Under Scrutiny, Olympic Visa Drama, and LA's Decade-a-Day Bus Delay!
Michael dives into LA's new effort to oversee homelessness spending after audits exposed transparency issues—Councilwoman Nithya Raman weighs in. Meanwhile, LA28 Olympic Chair Casey Wasserman reassures global leaders that U.S. politics won't block athletes' entry into the 2028 Games. Plus, Michael reveals a shocking report: LA Metro buses are cumulatively delayed by a full decade every single day, costing riders valuable time and money. And if you're hoping to buy a home in SoCal, brace yourself—the market just set another record.
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34min
March 16, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: Downtown Decline, Homelessness & Bird Trouble
Michael Monks opens the show by examining the impact of the Downtown LA Macy’s closing and what the disappearance of true department stores signals about the state of local business. He then speaks with LA County Supervisor Horvath about the county’s new homeless department and the upcoming motion aimed at addressing homelessness. Michael wraps up the hour by highlighting troubling wildlife news—from a missing eaglet from Jackie and Shadow’s nest to murdered crows in Westchester, NY, and a California Condor that succumbed to lead poisoning at the LA Zoo.
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35min
March 16, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: Fires, Polls & Landmarks: California in Flux
Michael Monks kicks off the hour by discussing new LA Times/UC Berkeley polls on Mayor Bass’s performance and what they reveal about her handling of the fires. He then delves into Ezra Klein’s analysis of how Democrats have sustained a dysfunctional government in California, highlights a poll showing that 10% of LA County residents are planning to leave in the wake of the fires, and wraps up with his take on the potential designation of the dingy Hollywood Premiere Motel as a historic landmark—and what it means for preserving LA's heritage.
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36min
March 09, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: UCLA’s Big Win, LA’s Budget Crisis, and a Hard Look at City Spending
Michael Monks kicks off the hour with a recap of UCLA’s victory over USC to close out the Big Ten regular season before diving into Los Angeles’ deepening financial crisis. City Controller Kenneth Mejia joins to break down the city’s massive budget shortfall, overspending, and the alarming cycle of debt that could leave LA struggling to stay afloat.
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28min
March 09, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: LA’s Homeless Funding Fiasco, Economic Uncertainty, and Jackie & Shadow’s Latest Hatchling
Michael Monks opens the hour with a deep dive into a scathing audit revealing LA’s failure to track billions in homelessness funding—while LA County residents brace for a sales tax hike to fund these programs. Then, UCLA economist Jerry Nickelsburg joins to discuss economic uncertainty fueled by shifting tariffs, inflation concerns, and the impact of potential mass deportations on California’s workforce. Finally, Michael shifts gears to wildlife, sharing his thoughts on Jackie & Shadow’s newest eaglet.
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37min
March 02, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: Fire, Politics, & Hollywood
Michael dives into the controversy surrounding the firing of LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, and the heated appeal process with Mayor Karen Bass at the center of it all. He replays a key moment from January 7th and breaks down the critical elements of Crowley’s upcoming hearing—including a recap of the fire-event timeline and Mayor Bass’s trip to Ghana. Michael also examines a new PPIC survey revealing California’s political divergence from the rest of the country, and he wraps up by discussing a FilmLA report that signals Hollywood’s declining role as a hub for film content creation as tax incentives lure opportunities to other states.
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38min
March 02, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: Hollywood in Flux: Rebuilding the Industry
Michael Monks delves into how film and TV production, the lifeblood of LA, is undergoing seismic shifts—explaining why “Hollywood” isn’t making “Hollywood” anymore. He explores the hidden impact of the recent fire on producers, writers, and industry professionals who are now focused on personal recovery, before sitting down with State Senator Ben Allen to discuss strategies for rehabilitating the local film industry and preventing a talent exodus. Michael also highlights a new UCLA report revealing a drop in diversity in films and TV in 2024, and he wraps up with an Oscars preview and a look ahead to his plans for tomorrow night.
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39min
February 23, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: Wildfires, Evictions & Rodent Rampage in LA
Michael Monks dives into a series of pressing issues impacting Los Angeles. He opens with controversy as Mayor Karen Bass fires Fire Chief Kristin Crowley over the January wildfires—sparking pushback from the firefighters’ union over budget cuts and resource shortfalls. Michael then sits down with lawyer Avi Siani to discuss recent eviction moratorium moves by the County and City Council, as well as the mounting challenges small “mom and pop” landlords face under new housing regulations. Finally, he tackles the escalating rat infestation crisis in LA, now the nation’s second most rodent-infested city, following California’s expanded ban on key rodenticides.
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36min
February 23, 2025 @MicMonksLA Reports: Convention Center Delays, GOP Strategies & Downtown Dilemmas
Michael Monks examines how the January 2025 Palisades Fire has forced city officials to reconsider the downtown Convention Center expansion, jeopardizing plans for the 2028 Olympic Games. He then sits down with LA County GOP Chairwoman Roxanne Hogue, who discusses the challenges and opportunities facing over a million registered Republicans in a predominantly Democratic region, emphasizing public safety and good governance. Together, they delve into downtown LA’s paradox of breathtaking high-rises contrasted with chaotic, grimy streets, and wrap up by exploring national influences like President Trump’s return and critiquing the “top two” primary system for limiting minority party representation.
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38min

FAQs about Michael Monks Reports:

How many episodes does Michael Monks Reports have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.