Monks & Merrill

Hour 2 - Hollywood gets a boost as President Trump endorses tax incentives to keep film and TV production in the U.S., while California lawmakers reach a deal on a partial film tax-credit carveout. Plus, Supervisor Janice Hahn urges Governor Newsom to halt the controversial Catalina Island deer eradication, and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman lands a key labor endorsement—even as most unions continue to back Mayor Karen Bass.

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Hour 3 - Did reducing drug penalties contribute to California’s homelessness crisis? Monks & Merrill digs into the debate as San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie unveils a plan focused on accountability after hundreds of millions of dollars spent on homelessness. Plus, LAPD wants 300 new vehicles for the 2028 Olympics, but city politicians are skeptical—and Arcadia residents are pushing back against Santa Anita Park’s plan to remove trees ahead of the Games.

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Hour 1 - L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez joins the show to discuss Studio City neighbors demanding action after a fire at an abandoned property. Plus, Mayor Bass tells LAPD to stop issuing criminal citations to street vendors, a Communist magazine weighs a DSA endorsement of Nithya Raman, and the battle inside the socialist movement over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the 2028 election takes center stage.

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Hour 2 - From Costa Mesa considering housing changes amid a state lawsuit to Huntington Beach taking a closer financial look at its proposed sports complex overhaul. Plus, Weather Daddy Jason D. Farhang joins the show to break down the possibility of a hurricane forming near Southern California this week and what El Niño could mean for the months ahead. And Joy Chen, Executive Director of Every Fire Survivor’s Network, discusses a new state wildfire bill that offers compromise for fire victims—but may fall short of the structural reforms they’re demanding. 

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Hour 3 - A bizarre and troubling mix of Southern California stories: millions of pounds of rotting food finally removed from the burned Boyle Heights warehouse—only to spark outrage when the waste is dumped nearby in Simi Valley. Plus, at least 20 people ransack a Superior Grocers during a South L.A. street takeover, L.A. voters face a ballot question over whether the city can sell asphalt, and the hosts ask: If Lake Ontario can become “Lake America,” could the city of Ontario be next?

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It's MORE Monks & Merrill! Jesse's motorcycle has been STOLEN! Have you seen it? Did you know youth is going to digital platforms for spiritual guidance? We talk to UCLA's Dr. Yalda Uhls about why this is happening.  E-Bikes are causing some damages and injuries but we may be getting some regulations soon. We talk to Tony Bright about RidePermit. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown joins the show to discuss tariffs, the auto industry crisis, and the impact on cross-border trade.

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It's the weekend! Yes!!! That's the day for MORE Monks & Merrill! Lawmakers are considering getting rid of the Sell By date on groceries. Monks talks to Jordan Levine, Senior VP & Chief Economist for C.A.R., about the latest with home prices. THEN on to Deputy Director of Policy about aging Californians staying in the homes they own. Mark Hood, CEO of the Inside Safe Program, joins Michael Monks and Chris Merrill to discuss homelessness, the future of Inside Safe, faith-based solutions, private partnerships, and a potential new direction involving HUD.

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Monks & Merrill Hour 1 - From Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell spinning up in the Pacific and Dolly churning in the Atlantic, to a UCLA scientist warning of a potentially historic wet winter for Southern California. Plus, California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s battles with Big Tech and Big Media—and guest Heather Brooker joins us to discuss Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s push to get Bonta and Paramount back to the negotiating table.

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Monks & Merrill Hour 2 - California’s latest transportation and public-safety shakeups—from a $2.4 billion Valley rail project that could transform transit but bring years of construction, to Inglewood’s $261 million overhaul of shuttles and transit around SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome. Plus, L.A. County ramps up its crackdown on street takeovers, and California moves to ban single-use disposable vapes. 

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Monks & Merrill Hour 3 - The latest L.A. political battles as Mayor Karen Bass tells LAPD to stop issuing criminal citations to street vendors, while her clash with Councilmember Nithya Raman heats up over a Studio City property fire. Plus, Newport Beach voters face key decisions on charter reforms and housing mandates—and SoCal gets a rare birdwatching moment with Big Bear’s eagle chapter and an unusual visitor in Irvine. 

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