

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

Sep 19, 2023 • 15min
Should D.C. Pay Reparations?
After slavery, D.C. paid financial restitution...to former enslavers that is. Now, DC Council is considering creating a task force to explore paying reparations to the descendants of enslaved people. The Washington Post’s Michael Brice-Saddler explains how it would work and if it’s likely to pass.If you’re interested in the episode we mentioned about racial inequities in traffic enforcement, listen here: https://dc.citycast.fm/podcasts/why-dc-traffic-enforcement-is-such-a-messWant 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

Sep 18, 2023 • 21min
What Should Brookland Metro Station Look Like?
Metro is planning to redevelop the Brookland Metro stop, but what should the new version look like? Considering this project touches on Metro, housing, parking, and retail, it's no surprise that the public hearing on it on Sept. 12 was SPICY. Washington Business Journal's Tristan Navera tells us what folks said and what WMATA is planning to do about it.If you want to learn more about the views, amenities, and cool things to do at Kite House at The Parks, check out their website! 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

Sep 15, 2023 • 26min
Hell’s Kitchen Drama, Loudoun NIMBYs, and Exciting New Restaurants
A NIMBY fight in the suburbs is pitting mental health advocates against disability rights activists. Plus, there have been shocking reports about a toxic and racist work environment over at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen on The Wharf. Contributor Dan Reed and Washingtonian’s Jessica Sidman chat with us about those two stories plus some exciting restaurant openings. As always, our Friday roundup is powered by amazing local journalism:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/09/12/group-homes-mental-health-treatment-facility-virginia/
https://www.washingtonian.com/2023/09/08/hells-kitchen-employees-allege-gordon-ramsay-restaurant-segregated-black-diners
https://www.washingtonian.com/2023/09/11/new-restaurants-coming-to-the-dc-area/
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

Sep 14, 2023 • 20min
How To Talk Like a D.C. Local
How can you tell if someone’s from D.C.? Minnie Quartey can do so with her eyes closed: As the coordinator of Georgetown’s Language and Communications in Washington DC project, she’s the world expert on the way locals talk — and has a bunch on pointers on what to do if you want to up your hometown accent and slang game.Check out our episode on the fate of Washington Commanders. 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

Sep 13, 2023 • 13min
District Bridges Wants to Help You Hire (Sponsored)
Hiring in D.C. can be tricky and time-consuming, especially if you want to be mindful of diversity and inclusion along the way. In this episode sponsored by District Bridges, City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with District Bridges' Executive Director Brianne Dornbush and Deputy Director Madeleine Odendahl about the work they’re doing to help local companies hire more efficiently and thoughtfully, including a free business summit they’re having in partnership with DC Workforce Investment Council (WIC).You can attend District Bridges’s free business summit on September 14th. The one-day summit includes the launch of tools and resources developed under the Talent Development Technical Assistance Initiative, focused on supporting businesses in adopting inclusive, skills-based hiring practices across the District.You can register for the summit here, free of charge. To learn more about District Bridges and how they can help your business visit their website https://www.districtbridges.org.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

Sep 13, 2023 • 17min
The Viral Mass Thefts Worrying D.C. Shoppers
Property crime is on the rise in DC and there’s an aspect to it you might not be familiar with -performance crime, where young people commit steal things as part of viral social media content. Washington Post reporter Emily Davies explains what the city is doing about it.Check out Emily’s reporting on this for more details. Plus, here’s our episode about the COVID-19 surge in D.C., and what you should do about it. Lastly, sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC if you want even more news like this.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 2023 • 17min
A New Approach to Art on the National Mall
“Beyond Granite: Pulling Together” is a first-of-its-kind outdoor exhibit on the National Mall, highlighting stories that are underrepresented in the Smithsonians. The six provocative sculptures are meant to start a conversation, and you only have one more week to check them out. Teresa Durkin of the Trust for the National Mall and Marcel Acosta of the National Capital Planning Commission explain what makes this exhibit so special. Go check out “Beyond Granite” before it closes on Sept. 18. More details here.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

Sep 11, 2023 • 13min
How D.C. Is Managing This Drought
You might not know it, but DC is in the middle of the drought. But we’ve also had flooding in the city- so how can both things be true? And should we be conserving water? 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

Sep 8, 2023 • 23min
Giant Pulling National Brands, Heat Wave, and New Food Hall
The only major grocery store east of the Anacostia River is facing a theft crisis that has prompted big changes. Plus, we’re talking about a food court, a heat wave, and a newly swimmable river.As always, our roundup is powered by amazing local journalism:
WTOP is all over the Giant security concerns in Anacostia
DCist covered the heat advisory and also the Anacostia swim event
Kaela wrote up a review of The Square for our website, dc.citycast.fm
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

Sep 7, 2023 • 17min
District Dogs Flood Exposes D.C.’s Flaws
It’s one of the saddest stories of the year — and the most infuriating. A flood at a DC doggie day-care last month led to the deaths of 10 dogs. Mark Seagraves from Channel 4 has been all over the story, which turns out to say a lot about the dysfunctional state of the city’s 911 call center, among other city agencies. Mark talked about the Bowser administration’s troubling reaction to the news, and what the fallout is likely to be. 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