City Cast DC

We’re talking about the big Commanders stadium news, some serious changes coming to Metro, and a podcaster who reads DC menus to help put you to sleep. Plus, members get a bonus segment today, about the Kennedy Center going full patriotism. In case you missed our episode with sports economist JC Bradbury, listen to learn whether stadiums are worth what they cost cities. And here’s the new WMATA bu...

With everything going on in DC, maybe you’re in need of a mental health day. Whether you’re playing hooky from work, school, or endless job apps, there’s actually a ton to do in DC on a weekday when you just need some me time. In this rerun from last year, the City Cast team plan out the ultimate mental health day for cinephiles, sports buffs, and every type of Washingtonian in between.  Want some...

Yesterday, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced spending freezes and city cuts because of a massive crater that Congress created in DC’s budget and then never fixed. There’s a bill in the House that could immediately resolve this budget crisis, but the lawmakers have stalled on voting, and now they’re on break until April 28. Local reporter Martin Austermuhle is here to tell us how the cuts could affect...

With the weather improving, it’s a great time to explore DC’s many great parks to entertain little ones! City Cast DC contributor and dad, Jacob Fenston, is on a quest to visit all 697 parks in the District and he’s here to tell us the best ones to take your kids to. 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 list...

There hasn’t even been a vote on a new Washington commanders stadium in DC, but a lot of folks already talk about it as a done deal. JC Bradbury is an expert on the economics of stadiums, and he thinks they’re almost never worth it. Bradbury is here to walk us through his research and what he thinks it ought to mean for DC’s looming decisions about RFK. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to si...

It’s our Friday News Roundup! We’re talking about Trump’s birthday military parade, Congress targeting a couple of DC laws where they might actually have some local allies, and an epic scavenger hunt. Plus in our member’s-only fourth topic, we’ll talk through the way the new war on globalism is affecting DC’s local culture. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newslett...

The Smithsonian is front and center in one of Donald Trump’s most controversial executive orders. But what does his campaign against “inappropriate ideology” mean on a day to day basis for the museums — and for the city where they’re a big part of the cultural mix? Manuel Roig-Franzia from the Washington Post is here to give us the lay of the land. If you’ve been personally affected by Trumps tari...

Spring has sprung, which means streateries are back! But do people really use them and like them? Senior producer Julia Karron talked to business owners and food journalists to get to the bottom of it. 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 $8 a month. Learn more about the sponsors...

The Trump administration is pressuring public schools to abandon any programming related to what they call DEI, or else those schools will lose federal funding. And earlier this month, there was ICE activity at HD Cooke Elementary School in Adams Morgan. Scott Goldstein, the Executive Director of EmpowerEd, is here to share how schools are handling these threats and what it all means for local stu...

WayMo, Google’s driverless taxi service company, says they want to expand to DC next. But are they safe? Would they work with DC’s many road quirks? We talked to Andrew Hawkins, who covers transportation at The Verge, to find out what driverless taxis would mean for the city.  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...

The DC Council passed a new law to keep more meetings secret, and Mark Zuckerberg joined a whole bunch of oligarchs buying houses in D.C. Plus: the best April Fools articles in D.C. this year. And for members, a special bonus topic: Trayon White, the expelled member of the DC Council, is running to win back his old seat. Can they re-expel him? NBC4’s Mark Segraves joins the team to discuss. Want t...

What are the coolest buildings in DC? Chances are your list doesn’t include the Lincoln Pyramid, the Washington Pedestal, or something called Dolphin America — precisely because they never got built. We sat down with architectural historian Martin Moeller last year to discuss the big ideas that, sometimes luckily, shaped our city by never getting off the drawing board.  Want some more DC news? The...

Mayor Bowser was scheduled to unveil her 2026 budget today but she’s delayed that while waiting for the House to pass its budget fix bill, restoring $1B to DC’s budget. Trump has signaled his support for the bill — so what’s the holdup? The Washington Post’s Meagan Flynn explains where we're at with DC’s budget and what’s next.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning new...

They say April showers bring May flowers. The City Cast squad is here to give their top tips and recommendations, from getting your winter coats dry cleaned and stored for the winter, to hitting up a Smithsonian exhibit throughout the month. If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a whole guide for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to our City Cast DC community. Once you’re do...

A new executive order by Donald Trump targets D.C. — but doesn’t, at least not yet, take it over. Mark Segraves from Channel 4 is here to explain the president’s new “"D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force", and why the city leadership feels like it doesn’t have much choice other than staying mum.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also becom...

We’re talking about DC’s economic plans to move beyond the federal government. Also, some people who allegedly wrote mean graffiti on Teslas are being investigated for hate crimes. And we’re talking about how to get the most out of a trip to Nats Park. Plus, stick around for an exciting member’s-only fourth segment about local DC’s endearing ability to memeify national news events like this week’s...

A new plan would consolidate the District's competing violence interruption programs under a single agency after a bribery scandal last year. But just what are these programs? The University of Maryland’s Thomas Abt has spent years studying violence prevention and he’s here to explain how these efforts can and can’t nudge violence down.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our mo...

A reminder for the parents out there: if you are wanting to get your kid into summer camp, it’s time to make some plans. City Cast contributor Austin Graff is here to explain why March is a critical time for summer camp planning and everything you need to know to do it right. 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-...

It’s spring in DC, which means it’s e-bike season. Last year, we systematically tested four different e-bike brands — Capital Bikeshare, Lime, Spin, and Veo — to figure which ones are worth the price. 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 $8 a month. Learn more about the sponsors o...

The DMV is front and center in the Trump administration’s campaign to deport undocumented immigrants. Atenas Burrola Estrada of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights is here to tell us what it means for the region and what people need to know about their rights in this legal landscape.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a membe...

We’re talking about why the Purple Line is taking so long to arrive. We’re talking about the takeover of DC institutions — and whether it's cool for Washington audiences to boo JD Vance. Plus, a story about stew that warmed our hearts. And this week there’s a fourth topic for members only: Is the DMV economy headed for a crater? Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning new...

So we know that the federal government fired thousands of workers in D.C. earlier this year. Now some court rulings suggest they’re being rehired?! But not fully?! It’s a mess. Emily Peck from Axios tells us what’s going down between the Trump administration and the federal workers that DOGE tried to purge. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You ca...

The District is anxiously waiting for the House of Representatives to return to session and decide the fate of D.C.’s budget. Depending on what they decide, D.C. could potentially see a $1 billion hit, right away. The Washington Post's Jenny Gathright is here to explain how D.C. leaders are trying to convince the House to vote their way. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our mo...

Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center has left the DC art community reeling. How is DC’s vibrant but sometimes overlooked theater community dealing with the fallout? Chad Dexter Kinsman, arts administrator and host of Theater District podcast explains what all of this means for the future of theater in the District.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey...

Should DC rejoin Maryland!? In D.C.’s current crisis atmosphere, the idea of retrocession has gained traction. For years, David Krucoff was the lonely champion of this cause. He’s with us today to explain why he thinks it’s the best way forward. 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 a...