Shows / City Cast DC
City Cast DC
City Cast DC is the daily, local audio companion you knew DC needed.. Washingtonians are deeply passionate about our city, whose story is still being written, and City Cast DC is here to tell it. Every weekday morning, our hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd will engage people from all over the eight wards in conversation about DC’s crises and its beauty, both literal and figurative. It’ll have the feel of eavesdropping on an energetic and informative coffee shop chat, except that with City…
Episodes
- City Cast DC
What JLG’s Picks for Her Transition Team Could Mean for the City
One day after becoming mayor-elect, Janeese Lewis George got right to work announcing the details of her transition team. My colleagues Ben Brasch and Jaclyn…
- City Cast DC
Janeese Lewis George Wins, Foie Gras Banned and What the Blue Wave Means for D.C.
For the first time in over a decade, D.C. residents have elected a new mayor. And a new congressional delegate. The D.C. Council is also welcoming several new…
- City Cast DC
How D.C. Would Change In the Shadow of Trump’s Proposed Arch
Trump's proposed 250-foot arch is currently facing legal challenges. While the courts sort that out, the Post’s Dan Diamond and Jarrett Ley join me to discuss…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to November 2026 in D.C.
November is upon us, and fall is in full swing in the nation’s capital. City Cast’s Kaela Cote-Stemmermann joins me to talk about what’s good to eat, drink and…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Who Controls Austin’s Autonomous Vehicles? — Presented By City Cast DC
When you think of Waymo, you might not yet think of D.C. But you should definitely be thinking of Austin, Texas. State law governing autonomous vehicles (AVs)…
- City Cast DC
Robert White to Resign, Rent Forgiveness Bill Prompts Backlash, and the Battle Over Foie Gras Heats Up
This week, Axios’ Anna Spiegel and the Washington Sun’s Zara Norman join me to discuss DC at-large Democratic Councilmember Robert White's resignation, the…
- City Cast DC
Inside Southwest D.C.'s New Film, Opera and Theater Venue
The Revada Arts Center is now open in Southwest, and it's not your average arts venue. It's a theatre company, an indie film house and an experimental opera…
- City Cast DC
Robert White Could Be Ineligible for Delegate Unless He Resigns
With less than a week until Election Day, at-large DC councilmember Robert White appears all but confirmed to become the city’s next congressional delegate…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to the 2026 D.C. General Election
Early voting in the 2026 D.C. general election is underway. Residents will choose the city’s first new mayor in more than a decade, two at-large council…
- City Cast DC
How One D.C. Real Estate Empire Racked Up 1600 Housing Violations
Mice and cockroach infestations, exposed wires, broken HVAC systems, and water damage are just a few of the 1600 housing violations at more than a dozen D.C…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Is Chicago More Prepared for Climate Change Than Every Other City? — Presented By City Cast DC
How prepared is DC to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilient city in the world — the…
- City Cast DC
The National Guard Shooting, Trump’s Plans for Hains Point, and D.C.’s Traffic Camera Debate
This week, we’re talking about the National Guard shooting on Capitol Hill, Donald Trump’s new plans for the Golf Course at Hains Point, and whether…
- City Cast DC
The Court Case That Could Change D.C.’s Eviction Laws
D.C’s tenant protection laws make it tough for landlords to evict problem residents, but last year, lawmakers made it easier to kick out violent tenants. Now…
- City Cast DC
Secretary Lonnie Bunch on Fighting For the Smithsonian’s Future
Lonnie Bunch, the outgoing secretary of the Smithsonian, has been at the red-hot center of national political fights over culture. But in DC, he’s also the…
- City Cast DC
Could New Taxes Fix D.C.’s Budget?
On Friday, the D.C. Council held a daylong session on raising taxes, and imposing new ones. It’s an issue council members usually wait until the last minute to…
- City Cast DC
The Washington Post Food Critic Dishes On the 40 Best Local Restaurants
What restaurants make Washington, D.C. the city it is? That’s the question the Washington Post’s food critic Elazar Sontag set out to answer with his guide to…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Salt Lakers are Adopting Storm Drains — Presented By City Cast DC
How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of D.C.? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city…
- City Cast DC
The GOP Takes On Jury Nullification, JLG’s Housing Promise, and Name That Red Panda
On today's episode, we get into the House Republicans who, on the heels of the Trayon White mistrial, allege that two D.C. activist groups are advocating for…
- City Cast DC
What A New Folger Exhibition Reveals About Black Women And Shakespeare
What do Black women and Shakespeare have to do with each other? A new exhibition at D.C.’s Folger Shakespeare Library explores that little-known history…
- City Cast DC
Is Judge Reyes' Naivete To Blame For 400 Trees Chopped Down At East Potomac?
On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from cutting any trees at East Potomac Golf Links, where the president wants to replace a public…
- City Cast DC
It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s A Stealth Bomber Flyover
You’re not imagining it — there are a lot more flyovers in D.C. these days. President Trump is the biggest fan of them that the White House has ever had. And…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: A St. Paul Cell Phone Ban Teens Might Actually Like — Presented By City Cast DC
Another D.C. school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can…
- City Cast DC
JLG's Campaign Fine Reversed, More Parking Tickets Ahead, and D.C.'s Most Expensive Bread Costs How Much?
This week, we unpack the tensions that led the Council to narrowly pass a bill letting businesses and college campuses pay extra for more parking enforcement…
- City Cast DC
JLG Has Big Plans for D.C. Transit
D.C.'s likely next mayor, Janeese Lewis George, has been dropping hints about how she'll handle one of D.C.’s most fraught issues – transit. The 51st’s Alex…
- City Cast DC
With the Kennedy Center Closed, What’s Next for D.C. Theater?
In partnership with Theatre Washington, City Cast DC theater critic Chris Klimek sat down for a live conversation Monday night at D.C.’s Studio Theatre to chat…
- City Cast DC
Why Is D.C. So Lonely?
Living in any big city has its moments of loneliness — but according to some studies, D.C. might be the loneliest city in the U.S. Washingtonian recently…
- City Cast DC
The Real Status Symbols in Trump-Era D.C.
D.C. has always had an in-crowd with its own hangouts, habits, and status symbols. But the in-crowd of the Trump White House has different tastes than what DC…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast DC
When D.C. looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate…
- City Cast DC
Trump Targets Mosquitoes, D.C. Courts Can’t Keep Up, And Next Steps For Trayon White?
Now that Trayon White’s bribery trial ended in a hung jury, what’s next for the Ward 8 Councilman? We’ll get into it. Speaking of D.C. courts, we’ll take a…
- City Cast DC
How Lime Is Tackling E-Bike And Scooter Safety Issues In D.C.
Lime scooters and bikes are a fixture of D.C.’s landscape. They’re great for getting somewhere in a hurry, but safety issues persist. Lime is trying to address…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide To D.C. In October 2026
We’re back with our regular monthly guide for October, but this time we tried something a little different. We answer questions submitted by readers on local…
- City Cast DC
What Comes Next for Trayon White?
The bribery trial of Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White ended yesterday with a hung jury and a mistrial. This will have repercussions in city politics, not to…
- City Cast DC
D.C.’s Rat Czar Explains The War On Rodents
If you’re scared of rats, then I’ve got bad news – D.C. is one of the most rat-infested cities in America, at least as far as complaints go. But there’s an…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast DC
What’s a seemingly small project in D.C. that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a…
- City Cast DC
The Ripple Effects of DOGE, D.C. Council Takes Aim at the Ballot Initiative, and PorchFest Prohibition
Two years on, the District is still reeling from devastating DOGE job cuts, according to two new reports. We also take a look at why the D.C. Council is…
- City Cast DC
Metro Sign Changes Met With Backlash
Metro is redoing its station signage to make it easier for the public to navigate — but some riders are not happy. What are they changing, and why are folks so…
- City Cast DC
Can The Kennedy Center Survive Trump?
Thousands of ordinary Washingtonians showed up Friday night for a protest at the Kennedy Center — the biggest one to date. They were motivated by a new fear…
- City Cast DC
The Best Cheap Eats in the DMV
Opening a menu to find a burger costs $25 is all too familiar in D.C. As everyone looks to stretch their dollars a little further, Washingtonian’s got you…
- City Cast DC
Why Can’t Downtown D.C. Attract New Stores?
Walking around downtown D.C., you may notice a lot of vacant storefronts. In fact, City Cast reporter Jaclyn Peiser found that last year, one out of every four…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Philly Is Reducing Violence With Parks — Presented By City Cast DC
Would DC be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression recorded near…
- City Cast DC
Trayon White’s Alleged Brother-In-Law, D.C. Council Heads Back To Work, And Ovi Campaigns For… Putin?
We’ve got the latest on Councilmember Trayon White’s bribery trial. Also, D.C. City Council is back in session — we’ll take a look at what’s on their plate…
- City Cast DC
The D.C. Postal Workers Still Affected by the Anthrax Attacks, 25 Years Later
Weeks after 9/11, in Senator Tom Daschle’s office on Capitol Hill, an aide opened an envelope addressed to the Senator and released anthrax into the air –…
- City Cast DC
Fall DMV Escapes For Under $150
It’s finally getting cool enough to wear a sweatshirt in the morning – which means D.C. fall is here. With Congress back in session and the city in full swing…
- City Cast DC
"The Inn At Little Washington" Chef Dishes All
Patrick O’Connell is the most famous and powerful man in Washington – Little Washington, that is. In the tiny Virginia hamlet, O’Connell’s restaurant is a…
- City Cast DC
Park Police Officers Have Doubled In D.C. – Why?
The Trump administration wants the US Park Police to be D.C.’s "premier law enforcement agency." In just a year, they’ve doubled its size, from 300 to around…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Las Vegas Is Handling Record-Breaking Heat — Presented By City Cast DC
It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for DC, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzling city, Vegas has…
- City Cast DC
Lonnie Bunch’s Retirement, Trayon White’s Jury, And 25 Years Since 9/11
This week marks 25 years since the September 11th terrorist attacks: We talk about how that day changed the District. We also talk about Lonnie Bunch’s…
- City Cast DC
The Best Ethiopian Spots In The DMV
The DMV is the capital of Ethiopian America, and for 50 years eating Ethiopian food has been a Washington tradition. Over the years, the scene has become…
- City Cast DC
Are The Commanders Tiptoeing Back To The Team’s Old Name?
The Washington Commanders season opens on Sunday. But a lot of fans are busy talking about 2020, when the team changed its name from an ugly racial slur. Now…
- City Cast DC
Phillips Collection Highlights Local Artists In New Exhibition
What does it look like when local artists try to capture living through this particular moment in Washington? That’s the idea behind “Tomorrow The Sun Will…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Nashville Is Beating Flock — Presented By City Cast DC
Do you know what kind of surveillance technology is being used in DC? In Nashville, the city government has blocked numerous measures to install and use it…
- City Cast DC
Furries Banned At Ren Faire, Bowser Opposes a Roof For Audi Field, and JLG’s Here To Listen
This week we’re taking a look at likely mayor Janeese Lewis George’s all-ward listening tour. We’ll be talking about why current Mayor Muriel Bowser is…
- City Cast DC
Staffing Shortages, Unanswered Calls At D.C.’s Crisis Hotline
City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers has done some important reporting about problems at D.C.’s 988 suicide-prevention call line. In the spring, nearly half the calls…
- City Cast DC
Why Is Pirro Probing DCPS?
Last week, The Washington Post’s Perry Stein broke news that US Attorney Jeanine Pirro has convened a special grand jury in what looks like a probe of how the…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to September 2026 in D.C.
This September – we’ve got D.C.’s middle-school-girl-pop concert lineup, another chance to eat fruit in Malcolm X Park, and the best way to see (and taste) the…
- City Cast DC
Soupergirl CEO Debuts Show About The Messiest Chapter Of Her Life
You may know Sara Polon as the woman behind Soupergirl, the D.C. company whose soups are now in hundreds of supermarkets. But before that, she was a comedian…
- City Cast DC
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Is Pittsburgh’s Airport the Gold Standard? — Presented By City Cast DC
The D.C. airports definitely have a lot going for them, but they don’t have their own electrical grids, like Pittsburgh’s airport does. For the past few years…
- City Cast DC
A Long-Awaited D.C. Bridge, Trump Takes Aim At Think Tanks, And The Sunoco At 15th And U
This week, we’re talking about a Sunoco station on U Street and what it says about actually getting things built in D.C. We also look at the fate of a park…
- City Cast DC
Breaking Down The Flock Surveillance Camera Controversy
Police say license plate reader cameras like Flock are an important tool for solving crimes. But a new Washington Post investigation found dozens of cases…
- City Cast DC
Robert White's Fight to Defend D.C.
A new organization plans to fight for D.C.’s rights — by going into Congressional districts to unseat Republicans. Defend D.C. was announced this week by…