City Cast DC

Virginia’s governor’s race is widely seen as a referendum on the party in power and a bellwether for the national political mood. And it’s not just the race for governor - every seat in Virginia is on the ballot in November. Michael Pope, reporter for Virginia Public Radio and host of the Virginia Press Room podcast, joins us to break down what’s at stake. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to...

You might’ve noticed those shiny new public bathrooms popping up around the city. They're a high tech toilet startup from a company called Throne Labs, but they’re just the beginning. Marcie Bernbaum, a local human rights advocate, says DC’s lack of public restrooms isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a human rights issue. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter H...

DC is filled with politicians, lobbyists, and business leaders that impact our day to day. But the people influencing gas prices or what happens to empty parking lots near your house are sometimes less visible. Washington Business Journal’s Mike Neibauer is here to tell us about Joe Mamo, a businessman with a crazy story, who’s had a monopoly on DC’s gas for years. Want some more DC news? Then mak...

Greater Greater Washington’s Dan Reed joins the team to talk about the RFK stadium deal that looks just about done, the quest to build more housing in the inner suburbs, and an extremely petty neighbors’ quarrel that went viral. Plus, in a members-only fourth topic, we’re talking about the Trump inspired burst of potential renamings in the DMV. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for...

This is the time of summer where you might be feeling over it. But before you rage quit the season, listen to this episode. The City Cast team is here to break down our guide to making the most of August in DC, from summer restaurant week to yoga inside the Smithsonian.  If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Ca...

Tens of thousands of Washingtonians used to live in alleys. Back in the old days, they were thought of as slum dwellings. But could alley homes make a comeback — and maybe even go upscale? Mark Lawrence and Elizabeth Emerson have an architecture firm that specializes in turning yesterday’s garages into tomorrow’s boutique apartments; they’re here to explain what it would look for residents like if...

It’s finally done! The D.C. Council passed the 2026 budget, but not without some hiccups along the way. WAMU’s Alex Koma takes us inside the Wilson Building to tell us what those hiccups were and what DC will be spending our tax dollars on next year. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as lit...

What in the world is going on at The Washington Post? Our city’s venerable daily is hemorrhaging employees and going through a wild change in its identity. And it's weird because the last thing a lot of folks might remember is that the news organization seemed until recently to be swimming in Jeff Bezos’ money. Paul Farhi spent years writing about the industry for the Post, and more recently has t...

We're talking about Trump and RFK stadium, Congress and its weird new rules targeting DC traffic regulations, and lanternflies — the 2025 winged nuisance of the year. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we'll talk about AI and romance for the DC crowd. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for...

News broke yesterday that the head of the D.C. Council reached an agreement with the Commanders to adjust the financial terms of the stadium deal, opening the door for the Council to vote on the deal in a matter of days. All the back and forth over the stadium in the last months might have made you wonder: What were those old glory days of the culture around the team that everyone over 50 talks ab...

We started the week with a rare treat: actual summer weather we can enjoy: humidity that’s not too terrible, bearable heat, maybe even a breeze! But don’t get too comfortable. This summer hasn’t just been brutally hot — it’s also brought extreme storms, flooding, and the worst may still be ahead. Jason Samenow from Capital Weather Gang is here to break down tips for surviving in these hot months,...

For 25 years, there’s been a project to build housing on top of an open parking lot next to the Takoma Metro station. The Washington Post’s Aaron Weiner is here to explain what’s taken so long and what it says about the prospects to create more of the housing that the city needs. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with...

We know that the pain of a flight that just keeps on getting delayed, or worse – cancelled – is incredibly aggravating. That seems to be happening a lot more than usual these days at DCA. And this is something that City Cast contributor Tim Ebner has been writing about: how DC’s most convenient airport has become kind of a nightmare to fly out of this summer. Tim and City Cast Executive Producer A...

NBC4’s Mark Segraves is with us to discuss the return of Trayon White to the DC Council, the Trump-led antisemitism investigation in DC, and the Citi Open. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment: The Congressman accused of not paying his rent.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as...

There is a TON of transportation stuff going on right now: changes to the bus lines, the Dupont Deckover, the Penn Ave West project, fights about bike lanes. Today, Sharon Kershbaum, DC’s Director of the Department of Transportation, is here to answer our questions – and yours – about everything related to DC transportation.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsle...

The DC Budget still hasn’t passed, but it’s getting closer. The D.C. Council advanced a budget that pencils in more than $1 billion dollars for the RFK Stadium deal and approves ranked-choice voting. Plus, it rejects Bowser’s proposed rollback of the I-82 tipped wage law… for now. Another vote is expected July 28. WAMU’s Alex Koma is here to get into what it means for the city. Want some more DC n...

DC may not be a state, but I think we can all agree that it has an awesome flag. A couple years ago, we sat with a couple of the world’s top vexillologists — that’s flag experts — to talk about why the DC flag became so ubiquitous and why it works. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as littl...

The federal workforce may be in trouble, but Mayor Muriel Bowser is poised to replace it with a pivot to a sports economy. We sat down with two Washington Post reporters who have been covering the mayor’s efforts to build a new stadium — Meagan Flynn, who covers City Hall, and Sam Fortier, who writes for the sports section.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newslet...

WAMU’s Alex Koma is here to talk about the Supreme Court giving the greenlight to Trump’s mass firings of federal workers. Plus, the president is musing about taking over DC again. But it’s not all bad: There are more fireflies than ever! And in a member’s only fourth topic, we’re going to get into DC’s feelings about the Better Bus Network changes.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign...

The DC jail is in absolutely wretched shape — and has been for years. So why can’t anyone fix it? DC Auditor Kathy Patterson has just released a report about inhumane conditions at the facility, and it’s not even her first report on the topic. She’s here to walk us through what’s happening.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a...

The Bridge District sounds like one of those buzzy, made-up neighborhoods that suddenly pop up on a map…and it kind of is! It’s a new $1.5 billion development along the Anacostia River in Southeast DC, with plans for seven buildings, more than 2,000 residential units, 90,000 square feet of retail, green space, and more. We sat down with Axios reporter Mimi Montgomery to break down what it means fo...

There’s something uniquely empowering about taking yourself out on a solo date. The City Cast team got together last year to figure out DC’s best places to drink alone, whether you’re in the mood for a craft cocktail or a sober-friendly mocktail. Places mentioned in this episode: Showtime Lounge Lyman’s Tavern Red Derby Last Call Bar Jackie Lee’s Bar Charley Want some more DC news? Then make sure...

DC Council is already pondering whether to expel Ward 8 councilmember Trayon White again if he wins his seat back on July 15 special election. But in the meantime, the voters get a say, and they actually have a few candidates to choose from. WAMU’s Alex Koma is here to walk us through the state of the race.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You c...

Bridget Todd and all 12 other City Cast podcast hosts (from Austin, Boise, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Madison, Nashville, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Salt Lake City) compete head-to-head in a high-stakes showdown to answer the question that’s been burning up our company-wide Slack for weeks: which city is the best for a summer weekend trip? From naked bike rides to ‘the country’s b...

In DC, everything is political — even the buildings. One of Trump’s first moves back in office was saying federal buildings should follow “traditional” design styles. Meanwhile, there’s growing buzz about turning the city’s aging office buildings into housing. Public historian Neil Flanagan joins us to break down what these shifts mean for the architecture that shapes DC — and the politics behind...