City Cast DC

The fight for statehood has been a longstanding wish for residents of the District. Will D.C. get it? Who is against it? And what would it look like if the District got it? D.C. broadcast legend Kojo Nnamdi, formerly of the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU 88.5, gives us his perspective on what D.C. statehood could look like if it’s granted. Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning new...

The battle for AdMo Plaza is being heard right now in the D.C. courts to decide if the land can be developed. Why so much hubbub over a scrappy concrete corner? WAMU reporter Martin Austermuhle walks us through it. While you’re here, check out our morning newsletter. Then, tell us what you think. We’re at @citycast_dcon Twitter, or leave us a voicemail at 2026422654.

So it turns out it's not just PG County enforcing its youth curfew ban. D.C. quietly restarted enforcement weeks ago. But do policies like this actually help cut down crime? Plus, the City Cast DC team chats about the Landon kids singing the N word on the Metro, and celebrate Frances Tiafoe's ongoing run at the U.S. Open. Want some more DC news? Our morning newsletter's got everything you need. We...

The FBI Headquarters at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW is a famously ugly blot on an otherwise beautiful D.C. street. But maybe not for long (we can hope)? There’s a renewed push for the FBI to move to the suburbs, and we’re dreaming up alternate uses for that plot of land with WBJ Reporter Tristan Navera, who has been covering the FBI’s winding relocation process. Grab tickets to the DC Shorts Intern...

It’s been a brutal month for D.C. area restaurants, with a bunch of favorite eateries going out of business. What’s going on? Why now? We’re talking to the man behind the Eat DC Twitter account to get the lay of the land. 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! Share your...

Did you know there’s a science to making friends? Psychologist and D.C. local Marisa G. Franco has been researching friendship, and she shares some tips with us. Let’s be real: we could all use some advice on how to build friendships in this transient city of ours. Dr. Franco’s book “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends" comes out today. Get it now for more...

The shooting of Commanders’ running back Brian Robinson Jr. was a huge talking point all week long, especially in light of the most recent carjacking stats. Hint: they’re high. Plus, we chat about Marc Elrich’s hold on Montgomery County, and this DC Neighborhood Tik Tok you know you need to watch. Also! Sign up for our morning newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter at @citycast_dc. And we’d lov...

D.C. has a housing problem. But how can we fix it? ANC slush funds? Parking for life? Matt Yglesias, the author of the Substack Slow Boring, joins City Cast CEO David Plotz to tell us his bold plan to shake it up.

Drizzy the pit bull is sweet, playful, and loves children, he isn't allowed to live in PG County. We talked to his dad Dan Reed about why an antiquated pit bull ban is still on the books there, even though it’s not being enforced, and what’s being done to change it.  Want to help overturn the ban? Look into volunteering with PB Proud.  Grab tickets to the DC Jazz Festival here. And for more D.C. n...

Union Station is about to undergo a massive renovation. WAMU’s Jordan Pascale walks us through what the transit hub will look like inside and out, and how it's going to transform the neighborhood around it. Check out our morning newsletter for even more news. Find us on Twitter (@citycast_dc). And voice your opinion on the show! Leave us a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

There are so many iconic Washingtonians. If you had to whittle it down to just four — your Mount Rushmore — who would be on it? Briana Thomas, the author of "Black Broadway in Washington, D.C.," joined us to discuss who makes D.C.’s list. Spoiler alert: it gets heated. Want some more DC news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’...

It’s a new school year, and there’s a new problem facing D.C. Schools. A staggering amount of kids aren’t vaccinated. And we’re not just talking about COVID, we mean routine ones like MMR and polio. DCist’s Colleen Grablick walks us through why this happened and how schools are responding. D.C. Health has a map of locations broken down by ward for where to get your child vaccinated.  Want some mor...

What happens when neighbors band together and transform a section of asphalt in their own backyard? Bridget Todd meets up with Tyrone Goodwyn, who explains the history of Crispus Attucks Park in Northeast D.C. and how it became Bloomingdale’s secret urban oasis. 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 lo...

Street Sense vendor Chris Cole was unhoused for a chunk of the pandemic, and she says it’s the summers, not the winters, that are the hardest to handle. In this episode, she told us how she survived two summers living outside, and what she thinks of the government’s heat plan. Call 311 if you need help or information on heat exposure and resources to deal with it. Here are some ways you can help D...

Sure, D.C. is blistering and sauna-like right now. But you don’t have to go far for a blissful, affordable vacation. Travel writer Tim Ebner’s got so many suggestions, your head will spin. That said, if you’re staying in the city, check out our Summer Bucket List, and sign up for our morning newsletter to find out how you can win some summer swag. If you’ve got any questions for us, or gripes, tho...

Composting can seem like a smelly, messy, complicated affair. But City Cast DC Contributor Abi Newhouse tells us that in D.C., it’s easier than it seems and could make a whole world of difference to both local farmers and consumers. Also:  Here’s Jack Fitzpatrick’s story on the Capitol Stones.  A Silver Spring Airbnb host stands accused of spying on guests The feds confiscated 165,707 fake diabeti...

D.C.’s rats are out of control this summer. Or at least it feels that way. Gerard Brown runs DC Health’s Rodent Control Program, and he gave us the inside scoop on the extent of our ratty problem, and what each of us needs to do about it. Also, check us out on Twitter and sign up for our morning newsletter for more D.C. news and culture. And if you've got thoughts on the rats (or anything else!),...

The Juan Soto era is done in D.C. So where do the Washington Nationals go from here? The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty gives fans some reasons for hope, and explains why the Nationals thought now was the time to deal their superstar. You can grab tickets for the African Diaspora Film Festival here. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter We’re also on Twitt...

The Whittle School was lauded as a revolutionary global campus. But after three years and multiple lawsuits, the campus abruptly shut down. Now, parents and students are scrambling to find new schools for the year, while teachers are waiting for paychecks. Washington Business Journal’s Hannah Denham has been covering the school's closure, and walks us through its rise and fall. Want some more DC n...

If you haven’t yet been to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, there’s no better time than now. It’s a free national park, within city limits, and its lily and lotus festival is in peak bloom until the end of the month. Cornelia Poku from Black Girls Explore DC just explored the park, and says it’s got something for everyone. More details about KAG’s Lily and Lotus Festival here.  Plus, sign up for ou...

Over the past three months, more than 5,000 migrants and asylum seekers have been bused to D.C. from Texas and Arizona. The Governors there are doing this as a way of protesting the Biden administration’s border policy. But when the migrants get here, it’s not the federal government that’s receiving them. This is falling on D.C. to handle. DCist reporter Amanda Gomez joins us to explain what happe...

It’s Washington Mystics season here in the District. They’ve got a fancy new stadium, the tickets are cheap, and they’re near the top of the league (unlike most of our other local teams). Kate Yanchulis from Just Women’s Sports joins us to give us tips on the best seats in the house, the players we should love, and the opponents we should hate. Plus, the MLK Library is hosting a smart home exhibit...

You’ve probably seen the headlines about protestors interrupting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse. But that's not the only "creative" protest around town. Hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd explain how local activism has evolved with the times and if that evolution translates into real action. Also, Greater Greater Washington is hosting an ANC training, yo...

Until July 31, more than 20 D.C. restaurants are participating in a friendly competition called War of the Rosés. The premise is simple: whoever sells the most rosé chooses the charity of their choice that the proceeds go to. We sat down with founder Ralph Brabham to discuss how D.C. residents can do their part. You can find more information on the War of the Rosés here, and you can follow the com...

You’ve probably seen the ugly headlines about Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder. Most recently, he’s been … negotiating … with Congress about when and how to testify about the toxic work culture he allegedly created on the team. But Snyder’s been an unpopular figure in D.C. for years now. In this episode, sports columnist Mike Wise shares some strong opinions about the guy and how he’s run D....