Podcast
City Cast DC
Hosted by City Cast · EN
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.
83episodes
Episodes
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A New Study Says DC’s National Guard Surge Did Not Reduce Violent Crime
2d ago00:30:04Tap to summarizeA new think tank study has some fascinating findings about Donald Trump’s national guard deployment in DC: The dramatic surge reduced property crimes by almost a quarter — but did nothing about violence. Richard Hahn from the Niskanen Center is here to explain. 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 can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 8th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library Mugsy Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →'Your City Could Be Better': How Las Vegas Saves More Water Than Any Other City — Presented By City Cast DC
3d ago00:30:30Tap to summarizeWashington, DC, recycles some of its water, but not as much as Las Vegas, where the water there stays in the city. How else could a desert city possibly have enough water for its year-round tourists, a metro area population of over 2 million, and all those pools? The process just might be grosser than you think. With innovative recycling, strict lawn rules, and infrastructure to monitor it all, Vegas has become a global leader in water reuse. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Las Vegas podcast host Jesse Merrick to learn how the city makes do with what it has and how its practices could save other cities’ water supplies. Plus, are any Las Vegans actually going to the casinos? Mentioned on the show: "Reality Check - There are Big Fines If You Don’t Change Your Watering Clock" (Southern Nevada Water Authority) "Federal Regulators Cut Lake Mead Water. Can Vegas Handle It?" (City Cast Las Vegas) Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
Transcribe →One Ballot, Five Choices: A Guide to DC's Ranked Choice Voting {Sponsored}
4d ago00:06:35Tap to summarizeD.C.'s June Primary is June 16th and this year, voting works differently. For the first time, D.C. is using Ranked Choice Voting, which means you can rank up to five candidates in order of preference instead of picking just one. For this sponsored episode, Senior Executive Producer Annie Rees is chatting with Gary Thompson, Chair of D.C.'s Board of Elections, to explain exactly how it works, bust the myth that ranking more than one candidate splits your vote, and walk you through what your ballot will actually look like. In other words, everything you need to know before you head to the polls or fill out your mail-inballot. Learn more from the sponsor of this episode at dcboe.org/rcv.
Transcribe →Mayoral Race Showdown, What’s Happening at the Rock Creek Tennis Center, and Three Great New Bars
5d ago00:39:04Tap to summarizeWe’re going to get into the mayoral race as it heads into its final week, we’re going to talk about why you should pay attention to what’s happening at the Rock Creek Tennis Center, and we’re going to talk new bars. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, the DC Council has done something weird to the city’s open-meetings law, and we want to look at the state of transparency in our city. 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 can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 5th episode: District Bridges DC Department of Behavioral Health DC Board of Elections Mosaic Theater Company Folger Shakespeare Library Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →This Federal Charity Funds Local Initiatives. It Could Disappear
6d ago00:21:07Tap to summarizeFor more than 50 years, the Combined Federal Campaign has been a part of DC life. It’s the world’s biggest workplace charity, letting government employees steer money straight from their own paychecks to their chosen charities. It’s especially important to charities here because so many feds live here. But the campaign is now on life support — threatened with termination by the Trump administration. Why target a beloved institution? Drew Friedman from Federal News Network has been covering the story, and according to her it’s more complicated than it looks. 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 can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 4th episode: District Bridges DC Department of Behavioral Health DC Board of Elections Mosaic Theater Company Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →DC's Star Wars, What's Next For KenCen After Judge Orders Trump's Name Removed, and a DMV Sea Monkey Legacy
1w ago00:29:16Tap to summarizeWe’re talking about the latest twist in the battle of The Star versus The Washington Star, we’re talking about the odds that Donald Trump’s name will actually come off the Kennedy Center, and we’re going to get into the DC DOX documentary film festival that’s coming up. Plus, in a members only fourth segment, the politics of dissing Trayon White, the only DC Councilmember currently under indictment. 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 can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 3rd episode: District Bridges DC Department of Behavioral Health DC Board of Elections Mosaic Theater Company Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →Kinney Zalesne Makes her Case Over White and Pinto
1w ago00:34:17Tap to summarizeThe two best-known candidates in the race for DC’s Congressional Delegate are sitting members of the DC Council. We’re talking today with a different candidate who has a somewhat different resume. Kinney Zalesne has worked in national politics and held a major Washington job at Microsoft. She’s here to explain why that resume — along with her own set of values and priorities — is right for this very weird moment in our city’s history. 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 can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 2nd episode: District Bridges DC Department of Behavioral Health DC Board of Elections Mosaic Theater Company Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →Your Guide to June 2026 in DC
1w ago00:45:28Tap to summarizeWhat are you gonna do this month? We’ve got answers: Pride programming. America 250 programming. America 250 counter programming. And lots of barbecue. For even more tips on how to make the most of June in DC, check out City Cast DC’s take on what to do this month. If you enjoyed today's interview with District Bridges' U Street Main Street Manager, Kelsye Adams, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 1st episode: District Bridges DC Department of Behavioral Health DC Board of Elections Mosaic Theater Company Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Reach us at DC@citycast.fm.
Transcribe →'Your City Could Be Better': How Chicago's Libraries Meet Community Needs — Presented By City Cast DC
1w ago00:31:43Tap to summarizeWhere would DC be without its libraries? Chicago is opening its 82nd public library branch in June, and loaning out books is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what these institutions offer residents. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Chicago podcast host Jacoby Cochran about how Chicago’s libraries have evolved to meet community needs, from opening a food pantry inside a branch to turning student IDs into automatic library cards — and how they could be even better. Plus, are the Chicago Bears still the Chicago Bears if they move to Indiana? Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
Transcribe →Feds Face Trump NDAs, DC's World Cup Watch Parties, and Scripps Spelling Bee Dreams
2w ago00:33:04Tap to summarizeWe’re talking about NDAs for feds, we’re talking about the World Cup in DC (even if it’s not in DC), and we’re talking about the Spelling Bee, which is in fact in DC. And in a members-only fourth segment we’re going to talk about the new look of Freedom Plaza. DC has some thoughts. 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 can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 29th episode: Arena Stage Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC Petworth PorchFest Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
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