Monks & Merrill – Details, episodes & analysis

More Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (05/16) - It was a huge weekend for public transit after the Metros D-Line debut. Metrolink has seen ridership go up. What is the first movie you've gone to see in theatres? The Cinerama Dome went dark after the pandemic, and now the owners have been under pressure to bring it back. You might want to consider being a dog owner, as recent studies have shown dogs contribute to people living a longer life. A.I. videos of the L.A. Mayoral candidates are making rounds all over social media, but is using A.I. helping in the City of Hollywood?

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More Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (05/16) - Liza Frias from the LA Dept of Public Health joins the show to talk about the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation. Monica Rodriguez breaks down Council File 25-0006-S35 — a wildfire preparedness initiative launched after the devastating January 2025 wind and fire disaster, spearheaded by Nithya Raman, Katy Yaroslavsky, and seconded by Ysabel Jurado. Firefighters rally behind a new LAFD tax measure as Los Angeles voters brace for yet another possible sales tax hike tied to healthcare funding concerns.

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Hour 3 - Firefighters rally behind a new LAFD tax measure as Los Angeles voters brace for yet another possible sales tax hike tied to healthcare funding concerns. Plus, Monica Rodriguez joins The Monks & Merrill Show to break down Council File 25-0006-S35 — a wildfire preparedness initiative launched after the devastating January 2025 wind and fire disaster, spearheaded by Nithya Raman, Katy Yaroslavsky, and seconded by Ysabel Jurado.

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Hour 3 - The spotlight turns to Los Angeles’ deepening homelessness crisis—and the tough questions surrounding it. Under Karen Bass’s $300 million initiative, reports show nearly 40% of participants have returned to the streets, raising concerns about long-term effectiveness. From a mass brawl at a Venice Beach encampment to growing tensions at a Westlake post office and a grim discovery near Griffith Park, the situation on the ground paints a troubling picture. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s proposed budget takes aim at LA’s homelessness agencies, adding a national political dimension to a local crisis.

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In this Saturday episode of More Monks and Merrill they dive into the issue of California's tourism industry and its impact on local communities. They discuss the city of South Lake Tahoe's decision to allow mushroom homes. The conversation touches on the importance of preserving the character of resort towns and the need for sustainable solutions to the state's housing crisis. They also discuss an epidemic of face eating flies in the SGV and a cluster of squirrels vaping in London. 

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Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (04/03) - The Monks and Merrill Show breaks down falling rents across Southern California and what it means for tenants in a softening market. As downtown L.A.’s real estate landscape shifts—with wealthy renters buying distressed properties—and office vacancies hit record highs, the team explores whether this is a temporary dip or a deeper reset.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (04/03) - The Monks and Merrill Show covers a proposed rare earth mining project near Joshua Tree with expert insight from Virginia Tech’s Aaron Noble, alongside updates on Southern California wildfires. Plus, a look at Rose Bowl upgrades for the 2028 Olympics and new World Cup developments in Los Angeles.

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Monks and Merrill Hour 3 (04/03) - The Monks and Merrill Show welcomes space expert Rod Pyle to break down Artemis II’s journey to the moon and the physical toll of space travel. Back on Earth, the team tackles rising costs—from the possibility of $10 gas to increasing bottled water prices—and dives into a volatile L.A. mayoral race, where 40% of voters remain undecided.

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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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