
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

Feb 4, 2025 • 25min
Your Guide to February 2025 in DC
If you’re feeling like the last few weeks in DC have been A LOT, you are not alone. If you’re looking for community and things to distract from everything, you’re in the right spot. From coping strategies to fun stuff to look forward to, we’ve got your guide for making the most of February in DC. If you still haven’t gotten your REAL ID here’s our guide to get you started. Also! Check out our daily newsletter Hey DC’s take on what to do this month. And if you're finding our recs helpful, please consider becoming a member to help us stick around long-term.If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a whole guide for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to our City Cast DC community.We’re doing a 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 $8 a month. If you enjoyed today's interview with District Bridges' Main St. Manager, Chellee Walker, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 4th episode:District BridgesInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 3, 2025 • 20min
Is DCA’s Airspace Too Dangerous?
As of Sunday, 55 bodies from last week’s air catastrophe over the Potomac had been recovered. The investigation is ongoing. But a lot of the conversation is already focusing on just how crowded the space is around National Airport, and whether that makes it inherently dangerous. Aviation expert Ian Petchnick, who runs the Avtalk podcast, is here with us to explain DCA’s complicated geography and politics. 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 February 3rd episode:District BridgesInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 2025 • 26min
DCA Tower Understaffed During Crash, Trump Backlash, and DCPS Phone Ban
We have more on the deadly air accident in the Potomac River, the latest on Donald Trump’s battle against his own workforce, and – should DC schools ban cell phones?We’re doing a 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this January 31st episode:District BridgesAlliance FrancaiseRestaurant Association Metropolitan WashingtonInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 2025 • 22min
The Panic Over Trump’s ‘Buyouts’ for Federal Employees
Is DC … going to become Detroit? That’s the fear as President Trump moves to slash the workforce. We’re talking to two people about what the big national news of the week means for our city. Emilia Calma from the DC policy center studies the local economy and is here to talk about the impact of possible federal cuts on the health of the region. And the Washington Post’s Aaron Wiener has spent the week talking to federal employees and is here to talk about how they’re feeling about the president’s efforts to buy them out. We’re doing a 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this January 30th episode:District BridgesAlliance FrancaiseRestaurant Association Metropolitan WashingtonInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 2025 • 13min
What We Know About The Potomac Plane Crash
A devastating crash between a passenger plane and a blackhawk helicopter has everyone’s eyes on the Potomac River. The planes went down at 9 pm last night. Rescue efforts are underway, and it’s unclear how many passengers, if any, survived. As of 5 am this morning, here is everything we know about the crash.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. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 29, 2025 • 21min
Trayon White Fights to Keep DC Council Seat
Facing expulsion over federal bribery charges, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White finally gave a defense for why he should stay on the DC Council yesterday. It’s clear he’s not going down without a fight. The tense hearing will ultimately determine the Council’s decision on whether White stays or goes. NBC’s Mark Segraves was there, and he’s here to tell us what happened and what’s next in this spicy political saga.We’re doing a 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this January 29th episode:District BridgesAlliance FrancaiseInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 28, 2025 • 18min
DC Reacts to Trump's In-Office Mandate
President Donald Trump has made big changes to how remote work and telework will function in the federal government - which will have a big impact on the DMV. The Washington Post’s Emily Davies has been collecting stories from federal workers in the area and is here to share how they’re feeling and what they’re doing about it. If you’re a federal worker with a story to share, get in touch with Emily over Signal, at 202-412-9091.We’re doing a 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this January 28th episode:District BridgesAlliance FrancaiseRestaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 27, 2025 • 33min
The January 6th Supporters In Our Own Backyard
Donald Trump’s pardon of January 6 rioters hit close to home for Lauren Ober and Hanna Rosin. Literally: Last year, the journalists created We Live Here Now, a podcast about what happened when a house of J6 activists moved in next door. They’re here today to talk about what the pardons mean for their block and our city.We’re doing a 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this January 27th episode:Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCASTDistrict BridgesAlliance FrancaiseInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 24, 2025 • 31min
Trump's First Week, Top 100 Restaurants, and A New ‘Gilded Age’
We’re talking with The Washington Post’s Lisa Rein about the new Trump administration’s role as our city’s biggest employer — and what its whirlwind of new rules mean for us. Plus, Washingtonian food critic Ann Limpert is going to share highlights from the magazine’s annual list of top restaurants. We’re doing a 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this January 24th episode:Restaurant Association Metropolitan WashingtonBabbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCASTInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23, 2025 • 22min
Football is DC's Common Ground Again
So it’s a weird political time for a lot of people in DC. But a strange and pretty retro phenomenon is lightening the mood: The city seems to be falling back in love with its football team, the Commanders. After years of futility, the team that was once the one subject guaranteed to unite our city is now one game from the Super Bowl. The Washington Post’s Sam Fortier is here to explain their revived hold on our imagination, and provide a primer for anyone who’s game to jump on the bandwagon. We’re doing a 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this January 23rd episode:Restaurant Association Metropolitan WashingtonBabbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCASTInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices