

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

Aug 4, 2025 • 23min
The Hidden Hand Behind DC's Fuel Prices
DC is filled with politicians, lobbyists, and business leaders that impact our day to day. But the people influencing gas prices or what happens to empty parking lots near your house are sometimes less visible. Washington Business Journal’s Mike Neibauer is here to tell us about Joe Mamo, a businessman with a crazy story, who’s had a monopoly on DC’s gas for years.
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 4th episode:
Overlook Maps
Nace Law Group
District Bridges
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Aug 1, 2025 • 27min
Is the Stadium Deal Good Enough? Plus, Missing Middle Housing and Petty Firemen
Greater Greater Washington’s Dan Reed joins the team to talk about the RFK stadium deal that looks just about done, the quest to build more housing in the inner suburbs, and an extremely petty neighbors’ quarrel that went viral. Plus, in a members-only fourth topic, we’re talking about the Trump inspired burst of potential renamings in the DMV.
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 1st episode:
Framebridge
Overlook Maps
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Jul 31, 2025 • 25min
Your Guide to August 2025 in DC
This is the time of summer where you might be feeling over it. But before you rage quit the season, listen to this episode. The City Cast team is here to break down our guide to making the most of August in DC, from summer restaurant week to yoga inside the Smithsonian.
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 August in DC, check out our newsletter Hey DC for its take on what to do this month.
City Cast DC is 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.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 31st episode:
Framebridge
Overlook Maps
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Reach us at DC@citycast.fm.

Jul 30, 2025 • 23min
Can Alley Homes Solve DC’s Housing Crisis?
Tens of thousands of Washingtonians used to live in alleys. Back in the old days, they were thought of as slum dwellings. But could alley homes make a comeback — and maybe even go upscale? Mark Lawrence and Elizabeth Emerson have an architecture firm that specializes in turning yesterday’s garages into tomorrow’s boutique apartments; they’re here to explain what it would look for residents like if DC opened up alley dwellings.
Check out our episode on the history of DC’s alleys here.
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 30th episode:
Framebridge
Overlook Maps
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Jul 29, 2025 • 26min
Budget Day: Winners, Losers, and Last-Minute Chaos
It’s finally done! The D.C. Council passed the 2026 budget, but not without some hiccups along the way. WAMU’s Alex Koma takes us inside the Wilson Building to tell us what those hiccups were and what DC will be spending our tax dollars on next year.
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 29th episode:
Framebridge
Overlook Maps
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Jul 28, 2025 • 31min
Can the Washington Post Still Serve DC?
What in the world is going on at The Washington Post? Our city’s venerable daily is hemorrhaging employees and going through a wild change in its identity. And it's weird because the last thing a lot of folks might remember is that the news organization seemed until recently to be swimming in Jeff Bezos’ money. Paul Farhi spent years writing about the industry for the Post, and more recently has turned his eye on his former employer. He’s here to talk about how things got to this point.
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 28th episode:
Framebridge
Overlook Maps
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Jul 25, 2025 • 30min
Trump's Stadium Threats, Congress Targets DC Budget, and Lanternfly Apocalypse 2025
We're talking about Trump and RFK stadium, Congress and its weird new rules targeting DC traffic regulations, and lanternflies — the 2025 winged nuisance of the year. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we'll talk about AI and romance for the DC crowd.
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 25th episode:
Library of Congress
DC Sustainable Energy utility
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Framebridge
Nace Law Group
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Jul 24, 2025 • 29min
Are the Commanders Trying To Use Nostalgia to Sell Their RFK Stadium Deal?
News broke yesterday that the head of the D.C. Council reached an agreement with the Commanders to adjust the financial terms of the stadium deal, opening the door for the Council to vote on the deal in a matter of days. All the back and forth over the stadium in the last months might have made you wonder: What were those old glory days of the culture around the team that everyone over 50 talks about? We sat down with columnist Kevin Blackistone, a fan from way back, 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 July 24th episode:
Library of Congress
DC Sustainable Energy utility
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Framebridge
Nace Law Group
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Jul 23, 2025 • 28min
Storms, Floods, and Tornadoes: Is This the New Normal for DC Summers?
We started the week with a rare treat: actual summer weather we can enjoy: humidity that’s not too terrible, bearable heat, maybe even a breeze! But don’t get too comfortable. This summer hasn’t just been brutally hot — it’s also brought extreme storms, flooding, and the worst may still be ahead. Jason Samenow from Capital Weather Gang is here to break down tips for surviving in these hot months, what’s coming and why DC’s summer heat is far from over.
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 23rd episode:
Library of Congress
DC Sustainable Energy utility
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Framebridge
Nace Law Group
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Jul 22, 2025 • 18min
This Housing Project's Been Stalled for 25 Years. Why is DC Like This!?
For 25 years, there’s been a project to build housing on top of an open parking lot next to the Takoma Metro station. The Washington Post’s Aaron Weiner is here to explain what’s taken so long and what it says about the prospects to create more of the housing that the city needs.
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 22nd episode:
Library of Congress
DC Sustainable Energy utility
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Framebridge
Nace Law Group
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.


