
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 17, 2023 • 25min
Local Palestine-Israel Efforts, Stop Sign Cameras, and Best Speakeasies
The weight of what’s happening in Israel and Palestine is so heavy that it’s palpable for many of us here in D.C. We’ve got some suggestions for what YOU can do to aid the peace and humanitarian efforts. Plus, we’re talking about some tricky stop sign cameras in D.C., and the best speakeasies now that the Gibson is shuttering its doors.
Priyanka wrote up this piece, summarizing all of the Palestine and Israel aid efforts we mentioned today.
Bridget’s got you covered on how to spot disinformation with her podcast There Are No Girls On The Internet.
Check out Alan Henny’s “stop sign” video. Should he contest the fine? Tell us what you think.
The Gibson is closing and we are SAD.
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

Oct 16, 2023 • 19min
Why a NoVa School Might Go to the Supreme Court
Thomas Jefferson High School, the math and science magnet school in Northern Virginia, is one of the most famous public schools in the country — and one of the toughest to get into. But some parents say the school’s new admissions process — which aims to improve diversity — actually discriminates against Asian students. They want the Supreme Court to get involved. Karina Elwood from the Washington Post brings us up to speed. Listen to our episode about the John Falcicchio scandal in the Mayor’s office. 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

Oct 13, 2023 • 22min
AdMo Housing Debate, Unsavory School Names, and Friday the 13th
The team chats about the latest twist in a goofy Adams Morgan development saga — and why it oughta matter to you even if you never hang out at the late, unlamented SunTrust Plaza. Plus, we’ve got some thoughts on school renamings and suggestions for how to get in a haunted mood this Friday the 13th.As always, our Friday episode is fueled by great local journalism:
Read up on the AdMo Plaza update, from this Washington Post report. And get caught up on the long saga, with our episode featuring Martin Austermuhle.
WTOP covered the Woodson High School renaming. They’ll be making a final decision on Nov. 9.
Hear the episode we mentioned, about how D.C. renamed Good Hope Road as Marion Barry Ave, and whether it should have.
As promised, here’s the Markoff’s Haunted Forest episode, including incredible behind-the-scenes details of how they produce the thing and ending with our own journey through the trail.
We’ve got lots of spooky fall suggestions in this article, by Kaela. Sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC so you don’t miss out on future event ideas.
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

Oct 12, 2023 • 17min
Why D.C. Sports Betting Is a Mess
In D.C., you’re only allowed to use one sports betting app — and the company behind it is a WRECK. It’s a status quo that has real costs — even if you don’t bet on sports. How did this happen? And what does D.C. do now? We break it down with Danny Funt, who has broken some of these stories for The Washington Post.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

Oct 11, 2023 • 20min
D.C.’s Most Underrated Restaurants
There have been a lot of buzzy new restaurant openings in DC lately, but don’t forget about the durable, DC staples that fly under the radar, but endure for a reason.The Washingtonian’s Food Critic Ann Limpert joins me and newsletter editor Kaela Coh-tee-Stemmerman to dish on DC’s most underrated restaurants.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

Oct 10, 2023 • 18min
After District Dogs: What Can D.C. Do About Flooding?
D.C. has had intense floods this year, and with climate change, it’s only poised to get worse. Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe, a journalist at Hola Cultura, is here to explain why the old way of mapping flood risk in D.C. is out of date and what we need to know to be more prepared. Check out our episode about D.C.’s troubled 911 call center, and some of the fatal mistakes it’s made. And if you need a refresher of what happened at the District Dogs flooding, we went through it minute-by-minute and also covered the city’s response.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 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

Oct 6, 2023 • 26min
Pricey Nats Upgrade, DC’s Budget Surplus, and Pandas’ Farewell
Mike is joined by Julia Karron and Kaela Cote-Stemmermann and they’re talking about taxpayer money — first for a stadium scoreboard, then for a boost in food assistance. And, in both cases, what the debate says about where DC stands right now. Plus: Pandas! They’re leaving, and they have feelings. If you want to help choose the zoo’s next favorite animal, vote here.And afterward, catch up on this great local reporting that fueled our roundup:
WTOP covered the Nats’ scoreboard story
The Washington Post’s piece on the surplus funding SNAP benefits
Kaela’s write-up on the pandas, from our newsletter Hey 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 HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 5, 2023 • 19min
What a New RFK Stadium Could Mean For D.C.
The House Oversight Committee actually agreed on something, and that was to possibly bring the Washington Commanders back to the old RFK site. The legislation would give DC a 99-year lease on the site with fewer restrictions on how the site can be redeveloped. The Washington Post’s Sam Fortier chatted with us a few months ago about what that land could mean for the team’s future and the city’s.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

Oct 4, 2023 • 19min
Shaw May Ban New Liquor Licenses
Some Shaw residents are calling for a three-year moratorium on new bars and nightclubs on 9th Street between T St and U St. NBC Reporter Mark Segraves tells us why, and how business owners in the area feel about it.Let us know what you think of the newscast at the end of our episodes with this short, multiple-choice survey: https://forms.gle/7mggSwc1jNSETNoP7Want 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

Oct 3, 2023 • 23min
Dismissed Harassment Complaints, New Metro Taxes, and Washington Monument Reviews
The team discusses new details about how D.C. government handles sexual harassment complaints. Short answer: not well. Plus, D.C. is considering a new tax to save Metro’s budget, and we read out surprisingly hilarious one-star reviews of the Washington Monument.Check out these articles for more background on our three topics today:
The Washington Post update on how D.C. handles sexual harassment complaints
Alex Koma’s piece about solutions to Metro’s budget problem
Laugh at some more one-star reviews of the Washington Monument
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