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

@MicMonksLA Reports: LA’s Budget Crisis Deepens: Layoffs, Downgrades, and Public Outrage

April 27, 2025 • 37 mins
Michael Monks breaks down LA’s growing financial emergency. As Mayor Karen Bass proposes a budget that includes 1,600+ layoffs and sweeping department cuts, Michael recaps her State of the City address — and explains why residents and workers are outraged. Plus, Michael reports on a major public backlash in Van Nuys, LA’s downgraded credit rating, and what’s next for a city facing a $1 billion deficit. Also: concerns over a controv...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Schiff Talks: California’s Economy, Housing Crisis, and Hollywood’s Fight to Survive

April 27, 2025 • 33 mins
Senator Adam Schiff joins Michael Monks to break down California’s complicated future. Despite the state now ranking as the fourth-largest economy in the world, Schiff explains why a booming economy hasn't solved California’s worsening housing crisis or protected its signature industry, Hollywood. They also tackle the fallout from immigration policies, national security concerns at the Pentagon, and Schiff’s push for new legislatio...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: 100 Days After the Fires — Still Waiting for Help

April 20, 2025 • 35 mins
Michael Monks opens the show with a local sports update before diving into a sobering look at life in Los Angeles 100 days after the devastating fires. He contrasts Mayor Bass’s optimistic public comments with growing frustration from Palisades residents who feel left behind. Michael investigates the $10 million contract with Hagerty Consulting that’s yielded little visible recovery progress and speaks with resident David Howard ab...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Layoffs Loom, Homeless Fires Surge & LAPD Turns to YouTube

April 20, 2025 • 33 mins
Michael Monks breaks down Mayor Karen Bass’s latest announcement: layoffs are officially on the table as LA stares down a $1 billion budget deficit. He then tackles the alarming 475% spike in homeless-related fires across the city and the broader toll the homeless crisis is taking on quality of life. Plus, with LAPD recruitment numbers lagging, the department is betting big on a new YouTube ad campaign—and Michael wraps the hour wi...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: LA’s Late-Night Shift, Convention Center Expansion, and Homelessness Fraud Crackdown

April 13, 2025 • 32 mins
Michael Monks opens the show with updates on LA sports and shares his personal take on grocery store reorganizations. He then delves into a proposed California bill aiming to create "hospitality zones," allowing bars to serve alcohol until 4 a.m.. Through City Hall audio, Michael discusses the LA City Council's vote to continue plans for the Convention Center expansion, despite challenges posed by recent wildfires. Finally, he revi...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Bernie & AOC Ignite LA, Olympic Gender Shift & Fast-Food Wage Fallout

April 13, 2025 • 32 mins
Michael Monks breaks down Bernie Sanders and AOC’s explosive "Fight the Oligarchy" rally that brought approximately 30,000 energized supporters to downtown LA. He also spotlights the historic LA28 Olympics, where women athletes will outnumber men for the first time ever, and explores how LA's rising minimum wage is unexpectedly hurting fast-food jobs. Plus, a Dodgers game gone wrong, and Huntington Beach struggles with a massive wa...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: LA's Billion-Dollar Budget Crisis & Parking Enforcement Debacle

April 6, 2025 • 36 mins
Michael Monks breaks down the alarming $1 billion budget deficit haunting the city of Los Angeles, exploring exactly how city officials got it so wrong. With revealing clips from Mayor Bass and city administrators, Michael revisits the warnings and promises that didn’t add up. Plus, how is LA spending tens of millions more on parking enforcement than it brings in? Michael investigates the costly mismanagement behind LA’s parking pr...
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@MicMonksLAReports: Homeless Spending Under Scrutiny, Olympic Visa Drama, and LA's Decade-a-Day Bus Delay!

April 6, 2025 • 35 mins
Michael dives into LA's new effort to oversee homelessness spending after audits exposed transparency issues—Councilwoman Nithya Raman weighs in. Meanwhile, LA28 Olympic Chair Casey Wasserman reassures global leaders that U.S. politics won't block athletes' entry into the 2028 Games. Plus, Michael reveals a shocking report: LA Metro buses are cumulatively delayed by a full decade every single day, costing riders valuable time and m...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Inside LA's Budget Crisis: Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez Speaks Out

March 30, 2025 • 37 mins
Michael Monks kicks off the show with an overview of his week covering City Hall, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion with LA City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. They delve into the city's financial turmoil and the council's recent decision to explore seizing control of LAHSA spending, addressing concerns over mismanagement and lack of transparency. The conversation sheds light on the factors contributing to Los Angeles' b...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Governor Newsom's Podcast Revelations, DA Hochman on Death Penalty, and LA's New Immigration Protections

March 30, 2025 • 35 mins
Michael Monks delves into Governor Gavin Newsom's candid discussion with Ezra Klein on California's high-speed rail challenges and housing crisis. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman joins to explain his decision to reinstate the death penalty in select cases. Michael also examines LA City Council's expanded protections for undocumented immigrants, featuring insights from Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez. The hour wraps up w...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: LA's Billion-Dollar Budget Crisis & Parking Enforcement Debacle

March 23, 2025 • 34 mins
@MicMonksLA Reports: LA's Billion-Dollar Budget Crisis & Parking Enforcement Debacle  Description: Michael Monks breaks down the alarming $1 billion budget deficit haunting the city of Los Angeles, exploring exactly how city officials got it so wrong. With revealing clips from Mayor Bass and city administrators, Michael revisits the warnings and promises that didn’t add up. Plus, how is LA spending tens of millions more on park...
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@MicMonksLAReports: Homeless Spending Under Scrutiny, Olympic Visa Drama, and LA's Decade-a-Day Bus Delay!

March 23, 2025 • 33 mins
Michael dives into LA's new effort to oversee homelessness spending after audits exposed transparency issues—Councilwoman Nithya Raman weighs in. Meanwhile, LA28 Olympic Chair Casey Wasserman reassures global leaders that U.S. politics won't block athletes' entry into the 2028 Games. Plus, Michael reveals a shocking report: LA Metro buses are cumulatively delayed by a full decade every single day, costing riders valuable time and m...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Downtown Decline, Homelessness & Bird Trouble

March 16, 2025 • 34 mins
Michael Monks opens the show by examining the impact of the Downtown LA Macy’s closing and what the disappearance of true department stores signals about the state of local business. He then speaks with LA County Supervisor Horvath about the county’s new homeless department and the upcoming motion aimed at addressing homelessness. Michael wraps up the hour by highlighting troubling wildlife news—from a missing eaglet from Jackie an...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Fires, Polls & Landmarks: California in Flux

March 16, 2025 • 35 mins
Michael Monks kicks off the hour by discussing new LA Times/UC Berkeley polls on Mayor Bass’s performance and what they reveal about her handling of the fires. He then delves into Ezra Klein’s analysis of how Democrats have sustained a dysfunctional government in California, highlights a poll showing that 10% of LA County residents are planning to leave in the wake of the fires, and wraps up with his take on the potential designati...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: UCLA’s Big Win, LA’s Budget Crisis, and a Hard Look at City Spending

March 9, 2025 • 27 mins
Michael Monks kicks off the hour with a recap of UCLA’s victory over USC to close out the Big Ten regular season before diving into Los Angeles’ deepening financial crisis. City Controller Kenneth Mejia joins to break down the city’s massive budget shortfall, overspending, and the alarming cycle of debt that could leave LA struggling to stay afloat.  
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@MicMonksLA Reports: LA’s Homeless Funding Fiasco, Economic Uncertainty, and Jackie & Shadow’s Latest Hatchling

March 9, 2025 • 36 mins
Michael Monks opens the hour with a deep dive into a scathing audit revealing LA’s failure to track billions in homelessness funding—while LA County residents brace for a sales tax hike to fund these programs. Then, UCLA economist Jerry Nickelsburg joins to discuss economic uncertainty fueled by shifting tariffs, inflation concerns, and the impact of potential mass deportations on California’s workforce. Finally, Michael shifts gea...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Fire, Politics, & Hollywood

March 2, 2025 • 37 mins
Michael dives into the controversy surrounding the firing of LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, and the heated appeal process with Mayor Karen Bass at the center of it all. He replays a key moment from January 7th and breaks down the critical elements of Crowley’s upcoming hearing—including a recap of the fire-event timeline and Mayor Bass’s trip to Ghana. Michael also examines a new PPIC survey revealing California’s political diverge...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Hollywood in Flux: Rebuilding the Industry

March 2, 2025 • 38 mins
Michael Monks delves into how film and TV production, the lifeblood of LA, is undergoing seismic shifts—explaining why “Hollywood” isn’t making “Hollywood” anymore. He explores the hidden impact of the recent fire on producers, writers, and industry professionals who are now focused on personal recovery, before sitting down with State Senator Ben Allen to discuss strategies for rehabilitating the local film industry and preventing ...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Wildfires, Evictions & Rodent Rampage in LA

February 23, 2025 • 35 mins
Michael Monks dives into a series of pressing issues impacting Los Angeles. He opens with controversy as Mayor Karen Bass fires Fire Chief Kristin Crowley over the January wildfires—sparking pushback from the firefighters’ union over budget cuts and resource shortfalls. Michael then sits down with lawyer Avi Siani to discuss recent eviction moratorium moves by the County and City Council, as well as the mounting challenges small “m...
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@MicMonksLA Reports: Convention Center Delays, GOP Strategies & Downtown Dilemmas

February 23, 2025 • 37 mins
Michael Monks examines how the January 2025 Palisades Fire has forced city officials to reconsider the downtown Convention Center expansion, jeopardizing plans for the 2028 Olympic Games. He then sits down with LA County GOP Chairwoman Roxanne Hogue, who discusses the challenges and opportunities facing over a million registered Republicans in a predominantly Democratic region, emphasizing public safety and good governance. Togethe...
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