Michael Monks Reports

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

@MicMonksReports LA Under Pressure: Protests, Police, and Payout

October 19, 2025 • 39 mins
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.
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@MicMonksReports Trade, Transit, and Tension in California

October 19, 2025 • 35 mins
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.
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@MicMonksReports Eaton Survivors Demand Justice and Beaches Face Extinction

October 12, 2025 • 36 mins
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.
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@MicMonksReports Helicopters, Mayors and Dead Birds

October 12, 2025 • 37 mins
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?
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Chevron Refinery, LAX People Mover Project and More!

October 5, 2025 • 37 mins
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 ...
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Trade Imbalance, October Sports and Convention Center

October 5, 2025 • 36 mins
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 cente...
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Michael Monks Reports - City Hall Gadflies

September 30, 2025 • 9 mins
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 ...
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The Decline of DTLA & LA Comic Con Returns

September 28, 2025 • 36 mins
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!
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More Tariffs & Update On The Former LA Zoo Elephants

September 28, 2025 • 31 mins
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.
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LA City Council Approves A $2.6 Billion Expansion Of The Convention Center

September 21, 2025 • 32 mins
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.
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Governor Newsom Signs Legislation Requiring Federal Agents To Take Off Their Masks

September 21, 2025 • 31 mins
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. 
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Charlie Kirk's Widow Speaks as Tensions Continue to Mount

September 14, 2025 • 37 mins
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.
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The Price Of The Proposed Expansion Of The LA Convention Center Has Ballooned

September 14, 2025 • 38 mins
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.
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@MicMonksReports How Much Is The Right Amount Of Money

September 7, 2025 • 36 mins
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...
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@MicMonksReports Convention Center Expansion

September 7, 2025 • 33 mins
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.
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@MicMonksReports on Gov. Newsom sending in more police to SoCal

August 31, 2025 • 34 mins
Hour 1: Governor Newsom is sending more police and homeless camp enforcement to Southern California; the LA city council formally opposes state legislation that would allow for more multi-family housing near transit stations, but one member has faced national criticism for the vote; and four cities in Southern California have landed in the top 10 of America’s dirtiest.
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@MicMonksReports on a DTLA survey & a reunion of old friends

August 31, 2025 • 36 mins
Hour 2: Residents of downtown LA say in a new survey that they want something done about the number of people experiencing mental health crises and committing crimes in the populous neighborhood; and director Peter Jones talks about his new documentary “Fortunate Sons” premiering next week on PBS SoCal which features his classmates from the Harvard School for Boys Class of 1974 as they face their past traumas, their privileged stat...
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@MicMonksReports on the U.S. Census and the redrawing of Congressional Districts

August 17, 2025 • 33 mins
Michael Monks reports on the U.S. Census and the redrawing of Congressional Districts, and asks if this is for the good of the country. Also, LA County's very expensive skycraper in Downtown LA. Who's in charge of it? It seems no one knows, so let's get to the bottom of it once and for all.
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@MicMonksReports shares the latest from the water outage in Porter Ranch/Granada Hills and the fires in So Cal.

August 10, 2025 • 38 mins
Michael shares the latest from the water outage in Porter Ranch/Granada Hills and the fires burning in Ventura/LA counties and Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo counties; Federal immigration agents have put out an ad mocking LA Mayor Bass - and she's responded, as immigration enforcement returns to the region's Home Depot stores.
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@MicMonksReports on the fight between the federal government and California that extends beyond immigration enforcement

August 10, 2025 • 37 mins
The fight between the federal government and LA/California extends beyond immigration: the Olympics and the redistricting of the US House of Representatives appear to be new fronts in the ongoing war; Downtown LA is getting a new (and massive) pickleball business; and a slithery surprise is found in a downtown LA parking garage.
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