City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
The shutdown is getting worse, time to cry
October 29, 2025 · 💌 Kaela
Morning! One month from today is the Taco Bell 50K. Hundreds of participants will run over 30 miles in the DMV, stopping at nine Taco Bell locations and eating at least one menu item at each. Puking means instant disqualification. And Pepto is not allowed 🤮
What's CITY Talking About
The Shutdown’s Getting Worse, Let’s Cry About It
Politico reports the effects of the government shutdown are about to get worse. This is largely because a bunch of programs, including SNAP food aid, which 141,000 D.C. residents rely on, will start to run out of money Saturday. D.C. is already considering tapping its reserves to fund food stamps and yesterday, D.C.'s Attorney General filed a lawsuit to restore SNAP assistance. [Politico / Axios / A.G. Schwalb]
- Relatedly: 😭 If the last three months have taught us anything, it’s how to perfect the art of crying in public. And not to brag, but we’re pretty good at it. Today we're covering all the best spots to cry in D.C. [City Cast DC]
Traffic Stop Shooting Not Put In Police Report
Earlier this month, a federal officer shot at an unarmed Black man during a traffic stop but did not report it. Now, a D.C. police officer says his superior told him not to document it. The shots missed, but attorneys say it shows the potential consequences of MPD’s collaboration with federal agents. [Washington Post 🔒]
- Related: Seventy Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners are calling on D.C. Council to perform an oversight hearing to investigate MPD’s collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. [GW Hatchet]
Japan Gifts More Cherry Trees
Japan's newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is gifting 250 cherry trees to D.C. to celebrate America’s 250 years anniversary. Japan will also gift fireworks to be shown in D.C. next July 4th. [The Hill]
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What To Do
Wednesday, Oct. 29
- 🕺 Fall Line Dance Party at the Anacostia Library
- 🎺 Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror at Lincoln Theater (U Street Corridor)
- 🤘 History of Punk Fanzines In DC at Politics & Prose (Chevy Chase)
- 🧑🍳 Cookbook Chat: “Linger” at Bold Fork Books (Mt. Pleasant)
- 🎬 Spooky Movie Night at DC9 (Shaw)
- 👻 River Monsters: Spooky Boat Ride with the DOEE (Anacostia)
Thursday, Oct. 30
- 🧪 Pick Your Poison at the US Botanical Gardens (Capitol Hill)
- 🎃 A Halloween Drag Show at the Rhizome (Takoma)
- 🪄 Outdoor Movie: “Hocus Pocus” at Audi Field
- 🎭 Art Deco Masquerade at the National Building Museum
- 🌱 Stitching with Plants with PLNTR (National Landing)
- 🍫 Trunk-or-Treat at Benning Neighborhood Library
- 📚 Film Screening: "Entering Jane Austen's World" at Takoma Park Library
- 😆 Sober Seltzer Comedy Show at Binge Bar (H Street)
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