
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

Oct 22, 2024 • 23min
The Metro Monster and Other Creepy DC Myths
D.C.’s got plenty of ghost stories. But do you know about the creepy, mythical cryptids roaming our forests and city tunnels? Producer Ashe Durban is here to enlighten you.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 October 22nd episode:Urban PacePaulson & NaceMake All Votes CountInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 21, 2024 • 39min
‘Love is Blind’ Turns Up the DC Drama
“Love Is Blind DC” episodes 10 and 11 dropped on Netflix last week and D.C. really turned up the drama. Turns out one of the most beloved men on the show has kids he didn’t disclose? And multiple couples break up before they even get to their weddings. Aja Drain is back to chat through the details. Warning: Spoilers ahead.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 other sponsors of this October 21st episode:Urban PacePaulson & NaceMake All Votes CountInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 2024 • 28min
How to See the Pandas, Encampment Clearings, and Whistleblower Payout
Axios’ Cuneyt Dil joins the team to talk about D.C. 's clear-out of homeless encampments, a city government whistleblower lawsuit, and what you need to know about the new pandas. 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 October 18th episode:Roda - use promo code CITYCAST20 for 20% offMake All Votes CountInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 17, 2024 • 26min
Should DC Stop Project Pipes?
For the last few years, Washington Gas has had a scheme to replace pipes all over D.C. in the name of safety. What could be wrong with that? Well, according to the people behind Stop Project Pipes, the real plan is to keep D.C. dependent on a fuel the city has vowed to move away from. City Paper’s Alex Koma has been covering the issue and is 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this October 17th episode:Roda - use promo code CITYCAST20 for 20% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 16, 2024 • 41min
The Local Stories About To Go National
Back by popular demand, City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from across the country to talk about what stories they're watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Hear from D.C.'s own Julia Karron along with hosts from our daily local shows in Austin, Boise, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Salt Lake.City Cast is now in 13 cities across the country! Joining our member community is the best way to support what we do. Get all the details and sign up here.Learn more about the sponsors of this October 16th episode:Roda - use promo code CITYCAST20 for 20% offLooking to advertise on City Cast? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 15, 2024 • 32min
Monica From ‘Love is Blind DC’ Dishes
If you’re keeping up with the new season of Love is Blind set in the District, you know the couples have moved from their pods and are adjusting to their real lives around the DC area. The couples have all experienced ups and downs, especially Monica Davis, who was blindsided by an infidelity scandal on the show. But Monica says even after everything, she’s still redefining fairytales. 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 the interview with Melody Webb, Esq, Founder and Executive Director of Mother’s Outreach Network, learn more here.Learn more about the other sponsors of this October 15th episode:Roda - use promo code CITYCAST20 for 20% offInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 11, 2024 • 33min
Bribery-Marred Re-election Bid, Initiative 83 Explainer, and More Election Primers
In this special news roundup, taped in front of a live audience at Black Cat, hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd sit down with WAMU’s Tom Sherwood to break down the juiciest election stories of the year: Councilmember Trayon White’s alleged bribery and scandalous reelection bid, Initiative 83 — which would dramatically change how D.C. votes, and of course, what’s at stake for D.C. in this year’s presidential race.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 October 11th episode:Make All Votes CountBetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCASTInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 2024 • 26min
The Unexpected Effects of DC's Peak Drug Era
Tony Lewis Jr. was 9 years old when his father was arrested for his involvement with the notorious 1980s D.C. drug kingpin Rayful Edmond. Last year, after a campaign spearheaded by Tony Jr., his father walked free. He’s here to tell us about how it went down, and what he thinks D.C. needs to do for people coming out of prison. 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 October 10th episode:Make All Votes CountBetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCASTInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 9, 2024 • 21min
Litigious DC Parents and Angry Coaches Over ... Little League?
Over the last year, DC’s little league has been roiled with drama. With cheating accusations, threatening emails, lawsuits, and other things that only happen when youth sports take place in a neighborhood thick with power lawyers, maybe there is crying in baseball after all. Recently, friend of the show Dave McKenna did a deep dive on it, building on the reporting of the Wall Street Journal's James Fanelli, who we interviewed before the summer to explain the drama.Our next live taping is today, Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Black Cat. Come join us to learn about the juiciest election stories of the year, from the fierce clash over ranked choice voting to an indicted councilmember's scandalous reelection bid with zero competition. RSVP 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 $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this October 9th episode:Make All Votes CountBetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCASTInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 8, 2024 • 29min
Why Housing in DC Is So Unaffordable
DC is facing a multitude of housing issues, from affordability to lawsuits against “bad” landlords. DC Councilmember Robert White, who leads the Council’s housing committee, joins us to talk about whether anyone can afford to live in DC, what’s going on with the city’s homeless programs, and what the government ought to be doing to create more housing in general. This episode is part of our 2024 contribution to the D.C. Homeless Crisis Reporting Project in collaboration with other local newsrooms. Check out the other collective works here. Our next live taping is tomorrow, Oct. 9 at Black Cat. Come join us to learn about the juiciest election stories of the year, from the fierce clash over ranked choice voting to an indicted councilmember's scandalous reelection bid with zero competition. RSVP here.Sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC for more DC news and events. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this October 8th episode:Make All Votes CountBetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCASTNational Museum of Women in the Arts Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices