City Cast DC

Earlier this week, President Trump signed new executive orders aimed at eliminating cashless bail in D.C. and requesting that officers bring people arrested in D.C. into federal custody. But what is cashless bail? And can he actually do this? WAMU’s Alex Koma is here to dig into 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 August 27th episode: Overlook Maps DC Sustainable Energy Utility Wise Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

President Trump is clearing homeless encampments as part of his plan to make DC "more beautiful”. But he’s not alone – Mayor Muriel Bowser has also cleared encampments in DC, most notably a big spate in March of this year. But what are the numbers, where are folks going, and are there enough shelters for them to go to? We talked with the Washington Post’s Marissa Lang to get the details. 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 August 26th episode: Overlook Maps DC Sustainable Energy Utility Wise Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

It is the first day of school for DCPS and also the start of a new bell-to-bell cell phone ban in schools — part of a trend around the country and around the city. One early adopter of the no-phones policy was Georgetown Day School in Tenleytown. Back in June we talked to their head of school, Russell Shaw, about why and what results they’ve seen because of 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 August 25th episode: Overlook Maps DC Sustainable Energy Utility Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

The Washington Post’s Perry Stein joins us to talk about local D.C.’s response to the Trump law enforcement surge, the coming debate over crime stats, and we’re going to hear some of your love letters to DC. Plus, in a member’s-only fourth segment: What about that new Metro design? 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 August 22nd episode: ⁠Overlook Maps⁠ ⁠Nace Law Group⁠ Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠

Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Congressman and passionate DC native, discusses his efforts to terminate Trump's controversial control over the police department. He highlights the urgent need for local governance and DC statehood amid federal overreach. Raskin critiques the misuse of emergency declarations and emphasizes the importance of active democracy. He shares insights on the historical and current challenges for DC residents, advocating for community mobilization to ensure their voices are heard in the political landscape.

Teo Armus, a reporter for The Washington Post, dives deep into the controversial actions of ICE in D.C. He discusses recent dramatic arrests, showcasing the partnership between ICE and local police, stirring fears in immigrant communities. Teo elucidates the Sanctuary Values Amendment Act, highlighting protections for undocumented individuals amidst these aggressive enforcement tactics. The conversation also sheds light on the challenges of legal representation for detainees and the complex relationship between immigration policies and local safety concerns.

In this engaging talk, WAMU reporter Alex Koma shares his firsthand insights into the tumultuous first week of Trump's control over D.C. He discusses the chaos following the National Guard's deployment, the rising protests, and community fears. Koma highlights the political strategy behind the use of federal forces and critiques their performative role in local safety. He also touches on bizarre incidents that reflect the tensions on the ground, showcasing the complexity of law enforcement in the capital.

On Friday, the D.C. government claimed a small victory after a hearing over the latest twist in Donald Trump’s efforts to take over Washington’s police. But the details aren’t quite so clear-cut: Yes, D.C.’s police chief is still in charge, but it looks like the feds may still be able to order local cops to violate D.C. laws. There’s another hearing this week. National Security Attorney Brad Moss is here to break down where the case stands, and the current legal state of play with all those other federal forces on D.C. streets. Also, we’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 18th episode: Overlook Maps Nace Law Group Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE

The Washington Post’s Olivia George joins the show to chat about the federal takeover of DC law enforcement: on the streets, in politics — where city officials from the mayor on down are sticking with a muted response — and online, where locals have been reacting in a wild variety of ways. And in a member’s only segment, we’ll get into the Trump administration’s latest edict on the Smithsonian, and check in on how the Trumpification of DC culture is proceeding.  We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. 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 August 15th episode: Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Backroom Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Youth crime in D.C. is front and center in Donald Trump’s claims that the city is a dangerous hellscape. He’s not the first politician to raise the issue: Mayor Muriel Bowser has also pushed for curfews to counter the alleged spike. But is it true? And if so, what kind of policies are the best way to keep kids out of trouble and residents out of danger? We talked to Georgetown University crime expert Eduardo Ferrer. We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. 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 August 14th episode: ⁠Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week⁠ ⁠Rock & Roll Hall of Fame⁠ ⁠Backroom⁠ ⁠Babbel⁠ - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠.