City Cast DC

People don’t really think of DC as a Friday Night Lights kinda town, but it actually has a pretty robust high school football scene, with big crowds turning local games into a scene. Until this year, at least: The DCPS season has been upended by a bunch of fights in the stands – which has led to night games being curtailed and the whole atmosphere being less fun. The Washington Post’s Matt Cohen i...

Trump’s deployment of the national guard and ICE had some obvious targets. But in the background, homeless folks were also feeling the pain. There were displacements and arrests of homeless encampments, all in the name of keeping the city clean and crime free. Franziska Wild and Madi Koesler from Street Sense Media are here break down what happened over that month and where DC’s homeless populatio...

Historically, a government town like Washington didn’t have to scrape and scrap for jobs like other cities. These days, amid unprecedented cuts to federal employment, DC has no option but to focus on finding other ways for locals to pay the rent. Deputy Mayor Nina Albert is in charge of that effort, and she’s here to talk about what they are — and aren’t — up to.  Want some more DC news? Then make...

We’re talking about the jockeying for DC’s House seat and the explosive controversy over crime stats. Plus, your ideal shutdown itinerary of non-federal DC attractions, and in a members only fourth segment, the latest on whether federal workers will get back pay if this thing ever ends. WAMU's Alex Koma joins City Cast’s Michael Schaffer and Julia Karron. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to...

On this bonus sponsored episode of City Cast DC, the Public Welfare Foundation is all about supporting safer, more just communities here in DC. And today, we’re kicking off a special three-part series with a conversation about what that really looks like. City Cast DC CEO David Plotz is joined by Eric Weaver and Dr. Roger Mitchell. Eric Weaver is the founder of the National Association for the Adv...

Summer’s over, but that doesn’t mean camping has to be. Whether you’re an experienced outdoorswoman like me or just testing the waters with a little car camping, there’s still time to get outside. We’re here with Leo Murray, founder of Kibiboyz and leader of Concrete Escapes, who’s helping DC city folks reconnect with nature one campfire at a time. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up...

Tom Sietsema, the longtime food critic at the Washington Post, announced yesterday that he’s retiring. And he finally revealed his identity! Now, most DC restaurants still knew what he looked like and tried to look out for him, but he can now put down his disguises. To honor his many years scouring the DMV for the best food, we’re taking you back to an episode he sat down for with City Cast Co-Hos...

New reporting from the Washington Post and the New York Timesalleges that MPD is still very much still collaborating with ICE. Teo Armus from the Washington Post is here to talk through MPD and ICE enforcement in DC and what the future looks like. 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...

It’s the question everyone’s been asking since DOGE first showed up: How screwed is DC? A new program at the Brookings Institution called DMV Monitor pulls together a ton of data to help answer the question. And their most recent report is kind of a jaw-dropper. The region’s unemployment has shot up nine times faster than the rest of the country, with more to come. Brookings Fellow Tracy Hadden Lo...

We’re talking about the government shutting down — and what the city is going to do about it. We’re talking about a ride-share service being shut down — and why they’re mad at the city about it. Plus, a new music venue and in a fourth segment, we’ll talk about great DC challenges (and we don’t mean, like, balancing the budget).  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning new...

The government shutdown affects the whole country, but it’s an especially big deal in DC. Our city is already reeling, and now we’re facing an event that threatens to scare off tourists and possibly lead to mass layoffs. How is the local government reacting? And what does the shutdown mean for your day-to-day even if you’re still employed? NBC4’s Mark Segraves is here to brief us. Want some more D...

October in DC is just lovely. The weather is good. The leaves are turning. And even though the city is still reeling from the federal takeover, we are still finding joy and ways to connect with this city we call home. So from fast cars to throwing back a few drinks with a former US president, we give you OUR top picks for what to do in DC this October . If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put toget...

Imagine walking through the woods and stumbling across a few tombstones. That’s what happened outside the old House of Reformation, where more than 230 bodies of young black boys are buried. But you wouldn’t know it given the condition of the area. Michael Brice-Saddler from the Washington Post is here to dig up the secrets that lie beneath that ground and tells us a story that has largely been ov...

The Fort Dupont Ice Rink has been in shambles for years. But it has a storied history: it’s home to one of the oldest black hockey clubs in the states. The rink needed a little TLC but never got it, until now. But there’s another delay for when it’ll open again, and Martin Austermuhle from the 51st is here to tell us why it’s taken so long to get this historic rink back on its feet. Want some more...

Welp, that was fast — the new stadium just got approved and already there are delays in the new neighborhood DC was supposed to get as a result. We’re going to talk about why, and what it means for DC even as the Trump administration threatens new mass firings if there’s a government shutdown. Plus, we’re going to talk about the end of the streatery program. And there’s a new list circulating of t...

The city government actually has a way to predict, pretty accurately, just who is going to get into an accident. And DC’s AG Brian Schwalb has recently launched even more lawsuits to curb this behavior. But can they get them off the road? That’s the tricky part. Washington Post transportation reporter Rachel Weiner is here to explain a fascinating recent DC experiment in automotive behavior.  Want...

Federal immigration crackdowns are adding even more strain to DC’s already fragile and not to mention costly child care system. Now, many child care workers are worried they could be targeted. Reporter Chabeli Carrazana from The 19th breaks down what this all means for families and providers in the city. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can a...

Fall in D.C. really does feel special. And if you’re dreaming of a fall getaway but trying to stick to a budget, don’t worry, City Cast contributor Tim Ebner has rounded up the best trips you can take from D.C. this season for around $150. 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 $10...

President Trump claims that DC restaurants are suddenly packed because his federal takeover made people feel safe enough to go out to dinner. But how is DC’s restaurant industry really reacting to the takeover? The Washingtonian’s Jessica Sidman is here to break down what it means for the city’s dining scene. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You...

We’re talking about Robert White’s bid for Eleanor Holmes Norton’s seat, the DC Mayor getting grilled on Capitol Hill, and a fancy new VIP addition at Dulles. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’re dissecting a controversial data center in PG County that’s now stalled. 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-...

What do you do when people start dumping trash in your neighborhood? It turns out that no one is quite sure — including the city government that’s supposed to act as watchdog. Sloane Airey wrote a wild story for City Paper about one Northeast DC neighborhood and she’s here to tell us about it. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become...

Since Trump announced the takeover of DC’s police his administration and Trump himself have been throwing out some big very impressive sounding numbers about arrests. But can we even trust those stats? Plus, Mayor Bowser and President Trump may be on another collision course over MPD and ICE in the District, and on Thursday, the Mayor, the Attorney General and the DC Council Chair head to the Capi...

If you read a certain gloomy article earlier this summer, you might think every business on H Street is shutting down. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. H Street is still full of incredible experiences and new businesses, you just have to know where to look. To help us map it all out, and provide a history of this neighborhood, City Cast contributor Austin Graff and tour guide Kate Dens...

It’s no secret that DC is facing holy hell on Capitol Hill. But are the city’s leaders doing all they can to advocate for themselves in front of a Congress that seems to despise self-government in the District? DC Councilmember Christina Henderson joined us to talk through the Congressional bills currently targeting the District, Eleanor Holmes Norton’s poor performance last Wednesday, and about w...

We’re talking about the end of Trump’s police takeover and dissecting the House’s 16 D.C. bills. Plus, Donald Trump dines out, and a wild suburban house sale. Plus, in a member’s-only fourth segment, we’re talking about the National Guard’s offer to help with local landscaping, and thinking up some projects we’d like to assign.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning new...