Michael Monks Reports

Hour 2: LA County seeks to add a higher sales tax to fill the gaps caused by federal health care cuts; The City of LA wants hotel stays to cost more; The cost of homes in SoCal has dropped recently.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1: LA28 Olympics Chairman Casey Wasserman says he's selling his company following pressure related to his appearance in the Epstein files; More rain and more freeway challenges are on the way to Southern California; Immigration enforcement has cost businesses in LA County millions, according to the county.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2: Former tech executive Adam Miller talks about his new campaign for L.A. mayor; L.A. City Hall may develop a fund for creators of “vertical shorts”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1: The field for LA mayor is now set with a shocking twist as City Councilwoman Nithya Raman jumps in to challenge her longtime friend and political ally Mayor Karen Bass; Raman recently called for raising taxes to turn on LA’s darkened streetlights which have been hit hard by vandals and thieves; Following a deadly car crash at a grocery store in Westwood, a city councilwoman says City Hall bureaucracy has held up an already funded street safety program in that neighborhood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1: Protests return to the streets of downtown L.A. and Southern California; LA Mayor Bass is fired up over the arrest of journalist Don Lemon as a new poll shows her support waning; Another local leader has ramped up attacks online of Bass; and a time capsule uncovered at LA’s Central Library is found to have an even older time capsule inside.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2: The Chairman of LA’s Olympics committee has apologized after appearing in the Epstein files; LA’s Mansion Tax has caused concern among city officials who previously campaigned to adopt it; and two local doctors explain the dangers of hiking around Mt. Baldy in the winter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We break down the powerful and troubling scenes emerging from Iran and what they mean globally and locally. LA City Councilman Adrin Nazarian joins us to discuss his personal ties to Iran, his approach to addressing homelessness in Los Angeles, and nine pending motions aimed at supporting the Hollywood industry. Plus, a look at a new movie studio being built near Skid Row in the Arts District and what it could mean for the neighborhood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The historic Hollywood Center Motel was on the verge of being landmarked before a devastating fire tore through the Sunset Boulevard property early January 4 at 4 a.m. We break down what happened, the current state of the site, and what the likely next steps could be. Esotouric Tours joins the show to share insight into the motel’s history and preview some of their upcoming tours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Developer Rick Caruso says he won’t seek a rematch with LA Mayor Bass in 2026; Federal immigration agents return to LA’s Fashion District sparking outrage from city officials; LA County seeks to bar ICE agents from using county property; and LA City Hall says it wants clarity on the federal government’s role in planning the 2028 Olympics here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voters in LA could be asked to raise the sales tax again, this time in favor of more firefighters; Another potential ballot measure would financially penalize highly-paid CEOs; A proposed 8-mile path along the L.A. River which is to be funded by an earlier increase of the sales tax has more than tripled in cost; A Starbucks worker is fired for a drawing put on a cup of coffee ordered by an LA County Sheriff’s deputy; and the New York Post’s California Post arrives next week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 It's been a year since a series of wildfires engulfed parts of Southern California, leveling entire parts of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, and leaving a path of destruction and unanswered questions in their wake.Now, a year later, residents in both burn areas are working to rebuild their homes and their lives, navigating bureaucratic issues and other challenges.The KFI News Team revisits the events of last January and the work that has, and hasn't been done since.LA Wildfires: One Year Later brings you stories from people affected by the fires, the challenges they continue to face, and the path forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Palisades Fire victim enters LA Mayor’s race; Nick Reiner’s high-profile defense attorney has left his client, leaving the 32-year old with a public defender on the case in which he’s accused of murdering his father, Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his mother; Civil rights activists call for a demonstration in LA after an ICE agent is involved in a deadly shooting in Minneapolis; Warner Brothers Discovery once again rejects Paramount’s bid to buy it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US military captures Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a special operation, taking him and his wife into custody and bringing them to the U.S. to face drug charges. Members of Congress representing Southern California react while KFI listeners respond to the news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The City of LA hasn't paved an inch of road since the fiscal year began on July 1. Two activists pushing for safer streets in the region say it's unacceptable. They question the city's priorities in this interview. Plus, the best day to create a dating profile if your New Year resolutions include finding love.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tornado hits L.A. and floods drown parts of Wrightwood as a Christmas storm hammers Southern California; One decades-old restaurant is closing its doors for good while a century-old restaurant says it’s not closing, after all, at least not yet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fired employees at a local utility say their bosses used security cameras to spy on homeless people having sex outside the office building; L.A.’s rent control ordinance is signed into law but a supportive council member takes a beating on social media; Meanwhile, a new report from USC shows rents in SoCal are expected to keep going up over the next two years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 A wet Christmas is on the way to Southern California and the forecast is only getting worse; LA Mayor Bass and LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath are fighting in public on social media; The LA Fire Department’s after-action report was revised at least seven times so that language could be softer be it was released to the public; and a look at a difficult week in Hollywood as actor/director Rob Reiner and his wife are found murdered in their home in Brentwood leading to their son’s arrest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Academy Awards are ditching broadcast television and heading to YouTube; Plus, how to deal with stress and grief at the holidays, and how to be more accommodating when hosting people with disabilities at your holiday events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A family lost their home in the Eaton fire and a lot of their business in the Sunset fire at the same time - now a small grant is helping them recover; LA has been crowned the nation's top "judicial hellhole"; How a big, looming Hollywood merger could affect all of us who stream content.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael finds a Powerball ticket on the ground (seriously!) - is it ethical to keep it?; Mayor Bass kicks off her reelection campaign as City Hall squabbles over giving more money to the LAPD.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A local children's hospital has a new program teaching kids how to battle tummy aches and other digestive issues using "food as medicine"; KFI's Heather Brooker joins Michael to compare LA's train system with New York City's where Heather spent Thanksgiving.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger joins Michael Monks to discuss how 2025 was a deeply difficult year for the county: devastating wildfires, a shocking $4.8 billion in sex abuse settlement, and a legal claim filed by the county CEO over a ballot measure approved by voters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Los Angeles shoppers are gearing up to outspend the national average this holiday season — but what does that mean for the local economy? Michael speaks with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez about the new security grants aimed at helping micro-businesses fight rising crime, the impact of copper wire theft on business corridors, and the latest debate over rent caps and how it could reshape LA housing development. Then, Summer Taylor from Deloitte joins the show to break down LA’s holiday shopping forecast, revealing why Angelenos are still spending big despite economic concerns .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael speaks with Joey Tuccio, an animal rescuer at Starts With One Today, who exposes the hidden crisis facing dogs on Skid Row. From large-scale breeding operations run in the open to rescuers facing threats on the street, Joey breaks down why 90% of Skid Row’s dogs are being exploited for profit, the dangers rescuers confront daily, and why current city efforts aren’t reaching those already doing the work on the ground. Later, Dr. Desai from UCI Health joins the show to explain how a groundbreaking cell therapy is transforming the treatment of lupus, including a remarkable success story of a patient bedridden for 18 years who is now living a normal life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Record number of travelers hit the roads and skies in Southern California; One powerful local official votes against a proposed gondola but in favor of a water taxi to connect the ports of LA and Long Beach; Fake Christmas trees go up in price because of trade policy; and Baywatch is returning not just to TV, but to Los Angeles and that has local and state officials celebrating.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new chief of the LA Fire Department once said he is troubled by media reports about the department's response to an earlier believed to have later become the Palisades Fire, and then days later called those reports "smears"; LA Co's District Attorney says he's going after any fraudsters who took part in the county's $4 billion sex abuse settlement; Home sales are up in SoCal and so are some of the prices; and a teen from Downey gets to speak to the Pope and ask him questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Senators from other states come to LA to hear from victims of the Palisades Fire, criticizing Democratic officials for the fire and the response to it; the LAPD has moved forward on hiring more officers than the city council said it could; A massive rainstorm has blown through Southern California but it looks like we've been spared from the worst of it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LA's city controller says he's no longer a Democrat and looks forward to other progressive leaders being elected in the city, specifically calling for more like New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani; the LA city council has tightened its rent control ordinance to the chagrin of landlords; the city council voices its opposition to a proposed Gondola between Dodger Stadium and Union Station; and Michael Monks gets a new cat from the streets of Skid Row.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LA County looks to crack down on predatory attorneys seeking to capitalize on fraudulent sex abuse claims; Orange County guides its law enforcement on how to move homeless camps - even if it means arrests; Only 17% of households in California can afford to buy the median-priced home; and the Brady Bunch House may soon be a historic cultural landmark.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air travel chaos with flights canceled and delayed at LAX and other SoCal airports; Governor Newson takes his Prop 50 victory tour to Texas; Port of Long Beach says fewer toys have passed through the harbor this year; and the law catches up to Dodgers fans who celebrated the World Series with street takeovers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Los Angeles Dodgers pull off a comeback for the ages, securing their second-straight World Series title in an epic Game 7 showdown. We break down the wild finish. Will we see a repeat of the chaos that erupted across L.A. during last year’s championship celebrations, or have city officials and fans learned their lesson?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acting US Attorney Bill Essayli loses in court about his title but says he's still the top prosecutor; Another group of workers in LA may be targeted for a big raise in their minimum wage; Sales of legal cannabis have plummeted in LA and now City Hall is looking to help the businesses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SNAP benefits and federal worker paychecks disappear as the calendar flips towards the holidays; Governor Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris rally supporters ahead of Prop 50's vote on Tuesday; Another investigation is called for the Palisades Fire and the recently revealed text messages from firefighters who say they may have left the scene an earlier fire too soon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An advertisement played during the Dodgers-Blue Jays games has reignited a trade war between the US and Canada; Governor Newsom makes a bet on the Dodgers as he and the Ontario Premier get political during a traditionally friendly wager; Local politicians vow to investigate federal immigration agents and administration officials when Democrats  regain power in Washington, DC; and the LA City Council seems confused about why it's being asked to fork over $750,000 to an outside law firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SNAP (food stamp) benefits may run out for a lot of residents in Southern California because of the federal government shutdown; Mayor Bass says downtown LA should be more like downtown Chicago and seems surprised people even live in DTLA; Polls look good for supporters of Prop 50 but not so good for the former California gubernatorial race frontrunner; the Inland Empire rates itself as "struggling" in new research from UC Riverside.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands hit SoCal streets for "No Kings" protests; the LAPD's request to a judge ticks off the LA city council; More LA County money is going out in legal settlements for sex abuse and the County CEO's complaint.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vice President Vance and a celebration at Camp Pendleton leads to a dispute with a Governor Newsom and the closure of the 5 Freeway; Gas prices are dropping everywhere, except California; Metro's D-Line train extension is delayed; The Ports of LA and Long Beach both report their first drops in cargo this year raising questions about tariffs and trade policy; and on-location Hollywood productions drop again in Greater LA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Survivors of the Eaton Fire say they want more from SoCal Edison, the utility many blame for the devastation; Local officials say they're ready to get tougher on copper thieves as lights continue to go dark and phone service is disrupted; Most of California's sandy beaches could disappear by 2100 according to a new report; and Long Beach's new minor league baseball team gets closer to a fresh name.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helicopter crashes in Huntington Beach; Actress Diane Keaton dies; LA Mayor Bass and developer Rick Caruso rekindle their "frenemy" status in a public forum; and is a dead bird outside the KFI studios a good sign or a bad one?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A massive fire at the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo has analysts predicting higher gas prices for Southern California; a new economic forecast from UCLA shows California's economy has weakened with unemployment much higher than the national average; the LAX People Mover project has been delayed again and pushed back to three years after its original planned opening; and primatologist Jane Goodall dies during a visit to SoCal in a week that saw a long list of strange animal-related news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael points out the "trade imbalance" and proposes tariffs on Los Angeles on behalf of down-trodden Cincinnati sports fans as the Dodgers and UCLA roll; Former USC quarterback and FOX football broadcaster Matt Sanchez is arrested in a stabbing in Indianapolis; Immigration enforcement ramps up in other cities as LA looks to keep city workers from joining the ranks of ICE; and ground is broken on LA's $2.6 billion convention center expansion where even supporters seem uncertain about being able to afford it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The public comments during LA city council meetings have become so frequently nasty that City Hall has formally banned racist and sexist slurs. But some regular antagonistic speakers continue to challenge the law and the expected decorum inside LA's center of government. KFI's Michael Monks has gone to City Hall to talk to these "gadflies", some of whom prefer profanity, others who turn to conspiracies, and even more who choose to engage the city council through song. Why do they behave the way they do? This special report explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report from a 100-year old advocacy group says LA City Hall needs to take the issues facing downtown seriously, and provides a roadmap to do it; LA Comic Con and Leonardo DiCaprio are both back!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another round of new tariffs has been announced by the President just as the Ports of LA and Long Beach warn the White House's policies have created uncertainty among retailers and consumers; Two elephants taken from the LA Zoo in the dead of night four months ago are the focus of a new call for transparency from zoo officials.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LA city council approves a $2.6 billion expansion of the convention center downtown despite warnings from some members and the city controller that it will put the city in a more precarious and dangerous financial position; Michael visits LA City Hall and talks with the regular gadflies whose unruly and offensive behavior has resulted in the banning of racial and sexist slurs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Newsom signs legislation requiring federal agents to take off their masks; Popular singer's relationship with teen girl found dead in his car has derailed his tour as police investigate; LA Metro's tap-to-enter program is halted because of a fire code; Ontario's new baseball mascot is revealed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie Kirk's widow speaks as tensions continue to mount across the country following the conservative commentator's assassination; The California Assembly has approved the polarizing Senate Bill 79, paving the way for more housing to be developed near some transit stops; Downtown LA landmarks goes and stays dark and covered in graffiti, as the rat population finds a windfall in the city's center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The price of the proposed expansion of the LA Convention Center has ballooned to $2.7 billion and officials aren't sure if they can afford it; The costs of coffee and other goods is on the rise, and there are some indications it could get worse; LA endorses the governor's plan to redraw congressional districts in favor of Democrats; a TV series set in Altadena after the Eaton Fire has been announced.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1: The Powerball's estimated $1.8 billion jackpot is a lot of money, but is it too much? Michael asks, what's the right amount of wealth to feel rich, comfortable, and sane?; Chicago says it doesn't want LA's experience with immigration enforcement as the White House takes aim at the Windy City, and LA Mayor Bass has some advice for her counterparts there; And what's wrong with San Bernardino? It's at the very bottom of a pair of recent surveys calling it dirty and expensive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2: A historic loss for the Dodgers as their no-hitter is broken up in the 9th inning and it goes from bad to worse; LA's convention center expansion project just got even more expensive and is now estimated at $2.7 billion; Some health workers in Santa Barbara lose their jobs after posting a viral video on TikTok.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.