City Cast DC

If you’ve got a Swedish ivy plant in your home and you’re not quite sure where it came from, there’s a non-zero chance it once lived in the White House. Cuttings from a Swedish ivy plant that lived for decades on the mantle of the oval office have quietly made their way all over D.C. — part of a little-known local tradition that’s been spreading for decades. City Cast’s Annie Rees has a cutting and has been getting to the root of its 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 December 23rd episode: Simply Eloped Black Cat Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Shalom Baranes is one of Washington’s most prolific architects and the designer behind a lot of the most prominent modern buildings of the past few decades. So how did he wind up as the new architect of Donald Trump’s White House ballroom? After all, Trump has promised classical beauty and old-school design. Douglas Fruehling from the Washington Business Journal has covered Baranes for years and explains what this all means — about the ballroom, and, more generally, about the work of erecting buildings in the nation’s capital.  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 December 22nd episode: Simply Eloped Black Cat Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

We’re talking about the state of DC’s police — the old chief is out, and her replacement is going to have to deal with an investigation into alleged manipulation of crime stats, among other challenges. Plus, DC’s top public middle school has stopped teaching novels. A nightmare story about an Airbnb tenant who wouldn’t leave, and what DC’s laws did and didn’t allow the frustrated owner to do.  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 December 19th episode: ⁠Nace Law Group⁠ ⁠Black Cat⁠ ⁠Public Welfare Foundation⁠ Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠

Between mass layoffs that hit people’s wallets, the federal takeover, and an ongoing ICE crackdown, DC’s restaurants are facing a lot of headwinds resulting from the Trump administration’s choices. Jessica Sidman from Washingtonian is DC’s top reporter on the industry and she’s here to share some of her reporting.  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 December 18th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Nace Law Group Black Cat Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

What are the deadliest roads in the DC area? The city has actually made a lot of improvements, especially compared with other places in the country, but given America’s grim stats, that’s not good enough. The Washington Post’s Rachel Weiner and Ian Duncan have worked on a major investigative project about the issue and are here to share some of their reporting.  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. If you enjoyed this interview with Janessa White, the Director & General Manager of Simply Eloped, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 17th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Nace Law Group Black Cat Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

We’re officially in winter weather season, and staying holed up at home sounds pretty tempting. But Dominique Bazil is here with a guide to the cozy cafés that are absolutely worth bundling up for. 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 December 16th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Nace Law Group Black Cat Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

The Park Police’s massive hiring binge, that would more than double its size, has some locals worried. The Park Police, after all, is part of the federal government, ultimately answering to President Trump — and not to the people they’d be policing in Washington. Olivia George from the Washington Post has been covering the controversy and is 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 December 15th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Nace Law Group Black Cat Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Martin Austermuhle, a D.C. news and policy reporter, dives into pressing local issues. He discusses the rising concerns around airspace safety after the DCA crash, highlighting military access and federal helicopter activities. Trayon White's financial disclosure issues and the potential consequences of his actions are also on the table. The conversation takes a lighter turn with insights from Sandwich Guy jurors, focusing on jury dynamics and perceptions of the prosecution. Join for a mix of serious news and civic reflections!

The politically-connected developers of a new affordable-housing building have walked away with millions more than experts say is typical — and taxpayers footed the bill. That’s one takeaway from a big Washington Post investigation, and it also goes a long way to explaining just why it’s so hard to build affordable housing in the city. Steve Thompson, the reporter behind the investigation, is 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 December 11th episode: Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

It’s the holiday season, which means holiday travel….so much holiday travel. And to make sure your air travel is as boring, seamless and unmemorable as possible, we’ve got your travel playbook from certified expert Scott Keyes from Going, formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights. 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 December 10th episode: Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.