

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

Oct 31, 2022 • 16min
D.C.’s Creepiest Ghost Stories
Halloween is here! Which means it’s time to tell scary stories. And rather than make brand-new ones, we asked Washingtonian senior editor Andrew Beaujon to come in and talk to us about the best spooky D.C. urban legends.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter.We’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 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 28, 2022 • 24min
Metro Updates, A Parking Controversy, And Local Halloween Costumes
We’re going a bit transportation heavy in today’s episode. Dan Reed of Greater Greater Washington and Martin Austermuhle from WAMU are here to chat about what is going on with those 7000-series trains and how parking in the district may be changing dramatically.Let your voice be heard on residential parking permits! The DC Council public hearing about it is TODAY at noon. Follow this link to keep up.We've got more D.C. news for you on our morning newsletter. It'll be especially useful to you in the lead-up to the Nov. 8 election.Be sure to also follow us on Twitter at @citycast_dc. And share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 27, 2022 • 17min
A Runner’s Guide To Washington, D.C.
With the Marine Corps Marathon this weekend, we got to thinking: What makes D.C. different from all other cities when it comes to running? Washington Post wellness reporter Kelyn Soong is here to tell us why, as well as some of his tips and tricks to get out there and start pounding the pavement.Also, new neighborhood library hours are: Monday - Wednesday: 10 a.m. — 9 p.m.Thursday: 1 p.m. — 9 p.m.Friday - Saturday: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.Sunday: 1 p.m. — 5 p.m.Check out our morning newsletter for more news and events, and follow us on Twitter too. We're at @citycast_dc.And we're working out our election coverage for next week. Send us your questions in a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 26, 2022 • 17min
D.C. Is Reforming Its 121-Year-Old Criminal Code
DC Council is about to rewrite the city’s ancient criminal code. And that’s just one of the many big projects they’re working on right now. To help us get the lay of the land, Ward 6 Councilmember and head of the judiciary committee Charles Allen joins the show. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your D.C.-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 25, 2022 • 22min
What David Krucoff Wants For Ward 3
We’re putting a microscope on the Ward 3 council member race. After nabbing an endorsement from the Washington Post, David Krucoff, the Republican candidate for Ward 3, joins us and tells what he would bring to the D.C. Council. For more information, you can check out his website here. You can hear what his opponent, Matt Frumin, has to say on his episode with us.Need to check your voter status too? For D.C. residents, head to this site to see if you’re good to go. Arlington business owners, here are more details on the tax changes for next year.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter.We’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 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 2022 • 16min
D.C. Has Its Very Own “Onion”
D.C’s satirical website “The Cherry Swamp" is bursting with gut-busting headlines. Think “The Onion,” but specifically for D.C. One of the publication’s founders, Erick Acuña, tells us how D.C. is tailor-made for this type of satire. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter.We’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 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 21, 2022 • 25min
MoCo’s Planning Board Troubles, Dan Snyder Drama, and an Ambitious Park Plan
Montgomery County’s Planning Board quit last week in a huge, dramatic shake-up, and it’s Dan Reed, from Greater Greater Washington, is here to tell us what’s next there. Plus, Dan, Priyanka, and Mike break down the latest Dan Snyder drama, and look through the final designs for D.C.’s most ambitious urban park plan in years.Our Friday roundup is fueled by some great local journalism:
Check out the final designs for the 11th Street Bridge park
Dan Reed’s piece about the MoCo Planning Board shake-up
And here’s the latest Commanders drama
And for good measure, Sally Jenkin’s scathing takedown of Dan Snyder
For more D.C. news like this, definitely sign up for our morning newsletter and follow us on Twitter. We’re at @citycast_dc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 20, 2022 • 18min
At Markoff's Haunted Forest, Someone Is Always Watching
It's spooky season, and our team went on a field trip to Markoff's Haunted Forest. Which we've learned is actually haunted? Paul Brubacher is head of operations for the haunt. He prepared us, and scared us some more, while telling us about the origins of the forest.You can sign up to visit the forest here.For more D.C. news, sign up for our sister newsletter Hey DC, which also publishes every morning.And leave us a voicemail with your D.C.-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations and we may make you podcast-famous! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 19, 2022 • 16min
What Makes For An Iconic D.C. Jersey?
With both the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals debuting new throwback jerseys this season, it got us thinking about what makes those jerseys special. Mike Callow joins us to explain what makes a retro uniform truly iconic.Also, check the Mental Health In America Report here.Need to charge your electric vehicle? We've got you covered.Dig the show? We wanna hear from you! Send us an email at dc@citycast.fm.We’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 2026422654 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 2022 • 19min
Matt Frumin's Vision for Ward 3
Election season is here! To kick off our coverage, we sat down with Matt Frumin, the democratic candidate for Ward 3 council member, and he tells about his platform and what he could bring to the D.C. Council.For more information, you can check out his website here.Need to check your voter status too? For D.C. residents, head to this site to see if you’re good to go.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’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 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices