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 Cast DC, consider this your official invitation to listen in. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at dc.citycast.fm.

Episodes

November 14, 2025 34 mins
We’re talking about the future of streateries, the end of the federal shutdown, and a new Washington Post food critic. Plus, in a member’s-only fourth segment, we’ll talk about the trend of senior Trump officials living in military bases — and what that means for DC. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a ...
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On Monday, the Washington Post announced that Elazar Sontag would be its new food critic. Which means that Tom Sietsema, who held the job for 26 years, is finally free to dish about what life was really like as the most powerful man in DC’s restaurant scene. We talked to Tom about the way the dining world has evolved, the way the critic’s job has changed, and whether he’d actually make me pay if we go out to dinner together. He als...
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Here’s a hot take: food halls are stressful. Too many options, not enough standout bites. So when we heard that DC was getting another one in the form of a chain called Wonder, we had to know why. Anna Spiegel joins us to dish on DC’s newest food hall chain and whether they’re actually worth the hype. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: ⁠(2...
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A blockbuster New York Times report last week announced that Mayor Bowser is under federal investigation over a foreign trip she took. But within hours, other news organizations reported that the investigation isn’t targeting the mayor, and may not be much of an investigation after all. Nonetheless, it lands at a terrible time for Muriel Bowser as she weighs a reelection run. And it highlights once again the bizarre dance between D...
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DC is on the cusp of passing a law whose proponents say it could massively reduce child poverty. But the catch is that the bill would take away a lot of the local tax benefits that at least some folks would get as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress. Jenny Gathright from the Washington Post has been covering the debate and is here to explain.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our mornin...
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All eyes this week were actually on New York City’s mayor’s race, and as our own race for mayor heats up, we’re talking about whether DC could ever get its own Zohran Mamdani. Plus, inside chaos at Navy Yard and the youth curfew in DC, and we dig into the trial of Sandwich Guy. And in a member’s-only fourth segment, we’ll talk about the strange K-shaped real estate market in DC. Co-host Michael Schaffer chats with the 51st’s Martin...
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Do you spend much time thinking about trees? Me neither. All we know is that DC has a lot of ‘em. But it turns out that our treescape has undergone some radical changes lately. And, thanks to climate change, more are in store. The Washington Post’s Marissa Lang and John Harden worked on an epic report on Washington’s trees and they’re here to explain how it all works. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morni...
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November 5, 2025 19 mins
Now that it’s fall, we’re finally moving out of mosquito season, and today we’re talking about one of the animal heroes that eats mosquitos – that’s right, the bat. It turns out, DC is a lot battier than you might think. Dr. Kelly Russo-Petrick, Associate Professor of Urban Ecology and DC Master Naturalist Coordinator at the University of DC, joins us to share everything you need to know about the city’s bat population. Want some ...
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With the Trump administration saying Monday that it would only partially  fund food benefits for low income families during what is about to become the longest government shutdown in history, D.C. announced the city has 30 million dollars in local funds that could be used to cover November food benefits for low income residents. Marissa Lang has been covering food assistance programs for the Washington Post. She explains what all o...
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November 3, 2025 28 mins
Happy November! Now we know, things in the city are a bit weird since we’re still in the middle of the government shutdown, but from checking out DC art to scarfing tacos and sipping wines, there's still a ton to see, do, drink, and eat in DC this November.   If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast community. For even more tips on how to ...
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We’re talking about a federal police shooting — and a potential coverup. We’re talking about what happens in DC as SNAP benefits dry up. Plus, your DC-specific Halloween getups, and in a members-only fourth segment we’ll get into Donald Trump’s firing of an obscure planning commission and what it means for DC (and not just the White House ballroom). Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey...
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In the final episode of a three-part sponsored series with the Public Welfare Foundation, City Cast DC CEO David Plotz talks with two leaders working to make D.C. a safer, more just place.  Kristy Love, Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and Victor Battle, President and Founder of Right Direction and longtime violence interrupter. Together, they explore what real safety looks like on the ground: how d...
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You're Not A Real Washingtonian Unless You Know DC's Ghosts How haunted is DC? Have you ever had particularly spooky paranormal experiences here? We haven’t, but Katie Kirkpatrick with Nightly Spirit Ghost Tours HAS and she’s here to share the DC stories that might just make you keep a light on tonight. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: ...
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October 29, 2025 12 mins
It’s been a rough few months in DC, and today, we’re running back one of our favorite episodes all about public crying, because, as it turns out, DC is a great city for public crying! A couple of years ago, Bridget talked with Kiara McGowan from the now-viral TikTok account Crying in DC about how she is making space for DC’s public criers and the best spots for you, too, to cry in public. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠...
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One week from today is election day in Virginia, and early voting has already started. Every seat in Virginia is on the ballot this November including the high-profile race for whether Democrat Abigail Spanberger or Republican Winsome Earle-Sears will replace Glenn Youngkin as Governor. Now, this is one of the most important and closely watched in the country, and it’s also gotten a lot tighter and a lot more scandal-plagued. Micha...
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DC has just passed some big changes to the law that’s supposed to help tenants buy their apartments if the landlord decides to sell. Is this a giveaway to Big Real Estate? Or a much-needed evisceration of red tape that makes DC housing so scarce? Emilia Calma from the DC Policy Center is here to walk us though the not-totally-wonky details.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You c...
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We’re talking about the fate of the White House east wing, whether there’s ever going to be Waymo in DC, and a very funny slapfight over the restaurant Millie’s and one of its imitators. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment: Remember the shutdown? It’s still ongoing. We have updates. If you’re a City Cast DC Neighbor, you’re invited to a private tour of one of the DMV’s true hidden wonders, Fort DeRussy! It will be hosted by our...
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October 23, 2025 21 mins
Pumpkin spice is fine and all, but DC bartenders are doing way more interesting things with fall flavors. Today, Emily Venezky of Eater is taking you on a little bar crawl through the city’s best drinks worth putting on a sweater for — and why DC is a great city for cocktails. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also b...
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October 22, 2025 24 mins
We’re coming up on Halloween and today we’re sitting down with historian Mark Benbow, who’s going to take us back to a time when seances and ouija boards were a popular pastime across DC — including in the sitting rooms of the rich and powerful. It’s a wild history and it’s not as far away as you might think. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail...
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October 21, 2025 26 mins
The ride share app Empower has had a whirlwind few weeks. The owner was even threatened with jail time if he didn't shut down the app and now he’s back in court. So what exactly is going on with this ride share app and why has it been so controversial? Martin Austermuhle from The 51st is here to explain.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (...
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