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
What We Know About The Potomac Plane Crash
A devastating crash between a passenger plane and a blackhawk helicopter has everyone’s eyes on the Potomac River. The planes went down at 9 pm last night…
- City Cast DC
Trayon White Fights to Keep DC Council Seat
Facing expulsion over federal bribery charges, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White finally gave a defense for why he should stay on the DC Council yesterday…
- City Cast DC
DC Reacts to Trump's In-Office Mandate
President Donald Trump has made big changes to how remote work and telework will function in the federal government - which will have a big impact on the DMV…
- City Cast DC
The January 6th Supporters In Our Own Backyard
Donald Trump’s pardon of January 6 rioters hit close to home for Lauren Ober and Hanna Rosin. Literally: Last year, the journalists created We Live Here Now, a…
- City Cast DC
Trump's First Week, Top 100 Restaurants, and A New ‘Gilded Age’
We’re talking with The Washington Post’s Lisa Rein about the new Trump administration’s role as our city’s biggest employer — and what its whirlwind of new…
- City Cast DC
Football is DC's Common Ground Again
So it’s a weird political time for a lot of people in DC. But a strange and pretty retro phenomenon is lightening the mood: The city seems to be falling back…
- City Cast DC
The Best Eats and Hangouts in Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is known for embassies and think tanks. But did you know that it’s also a place where you can find good sushi, cool architecture, and symbols of…
- City Cast DC
What Trump Can (and Can't) Change in DC
As the second Trump term begins, many in D.C. are worried about their legal rights in a city that’s not quite a state. Monica Hopkins, who runs the local…
- City Cast DC
Pizzagate Fallout, Transforming Office Space, and Avoiding Inauguration
We’re talking about the newest idea for converting unused downtown office buildings, the long legacy of the Comet Ping Pong shooting, and everything that is…
- City Cast DC
Biden’s Local Legacy
How much impact does the president actually have on D.C.? As president Biden prepares to leave the White House, City Cast hosts Bridget Todd and Michael…
- City Cast DC
How to Navigate Inauguration Weekend in DC
Inauguration Day is a huge event for our nation with loads of fanfare, politicking, and of course security, but for many of us who live in DC, it can be a…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Best Winter Getaways
With the MLK holiday coming up, and not to mention a certain upcoming inauguration, a little getaway might be just what the doctor ordered. City Cast…
- City Cast DC
How Federal Workers Are Preparing for Trump
Federal workers make up about a quarter of the jobs in DC, and these days, they’re worried: The incoming Trump administration’s talk of slashing the government…
- City Cast DC
DC's Snow Days, How Jimmy Carter Changed DC, and the Panda-conomy
Axios DC’s Anna Spiegel joins the team to talk snow in DC, Jimmy Carter, and the return of the pandas. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for…
- City Cast DC
What’s In and Out For DC’s 2025 Food Scene?
Washingtonian’s food editor, Jessica Sidman, is here to walk us through what's in and out in DC dining in 2025. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign…
- City Cast DC
How To Improve the National Mall
This week, Congress and President Biden officially approved a monument commemorating women’s suffrage to go on the National Mall. There’s limited space on the…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Most Underrated Indoor Activities
DC is currently a snowy winter wonderland. And on cold days like these, you don’t have to just stay in your apartment. Clockout DC’s Jade Womack is here to…
- City Cast DC
How MPD Aided the Proud Boys Before Jan. 6
Shane Lamond was the head of the intelligence unit for the DC police — until he was indicted on charges that he helped the Proud Boys before January 6. He was…
- City Cast DC
RFK Site Plans, Bowser Meets Trump, and Right On Red Ban
Welcome to 2025! A lot happened in DC over the last week and a half, and we’re here to round up what you missed. We’re talking about crime: It’s down. We’re…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to January 2025 in DC
The start of the new year can be hard for some folks. It’s still cold out, and the holidays are over. Lucky for you, some of us here at City Cast DC love and…
- City Cast DC
Our Guide to a Perfect Weekend in DC
The New York Times may know NY, but do they know D.C.? Their guide to 36 hours in D.C. had our local team reeling a bit, and we hopped on mic to share some…
- City Cast DC
Our Thrifting Guide to the DMV
Thrifting in the DMV often means finding all kinds of treasures, but the landscape can be hard to navigate. To help with this journey, we brought in Sidney…
- City Cast DC
Cheap Places to Eat Out in DC
Eating out in D.C. doesn’t have to break the budget. Big Schlim’s food reviews will show you how to eat well in D.C. – and get you hungry while you scroll. He…
- City Cast DC
Trump & Musk Scrap RFK Deal, Attacks on DC Culture, & Cafe Bans 20-Year-Olds
We’re talking about the fate of RFK — the stadium, that is. We’ll also talk about DC culture in the second age of Trump. And can a restaurant ban…
- City Cast DC
New DC Laws That Will Affect You Most in 2025
The DC Council just wrapped its 2024 session by passing a flurry of bills dealing with everything from pets in apartments to teens in detention. Meagan Flynn…
- City Cast DC
The Secret History of DC's Alleys
It seems like every other day there’s a new, hip spot opening up in the alleys near Union Market. But the long and bizarre history of DC’s alleys dovetails…
- City Cast DC
DC Council Committee Votes to Expel Trayon White
A DC Council sub-committee yesterday unanimously recommended expelling Ward 8 councilmember Trayon White, saying he violated council ethics by allegedly…
- City Cast DC
Haven't Paid Your Ticket? DC is Towing More Cars
There are more than a billion dollars in unpaid tickets owed to the DC government — and a lot of those cars are still driving around. But, there’s a new law…
- City Cast DC
Where Trump & Bowser Agree, City Cast 6 Reactions, and Co-Living Trend
We’re talking about what a Trump return-to-work order might mean for local DC, a novel type of apartment about to make its local debut — and some reactions to…
- City Cast DC
DC's Coziest Bars and Fireplaces
It’s cold! And wet! But we’ve got you covered, figuratively and kind of literally, too: The City Cast team put together a collection of cozy winter spots where…
- City Cast DC
Where to Eat in Southeast
Southeast DC is home to some of the city’s most interesting spots to check out. LaVondra Shinholster, a DC influencer who you might know as @typicalblaqueen…
- City Cast DC
How a Football Powerhouse Scammed Its Way To the Top
A crazy high school football scandal has been roiling the Northern Virginia suburbs all year. It’s like a movie plot: The new coach at Hayfield High School is…
- City Cast DC
Who Were DC’s Most Influential People in 2024?
It’s the City Cast 6 – our end of year awards for DC’s most influential people. Washington Post’s Michael Brice-Saddler, Axios’ Anna Spiegel, and Greater…
- City Cast DC
Kink Site Killings, DC Sues Amazon, and Dulles Revamp
We’re talking about DC’s Amazon Prime deserts, some crime stories the region ought to be talking about, and a big change at Dulles. Want some more DC news?…
- City Cast DC
Why Trinidad is One of DC’s Last Affordable Neighborhoods
Trinidad is one of DC’s last truly affordable neighborhoods. Writer Austin Graff and local yoga studio owner Erica Koster are here to tell you how that came to…
- City Cast DC
Is DC Cowering Before Trump?
Trump is on his way back to the White House in January. So how is the city preparing and what does another Trump presidency mean for D.C.? The Washington…
- City Cast DC
Which Local Gifts To Buy This Holiday Season
It’s December, which means if you procrastinate, it’s time to rush to get folks gifts for all the holidays coming up. There’s a ton of local gifts to get…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to December 2024 in DC
It’s getting chilly, the holiday season is here, and that means it’s December in D.C.! Our team is here to give you all the tips and tricks to have the best…
- City Cast DC
Why You Should Be Drinking Alone in DC
It’s almost cocktail week in DC – the perfect time to take yourself on a solo date. But it can be a little daunting figuring out where to go, and what to do…
- City Cast DC
New Asian Grocery, Schlossberg Look-alikes, and Other November Stories You Missed
November 2024 has been a month with a good amount of headlines it’s fair to say. In the barrage of national news, some of which obviously has a very strong…
- City Cast DC
The Truth Behind DC's "Turkey Pardon" Tradition
It’s Thanksgiving! And there’s so much to be thankful for. Including pardoning turkeys! So we’re rerunning a chat that our host Bridget had with Beth Breeding…
- City Cast DC
The Latest Twist In DC's Sports Betting Saga, Thanksgiving Tips, and Spirit Watch Parties
We’re talking about the latest twist in DC’s ludicrous sports-gambling saga, the big news about the Washington Spirit soccer team, and ways you can have the…
- City Cast DC
The Novel That Exposed DC's Elite Parents
Washington loves a good elites-behaving-badly story, whether it’s real life or fiction. Which is why we’re hanging out with Emma Sasaki, the pseudonymous…
- City Cast DC
How DC’s Zoning Shapes Our Lives
Sara Bronin is one of the world experts on zoning. It’s the kind of thing that really rivets people at cocktail parties, right? But in fact, Bronin’s new book…
- City Cast DC
DC Networking Hacks with a 'Faceblind' Reporter
Maybe you have had that moment of anxiety where you see someone and you get that sinking feeling like you’ve met before, but you just can’t place their face…
- City Cast DC
How Go-Go Stays Alive in DC
The ribbon cutting for DC’s Go-Go Museum is today! So it seemed like a good time to rerun our episode discussing the idea of enshrining go-go — or any genre —…
- City Cast DC
Can Bowser Save DC From Trump? Plus, Musk in DC and Bay Bridge Update
We’re talking about Mayor Bowser needing to woo Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DC, and some news about the Bay Bridge. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to…
- City Cast DC
What’s Happening to Metrobus?
Metrobus is about to blow up its map, giving every bus in town a new name and giving a bunch of them new routes, too. The system is also trying to rework its…
- City Cast DC
DC’s Best Late Night Food
We care a lot about food at City Cast so we’re always talking about great places to eat. But what about those nights when you’re leaving the bar or a club or…
- City Cast DC
What's the Most Overrated (and Underrated) Thing in DC?
Are D.C.’s monuments fun or more effort than they’re worth? Is Le Dip a must visit restaurant experience or just overpriced? If there is one thing we like to…
- City Cast DC
How DC Steakhouses Became Republican Hangouts
Washingtonian writer Jessica Sidman crunched numbers from political spending reports and found a weird correlation between the Republican party and…
- City Cast DC
Will Council Fund I-83? Plus, DC Trump Reactions, and Coping Recs
Initiative 83, proposing ranked choice voting and semi-open primaries, passed on Tuesday, but what’s next? The Washington Post’s Meagan Flynn joins the team to…
- City Cast DC
DC's New Approach to Development
It’s been a week of big news about things outside of DC’s control, and we’ll get more into that in tomorrow’s Friday news roundup. But one thing that is DC’s…
- City Cast DC
How the Election Went Down in DC
It’s 4 AM, and though there hasn’t yet been a final call, it’s looking like D.C. is going to have to brace itself for another Trump presidency. The team is…
- City Cast DC
What Happens if Trump ‘Takes Over’ DC?
It’s election day! And your guess is as good as ours about what happens. Cuneyt Dil from Axios joined us back in July to talk about what D.C. might look like…
- City Cast DC
2024 DC Celebrity Endorsements
Since election day is almost here, you might be feeling all kinds of election related anxiety. So take your mind off that with City Cast DC’s endorsements for…
- City Cast DC
The Four Cities That Could Decide the Election
This week we’ll be sharing results from our local elections and discussing what they mean for DC. But we can’t help but wonder… what’s going on with our City…
- City Cast DC
WaPo Loses 250k Subscribers, DCA Line-Cutting Tech, and Commanders Hope!?
We’re talking about the crisis at the Washington Post, the joy around the Washington Commanders, and a sneaky new technology that aims to bust line-cutters at…
- City Cast DC
Your Guide to November 2024 in DC
D.C. is getting darker earlier and the pleasant weather is giving way to the cold. November can be a slog, but the City Cast team is here to help you make the…
- City Cast DC
How DC Prepares For Elections After January 6
The election is looming and Washington is anxious. The city government announced some plans last week for security around November 5 and all the way through…