City Cast DC
Subscribed: 95Played: 18,953
Subscribe
Description
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.
904 Episodes
Reverse
If you've been to great spots like Purple Patch in Mount Pleasant, then you already know there's a rich history of Filipino culture in the DMV. Erwin Tiongson is an amateur historian who walks folks through the area's Filipino historical and cultural landmarks — literally, on a walking tour. Erwin joins us to share DC's hidden Filipino history.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 10th episode:
Johns Hopkins University
Folger Shakespeare Library
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
It’s one of the DMV’s grisliest, and weirdest, crime stories in years: an 87-year-old millionaire shot to death inside a Potomac nursing home. When the news first broke, it petrified residents of the luxe assisted-living facility. Now that there’s been an arrest and cops have laid out what they say looks like an elaborate pre-planned scheme — there’s a bigger question: Why? The Washington Post’s Dan Morse has been covering the story and he’s here to tell us the latest.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 9th episode:
Johns Hopkins University
Folger Shakespeare Library
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Homelessness is one of the major issues that cities like DC are trying to solve. The state of Utah is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers.
Mentioned on the show:
Interrogating Controversial Homeless Policy Proposals (City Cast Salt Lake)
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
We’re talking about the politics of bodycam footage around federal arrests in DC, your crazy high utility bills, and a possible tax break for…. Bidets. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment: What’s going on with your taxes? Did Congress really whack DC’s tax code, or not?
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 6th episode:
National Museum of the American Indian
Awesome ConInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
The Petworth Peanuts group chat was a place for people to commiserate about parenting, get doctor recommendations and meet up for beer. Until a slew of posts about Gaza, immigration enforcement, and the federal takeover threw its 1000 plus members into intense disagreements. The Washington Post’s Maura Judkis was a member and has just published an essay chronicling the meltdown that followed — and asking whether even something so simple as a parenting group chat has to be so fraught in the DC of 2026.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 5th episode:
National Museum of the American Indian
Awesome Con
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Okay so you want to impress someone but your wallet is giving “balling on a budget.” We've all been there. Good news: Jade Womack, the genius behind Clockout DC, is here to prove that romance does not have to break the bank in this very expensive city. She shares DC’s best date spots for around $15 or less.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 4th episode:
National Museum of the American Indian
Awesome Con
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
We’re talking about the politics of Waymo in DC, the state of the Potomac after the spill, and allegations about workers getting stiffed at what was supposed to be a groundbreaking gay bar. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ll talk about George Washington University selling a Virginia campus — and what it might mean for downtown 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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 3rd episode:
National Museum of the American Indian
Awesome Con
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
Happy March! The City Cast DC team is running through the best of food, culture, and fun in and around DC this month.
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 make the most of March in DC, check out Hey DC’s take on what to do this month.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this March 2nd episode:
National Museum of the American Indian
Awesome Con
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
A lot of cities, including DC, are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown. It's an issue that's especially top of mind for Pittsburgh, who is hosting the NFL Draft in April. To solve the problem of vacant properties and empty storefronts, the city is trying out a new rent abatement program. So, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Pittsburgh podcast host Megan Harris about why their downtown emptied out, whether this program will bring new businesses downtown for the long-term, and other revitalization plans that are in the works.
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
We’re talking about the very weird state of the DC mayor’s race, the Trumpian rebranding of DC’s landscape, and our favorite question: What are Washingtonians mad about this week? Plus, in a member’s only fourth segment, we’ll return to the ride-sharing app that DC can’t seem to force out of town.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 27th episode:
Nace Law Group
Johns Hopkins University
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
For more than a decade, the question of whether the city would redevelop the McMillan Sand Filtration site was perhaps DC’s ugliest political battle. And now, the redevelopment is kinda… here. There are million-dollar townhouses for sale and the first residents of the new neighborhood have moved in. So is it the nightmare that opponents predicted? Or the engine of urban amenities that proponents promised? Tristan Navera from realtor.com has been covering it for years and he’s here to give us his take.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 26th episode:
Nace Law Group
Johns Hopkins University
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
There is nothing that hits quite like a good diner. Unlimited coffee, comforting, no-frills food that's just the right amount of greasy. But in a city like DC, where everything seems bespoke and overpriced, do we even have any good ones left? That's what writer Warren Rojas set out to answer and his list of DC's best diners in the Washington Post got people talking. He’s here to defend his picks.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 25th episode:
Nace Law Group
Johns Hopkins University
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Last week, a British coffee chain called Caffè Nero bought DC’s Compass Coffee at auction. It was an ignominious end for what was once one of the DMV’s hospitality high-flyers, a company founded by a pair of local guys, including one of DC’s most famous families. What went wrong? It’s a story that involves hubris, betrayal, bad decisions, and the economics of a work-from-home city. The Washington Post’s Tim Carman published a deep dive into the fall of the house of Compass, and he’s here to tell all.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 23rd episode:
Nace Law Group
Johns Hopkins University
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
DC’s violence interruption program has become one of the most controversial subjects in local politics. One program, Life Deeds, finds itself front and center in the upcoming corruption trial of a DC councilmember. Jenny Gathright and Megan Flynn from the Washington Post recently published a deep-dive investigation of the group and they’re 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: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 23rd episode:
Nace Law Group
Johns Hopkins University
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Everyone’s talking about AI these days, including Washingtonians. And now, more data centers are popping up across the country, thanks in part to the AI revolution. But some cities are stemming the tide, including Madison, Wisconsin, who recently passed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. City Cast CEO David Plotz feels strongly that this was the wrong choice! He’s sitting down with City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin to weigh the pros and cons of data centers, and debate the economic, ethical, and ecological considerations at the heart of this debate. Plus, David and Bianca share must-know tips for making it in Madison and DC.
We also mentioned this City Cast Madison episode.
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
It's kind of an emergency! We’re talking about the latest in the Potomac River sewage spill. Plus, Maryland and Virginia versus ICE, a union catfight at a kitty cafe, and in a member’s only 4th segment, the lawsuit against Donald Trump for trying to steal DC’s golf courses.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 20th episode:
South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
Marty Baron spent almost a decade as Executive Editor of the Washington Post, which gave him a close-up view of Jeff Bezos’ stewardship of one of our city’s most important institutions during the first Trump term. And it’s why Baron’s emergence as one of the sharpest critics of Bezos’ stewardship during the second Trump term has been such a big deal. In the wake of Bezos’ decision to dismantle much of his old paper, Baron here to share his own thoughts.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 19th episode:
South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
When it’s chilly out, there’s nothing better than a cozy bar, and vinyl bars appear to be that peak winter vibe. About a year ago, City Cast’s Julia Karron and Claudia Rosenbaum from Eater did their darnedest to make the case that vinyl bars are the new speakeasies, and they shared tips and tricks to enjoying them. We’re revisiting that conversation today, and you can decide if they were convincing.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 18th episode:
South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
A group of people in Donald Trump’s orbit have a plan to demolish and rebuild a whole swath of DC — and, in this case, it echoes something that actual Washingtonians have been talking about for years. CityLab’s Kriston Capps has been reporting on the plans for “Fedlandia” in Southwest DC; he’s here to tell us all about it.
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 member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this February 17th episode:
South by Southwest - use code "citycast10" for a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
All eyes have been on the Twin Cities lately, including Washingtonians’. Operation Metro Surge is reportedly ending in Minnesota, with the withdrawal of immigration agents expected over the next week. Over the last two months, though, residents of the Twin Cities have organized a range of local collective action efforts including protests, mutual aid, and monitoring ICE — and they’ve done it quickly. In this inaugural episode of “Your City Could Be Better,” City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Twin Cities podcast host Sean McPherson about how his community self-organized, why these networks have been so successful, and what other cities can take away from Minnesotans’ response to Operation Metro Surge. Plus, we have a D.C. vs. Twin Cities face-off on local cultural norms.
We also mentioned this episode of City Cast Twin Cities.
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States