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 Everyone's Mad About Rock Creek Parkway
If you’ve driven on Rock Creek Parkway, then you know it has those reversible lanes - it’s actually had that traffic pattern since the 1930s. But now the…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Most Underrated Brunch Spots
We love our brunches in DC. It’s kind of our thing here. But what about brunches that might be a little off the beaten path? Cornelia Poku of the popular food…
- City Cast DC
Is the New Tipped Minimum Wage Killing DC's Restaurants?
Are DC’s restaurants in trouble thanks to DOGE cuts? According to a new report in the Washington Post, a startling number of places have closed. But Tim…
- City Cast DC
DC Close to $3B RFK Deal, New Bus Map, and Local ASMR
We’re talking about the big Commanders stadium news, some serious changes coming to Metro, and a podcaster who reads DC menus to help put you to sleep. Plus…
- City Cast DC
The Best DC Day Off, For Every Type of Washingtonian
With everything going on in DC, maybe you’re in need of a mental health day. Whether you’re playing hooky from work, school, or endless job apps, there’s…
- City Cast DC
Bowser's Loophole For Avoiding $1.1B Cuts from Congress
Yesterday, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced spending freezes and city cuts because of a massive crater that Congress created in DC’s budget and then never fixed…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Best Parks for Kids
With the weather improving, it’s a great time to explore DC’s many great parks to entertain little ones! City Cast DC contributor and dad, Jacob Fenston, is on…
- City Cast DC
What RFK Stadium Could Cost DC
There hasn’t even been a vote on a new Washington commanders stadium in DC, but a lot of folks already talk about it as a done deal. JC Bradbury is an expert…
- City Cast DC
Trump’s Parade, GOP & DC Activists' Common Ground, and Hidden Cash
It’s our Friday News Roundup! We’re talking about Trump’s birthday military parade, Congress targeting a couple of DC laws where they might actually have some…
- City Cast DC
DC Prides Itself on the Smithsonian. Now, Trump's Changing It.
The Smithsonian is front and center in one of Donald Trump’s most controversial executive orders. But what does his campaign against “inappropriate ideology”…
- City Cast DC
Do Streateries Still Belong in DC?
Spring has sprung, which means streateries are back! But do people really use them and like them? Senior producer Julia Karron talked to business owners and…
- City Cast DC
How Trump’s Policies Are Devastating DC Schools
The Trump administration is pressuring public schools to abandon any programming related to what they call DEI, or else those schools will lose federal…
- City Cast DC
Will Driverless Cars Make DC More Dangerous?
WayMo, Google’s driverless taxi service company, says they want to expand to DC next. But are they safe? Would they work with DC’s many road quirks? We talked…
- City Cast DC
DC Council Shuts Out Public, Zuckerberg’s New DC Home, and April Fools’
The DC Council passed a new law to keep more meetings secret, and Mark Zuckerberg joined a whole bunch of oligarchs buying houses in D.C. Plus: the best April…
- City Cast DC
The Craziest Buildings DC Never Built
What are the coolest buildings in DC? Chances are your list doesn’t include the Lincoln Pyramid, the Washington Pedestal, or something called Dolphin America —…
- City Cast DC
Why Won’t The House Just Pass DC’s Budget Fix?
Mayor Bowser was scheduled to unveil her 2026 budget today but she’s delayed that while waiting for the House to pass its budget fix bill, restoring $1B to…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to April 2025 in DC
They say April showers bring May flowers. The City Cast squad is here to give their top tips and recommendations, from getting your winter coats dry cleaned…
- City Cast DC
Trump's New Executive Orders Come for DC
A new executive order by Donald Trump targets D.C. — but doesn’t, at least not yet, take it over. Mark Segraves from Channel 4 is here to explain the…
- City Cast DC
Can DC Outlast Trump? Plus, Tesla Vandalism and Nats Park Deals
We’re talking about DC’s economic plans to move beyond the federal government. Also, some people who allegedly wrote mean graffiti on Teslas are being…
- City Cast DC
What It Would Take To Eliminate Crime in DC
A new plan would consolidate the District's competing violence interruption programs under a single agency after a bribery scandal last year. But just what are…
- City Cast DC
The Secret to Beating DC’s Summer Camp Rush
A reminder for the parents out there: if you are wanting to get your kid into summer camp, it’s time to make some plans. City Cast contributor Austin Graff is…
- City Cast DC
Ranking DC's E-Bikes Best to Worst
It’s spring in DC, which means it’s e-bike season. Last year, we systematically tested four different e-bike brands — Capital Bikeshare, Lime, Spin, and Veo —…
- City Cast DC
How Safe Are Immigrants in the DMV Right Now?
The DMV is front and center in the Trump administration’s campaign to deport undocumented immigrants. Atenas Burrola Estrada of the Amica Center for Immigrant…
- City Cast DC
Purple Line Delays, USIP v DOGE Showdown, and Community Stew. Plus, a Members Bonus
We’re talking about why the Purple Line is taking so long to arrive. We’re talking about the takeover of DC institutions — and whether it's cool for Washington…
- City Cast DC
Will All The Fired Federal Workers Be Reinstated?
So we know that the federal government fired thousands of workers in D.C. earlier this year. Now some court rulings suggest they’re being rehired?! But not…
- City Cast DC
DC Leaders Lobby House GOP To Pass Budget-Saving Bill
The District is anxiously waiting for the House of Representatives to return to session and decide the fate of D.C.’s budget. Depending on what they decide…
- City Cast DC
How the Kennedy Center Takeover Changes Theater in DC
Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center has left the DC art community reeling. How is DC’s vibrant but sometimes overlooked theater community dealing with the…
- City Cast DC
Could Rejoining Maryland Save DC From Trump?
Should DC rejoin Maryland!? In D.C.’s current crisis atmosphere, the idea of retrocession has gained traction. For years, David Krucoff was the lonely champion…
- City Cast DC
Congress Battles Over DC Budget, Measles, and Ovechkin Eyes NHL Record
The Washington Post’s Meagan Flynn joins the show to talk about the federal budget and that weird billion-dollar hole it may blow in our own city budget…
- City Cast DC
Unwritten Rules That Distinguish DC
DC has a whole host of rules that are the kind of thing where if you know, you know. Is it Malcolm X Park or Meridian Hill Park? Is it Reagan National Airport…
- City Cast DC
House Votes to Slash $1B From DC Budget. Now What?
The House just passed a budget stopgap bill that would fund the federal government through September but would also cut $1.1 billion from D.C.’s local budget…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Halving Traffic Fines, But Only For Some
D.C. is trying out a new pilot program that’s designed to give low-income people a break on traffic camera tickets. Martin Austermuehle has covered the issue…
- City Cast DC
120 Years of French Culture in DC {Sponsored}
Alliance Française has been bringing French language and culture to DC since 1905. So how has it shaped the city? And what’s next? City Cast DC’s Senior…
- City Cast DC
'We Are Winning in Court': Can DC's Congressional Allies Save Federal Workers?
US Congressman Jamie Raskin, who represents the Maryland suburbs of DC, is known nationally for leading the Democratic pushback against Trump’s sweeping…
- City Cast DC
Bowser Surrenders BLM Plaza, NoVa ICE Raids, and Cherry Blossoms
Axios’ Cuneyt Dil and the Washington Post’s Teo Armus join us to talk about the end of Black Lives Matter plaza, immigration raids around DC, and the latest in…
- City Cast DC
DC Tackles Impending Unemployment Crisis
Mayor Bowser’s town hall on Wednesday hit a nerve with the city. NBC4’s Mark Segraves was there, and he’s here to give us the play-by-play of what Bowser had…
- City Cast DC
The Best (and Most Underrated) Happy Hours in DC
With everything going in DC lately, it’s understandable if maybe you’re feeling like having a few drinks on a budget. Ann Limpert, food editor for the…
- City Cast DC
How Virginia is Dealing With Federal Layoffs
We’ve talked a lot about what Trump and Musk’s gutting of the federal workforce means for the District, but what about nearby Virginia? Michael Pope, a…
- City Cast DC
Is Higher Ridership Enough to Save Metro?
