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
How to Spy a Secret Agent in DC
Who’s that behind you? Are you being followed? It’s not paranoia because if you’re in D.C., there’s a non-zero chance that you’re being tailed. Former CIA…
- City Cast DC
You’re Recycling Wrong — Here’s What To Do About It
Also! We’re kicking off our FIRST-EVER City Cast 6 Awards, where we recognize six individuals transforming D.C. in various categories (like food, business…
- City Cast DC
FBI's New Home, City-Funded Stadium Makeover, and New Credit Card Fees
The FBI has finally said where it’s moving — a decision that could have a big impact on the shape of the D.C. area. The Wizards and Capitals are asking for a…
- City Cast DC
There Was Almost a Black Chevy Chase. What Happened?
In 1906, a group of entrepreneurs set out to create an upscale Black suburban community in what is now Chevy Chase. It never happened — and, eventually, even…
- City Cast DC
Eastern Market Turns 150. Here’s How To Celebrate
It’s Eastern Market’s 150th anniversary this weekend, and we're here to talk history, favorites, and what’s on tap for the celebration. We’re kicking off our…
- City Cast DC
Are D.C.’s Shadow Senators Failing?
It’s Election Day! But in the District this year that’s pretty boring. So we’re looking ahead to a 2024 race that is already getting pretty heated: for the…
- City Cast DC
Rockville Could Let 16-Year-Olds Vote
Would you let a 16-year-old vote? Rockville is considering it, and it’s actually on the ballot tomorrow. Becca Fulton is one of the teenagers behind the…
- City Cast DC
Virginia Elections, Nutty Weather, and a Bib Gourmand Tasting
We’re joined by Virginia Public Radio’s Michael Pope to talk about the elections in Virginia and what they mean for you. Plus, we dig into winter forecasts and…
- City Cast DC
Why People Hate That NoVa Is a Data Center Hub
You might not think of NoVa as a data center hub, but it is! And it’s possible it’ll expand even more in the coming year. But not if residents have THEIR say…
- City Cast DC
Your Fall Guide to D.C.'s Underrated Art Scene
D.C. is a great arts city, even if it doesn't always get the shine it deserves. And once you start paying attention, the variety of options can be a little…
- City Cast DC
MPD Overtime Pay, D.C. Halloween Etiquette, and Name That Neighborhood
There’s an alarming stat floating around – that D.C. needs to shuffle around more than 16 million dollars in funding to cover local cops’ overtime pay. DCist’s…
- City Cast DC
Could A New Bill Save Local News?
The D.C. Council is considering a bill that would allocate government funding for local news outlets, and residents would get to pick which ones get money…
- City Cast DC
New Crime Bill, Zebra Saga Ends, and Leaf Collection Guide
We’re joined by Axios’ Cuneyt Dil and City Cast contributor Dan Reed to talk through the D.C. mayor’s sweeping new anti-crime proposal, the latest twist in the…
- City Cast DC
Why We Hate D.C.’s New Slogan
D.C. is rolling out a new slogan this November, to entice more international tourists to visit. But our hosts Michael and Bridget are ... less than thrilled…
- City Cast DC
A New Home for D.C.'s Coolest Artifacts
D.C.'s got some incredible historical artifacts. Think Duke Ellington’s birth certificate, a will for Alexander Graham Bell, and even some 2,000-year-old…
- City Cast DC
RFK Stadium Frustration, Fake Headlines, and Listener Emails
There was a HEATED community meeting last week about RFK stadium, and the team breaks it all down. Plus, we’re playing a new “news” game, and hearing directly…
- City Cast DC
How D.C.’s Parole System Could Change
D.C.’s parole system is run by the federal government, just like the prison system as a whole, and that has impacts for all of us. There’s an effort in DC to…
- City Cast DC
Wawa Fight, Statehood Struggles, and a Transformed Museum
We’re talking about a fight at a Wawa — or at least about how that fight was covered, and what it says about where DC’s at right now. Plus, we chat through the…
- City Cast DC
D.C.’s Most Haunted Spots
Halloween is here! Which means it’s time to tell scary stories. And rather than make brand-new ones, we chatted last October with Washingtonian senior editor…
- City Cast DC
Is The DMV’s Next Great Downtown in NoVa?
