

City Cast DC
City Cast
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 13, 2025 • 28min
How DC is Fighting Trump's Takeover
In the two days since Trump announced his takeover of DC’s police, we’ve been struck by how the city is responding. Yes, there’s anger and sadness and fear, but also…action. Free DC is a longtime advocacy group that’s been behind a lot of the fervor this week. While many people were shocked by the announcement, Free DC has been preparing for this exact moment. We called up a Free DC organizer - who we’re calling Joe at his request to protect his privacy - to get into how the group is fighting back, what’s working and what’s not, and what’s next.
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 13th 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.

Aug 12, 2025 • 37min
What Trump's Shocking DC Takeover Means
We answer all of your questions about Trump's rambling and shocking press conference announcing that he's deploying the National Guard to D.C. and taking over the Metropolitan Police Department. NBC 4’s Mark Segraves — who has been covering Trump’s threats to take over DC since his first administration — joins us to break down where D.C. goes from 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 episode:
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Backroom
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCASTInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Aug 11, 2025 • 20min
Underrated Dates in DC — For $15 Or Less
Everything is expensive! And D.C.'s economy is suffering. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still find love and plan some great dates on the cheap. The great Jade Womack, also known as Clockout DC, has D.C.’s best date spots for around $15 or less.
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 11th 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.

Aug 8, 2025 • 26min
Trump Tightens Grip on DC, Dolphins in the Potomac, and a Can’t-Miss August Event
Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon is here to chat about Trump's continued culture war on D.C. and his latest threats to take over the District, dolphins in the Potomac, and a segment sponsored by District Bridges about this August’s best party. In our members-only fourth segment, we’re talking about a new D.C. auditor’s report regarding housing and getting folks back on their feet.
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.
If you enjoyed today's interview with District Bridges' Director of Storytelling and Marketing, Anna Claire, learn more here.
Learn more about the sponsors of this August 8th episode:
Overlook Maps
Nace Law Group
District Bridges
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Aug 7, 2025 • 29min
Trump Keeps Threatening to Revoke DC's Home Rule. Can He Do it?
Donald Trump this week threatened to take over D.C. — again — which could mean getting rid of home rule. Which got us thinking: Do a lot of people, including Trump, even know what home rule is? And, how easy is it to overturn? We talked to Howard University’s Robinson Woodward-Burns and asked all the questions you might have.
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 7th episode:
Overlook Maps
Nace Law Group
District Bridges
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Aug 6, 2025 • 20min
This DMV Election Is the Most Important in the Country
Virginia’s governor’s race is widely seen as a referendum on the party in power and a bellwether for the national political mood. And it’s not just the race for governor - every seat in Virginia is on the ballot in November. Michael Pope, reporter for Virginia Public Radio and host of the Virginia Press Room podcast, joins us to break down what’s at stake.
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 6th episode:
Overlook Maps
Nace Law Group
District Bridges
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
nterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Aug 5, 2025 • 25min
Why It’s So Hard to Pee in DC
You might’ve noticed those shiny new public bathrooms popping up around the city. They're a high tech toilet startup from a company called Throne Labs, but they’re just the beginning. Marcie Bernbaum, a local human rights advocate, says DC’s lack of public restrooms isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a human rights issue.
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 5th episode:
Overlook Maps
Nace Law Group
District Bridges
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

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.