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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.
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Local power becomes understandable through direct questions about DC institutions, public safety, schools and the practical life surrounding them.
City Cast DC turns the mechanics of Washington into approachable conversation, moving between DC Council fights, school truancy, policing, federal intervention and practical excursions beyond the city.
Pepco bills meet Delaware beach B&Bs; your DC curiosity has range.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A clear look at D.C. policy changes around body-cam footage and federal arrests.
This episode follows a D.C. policy dispute over how much residents should know when local police patrol alongside federal forces. Jacoby Cochran and Michael Schaefer keep the council action clear, especially around emergency legislation that would require MPD to release body-cam…
A practical spring escape guide with enough coastal charm to feel worth the drive.
City Cast DC frames Delaware as an easy spring break from DC, and the piece stays useful because it keeps the suggestions concrete. Longwood Gardens, a beach stop, and a few food and culture ideas give listeners an actual plan instead of a vague travel mood.
A rerun that explains why DC keeps tying teen disorder to truancy.
City Cast DC uses a fresh Navy Yard flare-up to reopen a broader Washington habit: linking youth disorder to truancy and treating that link as if it settles the issue.
A bureaucratic fight with real consequences for federal workers and the city around them.
City Cast DC spends the hour on a bureaucratic change with real consequences: the Trump administration's plan to reclassify tens of thousands of federal jobs so they can be treated more like patronage appointments.
A sharp local scan of civic chaos, federal-worker changes, and a false alarm.
City Cast DC spends this hour on local power at its most combustible: a mayoral forum that turned chaotic, changes that make it easier for Trump to fire career federal workers, and a windstorm that never quite earned the name.
A blunt look at how restaurant enforcement can reshape DC dining.
The episode starts with restaurants and food, then shifts into labor once Tim Carman shows how DHS and ICE enforcement can land on restaurants, workers, and diners at the same time.
A compact DC civic roundup that moves from council fights to food and water concerns.
This Friday CityCast DC episode moves from the DC Council's fights with Mayor Bowser over public safety to her sharp criticism of soft-on-crime politicians, and it does not linger long on any one point.
A straightforward April roundup with a clear local anchor.
City Cast DC uses this April guide to map out what seems to be on the city mind this month, moving from April Fool's skepticism to food talk and a bit of practical planning.
The segment discusses a recent Park Police officer shooting, initially described as an ambush but now with unclear details and a shifting narrative.
This segment discusses Austin's housing paradox, where rapid growth and a shortage of affordable housing coexist with the city leading in building affordable units, as explored in a conversation with Nikki Devon.
Marty Baron expresses dismay and sadness over Jeff Bezos' decision to dismantle the Washington Post, criticizing it as a fundamental change that diminishes resources and coverage crucial for democracy.
This segment discusses the reinstatement of Confederate-era school names in Virginia counties near DC, focusing on a legal battle over Stonewall Jackson High School's name change and restoration.
This segment discusses Julia Child's lesser-known years in Washington DC, her impact on American cuisine, and the preservation of her kitchen at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History.
This episode segment discusses controversies involving DC police assisting Doge members, debates on congestion pricing, concerns about mayoral candidate Kenyon McDuffie's campaign, and upcoming federal foot patrols in the city.
This segment discusses a Washington Post investigation into DC's violence interruption program, highlighting controversies, corruption allegations, and financial mismanagement.
This segment discusses the unusual state of DC's open-seat mayoral race, which is receiving little attention despite upcoming primaries, and touches on related local topics.
This segment discusses the controversial redevelopment of the McMillan sand filtration site in DC, exploring whether it has become the nightmare opponents feared or the urban amenity proponents promised.
This episode segment discusses plans to redevelop a largely federal office area in southwest DC, known as Fedlandia, which has been underutilized since its construction in the 1960s-70s.
This segment discusses how Waymo and robotaxis have become a divisive issue in DC's 2026 mayoral campaign, with candidates Janice Lewis-George and Kenyon McDuffie taking opposing stances on the technology.
This episode discusses Utah's controversial plan to build a large homeless campus in Salt Lake City to address homelessness, particularly for those with mental illness or addiction, and its political backing.
This episode discusses a neighborhood conflict in Chevy Chase, DC, over plans to add apartments to a library and rec center, highlighting familiar arguments about housing affordability versus community character and parking concerns.
The episode segment discusses the rise of vinyl bars in DC, exploring their appeal as cozy winter spots and debating their comparison to speakeasies.
This episode segment discusses Madison, Wisconsin's recent moratorium on new data centers and public opposition to such projects, exploring how they could be better integrated into neighborhoods.
The episode discusses Trump's directive to close the Kennedy Center for two years, a large bill from the National Guard, and how snow removal is influencing the DC mayoral race.
CityCast DC hosts and a political reporter dissect a chaotic DC mayoral forum where a candidate stormed off stage, analyze the potential impact of federal workforce reclassifications on the local economy, and share personal stories about a much-hyped storm that never materialized.
The podcast introduces the DC-based thriller novel 'Best Offer Wins' by Marissa Cascino, which explores real estate anxiety and cutthroat competition in Washington, and mentions CityCast DC's expansion and membership drive.
This segment discusses the recent layoffs at the Washington Post under Jeff Bezos's ownership, including the closure of the sports section and cuts to the metro section, with insights from a media expert on the historical context and impact on DC.
This segment discusses Waymo's plans to introduce driverless taxis in Washington, DC, highlighting the regulatory challenges and expert insights from journalists covering the topic.
This segment discusses Pittsburgh's efforts to revitalize its struggling downtown by offering low rents to fill vacant storefronts ahead of the NFL draft, featuring examples like new small businesses and a coffee shop.
This episode segment discusses the impact of Washington Post layoffs on local news, CityCast's expansion, a DC spending scandal on violence interrupter programs, and a baby elephant naming, with insights from journalists and executives.
This segment discusses whether DC should eliminate advisory neighborhood commissions, exploring the implications of an essay by Wesley Sterhan on regulatory hurdles affecting neighborhood development.
This episode segment discusses the potential threat to DC's home rule, exploring its history and governance before its establishment in 1973.
This episode segment discusses the murder of an 87-year-old millionaire in a Potomac nursing home, introducing the victim, Robert Fuller, and his background as a Navy Reserve captain, lawyer, philanthropist, and murder mystery writer.
This episode segment discusses DC's draft land use map, which is criticized for not addressing the city's housing affordability crisis by maintaining restrictive zoning that limits apartment buildings.
This episode discusses the impact of Trump's administration's legal battles with big law firms on Washington DC's local economy and employment.
This episode explores how sex workers at a Nevada brothel are attempting to unionize and be recognized as employees, potentially setting a precedent for gig workers nationwide.
This episode segment discusses the history and navigation of traffic circles in Washington DC, focusing on their role in local culture and urban planning.
This segment discusses the historical ties between the Philippines and Washington DC, exploring why there's a significant Filipino population in the area through the lens of colonial history and immigration patterns.
This segment discusses the failure of Elon Musk's Hyperloop project in DC, exploring the reasons behind its collapse and Musk's interest in the area.
Washington Post writer Warren Rojas discusses his list of DC's best diners, focusing on comfort food and old-school greasy spoons in the city.
This episode segment introduces topics including high utility bills, a possible tax break for bidets in DC, and the politics of body cam footage around federal arrests, while also promoting a new podcast about city improvements.
This segment discusses the bankruptcy and sale of DC's Compass Coffee to UK-based Café Nero, exploring the potential future of the chain and the reasons behind its downfall.
The hosts discuss their mixed feelings about March in DC, with one celebrating it as a transition from winter and another finding it disappointing due to expectations of spring, while also mentioning personal connections like a birthday on Pi Day.
This episode segment discusses the emergency declaration for a Potomac River sewage spill, anti-ICE bills in Maryland and Virginia, a union dispute at a cat cafe, and a lawsuit against Donald Trump.
The episode features Jade Womack discussing affordable date spots in DC for under $15, highlighting free or cheap activities like visiting green spaces such as Kenilworth, the Arboretum, and Lincoln Park.
This episode segment introduces upcoming discussions on DC's mayor's race focusing on public safety, a murder case involving a quadruple amputee cornhole champion, the potential end of the DC streetcar, and police transparency issues, while starting with a lighthearted conversation about cherry blossoms.
This episode introduces the podcast and discusses how the Twin Cities organized effectively and joyfully in response to federal immigration crackdowns, featuring an interview with CityCast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson.
This episode segment introduces upcoming discussions on DC's budget issues, Kennedy Center layoffs, Valentine's Day in DC, and a new CityCast show, while acknowledging sponsorship and promotional content.
This episode discusses a parenting group chat in Petworth, DC, that experienced significant conflict after a post about Gaza, as reported by Washington Post journalist Maura Judges.
This segment discusses the importance of Black history and highlights the MLK Library's People's Archive as a key resource for exploring DC's Black cultural and historical collections.
Host Bridget Todd is joined by travel expert Tim Ebner to explore affordable spring getaway options from Washington, D.C., all for $150 or less per person.
Jacoby Cochran interviews CityCast DC's Michael Schaefer about emergency legislation passed by the D.C.
This podcast segment discusses architecture critic Paul Goldberger's warning that President Trump's vision and projects threaten to negatively transform Washington DC's cityscape due to a misunderstanding of its democratic nature.
Washington Post reporter Tim Carman joins CityCast DC to explain how a new round of federal immigration enforcement is devastating DC restaurants, with one popular spot losing 29 of 32 flagged employees.
The CityCast DC hosts preview April 2026 events in Washington, D.C., including food festivals like Tour del Taco, cultural events like a Black journalist storytelling night, sports with Nationals baseball and the Capitol Classic, and entertainment such as the 44 musical.
CityCast DC hosts Washington Post reporters Lauren Lumpkin and Robert Samuels to discuss their investigation revealing how DC Public Schools' failure to address truancy—with middle school truancy increasing fivefold over a decade—connects to rising youth crime.
CityCast DC host Michael Schaefer interviews Drew Friedman of Federal News Network about the Trump administration's plan to reclassify tens of thousands of federal 'career' positions into a new category that strips them of job protections, making them easier to fire for political reasons.
CityCast DC hosts discuss three major DC stories: Mayor Bowser's feud with the City Council over crime policies and utility bills, a federal judge freezing construction on Trump's White House ballroom project, and several DC chefs making the James Beard Awards finalist list.