Is National Landing the next big thing in the DMV? That bit of Northern Virginia — including Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard — is on a mission to…
- City Cast DC
Local Palestine-Israel Efforts, Stop Sign Cameras, and Best Speakeasies
The weight of what’s happening in Israel and Palestine is so heavy that it’s palpable for many of us here in D.C. We’ve got some suggestions for what YOU can…
- City Cast DC
Why a NoVa School Might Go to the Supreme Court
Thomas Jefferson High School, the math and science magnet school in Northern Virginia, is one of the most famous public schools in the country — and one of the…
- City Cast DC
AdMo Housing Debate, Unsavory School Names, and Friday the 13th
The team chats about the latest twist in a goofy Adams Morgan development saga — and why it oughta matter to you even if you never hang out at the late…
- City Cast DC
Why D.C. Sports Betting Is a Mess
In D.C., you’re only allowed to use one sports betting app — and the company behind it is a WRECK. It’s a status quo that has real costs — even if you don’t…
- City Cast DC
D.C.’s Most Underrated Restaurants
There have been a lot of buzzy new restaurant openings in DC lately, but don’t forget about the durable, DC staples that fly under the radar, but endure for a…
- City Cast DC
After District Dogs: What Can D.C. Do About Flooding?
D.C. has had intense floods this year, and with climate change, it’s only poised to get worse. Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe, a journalist at Hola Cultura, is here to…
- City Cast DC
Pricey Nats Upgrade, DC’s Budget Surplus, and Pandas’ Farewell
Mike is joined by Julia Karron and Kaela Cote-Stemmermann and they’re talking about taxpayer money — first for a stadium scoreboard, then for a boost in food…
- City Cast DC
What a New RFK Stadium Could Mean For D.C.
The House Oversight Committee actually agreed on something, and that was to possibly bring the Washington Commanders back to the old RFK site. The legislation…
- City Cast DC
Shaw May Ban New Liquor Licenses
Some Shaw residents are calling for a three-year moratorium on new bars and nightclubs on 9th Street between T St and U St. NBC Reporter Mark Segraves tells us…
- City Cast DC
Dismissed Harassment Complaints, New Metro Taxes, and Washington Monument Reviews
The team discusses new details about how D.C. government handles sexual harassment complaints. Short answer: not well. Plus, D.C. is considering a new tax to…
- City Cast DC
How Social Media is Propelling D.C.'s Youth Homicides
It’s no secret that homicides are up in DC: Last week, we recorded our 200th murder of the year. But there’s more confusion about why this is happening…
- City Cast DC
Skyrocketing Homicides, Shutdown Guide for D.C., and McDonald’s Mumbo Sauce
DC passed a grim homicide milestone this week — 200 murders before October, for the first time since 1997. Plus, we’re on the cusp of a government shutdown in…
- City Cast DC
D.C. Fashion is Making Waves
D.C. is not always known as a fashionable city. But as you’ll see this weekend, at D.C.’s fashion week events, that doesn’t mean there aren’t stylish people…
- City Cast DC
The Best Local Wines and Where to Get Them
It’s the last installment of our fall guide, and we’re talking wineries and vineyards. You might not realize the DMV is a place that grows award-winning wine…
- City Cast DC
Leaf-Peeping in the DMV Without a Car
It’s day two of our fall getaway guide and we’d be remiss if we let this week go by without talking about the most obvious of fall activities: leaf peeping!!…
- City Cast DC
D.C. Fall Fairs Worth Your Time
With the humidity finally abating, we’re eagerly looking forward to fall festivities. In the first installment of our three-part fall getaway series, we’re…
- City Cast DC
Liquor License Mayhem, New Metrobus Names, and Modern Art
Amanda Michelle Gomez from WAMU tells Mike and Julia about her reporting on liquor licenses and allegations of discrimination against Black businesses. Plus…
- City Cast DC
The Ultimate D.C. Trivia Showdown
How well do you know our city? Actually, how well does City Cast know our city? City Cast CEO David Plotz and Michael Schaffer, both D.C. natives, squared off…
- City Cast DC
The Battle Over Connecticut Avenue’s Bike Lanes
Things are getting TENSE up in Cleveland Park over a plan to install bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue. Arguments over a plan to install bike lanes on…
- City Cast DC
Should D.C. Pay Reparations?
After slavery, D.C. paid financial restitution...to former enslavers that is. Now, DC Council is considering creating a task force to explore paying…
- City Cast DC
What Should Brookland Metro Station Look Like?
Metro is planning to redevelop the Brookland Metro stop, but what should the new version look like? Considering this project touches on Metro, housing…
- City Cast DC
Hell’s Kitchen Drama, Loudoun NIMBYs, and Exciting New Restaurants
A NIMBY fight in the suburbs is pitting mental health advocates against disability rights activists. Plus, there have been shocking reports about a toxic and…
- City Cast DC
How To Talk Like a D.C. Local
How can you tell if someone’s from D.C.? Minnie Quartey can do so with her eyes closed: As the coordinator of Georgetown’s Language and Communications in…
- City Cast DC
District Bridges Wants to Help You Hire (Sponsored)
Hiring in D.C. can be tricky and time-consuming, especially if you want to be mindful of diversity and inclusion along the way. In this episode sponsored by…
- City Cast DC
The Viral Mass Thefts Worrying D.C. Shoppers
Property crime is on the rise in DC and there’s an aspect to it you might not be familiar with -performance crime, where young people commit steal things as…
- City Cast DC
A New Approach to Art on the National Mall
“Beyond Granite: Pulling Together” is a first-of-its-kind outdoor exhibit on the National Mall, highlighting stories that are underrepresented in the…
- City Cast DC
How D.C. Is Managing This Drought
You might not know it, but DC is in the middle of the drought. But we’ve also had flooding in the city- so how can both things be true? And should we be…
- City Cast DC
Giant Pulling National Brands, Heat Wave, and New Food Hall
The only major grocery store east of the Anacostia River is facing a theft crisis that has prompted big changes. Plus, we’re talking about a food court, a heat…
- City Cast DC
District Dogs Flood Exposes D.C.’s Flaws
It’s one of the saddest stories of the year — and the most infuriating. A flood at a DC doggie day-care last month led to the deaths of 10 dogs. Mark Seagraves…
- City Cast DC
Finding the Right D.C. Book Club For You
Joining a book club not only forces you to actually finish a book for once, it also lets you tap into a new social community. With book clubs on everything…
- City Cast DC
What Metro's Changing this Fall
Anyone who lives here knows that if you want to get any two people in the region into an argument, all you need to do is bring up something involving traffic…
- City Cast DC
Pandemic Migration Costs, Driverless Cars, and Renaming the Commanders
Pandemic-era changes in where people live may be messing with DC’s budget, self-driving cars may soon be messing with DC’s roads, and lots of folks hope the…
- City Cast DC
Are Georgetown Streateries Here to Stay?
Streateries were a feature of the pandemic. Three years on, they’re still with us — and city planners are looking at ways to make them permanent. Joe Sternlieb…
- City Cast DC
What the COVID-19 Surge Means for You
The COVID-19 hospitalization rate in D.C. rose 29% earlier this summer. But it definitely doesn’t feel like a pandemic out here. Everything’s open, people are…
- City Cast DC
D.C.'s Troubled 911 System Has Fatal Consequences
The 911 call center is back in the news after the flooding that killed 10 pups at District Dogs daycare on August 14th. A dispatcher error delayed the…
- City Cast DC
D.C.’s Most Coveted Undeveloped Land
Poplar Point is a federally-owned waterfront property in Anacostia. It’s also one of the most contested spaces in D.C. because everybody agrees it’s prime real…
- City Cast DC
Comparing Crime Rates, Little League Drama, and Best Pizza
A new poll says most Americans think DC is a safe city to live in, but around here, it seems all people are talking about is crime. So how bad is it really?…
- City Cast DC
How to Safely Bike Around D.C.
Locals Siddharth Muchhal and Bobo Stankovikj set out to visit every Bikeshare dock in the DMV. Why did they do it and what tips and tricks do they have for the…
- City Cast DC
D.C. is Bringing Roller Skating Back
Roller skating became all the rage during the pandemic, but for D.C., this wasn’t really a new thing. Just ask D.C. skate enthusiast, Salleta Coleman. She…
- City Cast DC
Celebrating 65 Years of Ben’s Chili Bowl
The word “iconic” gets used too much in D.C. But in the case of Ben’s Chili Bowl, the U Street Mecca for late-night half-smokes, it fits. Bridget and Mike sat…