City Cast DC

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

In this discussion, Tim Ebner, a City Cast contributor and frequent traveler, shares his insights on the growing frustrations at DCA. He explores the impact of high passenger volumes and weather woes leading to frequent delays and cancellations. Tim also highlights the recent expansion of flight services, while raising concerns about airport congestion. With practical tips for navigating these challenges, he emphasizes the importance of patience and alternative rebooking strategies to ease the travel experience.

NBC4’s Mark Segraves is with us to discuss the return of Trayon White to the DC Council, the Trump-led antisemitism investigation in DC, and the Citi Open. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment: The Congressman accused of not paying his rent.  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 18th episode: Library of Congress DC Sustainable Energy utility Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

There is a TON of transportation stuff going on right now: changes to the bus lines, the Dupont Deckover, the Penn Ave West project, fights about bike lanes. Today, Sharon Kershbaum, DC’s Director of the Department of Transportation, is here to answer our questions – and yours – about everything related to DC transportation.  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 17th episode: Library of Congress DC Sustainable Energy utility Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.