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City Cast DC: Daily Summaries Delivered
by 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.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago19 min
Robert White Could Be Ineligible for Delegate Unless He Resigns
With less than a week until Election Day, at-large DC councilmember Robert White appears all but confirmed to become the city’s next congressional delegate. But a provision of a 56-year-old law could now stand in the way. My City Cast colleague Ben Brasch joins me to explain what the law says, how this happened and what it could mean for the city’s politics. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Leave us 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 October 28th episode: Pinky Swear Productions - Use code "Crambone" to get $10 off the ticket price! Washington National Opera - Use code "CITYCAST" for 20% off your ticket Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
- 1 weeks ago25 min
Your Guide to the 2026 D.C. General Election
Early voting in the 2026 D.C. general election is underway. Residents will choose the city’s first new mayor in more than a decade, two at-large council members, and vote on whether foie gras is welcome in D.C. City Cast’s Ben Brasch and Tristan Espinoza join me to explain everything you need to know before you vote. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Leave us 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 October 27th episode: Pinky Swear Productions - Use code "Crambone" to get $10 off the ticket price! Washington National Opera - Use code "CITYCAST" for 20% off your ticket Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
- 1 weeks ago33 min
How One D.C. Real Estate Empire Racked Up 1600 Housing Violations
Mice and cockroach infestations, exposed wires, broken HVAC systems, and water damage are just a few of the 1600 housing violations at more than a dozen D.C. apartment complexes owned and managed by companies linked to affordable housing developer Buwa Binitie. City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers joins me to explain who Binitie is, the problems that tenants at his apartment complexes are experiencing, and how his companies' blatant mismanagement went unchecked by the city for years. Read Alyssa’s piece: https://dc.citycast.fm/news/buwa-binitie-housing-violations Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Leave us a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
- 1 weeks ago23 min
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Is Chicago More Prepared for Climate Change Than Every Other City? — Presented By City Cast DC
How prepared is DC to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilient city in the world — the only U.S. city to make it into the top 10. What’s Chicago doing right? City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran is joining David this week to talk about how the city is adapting to face climate risks, its work in renewable energy, and other projects in the works. Mentioned on the show: New York Times article about climate resilience: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/realestate/is-your-city-prepared-for-climate-disaster.html AlphaGeo's report: https://alphageo.ai/how-climate-resilient-are-the-worlds-largest-cities/ City Cast Chicago's episode about their climate resilience ranking: https://chicago.citycast.fm/podcasts/loop-restaurants-resurging-chicagos-climate-resilience-and-meet-us-at-lit-fest Previous episode about Jacoby visiting all of Chicago's libraries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytx9DWibpQc 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.
- 1 weeks ago35 min
The National Guard Shooting, Trump’s Plans for Hains Point, and D.C.’s Traffic Camera Debate
This week, we’re talking about the National Guard shooting on Capitol Hill, Donald Trump’s new plans for the Golf Course at Hains Point, and whether Councilmember Felder is right that there’s too many traffic cameras in Wards 5 and 7. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’re talking about truancy and ICE and how the two may be related at DC Public Schools. I was joined by City Cast’s Emma Uber and the Washington Sun’s Martin Austermuhle. Read Emma’s reporting: https://dc.citycast.fm/authors/emma-uber Read Martin’s reporting: https://www.washingtonsun.com/martin-austermuhle Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter. 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 October 23rd episode: Nace Law Group Pinky Swear Productions - Use code "Crambone" to get $10 off the ticket price! Roda - Save 20% on maintenance, repairs or detailing with code POD20. Washington National Opera Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
- 1 weeks ago24 min
The Court Case That Could Change D.C.’s Eviction Laws
D.C’s tenant protection laws make it tough for landlords to evict problem residents, but last year, lawmakers made it easier to kick out violent tenants. Now, a case working its way through D.C. Superior Court is challenging that assumption. Advisory neighborhood commissioner and City Cast contributor Ashley Schapitl joined me to explain how this judge’s ruling could reshape the city’s landlord-tenant law. Read’s Ashley’s story for Capital Commonsense here: https://capitalcommonsense.com/p/do-serious-acts-of-violence-warrant Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. 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 October 22nd episode: Nace Law Group Pinky Swear Productions - Use code "Crambone" to get $10 off the ticket price! Roda - Save 20% on maintenance, repairs or detailing with code POD20. Washington National Opera Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
- 1 weeks ago31 min
Secretary Lonnie Bunch On Fighting For the Smithsonian’s Future
Lonnie Bunch, the outgoing secretary of the Smithsonian, has been at the red-hot center of national political fights over culture. But in DC, he’s also the head of an institution that shapes the calendar of our city — and employs a lot of our neighbors. Secretary Bunch joins us to talk about his experience combating escalating pressure from the Trump administration, the role of museums, and whether Washingtonians should be scared that our city’s majestic cultural institution is about to be diminished in his absence. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. 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 October 21st episode: Nace Law Group Pinky Swear Productions - Use code "Crambone" to get $10 off the ticket price! Roda - Save 20% on maintenance, repairs or detailing with code POD20. Washington National Opera Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
- 2 weeks ago39 min
Could New Taxes Fix D.C.’s Economy?
On Friday, the D.C. Council held a daylong session on raising taxes, and imposing new ones. It’s an issue council members usually wait until the last minute to address, but the real deadline comes next year, when a new mayor and a new Council need to figure out how to keep funding the programs D.C. residents have come to love, even though our current slew of taxes is bringing in less and less money to pay for it. Yesim Sayin of the DC Policy Center joins us to walk us through the options. 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 October 20th episode: Nace Law Group Pinky Swear Productions - Use code "Crambone" to get $10 off the ticket price! Roda - Save 20% on maintenance, repairs or detailing with code POD20. Washington National Opera Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
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About City Cast DC
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.
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