

City Cast DC
City Cast
City Cast DC is the daily, local audio companion you knew DC needed.. Washingtonians are deeply passionate about our city, whose story is still being written, and City Cast DC is here to tell it.
Every weekday morning, our hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd will engage people from all over the eight wards in conversation about DC’s crises and its beauty, both literal and figurative. It’ll have the feel of eavesdropping on an energetic and informative coffee shop chat, except that with City Cast DC, consider this your official invitation to listen in. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at dc.citycast.fm.
Every weekday morning, our hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd will engage people from all over the eight wards in conversation about DC’s crises and its beauty, both literal and figurative. It’ll have the feel of eavesdropping on an energetic and informative coffee shop chat, except that with City Cast DC, consider this your official invitation to listen in. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at dc.citycast.fm.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 30, 2023 • 17min
How Walmart Abandoned H Street
The Walmart on H Street Corridor closes for good tomorrow, and it’s pissed off city officials more than you’d expect. Many felt like D.C. made a deal with the devil by allowing Walmart into the city in the first place ten years ago, and now the retail giant is leaving H Street NE in a lurch. Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak is here to explain the whole sordid story. Check out Petula’s spicy column on this. Plus, here’s Clockout DC’s list of public restrooms in D.C. And sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC to get more content like this first. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mar 29, 2023 • 21min
What Makes D.C.'s Gay Clubs Special
LGBTQ spaces are under attack nationally, and that means D.C.’s queer bars and clubs have even more importance. D.C. actually has a rich history of gay bars but not necessarily when it comes to clubs. Ed Bailey, the founder of D.C.’s iconic gay nightclub Town, explains why and what clubs mean for D.C.’s LGBTQ culture 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. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc (TRY TO CHANGE IT UP EVERY TIME)And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mar 28, 2023 • 25min
What 'D.C. Cab' Gets Right (and Wrong) About Our City
There are so many pieces of media that take place in D.C. - some good, some bad, and some totally cringey. So in this new series, City Cast D.C. cohosts Mike Schaffer and Bridget Todd are looking back at some famous portrayals of D.C. in media to break down how they depict our city. Starting with the iconic ‘80s Mr. T classic D.C. Cab, where a group of rag tag DC cab drivers try to keep their struggling cab company afloat while solving a kidnapping on the side. 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 DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mar 27, 2023 • 18min
Union Station’s Upgrade Will Transform The Entire Neighborhood
Union Station is about to undergo a massive renovation. In this interview originally aired last summer, WAMU’s Jordan Pascale walks us through what the transit hub will look like inside and out, and how it's going to impact the neighborhood around it.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_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, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mar 24, 2023 • 26min
Mayor's Top Advisor Abruptly Resigns, Plus a New Budget, and E-Bikes
There’s never been a D.C. mayoral aide quite so powerful as John Falcicchio. And all of a sudden, he’s gone — departed amid scandal. Alex Koma, Loose Lips columnist from Washington City Paper, is here to walk us through what it means. Also, we’ll be talking about the wonky nature of the new city budget, and Lead Producer Priyanka Tilve explains the future of ebikes in the District.We couldn’t do our news roundups without the great local reporting in the area:
Alex Koma’s Loose Lips column about John Falcicchio’s departure.
Check out the Mayor’s budget for FY 2024 here.
ABC7 explains gives you everything you need to know about the new e-bikes.
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. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc (TRY TO CHANGE IT UP EVERY TIME)And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mar 23, 2023 • 18min
Why Uyghur Restaurants Are Booming in the DMV
For decades, geopolitics has shaped Washington’s restaurant scene. And one of the latest trends is the boom in Uyghur restaurants, often run by folks fleeing oppression back home. Today, we’re talking with a Uyghur advocate based in the DMV about the food and the new Washingtonians who are cooking it. 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 DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mar 22, 2023 • 22min
Why D.C.'s Flag Is the Best in the U.S
It’s official: DC’s flag is awesome. And Maryland’s isn’t too shabby, either. Virginia’s? Well… Today we’re talking with two leading vexillologists — that’s flag experts — who will walk us through how the DC flag became so ubiquitous, and why it works.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. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc (TRY TO CHANGE IT UP EVERY TIME)And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mar 21, 2023 • 17min
Here’s How To Game the D.C. Housing Market
Pretty much everyone in D.C. is obsessed with finding a good place to live. Jamie Manning started the popular Instagram and newsletter Exposed Brick after she got obsessed with finding good deals on rentals on Craigslist. She shares her tips and tricks to navigating D.C.’s rental market. Also, that promo code we mentioned at the end of the podcast is: ‘TRYCABIEBIKE.’ Enter it in the rewards section of the Capital Bikeshare or Lyft app to take $2 off one e-bike ride before March 31.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 DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mar 20, 2023 • 19min
Union Kitchen's Got Union Troubles
Staffers at Union Kitchen, a food business accelerator, are suing their employee for wage theft. It’s the issue that initially sparked their interest in forming a union last year, and the lawsuit is now raising tensions with management. The DCist’s Amanda Gomez is following the case. Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC for more local news and hot tips. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.And leave us a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. We’d love to hear what stories YOU want us to cover on City Cast DC.

Mar 17, 2023 • 21min
Redeveloping Eden Center, D.C. Jail Controversy, And A New Commanders Bidder
The Eden Center, the Vietnamese mall in Northern Virginia, is about to see some changes and the local Vietnamese community is making its voice heard. Plus, there’s a new billionaire in the mix for owner of the Washington Commanders, and it’s someone with ties to the arts in DC. And Marjorie Taylor Greene is concerned about horrible living conditions at D.C. Jail. Why ever could that be?As always, our Friday roundups rely on great local journalism:
Hector Arzate’s piece about the Eden Center redevelopment
The Hill’s article about Marjorie Green Taylor’s push to visit D.C. Jail to observe living conditions
The Washington Post’s assessment of Mitchell Rales as a bidder for the Commanders
Our morning newsletter Hey DC covers news like this and more every single weekday more. Sign up now. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.


