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
Inside St. Elizabeth's Abandoned Lobotomy Lab
We’re talking about St. Elizabeths. As a lot of folks know, the campus of D.C.’s psychiatric hospital has transformed over the past 15 years. There’s still a…
- City Cast DC
DC's 10-Day Election Scenario, World Cup Specials Hit DC, and UFC Chaos at the White House
We’re talking about the state of the mayoral race with a week to go. We’re also talking about whether it really is just a week to go, since DC voters just got…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Best (and Most Underrated) Breakfast Sandwiches
New York City might be known for its iconic bodega staple, the bacon egg and cheese, but DC also does breakfast sandwiches pretty well, too. In a quest to find…
- City Cast DC
A New Study Says DC’s National Guard Surge Did Not Reduce Violent Crime
A new think tank study has some fascinating findings about Donald Trump’s national guard deployment in DC: The dramatic surge reduced property crimes by almost…
- City Cast DC
'Your City Could Be Better': How Las Vegas Saves More Water Than Any Other City — Presented By City Cast DC
Washington, DC, recycles some of its water, but not as much as Las Vegas, where the water there stays in the city. How else could a desert city possibly have…
- City Cast DC
One Ballot, Five Choices: A Guide to DC's Ranked Choice Voting {Sponsored}
D.C.'s June Primary is June 16th and this year, voting works differently. For the first time, D.C. is using Ranked Choice Voting, which means you can rank up…
- City Cast DC
Mayoral Race Showdown, What’s Happening at the Rock Creek Tennis Center, and Three Great New Bars
We’re going to get into the mayoral race as it heads into its final week, we’re going to talk about why you should pay attention to what’s happening at the…
- City Cast DC
This Federal Charity Funds Local Initiatives. It Could Disappear
For more than 50 years, the Combined Federal Campaign has been a part of DC life. It’s the world’s biggest workplace charity, letting government employees…
- City Cast DC
DC's Star Wars, What's Next For KenCen After Judge Orders Trump's Name Removed, and a DMV Sea Monkey Legacy
We’re talking about the latest twist in the battle of The Star versus The Washington Star, we’re talking about the odds that Donald Trump’s name will actually…
- City Cast DC
Kinney Zalesne Makes her Case Over White and Pinto
The two best-known candidates in the race for DC’s Congressional Delegate are sitting members of the DC Council. We’re talking today with a different candidate…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to June 2026 in DC
What are you gonna do this month? We’ve got answers: Pride programming. America 250 programming. America 250 counter programming. And lots of barbecue. For…
- City Cast DC
'Your City Could Be Better': How Chicago's Libraries Meet Community Needs — Presented By City Cast DC
Where would DC be without its libraries? Chicago is opening its 82nd public library branch in June, and loaning out books is just the tip of the iceberg when…
- City Cast DC
Feds Face Trump NDAs, DC's World Cup Watch Parties, and Scripps Spelling Bee Dreams
We’re talking about NDAs for feds, we’re talking about the World Cup in DC (even if it’s not in DC), and we’re talking about the Spelling Bee, which is in fact…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to DC’s Best Beaches
Summer's here, and if you're already sweating through your shirt on the Metro platform, it might be time to find a beach. DC isn't exactly known as a beach…
- City Cast DC
Brooke Pinto Talks Her Hill Strategy, Stadium Deal, and Dossier Debacle
We’re talking with Brooke Pinto. She currently represents Ward 2 on the D.C. Council but is currently running in the Democratic primary to be D.C.’s…
- City Cast DC
Who Wins Summer in the USA? DC Makes Its Case
City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson hosts this showdown where 12 City Cast reps, including City Cast DC host Bridget Todd, compete head-to-head and…
- City Cast DC
Most Popular DC Baby Names, Malcolm X Park's $16 Million Glow-Up, and Why DJs Love DC Now
We’re talking about the politics of crime in DC — and other intel we picked up from our big election poll. We’re talking about who deserves credit for…
- City Cast DC
Janeese Lewis George Talks Affordability, Education, and Policing
We’re talking with Janeese Lewis George. According to our new City Cast poll, she’s leading the race for mayor. We talked about how she really thinks about…
- City Cast DC
Here's What Our Poll Says About the State of the Mayor's Race
There have been no citywide public polls of the DC mayor’s race. That changes today. I’m here with Giacomo Squatriti, one of the pollsters who conducted City…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Best Summer Trips Under $150
It’s officially summer travel season. And listen, gas prices and travel prices are through the roof right now, but that doesn't mean you can’t still enjoy a…
- City Cast DC
Inside Trump’s No-Bid Contract Turning the Reflecting Pool Blue
What’s going on with the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool? The blue paint is slowly covering the national landmark. But nearly every day there’s a story about…
- City Cast DC
'Your City Could Be Better': Do DC’s Hated Traffic Cameras Really Make the City Safer?
Would DC be safer if there were more automated traffic cameras? In 2025, the city brought in nearly $270 million from more than 500 automated traffic…
- City Cast DC
Lewis George Leads Mayor's Race, Trump's Dulles Plans Leak, and Facebook Marketplace Dinners
We’re talking about the state of the mayor’s race, the new plans for Dulles Airport, and all the great meals you can buy off Facebook Marketplace in DC…
- City Cast DC
Randy Clarke Rips That Washington Post Editorial, His Favorite Metro Stop, and No New Metro Near RFK
Today we're talking with Randy Clarke, the head of Metro and one of the most popular officials in D.C. Mike busted his chops about bus schedules, he busted…
- City Cast DC
Scandalous DC Cop Texts, Trump's $13 Million Pool Paint Job, Digging Into DC's Reality Show
We’re talking about a DC Police Scandal — but not the one you think! We’re talking about the latest twists in Donald Trump’s various schemes for the National…
- City Cast DC
The 111 Most Underrated Spots to Bring Kids in DC
Hey parents! Remember those early pandemic days when you were stuck inside with your kids, just trying to figure out how to keep them entertained? Austin Graff…
- City Cast DC
Robert White Wants To Be Your New Warrior On The Hill
We’re chatting with DC Councilmember Robert White. He’s one of the candidates running for the job of DC’s nonvoting Congressional delegate. During our…
- City Cast DC
'Your City Could Be Better': Philly's Bold Nightlife Experiment — Presented By City Cast DC
Washingtonians, would your city be better if the bars stayed open later? This summer, Philadelphia is anticipating a record-breaking number of tourists coming…
- City Cast DC
Crime Stats Scandal Rocks MPD, All About That Obama Musical, and National Mall Food Might Get Good?!
Happy Friday. We’re talking about the fallout from the MPD’s scandal over manipulated crime data. We’re talking about the Obama musical that’s currently…
- City Cast DC
Trump's Elite Golf Vision Could Kill Public Access at Hains Point
Does Donald Trump want to hijack a DC municipal golf course from the middle class and hand it over to the rich? That’s what critics of his plans for East…
- City Cast DC
A Kennedy Center Insider Explains Its Shocking Plan to Dump Art
Josef Palermo is the author of an explosive recent piece in the Atlantic recounting what he saw as a senior staffer at the Kennedy Center. Palermo’s an…
- City Cast DC
How Protests in 1991 Changed Mount Pleasant
It’s the 35th anniversary of the protests that rocked D.C.’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood after the police shooting of El Salvadoran immigrant Daniel Gomez…
- City Cast DC
Kenyan McDuffie Talks Housing, Police Crisis, and Why He Won’t ‘Suck Up’ to Trump
We’re talking with Kenyan McDuffie. As you may have heard, the longtime DC Council member is running for mayor. We talked about how he thinks our city can…
- City Cast DC
Ranked Choice Voting Confusion, Make DC Square Again, Bad Take on WHCD Shooting
City Cast’s Emma Uber and the 51st’s Martin Austermuhle are here talking about the state of the DC election campaign, who’s up, who’s down, and whether ranked…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to May 2026 in DC
What are you gonna do this month? We’ve got answers. Aperol Spritzes! Raves! Beaches! Allergies! Jazz! Upcoming elections! Stick around because we’ve got you…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to DC’s Porchfests in 2026
It’s almost one of the most fun times of the year — porchfest season! Adams Morgan’s is this Saturday, Petworth’s is in May. City Cast’s own Mark Kulkosky and…
- City Cast DC
Correspondents' Dinner Shooting, Ride Share Freebies, and the Blue Reflecting Pool
We’re talking about the fallout from the White House Correspondents Association shooting over the weekend; we’re talking about the ride-share app Empower and…
- City Cast DC
How Congress Flies: Secret Rooms, VIP Perks, and Trump's Dulles Dreams
You probably had a sense that members of Congress got some special goodies at National airport. But what are they? We asked Gary Leff, the legendary travel…
- City Cast DC
'Your City Could Be Better': Meet Nashville's Rogue Bench Builders — Presented By City Cast DC
Are DIY urban projects the key to improving the infrastructure in cities like DC? The grassroots group To Nashville, With Love has built and installed 60…
- City Cast DC
McDuffie vs. Lewis George, DC Teens Sound Off on the Curfew, and Baby Elephant’'s Bubble Bath
City Cast reporters Michael Brice-Saddler and Emma Uber join host Michael Schaffer to talk about the state of the DC mayoral election, the weird new drama over…
- City Cast DC
How DC’s Food Scene Stacks Up Against the Competition
Which region has the BEST food in the USA? Eater has tried to answer that question in their new book Eaterland, and our very own Tim Ebner made his case for…
- City Cast DC
The Hirshhorn's Head is Gone. What's Next For Modern Art in DC?
The head of DC’s Hirshhorn Museum is leaving to take over the Guggenheim in New York. Ordinarily, that’s something that might be looked at as a normal career…
- City Cast DC
DC Police Bombshell, Fairfax Murder-Suicide, and Get Your Money Back From Ticketmaster!
We’re talking about the bombshell report on DC police and the case of Republican Congressman Cory Mills; we’re talking about the troubling conversation after…
- City Cast DC
Why Can't DC Solve Its 'Teen Takeover' Problem?
Teen Takeovers — and what to do about them — has become one of the most divisive issues in local Washington. The mayor announced a new curfew; rivals like…
- City Cast DC
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Seattle Gives Every Voter $100 — Presented By City Cast D.C.
Could public financing get D.C. more involved in local elections? For the last decade, the City of Seattle has issued $100 in vouchers to every voter to donate…
- City Cast DC
Pinto's 67-Page Hit Job, MAHA on the Mall, and Why DCPS Enrollment Tanked
We’re talking about OPPO-GATE, the baffling turn in the D.C. Congressional Delegate race, where candidate Brooke Pinto has inexplicably posted an entire…
- City Cast DC
Every Failure Leading Up to the Potomac Sewage Nightmare
January’s massive Potomac sewage spill has led to it becoming the most endangered river in the nation. But that failure didn’t come out of nowhere. Washington…
- City Cast DC
The Map Killing Housing In DC
DC is a big city, but did you know that it’s actually illegal to build anything other than a suburban-style house in most of it? According to today's guest…
- City Cast DC
Painful Cuts, Bright Spots, Shit Sandwich? The New DC Budget
The mayor has just rolled out her final budget and it’s pretty painful. Jenny Reed walked us through the administration’s theory of the case — why they think…
- City Cast DC
Why the Holocaust Museum Censored Itself Before Trump Even Asked
We’re talking about another Trump-era controversy at a DC cultural institution — in this case, the Holocaust Museum, which last year yanked down content…
- City Cast DC
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Portland’s Considering Hiring a Night Mayor — Presented By City Cast DC
Washingtonians, what do you do when your night life starts to dwindle? Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices are often closed when…
- City Cast DC
Dirt Bike Debate, Penn Ave Redo, Goodbye (Maybe?!) to Ovi
DC is starting to feel like an old Dennis the Menace cartoon. Last week, the city was up in arms about teens running wild at Navy Yard. This week, there’s…
- City Cast DC
The Washington Post's New Food Critic Tells All
Once upon a time, the food critic of the Washington Post was an all-powerful — and totally anonymous — figure in the local restaurant industry. But the paper’s…
- City Cast DC
Inside the Architecture of DC's Homes
Have you always wanted to be one of those people who can tell a Georgian D.C. rowhouse from a Federal D.C. rowhouse, or drop the name of Harry Wardman? Then…
- City Cast DC
How 56,000 Lost Jobs Could Change DC Forever
The DC area lost 56,000 jobs in 2025, the worst of any major Metro area. But is it as bad as it sounds? Tracy Haddon Low of the Brookings Institution studies…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Best Hangover Foods
The hangover— it happens to the best of us, it can even happen if you don't drink! So crack open that Pedialyte and settle in, because Ann Limpert and her…
- City Cast DC
'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium — Presented By City Cast D.C.
While both D.C. and Denver have a professional Women's Soccer team (go Spirit!), Denver is only the second city in the U.S. to build a stadium specifically for…
- City Cast DC
Bowser Taking L’s vs. Council, Trump’s Ballroom Blocked, DC’s Best Chefs
The 51st’s Martin Austermuhle is here to talk about the DC Council, Muriel Bowser, and public safety — where the Council keeps handing the mayor defeats, the…
- City Cast DC
It's About To Get Even Easier To Fire Federal Workers
The Trump Administration is about to reclassify tens of thousands of federal jobs so that it can treat them like patronage appointees. This is huge news for…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to April 2026 in DC
Whether you’re looking to become a baseball fan, escape to a rave on the mall, or just admire all the pretty flowers, the City Cast DC gang has some great…