The Strange, Sweaty, Totally American Ritual of "DC Summer"

Approach the Bench · Jun 4, 2026 · 53m

WEEK 34: DC Summer Is Miserable. We Wouldn't Be Anywhere Else.

We're coming to you live from a bench in Washington, DC — and before we get into the summer episode, we have some unfinished business. A New York City influencer said something about DC that we can't let slide. We respond. Briefly. But firmly.Then: the DC Summer Episode. We recorded this one outside, in the heat, surrounded by tourists, and we have thoughts.

We open with the full DC Summer breakdown — the vibe, the institutions, the intern invasion, and whether any of this is actually enjoyable. We run the DC Summer Power Rankings…