
City Cast DC with Michael Schaffer
🚰 FEMA steps in over sewage spill
February 18, 2026 · 💌 Kaela
Morning, neighbor! Vinyl bars flooded D.C. in 2025 and the trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Last month, Bon Appetit even called them a “cure for social isolation” and who are we to argue? Today on the podcast, we’re chatting about our favorite vinyl bars that double as social sanctuaries 🎵

What's CITY Talking About
Trump Gets FEMA To Step In Over Sewage Spill
President Trump announced that the federal government will step in to protect the Potomac River following a sewer line collapse last month that poured 240 million gallons of waste into the Potomac. [ABC7]
Trinity Rodman Wants To Get More Involved In DC
Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman said yesterday at a media conference that she's psyched to be staying in D.C. after signing a three-year record deal with the team. "I've definitely thought about the impacts I can have off the field, especially in this community," said Rodman. [City Cast DC]
VA & MD Crack Down On ICE Collaboration
Gov. Wes Moore signed emergency legislation yesterday banning local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE, calling it an “unaccountable agency.” It will go into effect immediately. Also yesterday, the Virginia Senate passed a similar law banning police from carrying out immigration enforcement. The bill still must pass the House. [ABC7/ARLnow]
Abrego Garcia Cannot Be Re-Detained
A federal judge ruled that Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia cannot be re-detained by ICE because a 90-day detention period has passed. His case has been a focal point of immigration law since he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last year. [WTOP]
New Candidates In DC Mayoral Race
Hope Solomon — a federal worker laid off by DOGE — announced she will run for mayor. She joins an increasingly crowded race with council member Janeese Lewis George, former council members Kenyan McDuffie and Vincent Orange, and veteran Gary Goodweather. [Axios]
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Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies Open House
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What To Do
Wednesday, Feb. 18
- 📗 Book Talk: “American Struggle” at Sixth & I (Chinatown)
- 🪄 Profs & Pints: The Folklore of Love Spells at the Hill Center (Capitol Hill)
- 🐚 Tiny Lunar New Year Altars Workshop at Del Ray Artisans (Del Ray)
- 😁 Author Talk: “Every Happiness” at East City Bookshop (Capitol Hill)
- 🎹 Local Tunes: Jeff Barsky at the Rhizome (Takoma)
Thursday, Feb. 19
- 🥄 Cookbook Club: “A Table With Friends” at Bold Fork Books (Mt. Pleasant)
- 🧧 Celebrate Lunar New Year in Central Place Plaza (Rosslyn)
- 🍻 Jeopardy Bar League at Astro Beer Hall (Downtown)
- 🌌 Science Talk: Human Exploration of Mars at the National Academy of Sciences (Foggy Bottom)
- 🎥 Movie Screening: “Amistad” at Bellevue Library (Neighborhood)
- 💘 Month of Romance Bookclub at flor. coffee + books (Georgetown)
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