Monks & Merrill

Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (02/26) - FOX 11 meteorologist Star Harvey breaks down Southern California’s sudden swing from chilly mornings to blazing heat waves. Plus, the FBI’s presence at Los Angeles Unified School District raises new questions about Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and what’s next for the nation’s second-largest school district. We also unpack how landmark status in Los Angeles can trigger environmental review without guaranteeing preservation — even as a $3.3M Palm Springs “Doll House” reportedly tied to Marilyn Monroe and her former Brentwood home face high-stakes demolition battles.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (02/26) - The Monks and Merrill Show, we dig into new data showing 74% of Altadena fire-impacted lots still have no rebuilding activity, raising tough questions about recovery delays. Meanwhile, Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump both vow to crack down on corporate home buying as lawmakers introduce a new bill aimed at cooling investor competition. Plus, an RV parking ban expands across much of the San Gabriel Valley, and a lawsuit challenges Los Angeles County over a controversial $2 million settlement payout to its CEO — calling it an illegal gift of public funds.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (02/26) - New California DMV data reveals Uber’s autonomous partner Nuro averaged fewer than 700 miles between required human takeovers during 2025 testing, raising fresh questions about driverless readiness. Meanwhile, Tesla promotes its California robotaxi vision while facing scrutiny over permits and a growing clash with state regulators. Plus, California floats a plan for instant EV rebates — but only if automakers match the incentive — setting up a high-stakes battle over the future of electric vehicles.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (02/25) - FBI agents executed search warrants at Los Angeles Unified School District Headquarters and at the home of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, according to multiple reports. Also, tourists hate the U.S. as the nation sees a decline in foreign visitors. Political tensions, tougher border policies, visa fees and shifting perceptions of the U.S. are all being cited as contributing factors. Plus, as tourism and major global events loom, Southern-California's long standing transportation challenges are back in focus.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (02/25) - The L.A. City Council has been considering expanding its existing "Fair Works" protections - which require predictable scheduling and rights for retail workers... to include fast-food employees. Also, the fast-food and snack industry sits at a pressure point. Gov. Gavin Newsom is backing legislation that would impose stricter age-based limits on social media use for minors in California. Plus, ABC News Reporter Mike Dobuski joins the show to talk about young people being addicted to social media and a serious legal case taking place in the federal court room in Downtown Los Angeles.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (02/25) - With Governor Gavin Newsom unable to seek re-election due to term limits, the 2026 California gubernatorial contest has become a chaotic, crowded field with no clear frontrunner. With Southern California's top-two primary system, small shifts in turnout or turnout enthusiasm could dramatically reshape who advances to the November general election - including the remote possibility of two Republicans advancing in this deep blue state. Plus, in just a few days, Southern California delivered a full spectrum of wildlife drama. Also, an update on Punch the Monkey.

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Los Angeles officials are seeking an extension on state transportation funds as major transit projects face delays and rising costs. According to LAist, local leaders argue that construction setbacks, supply chain issues and inflation have made original timelines unrealistic. The request puts pressure on state lawmakers to decide whether flexibility keeps projects alive or encourages budget drift.

Oceanwide Plaza was envisioned as a $1 billion-plus mixed-use luxury development across from what is now Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. Developed by China-based Oceanwide Holdings, the project broke ground in 2015 and was expected to include high-end condos, a luxury hotel and retail space. Construction stalled in 2019 amid financial troubles, and the unfinished towers have since become a magnet for graffiti, trespassing and public frustration.

Oceanwide Plaza, the long-stalled $1 billion-plus mixed-use project across from Crypto.com Arena, has officially been sold to a new buyer after years in financial limbo. The sale marks a major turning point for downtown Los Angeles, where the unfinished towers became symbolic of foreign capital collapse and post-pandemic real estate decline. The new ownership group now faces a massive decision: finish the luxury vision, reimagine the project entirely, or attempt something in between.

A new fourth-quarter report highlighted by the Los Angeles Downtown News shows signs of growth across downtown’s office, retail and residential markets. Leasing activity ticked up, retail vacancies improved and housing demand showed resilience despite broader economic uncertainty. After several difficult post-pandemic years, the data suggests downtown may be stabilizing, though challenges remain.

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As more job seekers use AI tools to draft resumes and cover letters, some employers and hiring experts are pushing back, warning that AI-generated applications are flooding the system with generic submissions. At the same time, many companies rely on AI-powered applicant tracking systems to filter and score resumes before a human ever sees them. The result is a hiring process increasingly mediated by algorithms on both sides.

A new column from Axios underscores the growing political and societal concerns about artificial intelligence as the U.S. approaches the 2028 election cycle. Although AI hasn’t yet become a leading campaign battleground issue, public fear is rising over its impacts on jobs, privacy, misinformation and public trust. Experts warn AI’s influence on information ecosystems — including the threat of coordinated bot swarms, sophisticated deepfakes and algorithm-driven persuasion — could become a central vulnerability for future elections.

According to Axios, a meeting between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Dario Amodei reportedly turned tense over questions about military use of Anthropic’s AI systems. Shortly afterward, the Pentagon moved forward with a deal involving xAI and its chatbot Grok, signaling a shift in alignment. The episode highlights the growing political and strategic stakes of AI partnerships inside the U.S. defense establishment.

"Today" show host Savannah Guthrie announced this morning a new $1 million reward for the recovery of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since Feb. 1. The combined reward between the family and law enforcement now stands at $1.2 million. Sources familiar with the family’s decision told ABC News the family was prepared to fund the reward from the start but waited until now because they were initially advised against it. Separately, the Guthrie family is donating $500,000 to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children to shine a light on other missing persons cases. "We still believe in a miracle," Savannah said. "We also know she may be lost. She may be gone," and that her mom may be "dancing in heaven," and "If this is what is to be, then we will accept it. But we need to know where she is."  "Somebody knows," Savannah said. "And we are begging you to come forward now."

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According to LAist, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, known as LAHSA, has been late in distributing some city and county homelessness funds to service providers. Nonprofits say delayed reimbursements have created cash flow problems and operational stress. The issue highlights ongoing administrative challenges in one of the nation’s most expensive homelessness response systems.

The Los Angeles City Council is set to approve roughly $177 million in contracts for activist nonprofits, including some that have previously sued the city over homelessness policies, according to reporting by the New York Post. At the same time, West L.A. residents are expressing frustration after a cleared homeless encampment reportedly reappeared within hours. The stories underscore tensions over strategy, accountability and the effectiveness of L.A.’s homelessness response.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Huntington Beach’s federal challenge to California housing mandates, leaving in place lower-court rulings that the city must comply with state housing law. The broader fight is about whether California can force cities to plan and zone for more housing under RHNA and state Housing Element rules, even when a charter city claims “local control.” Huntington Beach has chosen a courtroom crusade. Most other cities have chosen compliance to avoid losing leverage and inviting harsher state penalties.

Orange County homebuying activity has slowed sharply again, according to new data reported by the Orange County Register. At the same time, home prices dipped in 42% of local ZIP codes, signaling uneven softness across the region. While this does not amount to a full-blown crash, it suggests higher mortgage rates and affordability pressures are weighing heavily on demand.

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Mexican security forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes — known as “El Mencho” — the founder and leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a military operation in Jalisco state. The takedown is considered one of the most significant blows to organized crime in decades, but it immediately sparked lethal retaliation and nationwide unrest. Authorities and analysts warn that a power vacuum could lead to further violence and insecurity. KFI Tech Director Jesse Blackburn is currently stuck down there, wishing he had picked Hawaii for a vaca instead of Puerto Vallarta.

With the Winter Olympics complete, Los Angeles is now officially the next U.S. host city for the 2028 Summer Games. Organizers led by Casey Wasserman say planning is on track, venues are largely existing facilities, and the Games will showcase a car-light, transit-heavy model. But political scrutiny, infrastructure challenges and questions surrounding Wasserman’s past associations are now moving front and center as the global spotlight shifts to L.A.

As Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Summer Olympics, early signals suggest attending may not come cheap. Reporting from The Washington Post details how ticket pricing strategy will balance accessibility with the need to fund a multibillion-dollar event. Meanwhile, a study highlighted by the New York Post warns the region could face lodging shortages, potentially driving hotel prices sharply higher during the Games.

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