
City Cast DC
City Cast is the daily, local audio companion you knew DC needed. Washingtonians are gritty, proud, and resilient — necessary qualities for a community facing issues that range from an affordability crisis to the fight for statehood to the movement for racial justice… and useful qualities for a region full of whip-smart people, dynamic culture, and constant change. 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.
Latest episodes

Jul 9, 2025 • 18min
How a $1.5 Billion Development Could Change Anacostia Forever
The Bridge District sounds like one of those buzzy, made-up neighborhoods that suddenly pop up on a map…and it kind of is! It’s a new $1.5 billion development along the Anacostia River in Southeast DC, with plans for seven buildings, more than 2,000 residential units, 90,000 square feet of retail, green space, and more. We sat down with Axios reporter Mimi Montgomery to break down what it means for the neighborhood — and for the people who already live there.
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 July 9th episode:
District Bridges
Backroom
Nace Law Group
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 8, 2025 • 25min
DC's Most Underrated Bars for Drinking Alone
There’s something uniquely empowering about taking yourself out on a solo date. The City Cast team got together last year to figure out DC’s best places to drink alone, whether you’re in the mood for a craft cocktail or a sober-friendly mocktail.
Places mentioned in this episode:
Showtime Lounge
Lyman’s Tavern
Red Derby
Last Call Bar
Jackie Lee’s
Bar Charley
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 $8 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 8th episode:
District Bridges
Backroom
Nace Law Group
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 7, 2025 • 30min
What Next Week's Election Means for DC
DC Council is already pondering whether to expel Ward 8 councilmember Trayon White again if he wins his seat back on July 15 special election. But in the meantime, the voters get a say, and they actually have a few candidates to choose from. WAMU’s Alex Koma is here to walk us through the state of the race.
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 July 7th episode:
District Bridges
Backroom
Nace Law Group
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 3, 2025 • 48min
Is DC the Best Summer City in the US?
Bridget Todd and all 12 other City Cast podcast hosts (from Austin, Boise, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Madison, Nashville, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Salt Lake City) compete head-to-head in a high-stakes showdown to answer the question that’s been burning up our company-wide Slack for weeks: which city is the best for a summer weekend trip? From naked bike rides to ‘the country’s best farmers market,’ pickle festivals to Elvis impersonators driving pink convertibles, our hosts are bringing the best of the best of what their city has to offer. Did your city win?
Take our interactive quiz to see which city best fits YOUR vibe!
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 3rd episode:
District Bridges Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 2, 2025 • 20min
Architectural Moments That Changed DC
In DC, everything is political — even the buildings. One of Trump’s first moves back in office was saying federal buildings should follow “traditional” design styles. Meanwhile, there’s growing buzz about turning the city’s aging office buildings into housing. Public historian Neil Flanagan joins us to break down what these shifts mean for the architecture that shapes DC — and the politics behind it.
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 July 2nd episode:
District Bridges
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 1, 2025 • 32min
Your Guide to July 2025 in DC
Listen, we get it — when it’s this hot, staying inside with the A/C blasting feels like the only option. But don’t let the muggy weather keep you stuck at home. July in DC is packed with fun — indoors and out. City Cast DC’s Bridget Todd, Michael Schaffer, and Ashe Durban are here to guide you through it, from how to manage the Fourth of July to beating DC’s infamous July heat waves.
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 July in DC, check out Hey DC’s take on what to do this month.
City Cast DC’s Monthly Guide is made possible by our awesome sponsor, District Bridges. And City Cast DC is also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast DC.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Reach us at DC@citycast.fm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 30, 2025 • 32min
DC’s Craziest Political Scandals
Voters in Ward 8 are about to decide whether to send Trayon White back to the DC Council — just months after he was indicted on bribery charges and expelled from the body. A re-election would elevate White’s case to the pantheon of DC political scandals. Which got us thinking: What are the other legendary scandals locals ought to know about? NBC4’s Mark Segraves has been covering city politics for years and is going to walk us down memory lane.
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.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 2025 • 32min
Youth Curfew Controversy, Federal Agency Moves Out, and DC’s Worst Drivers
We’re talking about DC’s controversial new curfew, the first federal cabinet agency moving out of town in the Trump era, and two very different crazy stories about misbehaving drivers. Plus, in a members-only fourth topic: the implications of The Washington Post’s Metro section merger. Axios’ Cuneyt Dil and City Cast’s Priyanka Tilve are here to get into what it means for the city.
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 June 27th episode:
PaintCare
Backroom
Nace Law Group
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26, 2025 • 19min
When Being Gay Meant Losing Your Job in DC
We’re at the end of the most tense and controversial Pride Month in years. Which makes it a good time to take another listen to our conversation with James Kirchick, the author of "Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington". Kirchick’s history paints a very different Washington — but one that has some pretty significant echoes in 2025.
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 June 26th episode:
PaintCare
Backroom
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 25, 2025 • 23min
Why More DC Men Are Getting Chin Implants
Plastic surgery procedures are booming among Washington men. Some of DC’s most visible residents are getting procedures to emphasize strong jawlines and prominent chins. Journalist Joanna Weiss from Politico magazine is here to tell us about the Square Head phenomenon and how DC feels about plastic surgery.
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 June 25th episode:
PaintCare
Backroom
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices