City Cast DC

Hiring in D.C. can be tricky and time-consuming, especially if you want to be mindful of diversity and inclusion along the way. In this episode sponsored by District Bridges, City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with District Bridges' Executive Director Brianne Dornbush and Deputy Director Madeleine Odendahl about the work they’re doing to help local companies hire more efficiently and thoughtfully...

Property crime is on the rise in DC and there’s an aspect to it you might not be familiar with -performance crime, where young people commit steal things as part of viral social media content. Washington Post reporter Emily Davies explains what the city is doing about it. Check out Emily’s reporting on this for more details.  Plus, here’s our episode about the COVID-19 surge in D.C., and what you...

“Beyond Granite: Pulling Together” is a first-of-its-kind outdoor exhibit on the National Mall, highlighting stories that are underrepresented in the Smithsonians. The six provocative sculptures are meant to start a conversation, and you only have one more week to check them out. Teresa Durkin of the Trust for the National Mall and Marcel Acosta of the National Capital Planning Commission explain...

You might not know it, but DC is in the middle of the drought. But we’ve also had flooding in the city- so how can both things be true? And should we be conserving water?  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes,...

The only major grocery store east of the Anacostia River is facing a theft crisis that has prompted big changes. Plus, we’re talking about a food court, a heat wave, and a newly swimmable river. As always, our roundup is powered by amazing local journalism:  WTOP is all over the Giant security concerns in Anacostia DCist covered the heat advisory and also the Anacostia swim event Kaela wrote up a...

It’s one of the saddest stories of the year — and the most infuriating. A flood at a DC doggie day-care last month led to the deaths of 10 dogs. Mark Seagraves from Channel 4 has been all over the story, which turns out to say a lot about the dysfunctional state of the city’s 911 call center, among other city agencies. Mark talked about the Bowser administration’s troubling reaction to the news, a...

Joining a book club not only forces you to actually finish a book for once, it also lets you tap into a new social community. With book clubs on everything from queer romance to cooking to labor strategy, how’s a reader to choose? Book club connoisseur Serena Zets explains how to find the one that’s right for you. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC....

Anyone who lives here knows that if you want to get any two people in the region into an argument, all you need to do is bring up something involving traffic, Metro, or one of the other things he covers. Today, Jordan Pascale of WAMU is here to walk us through some of the big changes coming to local transit this fall — listen along and prep for your next argument with a neighbor! Want some more DC...

Pandemic-era changes in where people live may be messing with DC’s budget, self-driving cars may soon be messing with DC’s roads, and lots of folks hope the new Washington Commanders owners will mess with the team’s name.  Also, what do you think about D.C. building out more pedestrian zones? Would that revitalize downtown? Would it get people to move back to D.C.? Text or leave us a voicemail at...

Streateries were a feature of the pandemic. Three years on, they’re still with us — and city planners are looking at ways to make them permanent. Joe Sternlieb and Faith Broderick from the Georgetown Business Improvement District are here to talk about what that means for diners and restaurants — as well as drivers looking for a place to park. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for...

The COVID-19 hospitalization rate in D.C. rose 29% earlier this summer. But it definitely doesn’t feel like a pandemic out here. Everything’s open, people are out and about. So how seriously are we supposed to take all this? Politico’s health reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo joins us at our live taping at Sonny’s Pizza to talk it all out. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning...

The 911 call center is back in the news after the flooding that killed 10 pups at District Dogs daycare on August 14th. A dispatcher error delayed the emergency response, and it’s not the first time that’s happened. Veteran journalist Dave Statter has been covering the call center’s troubles for decades, and in this interview originally aired in February, he tells us why it’s such a mess. Want som...

Poplar Point is a federally-owned waterfront property in Anacostia. It’s also one of the most contested spaces in D.C. because everybody agrees it’s prime real estate but nobody can agree on what should go there. Tristan Navera explains some of the options and who’s fighting for what.  Learn more about Summer Restaurant Week, check out which restaurants are participating, and browse menus at our s...

A new poll says most Americans think DC is a safe city to live in, but around here, it seems all people are talking about is crime. So how bad is it really? Bridget Todd, Priyanka Tilve, and Julia Karron are here to chat about that, plus some major drama in DC’s Little League and also the best pizza in town. As always, our Friday news roundups are powered by the fabulous local reporting around her...

Locals Siddharth Muchhal and Bobo Stankovikj set out to visit every Bikeshare dock in the DMV. Why did they do it and what tips and tricks do they have for the rest of us? Host Michael Schaffer found out for us. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE And we’d love to feature you on the show!...

Roller skating became all the rage during the pandemic, but for D.C., this wasn’t really a new thing. Just ask D.C. skate enthusiast, Salleta Coleman. She tells us why the District has always had a special connection to skating.  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!...

The word “iconic” gets used too much in D.C. But in the case of Ben’s Chili Bowl, the U Street Mecca for late-night half-smokes, it fits. Bridget and Mike sat down with Virginia Ali, the matriarch of the restaurant which turns 65 today! They talk about the early days serving Howard University students, living through the fires of 1968, and what business is like in spiffed-up 21st century U Street....

Houselessness is still below pre-pandemic levels in the District, but that good news doesn't paint the entire picture. Because there’s also been an increase in houselessness this year. The city also has a social worker shortage. Marissa Lang, reporter at the Washington Post, has been covering how this is impacting the city.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newslet...

District Dogs day care in Northeast flooded again, but this time, 10 dogs drowned. Our team talks about what happened and how the owner’s past pleas to the city went unheeded. Plus, we break down a “freedom of speech” lawsuit by anti-abortion protesters against D.C. and size up Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. 2023. Check out the local reporting that powers our roundups: News4 Reporter Walter...

D.C. has loads of parks and trails, which make it a great city for running. It also has a lot of hills, which, for a lot of people….not so much. We sat down last year with Washington Post wellness reporter Kelyn Soong to get his sense of Washington as a running town — and as some of his tips and tricks to get out there and start pounding the pavement.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sig...

The pandemic changed where you work — and where the people who sell you stuff want to set up shop. In the D.C. area, this has meant jobs, and people, moving from the city to the suburbs. Will it last? And what comes next? Tristan Navarra from the Washington Business Journal is here to explain.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in adver...

During World War 2, women took on roles as codebreakers, pilots, butchers, and farmers to aid in the war effort. These women are “Rosies” like Rosie the Riveter. College student Raya Kenney has been trying to get a memorial to these women built in DC for half her life — since she was 11. She explains what it takes to get a new monument constructed. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up...

D.C. gets a bad rep ... in a lot of ways. People say we're not fashionable, we're careerist snobs. Are they right? Co-hosts Mike Schaffer and Bridget Todd sat down to discuss D.C.’s stickiest stereotypes. Also, we're doing a live taping, and we'd love to see you. Come on by to Sonny's Pizza on Monday, Aug. 28. There will be a wine tasting from 5-6 p.m., followed by our recording at 6:30 p.m. It's...

This week, a Councilmember called for the National Guard to help curb D.C. crime, Beyonce fans came up against the famously terrible FedEx Field, and a bunch of DC restaurants announced they’re taking summer breaks. The team wraps it all up with Washingtonian’s food editor Jessica Sidman.  As always, our Friday roundup is fueled by great local journalism:  Fox5 lays out Trayon White’s call for the...

When you think of city skylines, you might picture dazzling skyscrapers and high-rises. But not in D.C., where the Height Act of 1910 has given the city its iconic shorter vista. But we’re in the midst of another conversation about tinkering with the law. Should we? WTOP’s Luke Garrett breaks it down.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested...