Can You Trust the Polls? Breaking Down the Latest Races

Hour 1- Monks and out and Merrill is holding it down. We are covering all things politics. Governor race, mayor race, and polls! Do you have faith in the polls? We get into it all on KFI-AM640.

Measure ER, Budget Fights and Local Politics

Hour 2- Monks and out and Merrill flying solo. He is covering the latest with Huntington Beach and Robert Garcia. PLUS we talk to Councilwoman Traci Park and why she voted no on Los Angeles' nearly $15 million budget AND we are covering Measure ER and more on KFIAM-640.

The Mayoral Race and the Turnout Challenge

Hour 3- Merrill all alone today on Monks and Merrill and we are covering the mayor race. Voting turn out has been low and vandals have been vandalizing and we get into all of it. PLUS is voter fatigue a factor? It's all on KFIAM-640. 

More Monks and Merrill: Diet Soda + Aliens + Football and Wolves

More Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (05/30) - A post from The Wall Street Journal says there is now a discourse between Diet Coke and Coke Zero, with the latter gaining more popularity. The CIA is using your DNA data to determine if you are an extraterrestrial. Plus, from sex tapes in the NFL to overflow…

More Monks and Merrill: Race for Facial Hair + Gubernatorial Candidate Sam Sandak + Psychedelics + Crime Is Down

More Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (05/30) - California politics takes a bizarre turn as the race for governor becomes a battle over facial hair. Gubernatorial candidate Sam Sandak joins us to discuss his run for California governor and the issues driving his campaign. Congressman Lou Correa joins Monks…

The Challenges Facing SoCal Right Now

Hour 1 - From struggling businesses in Downtown L.A. to debates over public safety and homelessness, today's episode explores the issues driving conversation across the city. Michael Monks and Chris Merrill unpack why business owners are demanding action, what's behind a controversial proposal for …

Psychedelics, AI Crackdowns & Wildlife on the Move

Hour 2 - Congressman Lou Correa joins Monks & Merrill to discuss psychedelic therapy legislation in Orange County. Then, Heather Brooker breaks down Democrats’ push to regulate AI-generated election ads ahead of 2027. Plus, a mountain lion sighting in Santa Monica has residents told to stay indoors…

Spelling Bee Glory, Metro Shakeups & California Politics Collide

Hour 3 - Shrey Parikh takes home the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee title after a dramatic spell-off finish, while Los Angeles Metro prepares for new leadership as the board unanimously appoints Karen Bass as Chair for Fiscal Year 2026–27. Maya Pagod joins Monks & Merrill to break down Metro’s …

Border Battles, Election Wars & Campus Chaos: California vs. Washington

The political temperature in California hits a boiling point. Could new DHS threats against sanctuary cities disrupt international travel at LAX? Governor Gavin Newsom vows a massive tax retaliation over what he calls Trump’s $1.8 billion “slush fund,” while California moves to block federal involv…

Power, Politics & Panic in the Stands: California’s Big Money Showdowns

Gubernatorial candidate Sam Sandak joins us to discuss his run for California governor and the issues driving his campaign. Plus, we break down the explosive $400 million clash between billionaire sports owner Stan Kroenke and the City of Inglewood, why 2026 World Cup ticket prices are suddenly dro…