City Cast DC

How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of D.C.? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city streets free of floods and trash — and to possibly slow the drying and pollution of the Great Salt Lake. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta says it’s worth a shot. This week, she joins David to discuss how quick, periodic cleaning of a neighborhood sewer grate can be part of a much bigger solution.

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On today's episode, we get into the House Republicans who, on the heels of the Trayon White mistrial, allege that two D.C. activist groups are advocating for the practice of jury nullification. We’re also talking about presumptive-mayor Janeese Lewis George's affordable housing promises. And the zoo asks for the public’s help… in naming their red panda cub.

Plus, in a member’s only fourth segment, you might have heard of the guy who got his Balenciaga shoes stolen in Chinatown this week. We’ll dig into D.C.’s spike in youth crime...

What do Black women and Shakespeare have to do with each other? A new exhibition at D.C.’s Folger Shakespeare Library explores that little-known history, tracing Black women’s engagement with the Bard across centuries. Dr. Patricia Akhimie, director of the Folger Institute and curator of To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare, discusses the exhibit and a new way to consider Shakespeare's legacy.

Listen to the exhibition playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xfhdikyCG7ltF5jpjoQtV 

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On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from cutting any trees at East Potomac Golf Links, where the president wants to replace a public park with a luxury golf course. But to some critics, the question is: What took Judge Ana Reyes so long? The order came days after the administration cut down more than 400 trees on the golf course — a move that sent the judge into a newsworthy fury. City Cast’s Jaclyn Peiser joins us to talk through the latest.

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You’re not imagining it — there are a lot more flyovers in D.C. these days. President Trump is the biggest fan of them that the White House has ever had. And while your 8-year-old may be into it, many aren’t — including Mother Jones reporter Stephanie Mencimer. On today's pod, she digs into the data with us to calculate the true toll of all these flyovers.

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Another D.C. school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can work, and they’ve got the (mostly) positive feedback to show for it. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins David to talk about how St. Paul Central High School is succeeding at enforcing a phone-free school environment, the surprising ways that some students approach it, and how these kinds of bans can even affect adults like Sean.

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This week, we unpack the tensions that led the Council to narrowly pass a bill letting businesses and college campuses pay extra for more parking enforcement. We also discuss why D.C.’s Board of Elections threw out a $16,000 fine against likely next mayor Janeese Lewis George. And we tackle a question that’s been rising to the top of D.C.’s debate: where can you score a great loaf of fresh bread without spending all your dough?

Plus, in a member’s only fourth segment, hockey legend Alex Ovechkin says this season will be...

D.C.'s likely next mayor, Janeese Lewis George, has been dropping hints about how she'll handle one of D.C.’s most fraught issues – transit. The 51st’s Alex Koma is here to talk about her agenda, and the politics around it.

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In partnership with Theatre Washington, City Cast DC theater critic Chris Klimek sat down for a live conversation Monday night at D.C.’s Studio Theatre to chat with some of the most prominent voices in the city’s theater scene right now.

They discuss how the closure of the Kennedy Center is rippling through local theater, the richness of the D.C. theater scene, changes in theater leadership across the region, and more.

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Living in any big city has its moments of loneliness — but according to some studies, D.C. might be the loneliest city in the U.S. Washingtonian recently covered D.C.'s loneliness epidemic, and lifestyle editor Daniella Byck is here to talk about why making friends here can be so hard, and what we can do to make connections.

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D.C. has always had an in-crowd with its own hangouts, habits, and status symbols. But the in-crowd of the Trump White House has different tastes than what DC is used to. Vanity Fair’s Aidan McLaughlin has been reporting on the folkways of Trump’s D.C., and he’s here to share his findings.

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When D.C. looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball court. David talks with Katy Burgio from NYCHA and Runit Chhaya of Grain Collective, one of the involved design firms, about the larger infrastructure the court is a part of and how it’s setting up NYC fo...

Now that Trayon White’s bribery trial ended in a hung jury, what’s next for the Ward 8 Councilman? We’ll get into it. Speaking of D.C. courts, we’ll take a look at the problems they’re having staffing up. And Trump’s latest executive order takes aim at the District’s mosquito infestation -- we've got the latest.

Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ll get into the connection between Sweetgreen and RFK Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement. We're joined by City Cast reporter Emma Uber and contributor Marc Fisher.

Lime scooters and bikes are a fixture of D.C.’s landscape. They’re great for getting somewhere in a hurry, but safety issues persist. Lime is trying to address these concerns this year with a $17-million dollar investment in operations here in D.C. City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers has been reporting on their efforts, and she’s here to explain.

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We’re back with our regular monthly guide for October, but this time we tried something a little different. We answer questions submitted by readers on local and seasonal topics – then dish out the answers you asked for, and probably some you didn’t! City Cast D.C.’s Kaela Cote-Stemmermann is here to talk cozy fall lattes, where to see foliage this October without a car, and everything in between.

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The bribery trial of Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White ended yesterday with a hung jury and a mistrial. This will have repercussions in city politics, not to mention in the lives of Trayon White and his associates. City Cast D.C. reporter Emma Uber watched the entire trial, and she’s here to talk about how it ended.

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...

If you’re scared of rats, then I’ve got bad news – D.C. is one of the most rat-infested cities in America, at least as far as complaints go. But there’s an organization at the Department of Health that’s fighting the good fight. And there’s a man at the top of that organization – Andre Pitman. Sometimes he’s known as D.C.’s rat czar.

Andre is here today to go over how the District is cutting down on rodent populations, and what you – yes you! – can do to help.

Want...

What’s a seemingly small project in D.C. that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahead to a sustainable future to inform what we do today.

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

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Two years on, the District is still reeling from devastating DOGE job cuts, according to two new reports. We also take a look at why the D.C. Council is considering restrictions to how initiatives make it to the ballot. And for listeners planning to attend Adams Morgan's Porchfest, we’ve got the latest on the new rules on sipping and strolling.

Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ve got an exclusive look at the final draft of the master plan for RFK stadium, and the neighborhood around it. We’re joined by our Ci...

Metro is redoing its station signage to make it easier for the public to navigate — but some riders are not happy. What are they changing, and why are folks so up in arms? Bloomberg’s Kriston Capps has been covering this, and he’s 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.

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Thousands of ordinary Washingtonians showed up Friday night for a protest at the Kennedy Center — the biggest one to date. They were motivated by a new fear that President Donald Trump may actually tear the place down. It was the result of a week of head-spinning action on the saga of the building. The Atlantic’s Janay Kingsberry has been covering the story and is here to bring us up to speed.

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Opening a menu to find a burger costs $25 is all too familiar in D.C. As everyone looks to stretch their dollars a little further, Washingtonian’s got you covered with its annual ⁠Cheap Eats in the DC Area⁠. Executive Food Editor Ann Limpert joins us to talk about her top picks.

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.

Walking around downtown D.C., you may notice a lot of vacant storefronts. In fact, City Cast reporter Jaclyn Peiser found that last year, one out of every four storefronts in D.C.’s Downtown Business Improvement District was empty. What’s happening? Jaclyn's here to explain.

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Would DC be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression recorded near newly transformed, “greened” neighborhood lots. But how did they do it? David talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and special guest Matt Rader, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, about how Philly prioritized revitalizing its abandoned outdoor space, the ways that having a nonprofit partner has made all the difference, and what still needs to be done.

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We’ve got the latest on Councilmember Trayon White’s bribery trial. Also, D.C. City Council is back in session — we’ll take a look at what’s on their plate, and whether they can afford to pay for the meal at all. And what, exactly, is Washington Caps star and captain Alexander Ovechkin doing in a political ad for Russian President Vladimir Putin?

Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, the Kennedy Center has voted — again — to close down for two years. If Trump can’t get his name on the building after all, could he be considerin...

Weeks after 9/11, in Senator Tom Daschle’s office on Capitol Hill, an aide opened an envelope addressed to the Senator and released anthrax into the air – microscopic, deadly spores that can be deadly if inhaled or absorbed through the skin in even the smallest amounts.
As the FBI began investigating the letters, the workers at D.C.’s Brentwood mail facility continued to sort mail – while federal agents patrolled around them wearing protective gear from head to toe. Two D.C. postal workers died from anthrax exposure.
Today, we’ll speak with Dan Krauss, the director of “The Anthrax...

It’s finally getting cool enough to wear a sweatshirt in the morning – which means D.C. fall is here. With Congress back in session and the city in full swing, we’re looking for cheap weekend getaways. City Cast contributor Tim Ebner has some ideas for your next local vacation. So while you dig out those fall sweaters, we’ve got your itinerary covered.

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 bec...

Patrick O’Connell is the most famous and powerful man in Washington – Little Washington, that is. In the tiny Virginia hamlet, O’Connell’s restaurant is a global culinary destination. From his perch about an hour west of D.C., O’Connell has achieved a gravitational influence over the District’s culinary scene.
Today he’s out with a sometimes searing memoir, “Main, Middle and Gay: A Chef Finds His Place in the World Against All Odds.” In it, O’Connell charts his course from a tough Prince George’s County childhood, through the counterculture, and into fame and fortune. Chef O’Co...

