KFI Featured Segments

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 January and the work that has, and hasn't been done since.LA Wildfires: One Year Later brings you stories from people affected by the fires, the challenges they continue to face, and the path forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 January and the work that has, and hasn't been done since.LA Wildfires: One Year Later brings you stories from people affected by the fires, the challenges they continue to face, and the path forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 again rejects Paramount’s bid to buy it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#Parenting with Justin Worsham, where a shocking hair color delays the segment and forces listeners to Instagram. The hour wraps with a candid, hilarious, and slightly terrifying discussion about what happens when kids overhear things they absolutely weren’t meant to… and then use it against you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jim Keany, Chief Medical Officer at Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, joins The Bill Handel Show for 'Medical News'! Dr. Keany talks with Bill about the CDC slashing vaccine recommendations for kids, flu reaching the highest levels in the U.S. in 25 years, and Wegovy now in pill form.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KFI Tech Reporter Rich DeMuro joins Wake Up Call for ‘Wired Wednesday’! Rich talks about CES going on now in Las Vegas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pizza industry is institutionalized, but sales are sinking, technological advances are crushing, and customers are downsizing, sending pies into a tailspin. The national average of a large pizza is now more than $17, up more than 20% in recent years. Major pizza chains are either shutting down locations or revamping their offerings, while customers are reducing their pie sizes and ordering fewer toppings. Some pizzerias, like Blaze Pizza, are even catering to people on the GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. People on TikTok who document their GLP-1 intake like to call it a weight-loss “journey.” The maker of Wegovy is now selling the weight-loss shot in pill form. It turns out that there is a magic pill for weight loss. And it starts at $149 a month. More on that in the next hour. Back to the weight-loss shots and pills — as they become less expensive and more accessible, what happens when everyone is on them, and we’re all a size-0?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Just 12% of Americans aged 30 and under are married and own homes. Post-WWII 1950s, that figure was around 54%. Single and renting forever – is it the new American dream? A combined income of $180k won’t even get you into a starter home in many locations, according to some listeners. Housing prices and the cost of living are going up all over the country and especially on the West Coast. Many people cannot afford to live the way our parents did back in the day. When Lou was a kid, Sunday dinner every week was like Thanksgiving today. Is there still such a thing as a starter home? Many investors buy single family starter homes just to flip them and turn out a profit. Does that strategy end up squeezing out first home buyers? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers sprinkled holy water in the end zone — and it worked! They beat the Baltimore Ravens! Secretary of State Marco Rubio leaked in a news report that President Trump has the intent to purchase Greenland from the Kingdom of Denmark, although Denmark has stated that Greenland is not for sale. KFI’s special “LA Fires: One Year Later” hosted by Michael Monks kicks off tomorrow night at 7pm, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the devastating LA wildfires and the horrific aftermath. Do you remember what you were doing last year on January 7 when the wildfires broke out? The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record close today, gas prices and the cost of groceries are coming down, but you probably didn’t hear that good news because people are too busy talking about Venezuela.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

True CrimeTuesday deep dive on the University of Idaho murders, with new insight from Bryan Kohberger’s sister about troubling warning signs in the weeks before his arrest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KTLA & KFI tech reporter Rich DeMuro joins the show for ‘Tech Tuesday.’ Today, Rich is live from CES in Las Vegas to talk about Wearphone the wearable privacy mask for your voice, Jenny the highly realistic therapeutic robotic dog, and Timeeli the personal safety system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy talks with the host of ‘How to Money’ Joel Larsgaard talking about 3 things to do in 2026 to make better money decisions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here comes the sun! Hollywood star and Academy Award-nominee Mickey Rourke has launched a GoFundMe to cover the cost of his eviction and back rent, to the tune of $100K. The rent on his Los Angeles home is something in the region of $7,000 a month. Rahner has amazing knowledge of movie cinema, especially obscure stuff. Let’s nerd out together! Mark's new year’s resolution last year was to commit to his fitness, including hiring a personal trainer. It didn’t stick and he lost a lot of money. Will it stick this year? Probably not. To more on Mickey Rourke’s LA eviction, which was served as a three-day notice. Apparently, the GoFundMe page set up in his honor to raise money to cover his rental costs had nothing to do with Rourke and he does not condone it. We play his Instagram response, in which he says people who donated to the fund must get their money back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minor celebrity Mark Thompson had a rather sedate NYE, largely due to the unseasonable torrential rain here in SoCal. Have you watched the new Chevy Chase documentary on CNN? He doesn’t seem like a pleasant person. The president of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro and his wife were extracted from that country, flown to the USA, and indicted in New York today. The US military did that very well, but history tells us — we’re talking Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya — we don’t do well when it comes to the regime change that follows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Thompson recalls his neighborly interaction with Johnny Depp when he lived in West Hollywood. He also used to play tennis with Harve Bennet, producer of “Star Trek,” “The Six Million Dollar Man” and “Mod Squad.” Mark plays listener talkbacks from fans who are both concerned and titillated by Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke’s rental woes. A wild incident at Disneyland saw a man and his family cut the line for a ride, followed by a confrontation and a beatdown resulting in stitches to a father’s face after the line-cutting man and family beat him up. It all happened as they waited to board the Indiana Jones ride. The McRib class-action lawsuit is on! Will you get a cut of that sweet, sweet McDonald’s moolah? The boneless patty shaped like ribs does not contain pig meat, and now porky eaters are up in arms about the ham-fisted bacon bait ’n’ switch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris is talking about the latest with Venezuela and Maduro, PLUS there's no business like show business and Chris is getting into Avatar, Stranger Things, and MORE. AND being in a relationship is cringe? We get into that and more on KFIAM-640!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weeks Technique of the Week features shepherd's pie - its history and recipe!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary and Shannon take a look at a the highest grossing films of the year as well as the best and worst films/tv of 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of True Crime Tuesday, Gary and Shannon touch on a true crime case from 30 years ago, the murder of six-year-old Jon Benet Ramsey, and the recent new developments in the case as well as a look into the 'Snow King', former Olympic snowboarder turned drug kingpin Ryan James Wedding.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctor Wendy Walsh talks to film director Violet Feng about her documentary, The Dating Game. The film explores the social issue of an oversupply of men in China due to the one-child policy. Violet shares her personal connection to the topic, having made films about China for years, and how she wanted to understand the perspectives of Chinese men. They discuss the emotional impact of the policy on the men, including attachment trauma and low self-esteem, and how this affects their ability to form relationships.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best Of Chris Merrill brings together some of the most entertaining and thought-provoking moments from the show, starting with a lively listener-driven debate on which classic TV shows deserve a reboot in the wake of the Warner Bros., Netflix, and Paramount shakeups. From Scrubs to The X-Files, Chris and callers share their nostalgia picks and reboot wish lists. The conversation then shifts to life in Southern California as Chris breaks down new data showing LA traffic may be improving, even while still ranking among the worst in the nation. Plus, a memorable listener call introduces the “Cone King,” a self-appointed parking enforcer taking on street chaos in South LA. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this "best of" special, Chris Merrill breaks down the headlines that have everyone talking, starting with President Trump’s executive order classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and the legal and political ripple effects that could follow. Chris digs into why redefining a WMD could be a dangerous precedent, then pivots to Venezuela, drones being used to smuggle contraband into prisons, and why hand sanitizer suddenly matters more than you think amid concerns over a neurovirus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final hour of the 'best of', Chris Merrill's got a lively discussion going on about the world of streaming services. He's sharing his own experiences with subscription fatigue and the rise of ad-supported tiers. Chris talks about how he's rotating through services to avoid overspending, and how this trend might impact the future of content creation. He also dives into the world of rebooting classic TV shows, discussing the challenges and possibilities of reviving iconic series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia and Ukraine peace talks in "final stages". The young kids like the old shows. Plus, the best New Year's Eve events in Los Angeles to ring in 2026!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are modern influencers going away? A look at how influencer culture could look like in 2026. Also, how the realtor business looks like this time of year - what are the new trends for houses? Plus, a bar in Tokyo is going viral.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ABC News tech reporter joins the show for ‘Tech Tuesday.’ Today, Mike talks about the best and worst gadgets of 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy talks with the host of ‘How to Money’ Joel Larsgaard talking about the importance of turning off the lights, new millionaires not feeling rich, and practical things you can do to feel healthier and wealthier in 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy talks with the Executive Director for Friends of Big Bear Valley Sandy Steers about what is going on in Jackie and Shadows’ nest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Andy speaks to KTLA’s Kacey Montoya about the massive storm hitting SoCal this week over Christmas. It’s gonna be a very wet Christmas, so no texting and driving, people!  