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
Is DC Still a Good City To Live In?
Historically, a government town like Washington didn’t have to scrape and scrap for jobs like other cities. These days, amid unprecedented cuts to federal…
- City Cast DC
Battle For DC’s House Seat, Crime Stat Fakery, and Fave Things Unaffected by the Shutdown
We’re talking about the jockeying for DC’s House seat and the explosive controversy over crime stats. Plus, your ideal shutdown itinerary of non-federal DC…
- City Cast DC
Real Safety Starts with Prevention {Sponsored}
On this bonus sponsored episode of City Cast DC, the Public Welfare Foundation is all about supporting safer, more just communities here in DC. And today…
- City Cast DC
Best DC Camping Spots This Fall
Summer’s over, but that doesn’t mean camping has to be. Whether you’re an experienced outdoorswoman like me or just testing the waters with a little car…
- City Cast DC
Restaurant Secrets From DC's Most Legendary Food Critic
Tom Sietsema, the longtime food critic at the Washington Post, announced yesterday that he’s retiring. And he finally revealed his identity! Now, most DC…
- City Cast DC
Why Hasn’t DC Stopped Collaborating With ICE?
New reporting from the Washington Post and the New York Timesalleges that MPD is still very much still collaborating with ICE. Teo Armus from the Washington…
- City Cast DC
How Bleak is DC's Unemployment Crisis?
It’s the question everyone’s been asking since DOGE first showed up: How screwed is DC? A new program at the Brookings Institution called DMV Monitor pulls…
- City Cast DC
Will The Shutdown Tank DC's Economy? Plus, Rideshare Drama, and Your New Favorite Venue
We’re talking about the government shutting down — and what the city is going to do about it. We’re talking about a ride-share service being shut down — and…
- City Cast DC
How the Shutdown Screws DC
The government shutdown affects the whole country, but it’s an especially big deal in DC. Our city is already reeling, and now we’re facing an event that…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to October 2025 in DC
October in DC is just lovely. The weather is good. The leaves are turning. And even though the city is still reeling from the federal takeover, we are still…
- City Cast DC
Unearthing the Truth in a Local Secret Cemetery
Imagine walking through the woods and stumbling across a few tombstones. That’s what happened outside the old House of Reformation, where more than 230 bodies…
- City Cast DC
DC's Only Ice Rink Is Cursed. Will It Open?
The Fort Dupont Ice Rink has been in shambles for years. But it has a storied history: it’s home to one of the oldest black hockey clubs in the states. The…
- City Cast DC
DC Fumbling RFK Neighborhood Already, the End of the Streatery, and DC's Best Movies
Welp, that was fast — the new stadium just got approved and already there are delays in the new neighborhood DC was supposed to get as a result. We’re going to…
- City Cast DC
DC Can Predict Bad Drivers. Why Can't It Stop Them?
The city government actually has a way to predict, pretty accurately, just who is going to get into an accident. And DC’s AG Brian Schwalb has recently…
- City Cast DC
Trump Has Put Childcare Workers in Crisis
Federal immigration crackdowns are adding even more strain to DC’s already fragile and not to mention costly child care system. Now, many child care workers…
- City Cast DC
How to Escape DC for Under $150 This Fall
Fall in D.C. really does feel special. And if you’re dreaming of a fall getaway but trying to stick to a budget, don’t worry, City Cast contributor Tim Ebner…
- City Cast DC
Can DC’s Restaurants Survive the Takeover?
President Trump claims that DC restaurants are suddenly packed because his federal takeover made people feel safe enough to go out to dinner. But how is DC’s…
- City Cast DC
Eleanor Holmes Norton Has a Challenger! Plus, Bowser's Hill Grilling and VIP Perks at Dulles
We’re talking about Robert White’s bid for Eleanor Holmes Norton’s seat, the DC Mayor getting grilled on Capitol Hill, and a fancy new VIP addition at Dulles…
- City Cast DC
How This DC Alley Became a 40 Year Old Dump
What do you do when people start dumping trash in your neighborhood? It turns out that no one is quite sure — including the city government that’s supposed to…
- City Cast DC
Fact Checking Trump’s Crime Emergency
Since Trump announced the takeover of DC’s police his administration and Trump himself have been throwing out some big very impressive sounding numbers about…
- City Cast DC
Why DC’s Media is Wrong About H Street
If you read a certain gloomy article earlier this summer, you might think every business on H Street is shutting down. But that couldn’t be further from the…
- City Cast DC
All the GOP DC Bills — And Whether Eleanor Holmes Norton Is Up to Fighting Them
It’s no secret that DC is facing holy hell on Capitol Hill. But are the city’s leaders doing all they can to advocate for themselves in front of a Congress…
- City Cast DC
More Congressional Interference, Trump Dines Out, and Real Estate Petting Zoo
We’re talking about the end of Trump’s police takeover and dissecting the House’s 16 D.C. bills. Plus, Donald Trump dines out, and a wild suburban house sale…
- City Cast DC
DC's Best Burgers: From Cheap to Gourmet
What’s the best burger in DC? Some folks at Washingtonian have tried almost all of them and Jessica Sidman is here to give us some highlights from their list…
- City Cast DC
Will Trump’s Takeover of DC Continue?
It’s been 30 days since President Trump announced a federal takeover of DC’s MPD. That's technically expiring today, but the federal surge continues. It’s…
- City Cast DC
DC’s $1.1 Billion Con
The Commanders kicked off their season over the weekend with a big win over the New York Giants. It’s setting the stage for an interesting council vote in the…
- City Cast DC
How Maryland Can Protect DC From Trump
Everyone knows about DC’s push for statehood, but the current crisis got us thinking about a question we asked a few months ago: Should DC rejoin Maryland?…
- City Cast DC
National Guard Extension, House Interference, and No Phones Bar
We’re talking about Mayor Bowser and indefinite National Guard presence — and Congress’ coming attempts to write a bunch of laws to change the District. We’re…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Most Underrated Arts Scene
You might not think of D.C. as a city with a thriving literary scene, but it is. Not only is the world-renowned National Book Festival happening here this…
- City Cast DC
How Trump is Censoring the Smithsonian
The fate of the Smithsonian is one of the biggest DC storylines of the year. A lot has happened since the last time reporter Manuel Roig-Franzia joined us to…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to September 2025 in DC
There’s been a lot going on in the city lately, but we aren’t letting that keep us from enjoying this city we love. So from new restaurants with bugs to…
- City Cast DC
Trump's Death Penalty Push, Feds Take Union Station, and the Food Hall Fad
WAMU’s Alex Koma is here to talk about Trump, Bowser and the death penalty in DC, the federal government’s Union Station takeover, and the strange death of…
- City Cast DC
Must-Hear Jazz in DC
To mark the start of Jazz Fest, we’re re-airing a conversation our co-hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd had about earlier this summer, where they get…
- City Cast DC
Why Cashless Bail is Trump’s Latest DC Target
Earlier this week, President Trump signed new executive orders aimed at eliminating cashless bail in D.C. and requesting that officers bring people arrested in…
- City Cast DC
Trump's 'Beautify DC' is Displacing People. Where Do They Go?
President Trump is clearing homeless encampments as part of his plan to make DC "more beautiful”. But he’s not alone – Mayor Muriel Bowser has also cleared…
- City Cast DC
Inside The New Policy That’s Completely Changing DC Schools
It is the first day of school for DCPS and also the start of a new bell-to-bell cell phone ban in schools — part of a trend around the country and around the…
- City Cast DC
Were DC's Crime Stats Faked? Plus, Ghost City & Your Love Letters To DC
The Washington Post’s Perry Stein joins us to talk about local D.C.’s response to the Trump law enforcement surge, the coming debate over crime stats, and…
- City Cast DC
Are Dems Doing Enough to Fight For DC?
Jamie Raskin is a Congressman from Maryland — but he’s also a DC Native and one of the District’s champions on the Hill. This month, he’s the author of a bill…
- City Cast DC
Every Question You’ve Had About ICE in DC, Explained
For the past week, we’ve seen videos take off online of ICE agents arresting people, dragging them into cars, and driving off. The Washington Post’s Teo Armus…
- City Cast DC
Inside the First Week of Trump’s DC Takeover
It’s been one intense week since Trump seized control of DC’s police force and sent in the National Guard. In the days since, the city has seen arrests…
- City Cast DC
DC Sued Trump — Here's What Happens Now
On Friday, the D.C. government claimed a small victory after a hearing over the latest twist in Donald Trump’s efforts to take over Washington’s police. But…
- City Cast DC
City Leadership Stays Silent, MPD-ICE Collaboration, and Meme-ifying the Takeover
The Washington Post’s Olivia George joins the show to chat about the federal takeover of DC law enforcement: on the streets, in politics — where city officials…
- City Cast DC
Are Trump And Bowser Right About DC's Youth Crime Problem?
Youth crime in D.C. is front and center in Donald Trump’s claims that the city is a dangerous hellscape. He’s not the first politician to raise the issue…
- City Cast DC
How DC is Fighting Trump's Takeover
In the two days since Trump announced his takeover of DC’s police, we’ve been struck by how the city is responding. Yes, there’s anger and sadness and fear…
- City Cast DC
What Trump's Shocking DC Takeover Means
We answer all of your questions about Trump's rambling and shocking press conference announcing that he's deploying the National Guard to D.C. and taking over…
- City Cast DC
Underrated Dates in DC — For $15 Or Less
Everything is expensive! And D.C.'s economy is suffering. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still find love and plan some great dates on the cheap. The great…
- City Cast DC
Trump Tightens Grip on DC, Dolphins in the Potomac, and a Can’t-Miss August Event
Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon is here to chat about Trump's continued culture war on D.C. and his latest threats to take over the District, dolphins in the…
- City Cast DC
Trump Keeps Threatening to Revoke DC's Home Rule. Can He Do it?
Donald Trump this week threatened to take over D.C. — again — which could mean getting rid of home rule. Which got us thinking: Do a lot of people, including…
- City Cast DC
This DMV Election Is the Most Important in the Country
Virginia’s governor’s race is widely seen as a referendum on the party in power and a bellwether for the national political mood. And it’s not just the race…
- City Cast DC
Why It’s So Hard to Pee in DC
You might’ve noticed those shiny new public bathrooms popping up around the city. They're a high tech toilet startup from a company called Throne Labs, but…
- City Cast DC
The Hidden Hand Behind DC's Fuel Prices
DC is filled with politicians, lobbyists, and business leaders that impact our day to day. But the people influencing gas prices or what happens to empty…
- City Cast DC
Is the Stadium Deal Good Enough? Plus, Missing Middle Housing and Petty Firemen
Greater Greater Washington’s Dan Reed joins the team to talk about the RFK stadium deal that looks just about done, the quest to build more housing in the…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to August 2025 in DC
This is the time of summer where you might be feeling over it. But before you rage quit the season, listen to this episode. The City Cast team is here to break…
- City Cast DC
Can Alley Homes Solve DC’s Housing Crisis?
Tens of thousands of Washingtonians used to live in alleys. Back in the old days, they were thought of as slum dwellings. But could alley homes make a comeback…
- City Cast DC
Budget Day: Winners, Losers, and Last-Minute Chaos
It’s finally done! The D.C. Council passed the 2026 budget, but not without some hiccups along the way. WAMU’s Alex Koma takes us inside the Wilson Building to…
- City Cast DC
Can the Washington Post Still Serve DC?
What in the world is going on at The Washington Post? Our city’s venerable daily is hemorrhaging employees and going through a wild change in its identity. And…
- City Cast DC
Trump's Stadium Threats, Congress Targets DC Budget, and Lanternfly Apocalypse 2025
We're talking about Trump and RFK stadium, Congress and its weird new rules targeting DC traffic regulations, and lanternflies — the 2025 winged nuisance of…
- City Cast DC
Are the Commanders Trying To Use Nostalgia to Sell Their RFK Stadium Deal?
News broke yesterday that the head of the D.C. Council reached an agreement with the Commanders to adjust the financial terms of the stadium deal, opening the…
- City Cast DC
Storms, Floods, and Tornadoes: Is This the New Normal for DC Summers?
We started the week with a rare treat: actual summer weather we can enjoy: humidity that’s not too terrible, bearable heat, maybe even a breeze! But don’t get…
- City Cast DC
This Housing Project's Been Stalled for 25 Years. Why is DC Like This!?
For 25 years, there’s been a project to build housing on top of an open parking lot next to the Takoma Metro station. The Washington Post’s Aaron Weiner is…