The Trump administration wants the US Park Police to be D.C.’s "premier law enforcement agency." In just a year, they’ve doubled its size, from 300 to around 600 here in D.C. And because they answer to the White House, and don’t have to play by the same rules as local cops, it makes a lot of Washingtonians nervous. City Cast D.C.’s Emma Uber and Alyssa Fowers are out with a big report on just what the agency is up to -- they’re here to explain.

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It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for DC, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzling city, Vegas has continued to experience record-breaking heat in recent years, essentially forcing it to lead the charge in protecting residents from increasingly rising temperatures. City Cast Las Vegas host Jesse Merrick talks with David about the bold moves of Nevada’s lawmakers, like mandating heat mitigation and giving away trees, and how some time-tested strategies still need to be tweaked as rising global temperatures present new problems every day.

Me...

This week marks 25 years since the September 11th terrorist attacks: We talk about how that day changed the District. We also talk about Lonnie Bunch’s retirement, what Trump’s war on the Smithsonian means for D.C., and we preview Councilmember Trayon White’s bribery trial as jury selection kicks off today.
Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we take a look at D.C.’s ongoing efforts to fight the rat problem, from special trash cans to birth control and poison. We’re joined by our City Cast D.C. colleagues Marc Fisher and Emma Uber.

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The DMV is the capital of Ethiopian America, and for 50 years eating Ethiopian food has been a Washington tradition. Over the years, the scene has become richer, more diverse, and more innovative. Washingtonian’s Ike Allen is the author of a new guide to local Ethiopian dining and he’s here to give us some highlights.

Where to Eat Ethiopian Food Around the DC Area Right Now

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The Washington Commanders season opens on Sunday. But a lot of fans are busy talking about 2020, when the team changed its name from an ugly racial slur. Now some observers think they’re tiptoeing towards changing it back.

D.C. sports podcaster Al Galdi is here to talk us through the politics of the name — and the bigger question of what it takes to re-ignite a city’s love affair with its once great franchise.

(Note: This story discusses the history of the Washington Commanders and the team’s former name, which some listener...

What does it look like when local artists try to capture living through this particular moment in Washington? That’s the idea behind “Tomorrow The Sun Will Rise,” a new exhibition at the Phillips Collection featuring 56 works from 48 artists across the DMV.
The exhibition is open through September 20th. Today we’re speaking with Tie Jojima, the Phillips Collection’s curator of global contemporary art, and one of the people tasked with narrowing 1,500 submissions down to the works on the walls.

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Do you know what kind of surveillance technology is being used in DC? In Nashville, the city government has blocked numerous measures to install and use it. From license plate readers to drone cameras, the technology is routinely rejected by the Metro Council and mayor, and locals are somewhat split on if that’s for the better. City Cast Nashville host Rachel Iacovone joins “Your City Could Be Better” to walk through all the measures that the Nashville government has reviewed and rejected, why people have reason to fear the tech, and what the city may lose by saying no to...

This week we’re taking a look at likely mayor Janeese Lewis George’s all-ward listening tour. We’ll be talking about why current Mayor Muriel Bowser is fighting against a roof for Audi Field. And we dive into the Maryland Renaissance Festival’s ban on all things furries. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, there’s been a lot of news this week on Trump’s efforts to change D.C.’s landscape – we’ll get into all of it with City Cast’s Kate Corliss and NOTUS reporter Martin Austermuhle.

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City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers has done some important reporting about problems at D.C.’s 988 suicide-prevention call line. In the spring, nearly half the calls went unanswered. What’s going on? And what does it mean for people in crisis? Alyssa is here to talk us through the numbers.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or chatting online at https://chat.988lifeline.org/. To reach the Crisis Text Line, text HOME or HOLA to 741...

Last week, The Washington Post’s Perry Stein broke news that US Attorney Jeanine Pirro has convened a special grand jury in what looks like a probe of how the District does or doesn’t protect youth. One particular focus: The city’s truancy problem. It’s an unusual probe — but one that also seems to be touching on a genuine problem. Perry is here to explain.

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This September – we’ve got D.C.’s middle-school-girl-pop concert lineup, another chance to eat fruit in Malcolm X Park, and the best way to see (and taste) the District by bike. As the leaves start to change, the September Guide has you covered.

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You may know Sara Polon as the woman behind Soupergirl, the D.C. company whose soups are now in hundreds of supermarkets. But before that, she was a comedian. And after launching the company, she went through – as Sara puts it – a personal explosion. This week, her struggles are the subject of a one-woman show she’s launching in D.C. Sara’s 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...