City Cast DC

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...

Weeks after 9/11, in Senator Tom Daschle’s office on Capitol Hill, an aide opened an envelope addressed to the Senator and released anthrax into the air – microscopic, deadly spores that can be deadly if inhaled or absorbed through the skin in even the smallest amounts. As the FBI began investigating the letters, the workers at D.C.’s Brentwood mail facility continued to sort mail – while federal...

It’s finally getting cool enough to wear a sweatshirt in the morning – which means D.C. fall is here. With Congress back in session and the city in full swing, we’re looking for cheap weekend getaways. City Cast contributor Tim Ebner has some ideas for your next local vacation. So while you dig out those fall sweaters, we’ve got your itinerary covered. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sig...

Patrick O’Connell is the most famous and powerful man in Washington – Little Washington, that is. In the tiny Virginia hamlet, O’Connell’s restaurant is a global culinary destination. From his perch about an hour west of D.C., O’Connell has achieved a gravitational influence over the District’s culinary scene. Today he’s out with a sometimes searing memoir, “Main, Middle and Gay: A Chef Finds His...

The Trump administration wants the US Park Police to be D.C.’s "premier law enforcement agency." In just a year, they’ve doubled its size, from 300 to around 600 here in D.C. And because they answer to the White House, and don’t have to play by the same rules as local cops, it makes a lot of Washingtonians nervous. City Cast D.C.’s Emma Uber and Alyssa Fowers are out with a big report on just what...

It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for DC, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzling city, Vegas has continued to experience record-breaking heat in recent years, essentially forcing it to lead the charge in protecting residents from increasingly rising temperatures. City Cast Las Vegas host Jesse Merrick talks with David about the bold moves of...

This week marks 25 years since the September 11th terrorist attacks: We talk about how that day changed the District. We also talk about Lonnie Bunch’s retirement, what Trump’s war on the Smithsonian means for D.C., and we preview Councilmember Trayon White’s bribery trial as jury selection kicks off today. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we take a look at D.C.’s ongoing efforts to fight t...

The DMV is the capital of Ethiopian America, and for 50 years eating Ethiopian food has been a Washington tradition. Over the years, the scene has become richer, more diverse, and more innovative. Washingtonian’s Ike Allen is the author of a new guide to local Ethiopian dining and he’s here to give us some highlights. Where to Eat Ethiopian Food Around the DC Area Right Now Want some more DC...

The Washington Commanders season opens on Sunday. But a lot of fans are busy talking about 2020, when the team changed its name from an ugly racial slur. Now some observers think they’re tiptoeing towards changing it back. D.C. sports podcaster Al Galdi is here to talk us through the politics of the name — and the bigger question of what it takes to re-ignite a city’s love affair with its once gre...

What does it look like when local artists try to capture living through this particular moment in Washington? That’s the idea behind “Tomorrow The Sun Will Rise,” a new exhibition at the Phillips Collection featuring 56 works from 48 artists across the DMV. The exhibition is open through September 20th. Today we’re speaking with Tie Jojima, the Phillips Collection’s curator of global contemporary...

Do you know what kind of surveillance technology is being used in DC? In Nashville, the city government has blocked numerous measures to install and use it. From license plate readers to drone cameras, the technology is routinely rejected by the Metro Council and mayor, and locals are somewhat split on if that’s for the better. City Cast Nashville host Rachel Iacovone joins “Your City Could Be Bet...

This week we’re taking a look at likely mayor Janeese Lewis George’s all-ward listening tour. We’ll be talking about why current Mayor Muriel Bowser is fighting against a roof for Audi Field. And we dive into the Maryland Renaissance Festival’s ban on all things furries. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, there’s been a lot of news this week on Trump’s efforts to change D.C.’s landscape – we’...

City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers has done some important reporting about problems at D.C.’s 988 suicide-prevention call line. In the spring, nearly half the calls went unanswered. What’s going on? And what does it mean for people in crisis? Alyssa is here to talk us through the numbers. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, contact the National Suicide an...

Last week, The Washington Post’s Perry Stein broke news that US Attorney Jeanine Pirro has convened a special grand jury in what looks like a probe of how the District does or doesn’t protect youth. One particular focus: The city’s truancy problem. It’s an unusual probe — but one that also seems to be touching on a genuine problem. Perry is here to explain. Want some more DC news? Then make sure t...

This September – we’ve got D.C.’s middle-school-girl-pop concert lineup, another chance to eat fruit in Malcolm X Park, and the best way to see (and taste) the District by bike. As the leaves start to change, the September Guide has you covered. 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...

You may know Sara Polon as the woman behind Soupergirl, the D.C. company whose soups are now in hundreds of supermarkets. But before that, she was a comedian. And after launching the company, she went through – as Sara puts it – a personal explosion. This week, her struggles are the subject of a one-woman show she’s launching in D.C. Sara’s here to explain. Want some more DC news? Then make sure t...

The D.C. airports definitely have a lot going for them, but they don’t have their own electrical grids, like Pittsburgh’s airport does. For the past few years, Pittsburgh International Airport has been generating on-site electricity, more than it needs even at peak operation, to fortify itself against the kind of power outages that hit airports (unsettlingly often) across the world. City Cast Pitt...

This week, we’re talking about a Sunoco station on U Street and what it says about actually getting things built in D.C. We also look at the fate of a park that was supposed to be our version of NYC’s High Line. Finally, we discuss a lawsuit against a think tank and what it means for that crucial industry. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we talk about how the District is mourning our Earth...

Police say license plate reader cameras like Flock are an important tool for solving crimes. But a new Washington Post investigation found dozens of cases where officers have been accused of using license plate readers for unauthorized purposes, including tracking exes and spouses. Today we’re joined by Washington Post technology reporter Douglas MacMillan, whose investigation uncovered some of th...

A new organization plans to fight for D.C.’s rights — by going into Congressional districts to unseat Republicans. Defend D.C. was announced this week by Robert White, D.C.’s all-but-certain next Congressional delegate. Ike Allen just profiled White in Washingtonian and is here to explain the PAC and its organizer. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter City...

D.C. Public Schools is the national leader — by a lot — in at least one category: enrollment in pre-kindergarten programs. Almost every D.C. 4-year-old goes to pre-K; about 80 percent of 3-year-olds do. That’s more than twice the national average. Sara Mead recently wrote an essay for Capital Commonsense describing this as a D.C. triumph. She’s here to explain how it happened, and what it means. W...

In a few weeks, D.C.'s Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White will stand trial for allegations of corruption. This is embarrassing for any city, but especially so in D.C., where some say we don’t have the right to self-government. City Cast reporter Emma Uber covered White's preliminary hearing last week, and she’s here to set the scene. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning...

How often are you out in nature in DC? It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban setting, and city rivers get a particularly bad rap. It’s true that cities have had eras of sewage mishandling and high boat traffic — but many have also cleaned up their act, through the tireless work of local advocates and politicians. Portland, OR, is one of those ci...

D.C. public schools open on Monday — we'll get into the politics of it all. Plus, six DC police employees have been charged for $440K in overtime fraud. And the latest on the Kennedy Center and the beleaguered National Symphony Orchestra. In a members-only fourth segment: is Obama’s tan suit somewhere in DC? We’re joined by City Cast reporters Ben Brasch and Emma Uber. Want some more DC news? Then...

Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for D.C., really wants to throw the book at the woman accused of vandalizing the World War II Memorial. According to Politico’s Josh Gerstein, it’s one way for her to get back in the good graces of her boss, Donald Trump. Josh puts the national politics of the case in context — and explains what it may mean for the District. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to...