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
Why Our Social Worker Shortage Is Driving Up Houselessness
Houselessness is still below pre-pandemic levels in the District, but that good news doesn't paint the entire picture. Because there’s also been an increase in…
- City Cast DC
D.C. Sued For Anti-Abortion Arrest, Dogs Drown, & Is That Really The Best of D.C.?
District Dogs day care in Northeast flooded again, but this time, 10 dogs drowned. Our team talks about what happened and how the owner’s past pleas to the…
- City Cast DC
How To Start Running In D.C.
D.C. has loads of parks and trails, which make it a great city for running. It also has a lot of hills, which, for a lot of people….not so much. We sat down…
- City Cast DC
D.C. is Losing Jobs to Virginia
The pandemic changed where you work — and where the people who sell you stuff want to set up shop. In the D.C. area, this has meant jobs, and people, moving…
- City Cast DC
How To Get a New D.C. Memorial Constructed
During World War 2, women took on roles as codebreakers, pilots, butchers, and farmers to aid in the war effort. These women are “Rosies” like Rosie the…
- City Cast DC
What Haters Get Wrong About D.C.
D.C. gets a bad rep ... in a lot of ways. People say we're not fashionable, we're careerist snobs. Are they right? Co-hosts Mike Schaffer and Bridget Todd sat…
- City Cast DC
National Guard Intervention? Plus, Beyonce Concert Blunders, and Restaurant Vacations
This week, a Councilmember called for the National Guard to help curb D.C. crime, Beyonce fans came up against the famously terrible FedEx Field, and a bunch…
- City Cast DC
Is It Time To Change D.C.'s Skyline?
When you think of city skylines, you might picture dazzling skyscrapers and high-rises. But not in D.C., where the Height Act of 1910 has given the city its…
- City Cast DC
The Best Places to Cry in D.C.
D.C. can be a tough city and sometimes we all need to have a little cry. And it turns out D.C. is a great city for crying in public. Kiara McGowan from the now…
- City Cast DC
Excavating D.C.’s Slave History at Mount Zion Cemetery
Mount Zion is one of the oldest Black cemeteries in D.C. and a lot of former enslaved people are buried there. Plus, it was a stop on the underground railroad!…
- City Cast DC
Should All D.C. Stoves Be Electric?
It’s a common attitude among foodies that gas stoves are better, but not if you ask Rob Rubba, chef at Oyster Oyster. And he would know, because he just won a…
- City Cast DC
Suspicious Festival Cancellation, Preventing Power Outages, and a New Penn Ave
While America is talking about what’s happening in a certain local courtroom, our team is talking about the mystery of a canceled Asian American book festival…
- City Cast DC
Brutally Honest D.C. Restaurant Opinions
What are D.C.'s most overrated restaurants? Is $20 for a sandwich actually a reasonable price? Washingtonian’s food editor Jessica Sidman joins the City Cast…
- City Cast DC
The Dark and Twisted Pasts of D.C's Famous Sites
D.C.’s streets are full of hidden histories. JoAnn Hill wrote the literal book on them, and she’s here to share some of the weirdest — and darkest — stories…
- City Cast DC
Hot Tips for Staying Cool in D.C.
We’ve had excessive heat warnings the last few days in D.C. and with the start of August, things probably aren’t cooling off any time soon. City Cast…
- City Cast DC
Which New Route Should Metro Build?
Metro is considering its largest expansion since the announcement of the Silver Line. Jordan Pascale, WAMU’s Transportation Reporter, shares details of the…
- City Cast DC
Avoiding the Heat, Invasive Worms, and Ugliest Buildings
It’s hot, even for us sweat acclimated Washingtonians. Our team is covering how to stay cool, plus an invasion of poisonous worms in the District. Also, we…
- City Cast DC
D.C. Food Critic Spills Industry Secrets
Tom Sietsema has spent a career eating his way through town as the Washington Post’s restaurant critic. He won’t tell us his secret aliases for reservations…
- City Cast DC
Living on the Streets in the D.C. Heat
No matter where you live, summers in D.C. are brutal. But do you know what it feels like to wake up in a nylon tent when it's like this? Street Sense vendor…
- City Cast DC
Kids Are Dying From Gun Violence in Record Numbers This Year
It’s been a deadly summer in DC so far. 12 kids have already died from gunfire this year. Emily Davies, reporter at the Washington Post, has been covering this…
- City Cast DC
We’re Finally Free of Dan Snyder. Now What?
On Friday, the Washington Commanders gained a new owner — and the city lost a collective enemy. Defector Media's Dave McKenna, a man who spent years…
- City Cast DC
New Police Chief, Ranked Choice Voting's Fate, and World Cup Watch Parties
D.C. has a new Police Chief. Will she find a solution to the District’s crime surge? How does her appointment change the politics of the crime bill? City…
- City Cast DC
Will The Commanders Return To D.C.?
Washington is on the cusp of a new stadium debate: The Commanders, now under new ownership, want out of Landover, and the mayor wants to bring them back to the…
- City Cast DC
Are D.C. Spaces Accessible?
July is Disability Pride Month, and we need to talk about the accessibility of D.C.’s spaces. One in four adults in D.C. have a disability and more than one in…
- City Cast DC
The Best Time to Visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens? Right Now.
The Lotus and Water Lily Festival is in full bloom over at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and will be running until July 22nd, where you can catch the iconic…
- City Cast DC
A Landlord Vs. Tenant Smackdown in Northeast
There’s an ugly fight going on about terrible conditions, tenant protests, and questionable evictions at an apartment building in DC’s Brookland neighborhood —…
- City Cast DC
Emergency Crime Bill, Metro’s Ambitious Plans, and BWI’s Bathrooms
DC Council passed emergency crime legislation in its last meeting of the session. Will it actually quell the rising crime stats across the city? City Cast’s…
- City Cast DC
D.C.'s Most Annoying Development Debate
The McMillan Sand Filtration Site is about to emerge as the Reservoir District, rebranding a part of town that for years, was the focal point of the city's…
- City Cast DC
What To Eat, Drink, and See in Georgetown
Fringe Festival kicks off today! It’s an exciting annual event that highlights the local theater scene, but … it’s in Georgetown, famously one of the most…
- City Cast DC
Best River, Lake, and Ocean Day Trips From DC
If this is your least favorite time of year for D.C. weather, you’re not alone. I’m right there with you. It’s been hot, sticky, and humid the last few weeks…
- City Cast DC
A Controversial, New Shelter in Foggy Bottom
The city is pushing ahead with plans to build a controversial homeless shelter in a former George Washington University dorm. It’s on a block with 2 hotels and…
- City Cast DC
Cheap Air Filters, Best Local Ice Cream, and Branded Metro Cars
The Canadian wildfires are likely to keep smogging up our air on and off through October. The team is here to discuss cheap air filter alternatives, whether…
- City Cast DC
Creating a D.C. High School From Scratch
This fall, DC will open its first new neighborhood high school in decades. Harold McCray, the new principal of MacArthur High School, joins us to share how you…
- City Cast DC
Should New Buildings Fit “Neighborhood Character”?
There's a big debate happening in Shaw over potential new condos at 1515 Ninth Street NW. A local developer wants to replace the vacant building and parking…
- City Cast DC
Why D.C. Fast Casual Reigns Supreme
CAVA just went public, to huge success in the market. District Taco announced this year that it wants to go national soon. CYM is going national already. D.C…
- City Cast DC
School Board Protest, Sportswashing, and Fourth of July
Hundreds of people showed up to a Montgomery County school board meeting this week, protesting the LGBTQ+ books in the curriculum. Plus, there’s a lot of…
- City Cast DC
Harassment Scandal Casts Doubt on Mayor's Leadership
This week has brought still more ugly workplace sexual misconduct allegations in the case of John Falcicchio, who was Mayor Bowser’s indispensable top aide…
- City Cast DC
Why D.C. Traffic Enforcement is Such A Mess
Traffic fatalities in D.C. are up 50% this year. But enforcement is way down. Now, the city is sending out texts and mail to high-risk drivers, to remind them…
- City Cast DC
How E-Scooters Are Changing D.C.
Lime broke its D.C.-area record for e-scooter and e-bike trips in May, with 430,000 trips. It’s proof of the thing we’re all feeling: that these new forms of…
- City Cast DC
Why Bears are Roaming D.C.