It’s just a couple days before Christmas, and Andy is recalling the classic 1983 Christmas movie, creatively titled “A Christmas Story.” Andy is wondering about the gifts we loved most when we were kids. His favorite was a remote-control Mars Pathway Rover, because he was a nerd. And news anchor Mark Rahner was just as nerdy! Callers phone in to discuss their favorite Christmas gifts from when they were kids. One caller had the James Bond “From Russia with Love” replica attaché case — just like resident nerd and avid collector Rahner! Another listener recalled her beloved Riedell Roller Skates from the 1960s. Also, there’s a robot apocalypse on the way! AI is now being used to automate vending machines at the Wall Street Journal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Epstein file dump, released this week, included redacted and deleted files, some of which were later re-added. Did the DOJ do this to protect survivors and victims, or to protect the predators and perpetrators? There are also photos of the prison cell in which Epstein apparently died by suicide, but the images don’t add up. Also, a tragic car accident on the Angel Crest Highway near LA has claimed the life of Call of Duty developer Vince Zampella. To more on the Epstein files, the video of the financier, abuser and sex trafficker apparently attempting suicide in his prison cell has turned out to be fake, hence why it was removed from the file dump. Andy loves on Skeletor, the supervillain from “Masters of the Universe.” Another listener phones in to tell us the story of his favorite Christmas present from high school, his new ski jacket. Last Saturday in the Bay Area, a fire at a PG&E substation knocked out power for 130,000 residents — for two days! There are still a few thousand people currently without power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1950s, caller Joy’s dad painted the ceiling of her bedroom navy blue, covered it in glowing stars, and gifted her a telescope! Thousands flock to Downey for the annual masa pilgrimage at the Amapola Market!  Another listener recalls his favorite gift as a kid, a BB gun. However, he accidentally shot a bird and felt so bad, to this day he has never picked up a gun, BB or otherwise. Meanwhile Andy and Rahner talk traumatic haircuts from their past and being dumped by their barber! Andy plays listener talkbacks from people who recall their favorite Christmas gifts when they were kids. One caller said we mustn’t encourage greed, which Rahner refers to as toy shaming. Media was so much cooler back in the midcentury. In 1996, what was the hottest Christmas gift? Of course it was Tickle Me Elmo! Others that followed include Buzz Lightyear, Tamagotchi, Furbies, Beanie Babies and Bratz Dolls. And now we have the Labubu. Andy rounds out the show by chatting with a GI Joe collector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Andrew Erdman, the licensed psychotherapist and historian, about his podcast "Feel Familiar? Emotionally Intelligent History." This podcast examines the 1849 Astor Place Theatre Riot, where 2 people died in a celebrity-fueled culture war. Dr. Erdman uses attachment theory, group psychology, and the trauma frameworks to analyze collective behavior.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris is covering the weather in SoCal this Christmas, traveling for the holidays, PLUS the lawmakers, the lawbreakers, and the time's there ought to be a law. We are covering the plotted NYE attacks in SoCal, the elderly woman scammed by thieves out of a necklace with her daughter's ashes, and the latest with Waymo. All that and more on KFIAM-640.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris is getting into the latest with the Epstein files, kids rarely reading these days, and how adults can get free pizza for reading. It's all on KFIAM-640.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no business like show business. Chris is covering the latest with Rob and Michelle Reiner, TikTok making a deal with the USA, and Gen Z and the work place. That and so much more on KFIAM-640.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel rush is on at LAX. A strong atmospheric system will arrive just in time for the wettest Christmas in SoCal record yet. Plus, what is it like spending Christmas with your significant others' family for the first time? Also, San Francisco is still without power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Belushi joins the show! What makes for a great Christmas song? Plus, Bowen Yang's swan song in a Delta lounge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy opens the show reacting to a wild on-air moment that unfolded during a Philadelphia Flyers radio broadcast, proving that live radio can still go completely off the rails when you least expect it. He then plays what might be the worst Christmas song ever made and asks the bigger question: outside of Wham and Mariah Carey, are there any modern Christmas songs that truly qualify as classics — and what does it actually take to write a holiday song that lasts for generations?The hour takes a darker turn as Andy digs into the latest Epstein file release, playing audio from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and questioning how transparent a release can really be when pages are heavily redacted or completely blank. He compares the rollout to something straight out of Eyes Wide Shut before wrapping things up on a lighter (and wildly expensive) note: someone spent $7 million to build a full-scale replica of the iconic Home Alone house.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Andy kicks off the hour with “music man” Jack Primavera and opens the phone lines for a game challenging listeners to identify a Creed song based on nothing but a famous riff. The hour rolls into New Music Friday, where Andy reacts to the recent Jake Paul fight that ended with a knockout in Round 6 — surprising most of the crew — before Jack shares behind-the-scenes insight from crowning the winner of Season 28 of The Voice, calling it a strong and memorable season.The energy ramps back up as Andy and Jack return to the riff-guessing game, “Soloing the Solo,” taking live calls and testing listeners’ rock knowledge. Due to overwhelming demand and jammed phone lines, the game spills into the final segment as callers keep guessing and the music keeps rolling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Andy opens the hour breaking down the wild power of the internet, explaining how online communities, Reddit users, and everyday citizens sharing Ring and dashcam footage helped identify the suspect in the Brown University and MIT professor killings. Andy and Rahner talk about how “see something, say something” has evolved in the digital age — and why crowdsourced sleuthing now plays a real role in modern investigations.The hour then turns lighter as Andy dissects a familiar LA phenomenon: restaurants going viral by claiming “no one is talking about this” or “everyone is talking about this,” and why that phrasing works so well with social media algorithms. Things get even more relatable as last-minute Christmas shopping chaos takes over, with Rahner describing Costco as “apocalypse busy,” before Andy shares the unbelievable story of a missing Kentucky woman found alive with a new identity more than four decades later — a case straight out of peak America’s Most Wanted era. Andy wraps the hour by opening the phone lines ahead of an upcoming game with his friend and show “music man,” Jack Primavera.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We spotlight a unique small business, Horror Vibes Coffee! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The host of ‘Home’ on KFI Dean Sharp joins the show and talks about his 2025 holiday gift guide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holiday travel is surging toward near-record levels despite California storms, raising concerns about traffic jams, airport delays, and dangerous road conditions just days before Christmas. The hour then turns to aviation safety as two separate small-plane crashes — one at Van Nuys Airport and another in North Carolina — highlight how unforgiving landings can be when something goes wrong. Powerball jackpot fever follows, with the prize swelling to an eye-popping $1.5 billion after yet another drawing without a winner. The hour wraps with a sobering look at the housing market as new Zillow data shows more than half of U.S. homes — including nearly 80% in the Los Angeles metro — lost value over the past year, even as most owners still hold significant equity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigators believe a deadly shooting at Brown University may be connected to the murder of an MIT professor, intensifying a multi-state manhunt as authorities close in on a suspect. The hour then shifts to Capitol Hill, where House Democrats release a new batch of photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate ahead of a Justice Department disclosure deadline, reigniting fierce debates over transparency, political fallout, and what the images actually prove. The hour wraps with a look at today’s workplace reality: burnout, “shift sulking,” and open frustration with bosses are becoming more common — while Gen X shoppers, despite their spending power, say they’re being ignored by brands obsessed with younger consumers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BREDAN CARR FCC - FCC NOT AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY? VS. DESCRIPTION ON THEIR ON WEBSITE // Identifying AI vs real generated news // Keeping AI at a distance to keep companies from imploding // Niceties and Happy HolidaysSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#TechTalk, featuring standout gadget gift ideas and a preview of what to expect from CES — the Consumer Electronics Show. From practical upgrades to flashy innovations, Marc explains what’s worth paying attention to and what’s just hypeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host of ‘How to Money’ Joel Larsgaard joins the show to discuss gambling becoming a massive problem in the United States, home flipping, and more Americans moving overseas to save money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy takes us on a Southern California Sleigh Ride where she highlights different fun events and activities you can do with your friends and family this holiday season. This week, Amy takes us to Holiday Road in Calabasas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congressional gridlock is setting the stage for a potential healthcare sticker shock as enhanced Obamacare subsidies face expiration, leaving millions bracing for higher premiums. California regulators then put Tesla on notice, threatening to suspend new-car sales over allegedly misleading “self-driving” claims. The hour also turns deeply personal as the children of filmmaker Rob Reiner speak publicly following the arrest of their brother in their parents’ murders, before closing with renewed hope in the decades-old JonBenét Ramsey case as investigators revisit evidence using modern DNA technology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump escalates tensions with Venezuela by ordering a partial oil blockade and asserting U.S. claims over foreign assets, sparking global concern and market jitters. The administration also reclassifies illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, reframing the opioid crisis as a national security threat. Plus, Wall Street’s AI boom draws uncomfortable comparisons to the dot-com bubble, while communities across the Southwest push back against massive data-center developments, questioning whether Big Tech’s promises still carry weight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.