Beards, Billions & Bullet Trains

More Monks and Merrill: Military Training + Hollywood Today + Data Centers

More Monks and Merrill Hour 1 (06/06) - Flashbangs and military helicopters keep a neighborhood awake for training exercises. California voters weigh in on the growing impact of data centers as AI fuels an unprecedented demand for energy. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

More Monks and Merrill: LADWP Police Force + Homelessness + Tracy Park + SoFi ICE Strikes

More Monks and Merrill Hour 2 (06/06) -  An encore with Dr. Jana Lord of Sycamores, explaining California’s evolving mental health crisis response, and why the next mayor of Los Angeles may face homelessness with fewer tools than voters expect. Plus, an encore with Councilwoman Traci Park and why she voted no on Los Angeles' nearly $15 million budget. Then, UNITE HERE Local 11 Co-Founder, Kurt Petersen, joins the show as SoFi Stadium workers prepare for a strike authorization vote ahead of the World Cup. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

405 Shutdown, Military Drills & Election Count Chaos

Hour 1 - KFI traffic reporter Ginny Harman breaks down the full closure of the 405 Freeway and what drivers need to know as major events pack the Southern California calendar. Plus, explosions and military training exercises rattle residents from Long Beach to Industry, while Rick Cole joins the show to discuss overnight drills featuring flash bangs and simulated gunfire that sparked concern in Pasadena. And with nearly one million ballots still uncounted across Los Angeles and Orange counties, we examine what the delayed vote tally could mean in the days ahead.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Olympic Tax Rejected, Mayor's Race Tightens, and the Battle for MacArthur Park

Los Angeles voters send a clear message by rejecting a hotel bed tax increase tied to Olympic planning. LA City Councilwoman, 7th District, Monica Rodriguez joins the show to discuss what the measure's defeat means for the city's future. Plus, the race for Los Angeles mayor heats up as the battle for second place could determine who faces incumbent Karen Bass in November. And after another major LAPD and DEA sweep through MacArthur Park results in multiple arrests, we examine whether law enforcement crackdowns alone can solve the deeper issues facing one of LA's most troubled neighborhoods.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Political Pressure, Stadium Labor Showdown & The Jingle That Won't Go Away

Hour 3 - LA28 Chairman Wasserman faces growing scrutiny but says he won't step down over past ties to Ghislaine Maxwell. Plus, California voters grow frustrated as election results continue to trickle in. Then, UNITE HERE Local 11 co-founder Kurt Petersen joins the show as SoFi Stadium workers prepare for a strike authorization vote ahead of the World Cup, and ABC News correspondent Alex Stone explains why the famously catchy Kars4Kids commercials can keep airing on radio despite listener complaints. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.