City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
🥴 Is DC screwed with this shutdown?!
October 2, 2025 · — Natalia Aldana
It’s crunch time! We have 48 hours left of our fall membership campaign. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a member but haven’t joined City Cast DC Neighbors yet, today is the day — I can feel it!
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What's CITY Talking About?
What the Shutdown Means for DC
The government shutdown threatens to scare off tourists and possibly lead to mass layoffs. How is D.C’s government affected? And what does the shutdown mean for your day-to-day? NBC4’s Mark Segraves is here to brief us and answers every question we have about how the shutdown is impacting D.C. [City Cast DC 🎧]
Bowser Proposes Legalizing Poker, Blackjack
Despite previous City Council rejections, Mayor Bowser is reviving proposals to bring back legalized blackjack and poker to D.C., among other measures to boost the economy amid federal job cuts and a potential budget shortfall following the shutdown. [Washington Post 🔒]
ICE Tactics in DC Could Inform its National Strategy
Was Trump’s federal deployment in Washington, D.C. meant to be a test case for ICE’s expansion in other sanctuary cities? The NYT is out with a new piece exploring video footage of arrests that shows how ICE’s close collaboration with local enforcement agencies increased arrests. [New York Times 🔒]
Can Reverse Vending Machines Combat Pollution?
A D.C. councilmember has proposed a bill to reduce pollution by using reverse vending machines to pay 10 cents per plastic bottle. Supporters highlight potential city earnings and environmental benefits, while opponents say it could impact beverage costs. [7News/WJLA]
Vote for CCDC to Win Podcast Award!
Exciting news! We're up for a national podcast award — the Signal awards! This win would be huge for our team and for representing D.C. And you know D.C. could use a win right now. Vote for us here!
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What To Do
Thursday, Oct. 2
- 🥮 Mid-Autumn Night Market at Hi-Lawn (Union Market)
- 🎮 Mario Kart Tournament at Pitchers (Adams Morgan)
- 🎃 DIY Fall & Halloween Decor at Merry Pin (Takoma)
- 🫔 Clase de Tamales at La Cosecha (Union Market)
- 🎶 Tunes: The Tubs (Celtic) at Songbyrd (Union Market)
- 🎥 Microcinema: “In Order Not To Be Here” at the Rhizome (Takoma)
Friday, Oct. 3
- 🕺 Reorient the Orient with Lionel Popkin at Dance Place (Edgewood)
- 🦖 Jurassic Park in Concert at The Music Center at Strathmore (Bethesda)
- 🧑🎨 The Art of Looking: María Berrío, A Sunburst Restrained with the National Gallery of Art (Virtual)
- 😆 Laugh Riot: Comedy in the Face of Everything! at Studio Theatre (Logan Circle)
- 🎹 Ellington Unleashed at Evermay (Georgetown)
Sponsored Content
'Julius X' on stage now through October 26!
This bold new play by award-winning playwright and poet Al Letson takes Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Julius Caesar and reworks it through the lens of the American Civil Rights Movement, focusing on the story of Civil Rights leader Malcolm X and drawing parallels between ancient Rome and 1960s Harlem.
👋 The neighborhood is growing! Welcome to new members Christopher N., Lynda K., Essie K., Kim B., Carrie S., Natasia B., Andrew J., Timothy Q., Catherine S., Kelsey M., and Raymond K.! 😍
These 11 fabulous folks have joined in the past day — will you join them!? Not only will they have access to exclusive events, ad-free podcast listening, and weekly events delivered to their inbox, they’ve also secured a free tote! And you can too!
Thank you to our members and also to all of our readers and listeners. We really couldn’t do it without you, and we’re grateful to have a smart, passionate audience who pays attention. We all care about D.C., even when we disagree, and that feels great.
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