Is Metro screwed? It’s a question that has less to do with trains and stations than with budgets and balance sheets. Wyatt Gordon wrote extensively about…
- City Cast DC
DC Budget Crisis Fears, Washington Post Tumult, and Renting Chickens
We’re talking about the potential DC disaster in Congress’ new budget and we’re talking about what the latest Washington Post tumult means for DC. Plus…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to March 2025 in DC
It has been a long and cold winter, but things are finally looking up. The temperatures are in the 60’s this week! Sunset is finally past 6 pm! Hallelujah. The…
- City Cast DC
How Federal Layoffs Are Changing DC Restaurants
Another week, another layer of confusion for federal workers: this time in the form of an email telling them to list their accomplishments … or else. Amidst…
- City Cast DC
Life Hacks For New Parents in DC
DC can be a hard place to raise kids. So how can new parents make the most of life in the District? Courtney Whittington, founder of the group DC Area Moms, is…
- City Cast DC
Will the Kennedy Center Survive Trump?
The Washington Post’s Philip Kennicott is here to tell us the ways Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center could do massive damage — but maybe not the…
- City Cast DC
DC's New MAGA US Attorney, E St. Cinema Closes, and High-Tech Scooters
Axios' Cuneyt Dil joins the City Cast team to talk about Donald Trump’s conservative-activist US Attorney for DC, the closure of downtown’s indie movie house…
- City Cast DC
Why Group Houses Are a Rite of Passage in DC
For generations, DC has been a city where square young professionals — not just bohemian hipsters — share big houses. How’d it get that way? And what does it…
- City Cast DC
An Inside Look at DOGE's Mass Firings
8 p.m. Tuesday was the Trump administration’s deadline for firing probationary federal workers. It was a chaotic rollout over a holiday weekend and it has left…
- City Cast DC
Should You Buy a Home in DC Now?
With the Trump administration’s overhaul of the federal workforce, a lot of people in the area are understandably wondering what all of this chaos means for…
- City Cast DC
Trump Vs DC Arts, PEPCO Price Spikes, and Snow Days
We’re talking about the Kennedy Center and DC culture in the age of Trump, we’re talking about super high electric bills, and, oh, there was a snow day this…
- City Cast DC
Will Trump Help DC Create a New Southwest Neighborhood?
Donald Trump’s federal downsizing could leave a lot of high profile federal buildings hitting the market. One cluster of them sits just south of the Mall on…
- City Cast DC
The Unwritten Rules of DC Metro
With return-to-office mandates suddenly coming into effect, Metro is seeing a huge boost in traffic. And so we figured it was a good time to bring the City…
- City Cast DC
Will the Federal 'Buyout' Offers Hold Up in Court?
Is the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer even legit? Brad Moss is a DC attorney who represents federal employees, and he’s here to explain…
- City Cast DC
Is the City Lying to Us About Bike Lanes?
Bike lanes are weirdly one of the most emotional subjects in DC, and Washington Post columnist Marc Fischer stirred up a lot of that emotion with a recent…
- City Cast DC
Judge Pauses Trump's 'Buyouts,' Messy Union Fight, and Super Bowl Deals
There's a new Congressional bill to repeal DC’s home rule, which hits just as the region is obsessing about what the campaign against federal workers will do…
- City Cast DC
DOGE's Takeover of DC
It has been a crazy few weeks for Washington, particularly when it comes to Donald Trump and Elon Musk's war on the federal government in the District. So…
- City Cast DC
DC Council Expels Trayon White. Here's What's Next.
DC Council has officially expelled Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White for violating the body’s ethics rules. The entire Council excluding Trayon White voted in…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to February 2025 in DC
If you’re feeling like the last few weeks in DC have been A LOT, you are not alone. If you’re looking for community and things to distract from everything…
- City Cast DC
Is DCA’s Airspace Too Dangerous?
As of Sunday, 55 bodies from last week’s air catastrophe over the Potomac had been recovered. The investigation is ongoing. But a lot of the conversation is…
- City Cast DC
DCA Tower Understaffed During Crash, Trump Backlash, and DCPS Phone Ban
We have more on the deadly air accident in the Potomac River, the latest on Donald Trump’s battle against his own workforce, and – should DC schools ban cell…
- City Cast DC
The Panic Over Trump’s ‘Buyouts’ for Federal Employees
Is DC … going to become Detroit? That’s the fear as President Trump moves to slash the workforce. We’re talking to two people about what the big national news…