City Cast DC

City Cast DC’s daily podcast with the news — high and low — about what D.C.'s talking about today. Hosted by Bridget Todd and Michael Schaffer and featuring City Cast DC’s reporters, producers and editors, as well as outside guests.

Apple Podcasts Spotify Youtube RSS

Released: Daily

Episode DC's Earthquake Election, the James Beard Awards, and What the Heck Is Up With the Reflecting Pool

DC's Earthquake Election, the James Beard Awards, and What the Heck Is Up With the Reflecting Pool

25 minJun 18, 2026

We’re talking about the fallout, so far, a day after DC’s earthquake of a mayoral election. We’re talking about the reaction from DC’s business community, which was petrified about the idea of a socialist winning. And we’re talking about the best of Pride, whose parade is this morning. Plus, in a members only fourth segment, between the algae in the Reflecting Pool and the many many closures ahead at DCA, it’s a weird time on and above the National Mall. We’ll get into what it all means. 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 June 18th episode: ⁠Folger Shakespeare Library⁠ ⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠ ⁠National Museum of the American Indian⁠ ⁠Alliance Française Washington DC⁠ Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info ⁠ HERE⁠ .

DC’s Left Scores Big in Primaries

32 minJun 17, 2026

It was a very big night for DC’s left. With a little under two-thirds of the vote counted, Janeese Lewis George is up big over Kenyan McDuffie in first-choice votes for the Democratic mayoral election. Her fellow democratic socialists are leading a couple of DC Council races, and a top progressive is way ahead in another. And progressive Robert White appears to have run away with the race for DC Delegate to Congress. It is 4:30AM the morning after election day. Michael Schaffer, Emma Uber and Bridget Todd were at watch parties last night and are breaking down what we know so far. 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 June 17th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library DC Department of Behavioral Health National Museum of the American Indian Alliance Française Washington DC Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE .

What You Need to Know About Ranked Choice Voting Election Delays

13 minJun 16, 2026

Today is the first DC election under ranked-choice voting. And anyone who thought “instant runoff” meant immediate results is in for a nasty surprise: The city says it may be 10 days before they announce results. We're talking with Lisa Rice, one of the people behind the referendum that okayed RCV a few years ago, about what to expect at the polls, when we might know a winner, and whether we’re right to feel irritated about potential delays. 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 June 16th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library DC Department of Behavioral Health National Museum of the American Indian Alliance Française Washington DC Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE .

Why Plummeting Rents Could Kill DC’s Housing

13 minJun 15, 2026

DC is facing a double-barreled housing crisis where nothing is getting built. No one is building regular houses apartments because of the grim DMV economy. And no one is building subsidized “affordable” housing because epidemic rent nonpayment makes builders think they’ll never break even. In a city where housing is still super expensive, this adds up to a big problem. Emilia Calma is the author of a new report on this for the Brookings DMV Monitor and she’s here to explain. 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 June 15th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library DC Department of Behavioral Health National Museum of the American Indian Alliance Française Washington DC Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE .

'Your City Could Be Better': Why Every Region Needs A Park Map Tool Like Salt Lake’s — Presented By City Cast DC

30 minJun 14, 2026

Do you know how many parks DC has? Residents of Salt Lake County have wondered about their parks for years — that is, until City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta set out to catalog them all. Over the course of two years, she visited all 511 parks in the county, seeking to record their amenities (e.g., bathrooms, playgrounds), write helpful summaries, and track down the people in charge. The resulting map has already become a valuable tool for locals, who now not only know who to call when trash cans are overflowing: they can also find outdoor spaces that meet their needs. Mentioned on the show: Every Park SLC - The First-Ever Guide to Every Park in Salt Lake County (City Cast Salt Lake) 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 .

Council Raids Reserves to Avoid Cuts, Logan Circle Gets No Bathrooms, and McDuffie's Boozy Brunch Victory Spot

34 minJun 12, 2026

We’re talking about whether DC is in for a tax hike, we’re talking about what’s missing in some of the Trump administration’s park makeovers, and we’ll try to read the tea leaves about where DC candidates are planning their election night parties. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ll get into the proposal to bring a giant homeless shelter to the HUD building. 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 June 12th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library Mugsy Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE .

Inside St. Elizabeth's Abandoned Lobotomy Lab

19 minJun 11, 2026

We’re talking about St. Elizabeths. As a lot of folks know, the campus of D.C.’s psychiatric hospital has transformed over the past 15 years. There’s still a hospital, but a huge part of the former campus now holds a federal cabinet agency and another part is being redeveloped as stores and houses. NBC4’s Mark Segraves recently gained access to a part that the new management really doesn’t want to talk about — the site of some pretty ghastly surgeries and experiments from the time when St. Elizabeths was known as an insane asylum. 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 June 11th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library Mugsy Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE .

DC's 10-Day Election Scenario, World Cup Specials Hit DC, and UFC Chaos at the White House

29 minJun 10, 2026

Culture

We’re talking about the state of the mayoral race with a week to go. We’re also talking about whether it really is just a week to go, since DC voters just got some pretty shocking news about how long it may take to count. And we’re talking World Cup specials in DC. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ll get into the logistics and politics of Sunday’s White House UFC fight. 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 June 10th episode: ⁠Folger Shakespeare Library⁠ ⁠Mugsy⁠ Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info ⁠ HERE⁠ .

DC’s Best (and Most Underrated) Breakfast Sandwiches

19 minJun 9, 2026

New York City might be known for its iconic bodega staple, the bacon egg and cheese, but DC also does breakfast sandwiches pretty well, too. In a quest to find the best one in DC, Washington Post food reporter Tim Carman asked the internet for its best recs—and the replies came pouring in. Within days, he had a list of more than 60 to try. And after some seriously tasty fieldwork, he’s narrowed it down to the top 10 breakfast sandwiches in DC. Last year, we sat down with Tim to get a taste of his ranking of DC’s best breakfast sandwiches. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member , with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 9th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library Mugsy Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE .

A New Study Says DC’s National Guard Surge Did Not Reduce Violent Crime

27 minJun 8, 2026

A new think tank study has some fascinating findings about Donald Trump’s national guard deployment in DC: The dramatic surge reduced property crimes by almost a quarter — but did nothing about violence. Richard Hahn from the Niskanen Center is here to explain. 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 June 8th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library Mugsy Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE .

'Your City Could Be Better': How Las Vegas Saves More Water Than Any Other City — Presented By City Cast DC

27 minJun 7, 2026

Washington, DC, recycles some of its water, but not as much as Las Vegas, where the water there stays in the city. How else could a desert city possibly have enough water for its year-round tourists, a metro area population of over 2 million, and all those pools? The process just might be grosser than you think. With innovative recycling, strict lawn rules, and infrastructure to monitor it all, Vegas has become a global leader in water reuse. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Las Vegas podcast host Jesse Merrick to learn how the city makes do with what it has and how its practices could save other cities’ water supplies. Plus, are any Las Vegans actually going to the casinos? Mentioned on the show: "Reality Check - There are Big Fines If You Don’t Change Your Watering Clock" (Southern Nevada Water Authority) "Federal Regulators Cut Lake Mead Water. Can Vegas Handle It?" (City Cast Las Vegas) 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 .

One Ballot, Five Choices: A Guide to DC's Ranked Choice Voting {Sponsored}

7 minJun 6, 2026

D.C.'s June Primary is June 16th and this year, voting works differently. For the first time, D.C. is using Ranked Choice Voting, which means you can rank up to five candidates in order of preference instead of picking just one. For this sponsored episode, Senior Executive Producer Annie Rees is chatting with Gary Thompson, Chair of D.C.'s Board of Elections, to explain exactly how it works, bust the myth that ranking more than one candidate splits your vote, and walk you through what your ballot will actually look like. In other words, everything you need to know before you head to the polls or fill out your mail-inballot. Learn more from the sponsor of this episode at dcboe.org/rcv.