Michael Monks Reports
Michael Monks joined KFI in 2024 after fulfilling a longtime dream of moving to L.A. He is a native of Covington, Kentucky where in 2011 he founded a multimedia local news operation called The River City News, which was acquired in 2021 and rebranded as LINK nky. At the same time, he was also the host of the award-winning daily radio program “Cincinnati Edition” on WVXU, an NPR member station. He holds a master’s degree in communication from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor’s degree in radio/TV from Northern Kentucky University. Michael and his spouse, Osmar, live in DTLA with their cat, Milo. Follow him on Twitter @MicMonksLA.
Episodes
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”.
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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 al...
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.
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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.
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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 neighbor...
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.
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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.
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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 ...
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 J...
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 J...
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 a...
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 ...
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Popular Podcasts
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.
Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.
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Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.