Bears! They’ve been spotted in Rockville, Hyattsville, Arlington, Roosevelt Island, and Northeast D.C.’s Brookland, where neighbors called animal control about…
- City Cast DC
Mayoral Office Harassment Scandal, GOP's Traffic Meddling, and Swimply Drama
In this week’s roundup, Cuynet Dil from Axios DC and City Cast contributor Dan Reed are here to chat about the latest in the troubling saga of John Falcicchio…
- City Cast DC
Which D.C. Airport Should You Use Most?
Washington is the rare city where locals have three airports to choose from. And even if you’re aiming to buy tickets just based on price, it’s not always that…
- City Cast DC
GRRRR! Kicking Off DCPL’s Dino Roar Contest
The DC public library is officially kicking off its annual dinosaur roar competition. In the past, the contest has been so popular it’s gone global, and the…
City Cast DCA Guide to D.C.’s Summer Festivals
Today we’re all about festivals — summer in D.C. is full of them, and Nicole Schaller from District Fray is here to tell you which ones to hit, which to skip…
- City Cast DC
More Flights at DCA? Plus, Ruby Corado's Dramatic Fall and Juneteenth Plans
There’s a big fight going on over adding more flights to DCA — which side should you be on? Plus, Britt Peterson is here to talk about her Washingtonian expose…
- City Cast DC
D.C.’s Path to Statehood
The fight for statehood has been a longstanding wish for residents of the District. Will D.C. get it? Who is against it? And what would it look like if the…
- City Cast DC
What To Do When the Snakes Come Out
D.C. is in prime season for snake sightings. That might sound a little scary for some, but local wildlife educator Caroline Seitz says they're more afraid of…
City Cast DCWhy You Need to Visit Anacostia Park
D.C. has one of the most dynamic parks around. It’s bigger than NYC’s Central Park, and you can roller skate, go boating, or even take a class. Richard Trent…
- City Cast DC
The Future of Dave Thomas Circle
Did you know that Dave Thomas Circle — that weird, notoriously chaotic triangle-shaped block out in Northeast where there used to be a Wendy’s — was never…
- City Cast DC
Suffocating Smog, Congress Attacks D.C. Elections, and Local Pride History
It’s hazy out there! We chat about what to do about the Canadian smoke spreading across D.C. Plus, Congress has some thoughts on voting rules in the District…
- City Cast DC
D.C.-Made Beers You Have to Try
D.C.’s craft brewery scene is young, but prolific. There are 16 craft breweries in the city, and it’s home to the largest percentage of Black beer brands in…
- City Cast DC
The Chaotic Phasing-Out of the Tipped Minimum Wage
D.C. residents voted to phase out the tipped minimum wage, and it’s finally now happening, but gradually and confusingly. In the meantime, what’s happening to…
City Cast DCD.C.’s Best Outdoor Movie Screenings
Grab your blanket and popcorn, because we’re kicking off our Summer Entertainment Guide series by talking about outdoor summer movies! Which has the best…
- City Cast DC
Moon Rabbit Mysteriously Closed. What's Next?
Moon Rabbit, the award winning restaurant that was at the base of the Wharf’s Intercontinental Hotel, closed down abruptly two weeks ago. The Washington Post…
- City Cast DC
Metro Crime, Commanders’ Trademark Issues, and Best Pools
On this week’s CCDC roundup, we’re talking crime on the Metro, more drama around the name of our football team, and — now that it’s summer — we’re breaking…
- City Cast DC
Farewell to D.C.’s Police Chief
DC’s police chief is moving on after just two years atop the force. It’s a moment of rising crime, Congressional meddling, and lingering worries about…
- City Cast DC
An Award-Winning Take on D.C.'s Food Scene
WAMU’s food culture podcast Dish City is nominated for yet ANOTHER James Beard Award this year. It’s a huge accomplishment, and in celebration, we’re rerunning…
- City Cast DC
D.C. Has One More Day to Fix its Public Housing
Did you know that D.C.’s public housing authority is the poorest performing one in the country? Yikes. The federal government gave DCHA a scathing review and…
- City Cast DC
Moon Rabbit Closes, Cop Colludes with Proud Boys, and Ranked Choice Voting
One of D.C.’s top restaurants abruptly shut down Monday under mysterious circumstances. It turns out its an issue that has to do with unions, money, and…
- City Cast DC
How Go-Go Got Going
Mike and Bridget sit down with “Big Tony” Fisher, from the seminal D.C. go-go band Trouble Funk. He talked about growing up in D.C., getting his start in the…