Hour 2 -  Investigative editor Matt Drange breaks down the California Attorney General’s findings of “systemic failures” in how the El Monte Union High School District handled sexual abuse and harassment complaints. The conversation continues with a deeper look into a sweeping $22 million contracting scandal involving Los Angeles Unified School District, highlighting how massive bureaucracies, sprawling vendor networks, and weak oversight can create fertile ground for fraud and misconduct.

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Hour 3 - Dennis Richards joins to break down Los Angeles’ controversial plan to allow four-story buildings in some single-family neighborhoods while delaying SB 79. The discussion also covers the City Council’s push to raise streetlight assessment fees and a new wave of population loss across California—with migration trends revealing where residents are heading and why political and housing pressures are fueling a growing partisan exodus.

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In this weekend bonus episode of Monks and Merrill, they dive into a wild story about a woman who sued the Multi-State Lottery Association and the California State Lottery Commission for a billion dollars, claiming she won the Powerball jackpot. But here's the twist - she didn't even have a ticket! They also touch on the upcoming Olympics and the World Cup, and share a hilarious story about a job interview where the interviewer asked a ridiculous question.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (03/27) - From record-breaking heat across California to a sudden cooldown bringing showers to Southern California, it’s a week of weather whiplash. A Ventura County teen’s rattlesnake encounter and warnings of a “very sharky summer” have residents on alert, while outrage grows over the killing of a beloved local bear. Plus, a proposed law would publicly track animal abusers, and National Puppy Day brings dozens of adoptable dogs into the spotlight. Tune in as Monks and Merrill break down the biggest headlines shaping life across SoCal.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (03/27) - KFI host and KTLA personality Andy Riesmeyer joins to break down how AI is rapidly reshaping Hollywood—from Fiverr’s AI-powered video revolution to a new wave of “directors” challenging the traditional studio system. What’s behind the reported shutdown of Sora, and does it signal trouble for the AI boom? Then, legal expert Oliver Roberts explains how AI is entering the courtroom, with L.A. County testing tools to help judges craft rulings.

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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 discuss a proposed smoking ban, and Mark Verge of Cole’s Restaurant shares what could be the final days of a historic L.A. institution, along with its last specials.

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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 be next for Meta and other social media giants.

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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 trains face violence, drugs, and chaos. Tune in for a hard-hitting conversation on the infrastructure and urban issues shaping California today.

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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 subsidizing small businesses, filling empty storefronts, and even reviving Frank Gehry’s Grand Avenue vision—bring downtown back to life before 2028? This episode dives into the tension, the power plays, and the path forward.

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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 hidden costs of homeownership. From steep impact fees derailing a Wildomar dream home to a shocking $23,000 HOA bill after a house fire, this episode uncovers the financial pressures redefining the California dream.

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