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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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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