City Cast DC

How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of D.C.? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city streets free of floods and trash — and to possibly slow the drying and pollution of the Great Salt Lake. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta says it’s worth a shot. This week, she joins David to discuss how quick, periodic cleaning of a neig...

On today's episode, we get into the House Republicans who, on the heels of the Trayon White mistrial, allege that two D.C. activist groups are advocating for the practice of jury nullification. We’re also talking about presumptive-mayor Janeese Lewis George's affordable housing promises. And the zoo asks for the public’s help… in naming their red panda cub. Plus, in a member’s only fourth segment,...

What do Black women and Shakespeare have to do with each other? A new exhibition at D.C.’s Folger Shakespeare Library explores that little-known history, tracing Black women’s engagement with the Bard across centuries. Dr. Patricia Akhimie, director of the Folger Institute and curator of To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare, discusses the exhibit and a new way to consider Shakespear...

On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from cutting any trees at East Potomac Golf Links, where the president wants to replace a public park with a luxury golf course. But to some critics, the question is: What took Judge Ana Reyes so long? The order came days after the administration cut down more than 400 trees on the golf course — a move that sent the judge into a newswort...

You’re not imagining it — there are a lot more flyovers in D.C. these days. President Trump is the biggest fan of them that the White House has ever had. And while your 8-year-old may be into it, many aren’t — including Mother Jones reporter Stephanie Mencimer. On today's pod, she digs into the data with us to calculate the true toll of all these flyovers. Want some more DC news? Then ma...

Another D.C. school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can work, and they’ve got the (mostly) positive feedback to show for it. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins David to talk about how St. Paul Central High School is succeeding at enforcing a phone-free school environment, the surprisin...

This week, we unpack the tensions that led the Council to narrowly pass a bill letting businesses and college campuses pay extra for more parking enforcement. We also discuss why D.C.’s Board of Elections threw out a $16,000 fine against likely next mayor Janeese Lewis George. And we tackle a question that’s been rising to the top of D.C.’s debate: where can you score a great loaf of fresh bread w...

D.C.'s likely next mayor, Janeese Lewis George, has been dropping hints about how she'll handle one of D.C.’s most fraught issues – transit. The 51st’s Alex Koma is here to talk about her agenda, and the politics around it. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: ‪(202) 642-2654‬. You can also bec...

In partnership with Theatre Washington, City Cast DC theater critic Chris Klimek sat down for a live conversation Monday night at D.C.’s Studio Theatre to chat with some of the most prominent voices in the city’s theater scene right now. They discuss how the closure of the Kennedy Center is rippling through local theater, the richness of the D.C. theater scene, changes in theater leadership across...

Living in any big city has its moments of loneliness — but according to some studies, D.C. might be the loneliest city in the U.S. Washingtonian recently covered D.C.'s loneliness epidemic, and lifestyle editor Daniella Byck is here to talk about why making friends here can be so hard, and what we can do to make connections. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morni...

D.C. has always had an in-crowd with its own hangouts, habits, and status symbols. But the in-crowd of the Trump White House has different tastes than what DC is used to. Vanity Fair’s Aidan McLaughlin has been reporting on the folkways of Trump’s D.C., and he’s here to share his findings. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or...

When D.C. looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball co...

Now that Trayon White’s bribery trial ended in a hung jury, what’s next for the Ward 8 Councilman? We’ll get into it. Speaking of D.C. courts, we’ll take a look at the problems they’re having staffing up. And Trump’s latest executive order takes aim at the District’s mosquito infestation -- we've got the latest. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ll get into the connection between Sweetgre...

Lime scooters and bikes are a fixture of D.C.’s landscape. They’re great for getting somewhere in a hurry, but safety issues persist. Lime is trying to address these concerns this year with a $17-million dollar investment in operations here in D.C. City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers has been reporting on their efforts, and she’s here to explain. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our mor...

We’re back with our regular monthly guide for October, but this time we tried something a little different. We answer questions submitted by readers on local and seasonal topics – then dish out the answers you asked for, and probably some you didn’t! City Cast D.C.’s Kaela Cote-Stemmermann is here to talk cozy fall lattes, where to see foliage this October without a car, and everything in between....

The bribery trial of Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White ended yesterday with a hung jury and a mistrial. This will have repercussions in city politics, not to mention in the lives of Trayon White and his associates. City Cast D.C. reporter Emma Uber watched the entire trial, and she’s here to talk about how it ended. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Cit...

If you’re scared of rats, then I’ve got bad news – D.C. is one of the most rat-infested cities in America, at least as far as complaints go. But there’s an organization at the Department of Health that’s fighting the good fight. And there’s a man at the top of that organization – Andre Pitman. Sometimes he’s known as D.C.’s rat czar. Andre is here today to go over how the District is cutting down...

What’s a seemingly small project in D.C. that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahead...

Two years on, the District is still reeling from devastating DOGE job cuts, according to two new reports. We also take a look at why the D.C. Council is considering restrictions to how initiatives make it to the ballot. And for listeners planning to attend Adams Morgan's Porchfest, we’ve got the latest on the new rules on sipping and strolling. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ve got an...

Metro is redoing its station signage to make it easier for the public to navigate — but some riders are not happy. What are they changing, and why are folks so up in arms? Bloomberg’s Kriston Capps has been covering this, and he’s here to explain. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: ‪⁠(202) 642-2654‬⁠...

Thousands of ordinary Washingtonians showed up Friday night for a protest at the Kennedy Center — the biggest one to date. They were motivated by a new fear that President Donald Trump may actually tear the place down. It was the result of a week of head-spinning action on the saga of the building. The Atlantic’s Janay Kingsberry has been covering the story and is here to bring us up to speed...

Opening a menu to find a burger costs $25 is all too familiar in D.C. As everyone looks to stretch their dollars a little further, Washingtonian’s got you covered with its annual ⁠Cheap Eats in the DC Area⁠. Executive Food Editor Ann Limpert joins us to talk about her top picks. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a...

Walking around downtown D.C., you may notice a lot of vacant storefronts. In fact, City Cast reporter Jaclyn Peiser found that last year, one out of every four storefronts in D.C.’s Downtown Business Improvement District was empty. What’s happening? Jaclyn's here to explain. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicem...

Would DC be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression recorded near newly transformed, “greened” neighborhood lots. But how did they do it? David talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and special guest Matt Rader, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, about how Philly prioritized revita...

We’ve got the latest on Councilmember Trayon White’s bribery trial. Also, D.C. City Council is back in session — we’ll take a look at what’s on their plate, and whether they can afford to pay for the meal at all. And what, exactly, is Washington Caps star and captain Alexander Ovechkin doing in a political ad for Russian President Vladimir Putin? Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, the Kennedy...