Monks & Merrill

Could Stan Kroenke take a wrecking ball to Angel Stadium? A judge says the deal that brought SoFi Stadium to Inglewood is invalid, while the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers plans to donate $2 million in beachfront property to the public after allegedly taking sand from the beach. Plus, El Niño is coming — and people are already beating it up!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we already writing our terms of surrender to AI? Mike Duboski from ABC News joins the show to break down the growing fight over artificial intelligence and who should be setting the rules. California is moving forward with new AI oversight and safety measures, while KFI News’ Mark Rahner joins the conversation. Meanwhile, President Trump is pushing back on warnings about AI, calling fears of the technology taking over the world a “hoax.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks & Merrill break down a report finding that Los Angeles County lacked plans and procedures for key wildfire recovery efforts. The latest developments from the La Habra Heights fire and concerns from Bel Air business owners following a homeless encampment fire. Plus, the political battle between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman heats up as Raman debuts a new campaign ad during the Emmy Awards broadcast, and Governor Gavin Newsom weighs in on the future of national politics, saying he would not run for president if Kamala Harris enters the race.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks and Merrill are covering the latest in SoCal including Huntington Beach housing element lawsuit. We talk to Councilmember Eric Weigand and a teen curfew during the holidays, and a scary Cat in the Hat you should be avoiding. We explain all this and MORE on KFIAM-640. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can USC be saved? Well we are talking to Matt Hamilton from LA Material about what can be done. We break it down on Monks and Merrill. PLUS is there another El Nino coming to SoCal? AND we are getting micro-earthquakes in SoCal. We deep dive on KFIAM-640.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks and Merrill are talking to Todd Spritzer about e-bikes and the latest with LAPD impounding minibikes after some dangerous activity took place. AND Heather Brooker LIVE from the Emmy's and MORE on KFIAM-640.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - It's MORE Monks & Merrill! Autumn has made its arrival, and it has all our favorite things the season brings with it this time of year, but not without a fight through the end of summer's heat. You're getting voting advice from a newspaper, but take a look at who is telling you to vote. Is A.I. really the human extinction event it's talked about to be? Autumnal sports are coming back! Find out what this generation is cheering for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 - It's MORE Monks & Merrill! A proposed no-camping zone at the new Sixth Street Bridge park sparks a neighborhood debate as resident Tom Traflet joins Michael Monks and Chris Merrill to explain the push behind the petition. A man is arrested after allegedly attacking employees at a Los Angeles animal shelter, raising new concerns about safety for those working to protect animals. Nina Jackel, founder of Lady Freethinker, joins Michael Monks and Chris Merrill to expose how online animal cruelty can be disguised as innocent or heartwarming rescue content. Chino resident Michael Sherman says his front-yard food garden has generated $1,250 in fines and the threat of another $500 penalty. Michael Sherman joins us to explain how his Chino food garden became a prolonged enforcement dispute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - 25 years later... Feds warn terrorist groups continue to encourage attacks against America. Laura Ingle, former KFI Reporter, now with NewsNation, was sent to NYC, and she joins the show to recount what she remembers and her experience flying into New York just 3 days after the attack. KFI's Heather Brooker joins to talk about remembering the heroes and survivors of 9/11. Paul Veneto, "Paulie's Push", joins the show to honor the hero flight attendants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 - Palisades voters hate Bass AND Raman - so who do they vote for? Raman vs Bass - Raman pushes Bass to take on more televised deabtes. Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren vs Democratic Socialist Joz Sida. Feds allege a Skid Row petition signature scheme.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 - A generation has grown up knowing 9/11 only through other people's accounts. What are our schools teaching them about it? 75% of Torrance Unified Schools have NO air conditioning and parents are angry. What happened to the state program to provide it? Gov. Newsom signed a package of bills to protect kids, the first, regulating chatbots. Also signed by Newsom, social media protection laws for minors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - Hurricane Marie's waves damaged homes and coastal defenses across Los Angeles and Orange counties, and climate scientist Daniel Swain warns winter could bring worse coastal flooding. After the coastal damage, there's another warning in this summer's temperatures: August tied Earth's hottest month on record, and the contiguous United States recorded its hottest summer. A new working paper links California's later school starts to more sleep, better mental health and higher test scores. We ask study coauthor Osea Giuntella, associate professor of economics at the University of Pittsburgh, how convincing the evidence is and whether the benefits account for the disruption to working families.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 - Virginia mother Karyann Parkinson received a misdemeanor conviction after allowing her five-year old son, Sam, to walk roughly half a mile through their gated neighborhood to collect goose feathers near a pond. Rancho Pales Verdes wants California to create landslide insurance molded on the California Earthquake Authority or FAIR Plan. Owners at a 499-unit Torrance condo complex face a special assessment exceeding $49,000 a piece, according to ABC7. Residents have sued and are pursuing a board recall. Irvine tops WalletHub's Southern California housing-market rankings, followed by Ontario and Murrieta, according to the Register's analysis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 - Los Angeles' new film-industry committee held its first meeting Wednesday, promising to address permitting obstacles and duplicate fees. The Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup is finished, but the fight over responsibility is escalating. Two bills awaiting Governor Newsom's action would establish emergency financial protections and increase certain penalties following the Lineage warehouse fire. Nithya Raman faced questions Wednesday about why she promoted union endorsements with press conferences while acknowledging DSA-LA's support differently.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - Barrio Athletics held its weekend run after moving from Leimert Park to Elysian Park following objections about marketplace disruption and racially charged backlash. Barrio Athletics founder Henry Gallardo joins us after the club’s relocated weekend run. Powerful surf and high tides associated with Marie battered Southern California’s coast, prompting evacuations, damaging homes and shutting down a major rail connection. UCLA Climate Scientist Daniel Swain joins the show. Southern California’s oppressive humidity has people comparing notes about how miserable they feel, and climate scientist Daniel Swain says the moisture levels are exceptionally high even by historical standards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 - Chino resident Michael Sherman says his front-yard food garden has generated $1,250 in fines and the threat of another $500 penalty. Michael Sherman joins us to explain how his Chino food garden became a prolonged enforcement dispute. A chemical release in La Habra on Tuesday prompted shelter-in-place instructions, nearby evacuations and street closures before firefighters brought the situation under control. Mark Cuban says he would condition startup investments on companies being outside California if Proposition 40 passes. His warning illustrates the investment risk critics describe, while supporters argue the tax would protect healthcare services facing funding cuts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 - California Labor Federation President Lorena Gonzalez joins the show and says she supports Proposition 40, the proposed billionaire wealth tax, as a way to protect healthcare services and jobs from federal funding cuts. Her organization faces opposition from business interests and some fellow unions, along with competing ballot measures that could obstruct implementation. Another labor-backed proposal is advancing at Los Angeles City Hall. The council voted Tuesday to move forward with scheduling protections and paid rights training for fast-food workers. Mayor Karen Bass’s office says she is leaving the LAHSA Commission today, citing time constraints while pursuing a separate city homelessness system. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton proposes eliminating the DMV as a standalone department and cutting annual vehicle registration to $73.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - Inland temperatures soar as dangerous waves and high tides batter the Long Beach coast, forcing evacuations. Plus, L.A. prepares for major freeway and road closures during the 2028 Olympics, a mayoral candidate promises to ride Metro and reshape the transit board, and the cleanup continues at the burned-out Boyle Heights warehouseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 - A proposed no-camping zone at the new Sixth Street Bridge park sparks a neighborhood debate as resident Tom Traflet joins Michael Monks and Chris Merrill to explain the push behind the petition. Plus, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing off with the House DOGE subcommittee over LAHSA funding, with a potential subpoena fight looming. And we take a break from City Hall drama to celebrate a special occasion — our very own board operator, Jesse Blackburn, is getting hitched!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 - A man is arrested after allegedly attacking employees at a Los Angeles animal shelter, raising new concerns about safety for those working to protect animals. Nina Jackel, founder of Lady Freethinker, joins Michael Monks and Chris Merrill to expose how online animal cruelty can be disguised as innocent or heartwarming rescue content. Plus, homes in Jurupa Valley are going for $115,000 or less, while thousands of Angelenos are living out of their cars as L.A.’s housing crisis continues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1- Monks is out on this episode of Monks and Merrill and Lou Penrose is in. Happy Labor Day! We are covering the latest on the MacArthur Park safety. Is it actually safer now? PLUS a massive street takeover was shut down. Will it work for future takeovers? We break it down on KFIAM-640.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2- Monks and Merrill ft Chris Merrill and Lou Penrose on this Labor Day. Three adults were arrested for allowing their kids to go wild on pocket bikes. It raised the question, should parents buy their children powered transportations like dirt bikes? We have thoughts. PLUS the latest with catalytic converters and gas prices. It's all on KFIAM-640See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3- Monks and Merrill with Lou Penrose today. Did you know schools are restricting AI usage for 2026-2027. PLUS data centers are becoming a political problem. AND New Mexico becoming New America? It's all on KFIAM-640.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's MORE Monks & Merrill! It is EXPENSIVE to get divorced! Is Gen Z's retirement plan prediction markets? Are kids still thinking about college? Waymo is causing Uber drivers to ask for protection against automation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the Weekend! That's EXACTLY when you need MORE Monks & Merrill! Four decades after the devastating Cerritos plane crash, AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Mike Ginter joins us to remember the victims and discuss the lessons learned from the tragedy.  Monks and Merrill cover the $26,000 HOA fee in San Clemente that shocked residents. We talked to Esq. Managing Partner at LS Law, Kirk Pearson about the latest.  Dr. Karen Lincoln of UC Irvine joins us to discuss the disturbing Ladera Ranch childhood cancer mystery—and a 20-year-old handwritten warning that has resurfaced. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - Hurricane Marie brings dangerous beach conditions to Southern California just in time for Labor Day weekend. Plus, the Leimert Park 5K is moved after backlash from the Black community, sparking a deeper conversation about race, community and public space. And Heather Brooker joins the show to preview the highly anticipated $1 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, set to open September 22 in Exposition Park.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 -  A tragic crash at Trader Joe’s raises fresh questions about the growing pattern of senior-driver vehicle intrusions. Meanwhile, a showdown is brewing between the Kansas City mayor and L.A. transit activists, as road diets and proposed changes to Sunset Boulevard and the Valley fuel a heated debate over how Southern California should move people around. Plus, we head to the Channel Islands, where two distinct ecological flashpoints are putting the region’s unique environment in the spotlight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 - Mayor Karen Bass faces a federal homelessness probe as questions grow about L.A.’s approach to the crisis ahead of the 2028 Olympics. We also examine the tension between LA28 security plans and the city’s unhoused population, break down a controversial Beverly Hills alley murder case raising questions of self-defense versus vigilantism, and explore California’s ultra-luxury lifestyle—from superyachts to a staggering $96 million Sonoma ranch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - Stan Kroenke takes over the Angels, bringing new hope and leverage to a franchise Arte Moreno couldn’t deliver. Plus, the NBA comes down hard on the Clippers, Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard following an investigation. Clippers Radio host Adam Auslund joins us to break down the fallout and what Kroenke’s arrival could mean for L.A. sports. And police in Camarillo and Thousand Oaks are turning to drones as first responders—changing the way emergency calls are handled.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 - More birds test positive for West Nile virus in Ventura and Camarillo, while Pasadena records its second rabies-positive bat of the year. Plus, Dr. Karen Lincoln of UC Irvine joins us to discuss the disturbing Ladera Ranch childhood cancer mystery—and a 20-year-old handwritten warning that has resurfaced. And the Ontario airport board considers an independent investigation following the FBI raid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 - Four decades after the devastating Cerritos plane crash, AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Mike Ginter joins us to remember the victims and discuss the lessons learned from the tragedy. Plus, the L.A. County assessor is going after celebrity jet owners—including Jeff Bezos, Judge Judy and Rihanna—over unpaid aircraft taxes. Meanwhile, concerns grow over graffiti and crime at the future $82 million Sixth Street PARC, and the Democratic Socialists endorse Nithya Raman in the L.A. mayoral race.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1- Monks and Merrill are covering the weather in SoCal. Hurricane, El Nino, or both? We're breaking it down. PLUS Bass wants Newsom to sign for Boyle Heights. AND will MacArthur Park be safe for Labor Day? We explain all this and MORE on KFIAM-640. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2- Monks and Merrill are covering the $26,000 HOA fee in San Clemente that shocked residents. We talk to Esq. Managing Partner at LS Law, Kirk Pearson about the latest. PLUS the latest with Paramount and Warner Bros. AND how do you feel about synchronized traffic signals? They may be coming to Western Riverside. We break it all down on KFIAM-640.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3- We need to crackdown on e-bikes and Monks and Merrill are talking to Kimberly Edds about the expected regulations. PLUS The Road Ahead, a free experience that lets young drivers make decisions and see the consequences. We explain. AND the financial risk if the billionaire tax. We break it all down on KFIAM-640See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 - Southern California Edison customers are set to receive a $72 climate credit, while L.A. County takes on State Farm over its handling of wildfire insurance claims. Plus, a new California bill targeting “addictive” social media use among kids under 16 heads to Governor Newsom. And the mystery surrounding childhood cancer cases in Ladera Ranch takes another unsettling turn with the discovery of a 20-year-old handwritten warning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks & Merrill Hour 1 - Mark Thompson reveals what happened when he passed out and broke his ankle, while Southern California braces for the peak of a scorching heat wave. Plus, we dig into the controversy surrounding millions of dollars going to a “high-risk” nonprofit and questions over LA’s homelessness oversight. 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks & Merrill Hour 2 - California student homelessness reaches record highs as communities face a growing crisis. Meanwhile, LA’s City Controller demands more financial transparency from LA28, lawmakers push the Trump administration for transit funding ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and we ask whether the massive 405 widening project through Carson will actually improve air quality—or make it worse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monks & Merrill Hour 3 - L.A.’s graffiti battle to the front lines of the U.S.-Canada trade war. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown joins the show to discuss tariffs, the auto industry crisis, and the impact on cross-border trade. Plus, L.A. City Council moves resources to help Boyle Heights recover, and a rattlesnake’s viral appearance at Crystal Cove serves as a wild reminder that snakes can turn up on the sand—and evenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1- Monks is flying solo on this episode of Monks and Merrill. He is covering SoCal heat and boy is it hot! PLUS California bosses may be creating fewer jobs but we're still outpacing out US peers. We explain all this and MORE on KFIAM-640. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2- Monks is flying solo on this Monks and Monks edition of Monks and Merrill. 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. PLUS the latest with Boyle Heights warehouse AND the officer charged for recording his collegues making egregious statements. All this and MORE on KFIAM-640. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.