

City Cast DC
City Cast
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.
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
Mentioned books

Oct 6, 2026 • 27min
Why Is D.C. So Lonely?
Living in any big city has its moments of loneliness — but according to some studies, D.C. might be the loneliest city in the U.S. Washingtonian recently covered D.C.'s loneliness epidemic, and lifestyle editor Daniella Byck is here to talk about why making friends here can be so hard, and what we can do to make connections.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast 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 October 6th episode:
Theatre Washington
Folger Shakespeare Library
Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Escape Game
Nace Law Group
Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Oct 5, 2026 • 40min
The Real Status Symbols in Trump-Era D.C.
D.C. has always had an in-crowd with its own hangouts, habits, and status symbols. But the in-crowd of the Trump White House has different tastes than what DC is used to. Vanity Fair’s Aidan McLaughlin has been reporting on the folkways of Trump’s D.C., and he’s here to share his findings.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast 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 October 5th episode:
Theatre Washington
Folger Shakespeare Library
Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Escape Game
Nace Law Group
Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Oct 4, 2026 • 24min
‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast DC
When D.C. looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball court. David talks with Katy Burgio from NYCHA and Runit Chhaya of Grain Collective, one of the involved design firms, about the larger infrastructure the court is a part of and how it’s setting up NYC for climate resilience.
Mentioned on the show:
Water Square and its creative facilitators: https://www.dezeen.com/2025/11/25/grain-collective-basketball-courts-flood-prevention/
Rotterdam’s own “water square”: https://landezine.com/water-square-benthemplein-by-de-urbanisten/
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.

Oct 2, 2026 • 39min
Trump Targets Mosquitoes, D.C. Courts Can’t Keep Up, And Next Steps For Trayon White?
Now that Trayon White’s bribery trial ended in a hung jury, what’s next for the Ward 8 Councilman? We’ll get into it. Speaking of D.C. courts, we’ll take a look at the problems they’re having staffing up. And Trump’s latest executive order takes aim at the District’s mosquito infestation -- we've got the latest.
Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ll get into the connection between Sweetgreen and RFK Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement. We're joined by City Cast reporter Emma Uber and contributor Marc Fisher.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast 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 October 2nd episode:
Washington National Opera
Theatre Washington
Folger Shakespeare Library
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Oct 1, 2026 • 31min
How Lime Is Tackling E-Bike And Scooter Safety Issues In D.C.
Lime scooters and bikes are a fixture of D.C.’s landscape. They’re great for getting somewhere in a hurry, but safety issues persist. Lime is trying to address these concerns this year with a $17-million dollar investment in operations here in D.C. City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers has been reporting on their efforts, and she’s here to explain.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast 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 October 1st episode:
Washington National Opera
Theatre Washington
Folger Shakespeare Library
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Sep 30, 2026 • 32min
Your Guide To D.C. In October 2026
We’re back with our regular monthly guide for October, but this time we tried something a little different. We answer questions submitted by readers on local and seasonal topics – then dish out the answers you asked for, and probably some you didn’t! City Cast D.C.’s Kaela Cote-Stemmermann is here to talk cozy fall lattes, where to see foliage this October without a car, and everything in between.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast 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 September 30th episode:
Washington National Opera
Theatre Washington
Folger Shakespeare Library
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Sep 29, 2026 • 35min
What Comes Next for Trayon White?
The bribery trial of Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White ended yesterday with a hung jury and a mistrial. This will have repercussions in city politics, not to mention in the lives of Trayon White and his associates. City Cast D.C. reporter Emma Uber watched the entire trial, and she’s here to talk about how it ended.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast 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 September 29th episode:
Washington National Opera
Theatre Washington
Folger Shakespeare Library
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Sep 28, 2026 • 27min
D.C.’s Rat Czar Explains The War On Rodents
If you’re scared of rats, then I’ve got bad news – D.C. is one of the most rat-infested cities in America, at least as far as complaints go. But there’s an organization at the Department of Health that’s fighting the good fight. And there’s a man at the top of that organization – Andre Pitman. Sometimes he’s known as D.C.’s rat czar.
Andre is here today to go over how the District is cutting down on rodent populations, and what you – yes you! – can do to help.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast 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 September 28th episode:
Washington National Opera
Theatre Washington
Folger Shakespeare Library
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Sep 27, 2026 • 20min
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast DC
What’s a seemingly small project in D.C. that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahead to a sustainable future to inform what we do today.
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.

Sep 25, 2026 • 39min
The Ripple Effects of DOGE, D.C. Council Takes Aim at the Ballot Initiative, and PorchFest Prohibition
Two years on, the District is still reeling from devastating DOGE job cuts, according to two new reports. We also take a look at why the D.C. Council is considering restrictions to how initiatives make it to the ballot. And for listeners planning to attend Adams Morgan's Porchfest, we’ve got the latest on the new rules on sipping and strolling.
Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ve got an exclusive look at the final draft of the master plan for RFK stadium, and the neighborhood around it. We’re joined by our City Cast colleagues Ben Brasch and Jaclyn Peiser.
Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast 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 September 25th episode:
Theatre Washington
DC Department of Behavioral Health
Folger Shakespeare Library
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.


