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
Dec 13, 2023 • 22min
Our Take On NYT's '36 Hours In D.C.'
Recently, the New York Times put out an itinerary of how to spend 36 hours in D.C. And our team of locals had some feelings on it! So we’ve got some alternate recommendations for the next time your family is in town.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. (TRY TO CHANGE IT UP EVERY TIME)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
Dec 12, 2023 • 19min
Unpacking D.C.'s Huge Fentanyl Drug Ring Bust
Recently, D.C. police helped bust a fentanyl distribution ring with global impact, and the two-year investigation all started after a young mother here in D.C. died of an overdose. NBC 4’s Mark Segraves is here to explain why fentanyl is becoming a more serious problem in the District, and how it affects you even if you don’t use the drug.Check out these City Cast DC episodes we mentioned: The Viral Mass Thefts Worrying D.C. ShoppersHow Social Media is Propelling D.C.'s Youth HomicidesWant some more DC news? 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
Dec 11, 2023 • 13min
Is Crime Driving Restaurant Closures?
Some recently closed restaurants blame crime as a main reason they're closing — but the stats are a little less clear. The man behind the Eat DC social accounts is here to explain what’s up.Read more here on the RAMW testimony to the DC Council.And sign up to be a member of City Cast DC! You’ll get ad-free listening and other members-only perks.Want some more DC news? 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
Dec 8, 2023 • 22min
24/7 Police Surveillance, Arlington House Explosion, and Snow Days
We’re talking about a new surveillance program with D.C. and the feds that’s supposed to target crime. Plus Axios’ Mimi Montgomery breaks down a crazy house explosion in Arlington. And some new policies on everyone’s favorite subject: Snow days.Check out all the great local reporting that powers our roundups:
Fox5 has you covered on the new surveillance cameras.
Mimi Montgomery from Axios explains the house explosion in Arlington Monday night.
Fox5 explains why Fairfax is maintaining its old snow day policy.
Plus become a founding member of City Cast DC! Want some more DC news? 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
Dec 7, 2023 • 17min
Are Open-Air Drug Markets The Key To Solving D.C. Crime?
A new D.C. effort aims to crack down on open-air drug markets. It’s the city government's latest attempt to grapple with the rise in homicides and other crimes. But is this kind of drug dealing actually tied to the spike in violence? Meagan Flynn of the Washington Post has been covering the effort, and she joins us to get the lay of the landPlus become a founding member of City Cast DC! Want some more DC news? 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
Dec 6, 2023 • 14min
Best D.C. Winter Activities, According to Clockout DC
When the temperature drops, it can be tempting to cozy up inside if you don’t love the cold. But Jade Womack of Clockout DC is here to tell us about the fun, charming things to do around town this winter. Want some more DC news? 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
Dec 5, 2023 • 25min
D.C.'s Most Influential People of 2023 (Part II)
D.C. is a special city. There’s so much to do, see, and taste here. And with so much to experience, we wanted to narrow it down to the most transformative of what the city has to offer. In this final installation of our inaugural City Cast 6 awards, we’re diving into the categories of food and drink, business, and sustainability.If you missed part one of this series, listen here or at dc.citycast.fm/podcasts. The politics winner especially is going to blow your mind.Plus become a founding member of City Cast DC! Want some more DC news? 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
Dec 4, 2023 • 30min
D.C.'s Most Influential People of 2023 (Part I)
It’s our first annual list of the City Cast 6: A half-dozen people who have changed D.C. in 2023, for better or worse. We’ve assembled a panel of experts and today we’ll hear them vet folks our listeners picked as finalists for honorees in Politics, Literature, and Music.To listen to part two of this series, where we select winners for the categories of Food & Drink, Business & Development, and Sustainability, click here, or go to dc.citycast.fm/podcasts.Plus, at the end of the episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz joins us for a conversation sponsored by Urban Pace, about Pasha Homes, a flashy new development right by the Fort Totten metro stop. Learn more here.Plus become a founding member of City Cast DC! Want some more DC news? 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
Dec 1, 2023 • 24min
Controversial Zoning, Metro Shutdowns, and Heurich House Christmas Markt
Alexandria has moved to ban single-family zoning — which is kinda a wonky concept, but one with big implications that ought to matter to you even if you don’t live in Alexandria. Teo Armus of the Washington Post will help explain why. Plus, we're chatting about a new debate over closing Metro for repairs. And we’ll be ending with a special segment sponsored by the Heurich House, about their annual Christmas Markt which begins tonight! As always, our roundups are powered by the fantastic local reporting here:
Check out all the reporting Teo Armus has done on Alexandria’s new zoning policy.
Washington Business Journal has you covered on Metro’s impending closure.
Come meet us at the Heurich House Christmas Markt today! We talked with Cornelia Poku about all the shopping options.
Plus, become a founding member of City Cast DC! Want some more DC news? 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
Nov 30, 2023 • 19min
Ranked Choice Voting Has Powerful Enemies in D.C.
A potential D.C. referendum called Initiative 83 could pave the way for ranked-choice voting in D.C. At first blush, it sounds like a great idea in a city where a dozen or more candidates are apt to divide up the vote in a Council race. Who could be against it? It turns out, quite a few folks! Alex Koma from City Paper is here to walk us through Initiative 83 and its antagonists.Get ad-free podcast listening, insider updates, VIP access at future events, and a shoutout in our newsletter by becoming a member!Want some more DC news? 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
