Monks & Merrill

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (04/02) - In this episode of the Monks and Merrill Show, we dive into a striking contradiction shaping California politics: voters say democracy is under threat—yet head to the polls focused on affordability and everyday survival. We unpack new tensions revealed in statewide polling, the legal battle over sealed records in Riverside County’s sheriff election probe, and the clash between Sheriff Bianco and Attorney General Bonta over Prop 50 ballots. Plus, a look at financial and campaign struggles hitting key Democratic figures like Eric Swalwell and Matt Mahan.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (04/02) - Matt Mahan joins to make his case for a statewide shakeup—starting with homelessness. He breaks down San Jose’s “shelter-first” approach as a real-world test model, touts the city’s rise as one of the safest large cities in America, and lays out a blunt critique of California’s political status quo. Now stepping into a crowded governor’s race, Mahan pitches a centrist reboot built on more housing, tougher enforcement, and less red tape—arguing it’s time to move past process and deliver results.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (04/02) - On this episode of the Monks and Merrill Show, climate concerns take center stage as Andrew Schwartz breaks down the alarming rate at which Lake Tahoe is losing snowpack—raising red flags for water supply and an intense wildfire season. Then, Kyle Kirkland joins to unpack the high-stakes legal fight between California cardrooms and the state over blackjack bans and new regulations. Plus, a roundup of uniquely California moments—from a tranquilized neighborhood bear in Fillmore to a dramatic rescue of a great white shark off the SoCal coast.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (04/01) - New data shows people leaving California are finding cheaper living and better odds at homeownership, while Kevin Kane joins Monks & Merrill to explain what Los Angeles County’s population decline means for the region’s future. Plus, which cities are seeing the most “stale” home listings, and how a little-known legal issue is quietly driving up the cost of condos across the state.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (04/01) - A political and financial clash is brewing as Donald Trump takes aim at California’s insurance giants over wildfire payouts, while the state investigates State Farm amid fallout from Los Angeles fires—even as a major rate hike moves forward. Then, Tim Campbell joins Monks & Merrill to examine whether Los Angeles is getting results from its $1 billion homelessness spending, and why the numbers may not add up. Plus, a troubling case out of Downtown L.A. as a man with a prior murder warrant is arrested in a random stabbing.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (04/01) - Hollywood’s job market is drying up fast, with industry insiders warning Hollywood could become the “next Detroit auto” as production slows and uncertainty grows. Gavin Newsom rolls out expanded tax credits in an effort to revive filming, but questions remain about whether it’s enough to stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, Royal Oakes joins Monks & Merrill to break down the high-stakes birthright citizenship arguments, as the region wrestles with whether staying in Southern California still makes sense in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

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Hour 1 - A surprising new poll in the Los Angeles mayor’s race shows Nithya Raman ahead of Karen Bass, raising questions about shifting momentum—Fernando Guerra joins Monks & Merrill to break it down. Plus, the Los Angeles Police Department warns of a major officer shortage and a nearly $100 million security cost for the 2028 Summer Olympics, and a grim outlook for L.A.’s upcoming budget adds to the growing concerns.

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Hour 2 - Concern is growing as former Los Angeles Zoo elephants Billy and Tina reportedly struggle after relocation, while the Supreme Court of the United States rejects an appeal from Joe Exotic. Anais Medina Diaz joins the show to explain the surge of tiny black flies swarming faces across Southern California, as a spreading avian influenza outbreak impacts wildlife along the coast. Plus, NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission—a major step toward returning humans to the moon, with a Southern California native set to make history aboard the flight. 

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Hour 3 - Tariq Malik joins Monks & Merrill to break down how NASA is preparing for worst-case scenarios in deep space. Then, the Supreme Court of the United States declines to take up a challenge to Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors, a decision that could ignite legal and political battles nationwide. Reporter with News Nation, Rich McHugh weighs in on why this case may be just the beginning of a much larger fight playing out across the country.

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Hour 1 - UCLA’s women stun Duke with a thrilling rally to punch their ticket to the Final Four. Meanwhile, Long Beach police crackdown on a chaotic street takeover involving teens and illegal e-bikes. Plus, Commerce Mayor Kevin Lainez joins the conversation as local leaders weigh controversial sales tax hikes amid new state restrictions on card room gaming—raising bigger questions about cities built on gambling dollars.

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