
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

Mar 26, 2024 • 21min
What We Hate About D.C.'s Weed Culture
It seems like there are weed shops, vape shops and smoke shops on every corner in D.C. these days. For some, it's heaven, for others it’s a bit much. Our hosts Bridget Todd and Michael Schaffer sat down to get into how D.C.’s cannabis culture is changing, why there’s so many weed shops, and what it means for the city.Want a free (and beautiful) engraved mug? Sign up to become a City Cast DC member to enter the raffle. Plus you’ll get ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Sign up by April 5 to qualify.What’s the mug engraved with? “Hey DC”! The name of our daily morning newsletter. Sign up for more local news.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 2024 • 18min
How Landlords Are Ripping Off The City
There’s been a lot of controversy around D.C.’s public housing agency. The latest involves the question of whether the city is overpaying landlords. Steve Thompson from the Washington Post is here to explain why it matters — to people on public assistance and to everyone else in D.C. too. Want a free (and beautiful) engraved mug? Sign up to become a City Cast DC member to enter the raffle. Plus you’ll get ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Sign up by April 5 to qualify.What’s the mug engraved with? “Hey DC”! The name of our daily morning newsletter. Sign up for more local news.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 22, 2024 • 26min
Frat Chaos at UMD, E-Bike Vouchers, and Visiting All 683 D.C. Parks
Environmental reporter Jacob Fenston joins the team to talk about frat chaos at the University of Maryland, e-bike vouchers in D.C., and a new quest to visit every park in the District.Learn more about D.C.'s impending budget crisis in this podcast episode.Want a free (and beautiful) engraved mug? Sign up to become a City Cast DC member to enter the raffle. Plus you’ll get ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Sign up by April 5 to qualify.What’s the mug engraved with? “Hey DC”! The name of our daily morning newsletter. Sign up for more local news.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dcAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 2024 • 17min
Tinkering with D.C.'s Height Act
One of the most notable features of Washington’s cityscape is the skyscrapers: there aren’t any! That’s thanks to a law that’s more than a century old. But we’re in the midst of another conversation about tinkering with the law. We spoke with WTOP’s Luke Garrett last year to break it all down. 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 HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2024 • 18min
How to Survive D.C.'s Wild Allergy Season
Allergy season is here. It may seem a little early, but this year’s unusually warm weather has pollen counts near record highs in D.C. Dr. Rachel Schreiber, who heads up the Schreiber Allergy practice, joins us to share what you need to know about surviving allergy season. Stay up to date with DC news! Sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 19, 2024 • 24min
Blossoms Blooming, National Airport Debate, and Jefferson Memorial One-Star Reviews
Cherry blossoms are peaking early thanks to climate change and there’s a fight over D.C.’s busiest airport. The City Cast team is here to sum up the latest news and laugh at some hilarious one star reviews of the Jefferson Memorial. Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC, to keep up with all the latest in the city. 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 HEREKeep up with us on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 2024 • 14min
What To Know About D.C.'s Impending Budget Crisis
It looks like D.C.’s city budget is about to have a big fat hole in it. If you feel like we were swimming in cash not so long ago, you’re right. Tristan Navera from the Business Journal is here to tell us how this happened and what could be on the chopping block. 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 HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 15, 2024 • 21min
Fare Evasion, Baseball Tax, and Pricey Parking Spaces
We’re talking Metro fare evasion, the future of Nats Park, and the cost of a parking space. City Cast Contributor Dan Reed and our senior producer Julia Karron are here to give us the latest.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 HEREWe’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 2024 • 14min
How to Avoid Trash Collection Fines
Are you confused about your trash? What goes in what can, when should you use bags, and just what are you supposed to do with batteries? We sat down with Marlon Wright, the city’s solid waste administrator, to get the dirt on garbage. If you need help figuring out what to do with your garbage, reach out to the Department of Public Works.Want to keep up with all things DC? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 13, 2024 • 12min
Why You Should Explore 16th Street Heights
Big changes could be coming to 16th Street Heights. Businesses on the 4700 and 4600 blocks of 14th are doing a big push to revitalize this stretch and bring more commercial and residential development. City Cast contributor Austin Graff, who runs a popular Instagram account about exploring D.C., is here to tell us about all of the neighborhood's vibrant spots you should check out.You can find Austin on Instagram @austinkgraff!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 HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices