City Cast DC

Your bus lines are changing! That’s right – starting on June 29th, the bus lines that you take to go to work, to see friends, those are getting a pretty major makeover. Every last line in the Metrobus system is gonna have a new name. Most of them are gonna have new routes. Some will have new stops. It’s like the big bang of buses. Now, we had a lotta questions about this, so we talked to Allison Davis who leads Metro’s Office of Planning about the thought behind this and how you can prepare for the upcoming changes. Also, if you have questions or concerns you'd like us to raise — about your bus lines or anything else — leave us a voicemail at 202-642-2654 or send an email or voice memo to dc@citycast.fm. 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 2nd episode: District Bridges Folger Shakespeare Library Nace Law Group Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DC officials are about to start hashing out the budget. Today, we’re wondering if progressives have the muscle to push back. Plus: The end of the H Street Streetcar, and the problem with Gordon Ramsay’s visit to DC. And in a member’s only fourth section, we’re looking at the downturn in spending on going out to eat, and whether it is yet another sign of economic apocalypse for our 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 May 30th episode: Mosaic Theater District Bridges Williamstown Theatre Festival Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June in DC can be tricky, there’s a lot going on, and the FOMO is real. But don’t stress! City Cast’s Julia Karon and Ashe Durban are here with your guide to the best events, from films to parties, so you can make the most of the 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 June in DC, check out Hey DC’s take on what to do this month.  If you enjoyed today's interview with our sponsor District Bridges, check out the summer bucket list challenge here. Get more from City Cast DC when you become a City Cast DC Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members-only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  If you enjoyed today's interview with District Bridges' Director of Storytelling and Marketing, Anna Claire, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 29th episode: Mosaic Theater District Bridges Williamstown Theatre Festival Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With fewer job postings being listed and people eating at home more – DC is on edge money-wise! It’s had us all anxiously awaiting more information about DC’s 2026 budget. Now, Mayor Bowser has finally unveiled her proposal. WAMU’s Alex Koma is here to tell us what’s in it and what’s not.  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 May 28th episode: Mosaic Theater District Bridges Williamstown Theatre Festival Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a massive military parade planned for DC on June 14. Though the city is built for mass gatherings, this kind of military display is actually rare — and comes with a lot of challenges, like whether DC’s streets can handle the weight of modern tanks. Cuynet Dil from Axios has been covering it and he’s here to tell us what he knows.  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 May 27th episode: Mosaic Theater District Bridges Williamstown Theatre Festival Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A shocking shooting involving Israeli embassy employees raises urgent questions about diplomatic safety in Washington, D.C. Metro's modernization gets a fresh look, featuring new payment methods amid public concerns. DC proudly ranks as one of the top cities for parks, but worries about potential funding cuts loom. A vibrant new Mahjong parlor opens in Penn Quarter, fostering community connections. The episode also tackles the bittersweet effects of gentrification on Chinatown, highlighting both new opportunities and the loss of cultural heritage.

For decades, DC’s laws have been built to give tenants some muscle against landlords who might try to sell their buildings. But now that’s changing — with proposals before the DC Council that would shrink TOPA, the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. In the old days, the politics of this would have been pretty clear, but nowadays there’s a twist, since some progressives have come to worry more about the supply of housing than the fate of individual tenants. Emilia Calma from the DC Policy Center has studied the issue and she’s here to explain.  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 May 22nd episode: Folger Shakespeare Library PaintCare The Pew Charitable Trusts Nace Law Group Silver Mirror Facial Bar - Use CITYCAST30 for $30 off your first facial Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s late spring, which means it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and head to a vineyard. But this year, there’s something else in the air: the threat of tariffs driving up the cost of imported wine. Dave McIntyre from the Washington Post is here to tell us which local wineries are worth the drive, and how to not break the bank. 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 May 21st episode: Folger Shakespeare Library PaintCare The Pew Charitable Trusts Nace Law Group Silver Mirror Facial Bar - Use CITYCAST30 for $30 off your first facial Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Memorial Day is right around the corner! If you’re watching your budget but still dreaming of that summer getaway, City Cast contributor Tim Ebner is here with the best summer trips you can take from D.C. for around $150. 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 May 20th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library PaintCare The Pew Charitable Trusts Nace Law Group Silver Mirror Facial Bar - Use CITYCAST30 for $30 off your first facial Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Construction is expected to begin this fall to “deck over” a busy section of Connecticut Avenue NW in Dupont Circle — transforming it into a vibrant new public plaza. But some residents and local businesses say they’re not getting enough information about how the project will affect them. NBC4 Transportation Reporter Adam Tuss breaks down what this all means for Dupont Circle — and the city beyond. We’ll be talking to DDOT about the details of the project in a couple weeks. So if you have questions or concerns you'd like us to raise, give us a call at 202-642-2654. 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 May 19th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library PaintCare The Pew Charitable Trusts Nace Law Group Silver Mirror Facial Bar - Use CITYCAST30 for $30 off your first facial Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices