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
Feb 9, 2026 • 19min
Local Schools Are Reinstating Their Racist Names
Karina Elwood, a former Washington Post reporter who covered school renaming legal fights, unpacks the Stonewall Jackson rename-and-restore dispute in Virginia. She walks through the courtroom claims, the judge’s compelled-speech language, and the school’s segregation-era origins. Listeners get the timeline of the trial and why this case could shape future renaming battles.
Feb 6, 2026 • 32min
City Cast Expanding After WaPo Layoffs, City Spending Scandal, Baby Elephant Naming
They unpack dramatic newsroom cuts and what losing local coverage means for Washington life. They cover a jaw-dropping investigation into excessive city spending on so-called violence interrupter programs. They debate oversight failures and political fallout tied to local leaders. They also have fun with a baby elephant naming contest at the National Zoo.
Feb 5, 2026 • 31min
Jeff Bezos Gutted the Washington Post. What Happens Now?
Jack Shafer, a veteran media critic with about 40 years covering the Washington Post, reflects on the massive staff cuts at the paper. He walks through which sections were eliminated and the history of newsroom contraction. He discusses how unbundling sections changes value and why reduced metro coverage will weaken local accountability.
Feb 4, 2026 • 20min
DC’s Best Historical Collections Aren’t In the Smithsonian
Maya Thompson, an archivist for the MLK Library’s People’s Archive focused on Black Studies. Derek Gray, a longtime D.C. Public Library collections specialist and exhibit curator. They talk about the MLK Library as a living archive of Black DC life. They discuss the Up From the People exhibit, music and activism in local exhibits, and surprising artifacts like letters and historic rules.
Feb 3, 2026 • 31min
Trump Closing Kennedy Center, National Guard's Price Tag, Snow May Decide Next Mayor
Alex Koma, WAMU reporter covering D.C. politics and on-the-ground news. He discusses Trump’s plan to close the Kennedy Center and the board, artists and staff fleeing the institution. Conversation covers whether federal rules would allow major changes. They also examine how the recent snow response exposed plowing inequities and the city’s political fallout, plus the National Guard’s bill and its value.
Feb 2, 2026 • 33min
Your Guide to February 2026 in DC
A lively roundup of February happenings in DC with picks for Lunar New Year parades, museum pop-ups, and standout shows. Highlights on Black History Month programming and a reenacted Walk with Woodson tour. New restaurant openings and must-try bites get tasty shoutouts. Plus tips for community events, line dancing nights, and local watch parties for the Winter Olympics.
Jan 30, 2026 • 36min
Where Are the Plows?! Gutting WashPo Layoffs, Appalling Apartment Nightmare
Junait Deel, a local government reporter covering D.C. civic operations, breaks down the snow cleanup chaos and why communication and equipment failed. He also walks through looming Washington Post cuts and what they mean for local coverage. Finally, he details an appalling Chinatown apartment building and the city’s enforcement gaps.
Jan 29, 2026 • 31min
Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Son Wishes She Retired Earlier
John Norton, son of longtime D.C. delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, offers a family perspective on a politics career that ran too long. He reflects on her shifting energy, the toll of relentless public life, and the private struggles of convincing a powerful parent to step aside. Brief, candid, and personal takes on longevity in office and life after service.
Jan 28, 2026 • 25min
DC Just Hit a 8 Year Low in Homicides. But It Should Be Doing More
Dr. Joseph Richardson, M-Power Professor at UMD and co-chair of D.C.'s Homicide Review Committee, researches community violence intervention strategies. He explains why Baltimore’s sustained CVI plan worked. He describes day-to-day violence interrupter work and why D.C.’s 30-year low has unclear causes. He warns that success can trigger funding cuts and discusses federal and private funding challenges.
Jan 27, 2026 • 34min
Holmes Norton Drops Out, Sewage in the Potomac, Snow Updates
Mark Seagraves, an on-the-ground NBC4 reporter, walks through major DC headlines. He unpacks the confusing paperwork around Eleanor Holmes Norton’s campaign end. He breaks down the massive raw sewage spill into the Potomac and the containment plan using the C&O Canal. He also shares vivid accounts of the recent snowy, icy storm and its impacts on daily life.
