City Cast DC

Union Station is about to undergo a massive renovation. In this interview originally aired last summer, WAMU’s Jordan Pascale walks us through what the transit hub will look like inside and out, and how it's going to impact the neighborhood around it. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

There’s never been a D.C. mayoral aide quite so powerful as John Falcicchio. And all of a sudden, he’s gone — departed amid scandal. Alex Koma, Loose Lips columnist from Washington City Paper, is here to walk us through what it means. Also, we’ll be talking about the wonky nature of the new city budget, and Lead Producer Priyanka Tilve explains the future of ebikes in the District. We couldn’t do our news roundups without the great local reporting in the area: Alex Koma’s Loose Lips column about John Falcicchio’s departure. Check out the Mayor’s budget for FY 2024 here. ABC7 explains gives you everything you need to know about the new e-bikes. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc (TRY TO CHANGE IT UP EVERY TIME) And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

For decades, geopolitics has shaped Washington’s restaurant scene. And one of the latest trends is the boom in Uyghur restaurants, often run by folks fleeing oppression back home. Today, we’re talking with a Uyghur advocate based in the DMV about the food and the new Washingtonians who are cooking it. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

It’s official: DC’s flag is awesome. And Maryland’s isn’t too shabby, either. Virginia’s? Well… Today we’re talking with two leading vexillologists — that’s flag experts — who will walk us through how the DC flag became so ubiquitous, and why it works. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc (TRY TO CHANGE IT UP EVERY TIME) And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Pretty much everyone in D.C. is obsessed with finding a good place to live. Jamie Manning started the popular Instagram and newsletter Exposed Brick after she got obsessed with finding good deals on rentals on Craigslist. She shares her tips and tricks to navigating D.C.’s rental market. Also, that promo code we mentioned at the end of the podcast is: ‘TRYCABIEBIKE.’ Enter it in the rewards section of the Capital Bikeshare or Lyft app to take $2 off one e-bike ride before March 31. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Staffers at Union Kitchen, a food business accelerator, are suing their employee for wage theft. It’s the issue that initially sparked their interest in forming a union last year, and the lawsuit is now raising tensions with management. The DCist’s Amanda Gomez is following the case. Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC for more local news and hot tips. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. And leave us a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. We’d love to hear what stories YOU want us to cover on City Cast DC.

The Eden Center, the Vietnamese mall in Northern Virginia, is about to see some changes and the local Vietnamese community is making its voice heard. Plus, there’s a new billionaire in the mix for owner of the Washington Commanders, and it’s someone with ties to the arts in DC. And Marjorie Taylor Greene is concerned about horrible living conditions at D.C. Jail. Why ever could that be? As always, our Friday roundups rely on great local journalism: Hector Arzate’s piece about the Eden Center redevelopment The Hill’s article about Marjorie Green Taylor’s push to visit D.C. Jail to observe living conditions The Washington Post’s assessment of Mitchell Rales as a bidder for the Commanders Our morning newsletter Hey DC covers news like this and more every single weekday more. Sign up now. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.

Anyone who’s ever stared at a Metro map has probably fantasized about their ideal Metro line, the new route that takes them exactly where they want to go. Cleveland Park to National Harbor? No problem. Hains Point to Potomac Mills? Just close your eyes. I’m sitting down with Metro historian Zack Schrag and transit planner Matt Johnson to talk about why D.C.’s metro is designed the way it is, how it compares to other cities, and why our fantasy lines can — or can’t — happen in real life. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC and follow us on Twitter at @citycast_dc. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. And we’re always looking for more D.C. life hacks! Share yours with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654 and you may be featured in a future episode.

This week marks Equal Pay Day, the point in the year that women have to work just to break even with men’s salaries from the year before. Talking openly about what you make is a big part of closing the pay gap. Hannah Williams, a Washingtonian and the creator of the popular Salary Transparency TikTok account, is here to talk about the push for pay transparency in D.C. Also, sign up here at 10 a.m. on Thursday for the White House Easter Egg Roll lottery. Our morning newsletter Hey DC highlights cool accounts, D.C. life hacks, news, restaurant openings, and more alllll the time. Be sure to sign up. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Got any hot tips that would work as a D.C. life hack? Share them with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

We’ve been told that ChatGPT would take over our jobs, so we had to put it to the test to see how much it really knows about D.C. It told us that “dating in D.C. can be exciting” and had some wild views on D.C. statehood. Agree to disagree, ChatGPT. We chat with Axios DC reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo and ChatGPT to find out what the internet gets wrong about D.C. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

For years, D.C. has paid rent to landlords for poor people who might otherwise live in public housing. But a recent Washington Post investigative series reports that the city has been shelling out way more than the apartments would get on the open market. It’s not just a wonky budget thing — the pattern has real impact for people using housing vouchers, but also for anyone in D.C. trying to find an a place to live. Plus, here’s the Kennedy Center’s My Tix program, with huge discounts for adults under 30. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

The biggest local news in a long time, the Congressional vote to overturn a DC bill for the first time in decades. City Cast DC producer Julia Karron and newsletter editor Kaela Cote-Stemmerman are here break down what it means and what happens now. Plus, we’re talking about the weird trend of dress codes for D.C. bars, and Kaela’s going to tap her newsletter knowledge to tell us about the best of weekend events. We couldn’t do our news roundups without the stellar reporting of D.C.’s local journalists: Jenna Portnoy, Ellie Silverman and Meagan Flynn of the Washington Post break down the Senate vote. Amanda Gomez of DCist explains the dress code fiasco at Bunker Bar. Subscribe to our newsletter, Hey DC, for more fun weekend events! And here’s the full schedule for the Washington Women In Jazz festival. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

It’s official. Senate has voted to reject D.C.’s criminal code reforms. The President has said he’s going to sign it, which means this will be the first time in 30 years that Congress has rejected a duly enacted D.C. law. NBC Reporter Mark Segraves joins us to talk about how we got here, and what it means for the fight for statehood. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Today is International Women’s Day and D.C. is full of stories of female empowerment and impact that might not always get the recognition they deserve. Kaitlin Calogera organizes tours of D.C. women’s history to change that, and she’s here today with some tips for how we can all embark on that journey. Plus, check out our episode about how the D.C. nightlife task force affects you Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

The band Dupont Brass started unexpectedly as a side gig for a group of Howard University students, and now they’re about to go on tour, starting April 12. As they prepare to share their music up and down the East Coast, two of the band’s original members are here to tell us about Dupont Brass’s evolution and sound. Buy tickets here for Dupont Brass’s upcoming tour. And if you want to ride around D.C. via water taxi, check out their schedule here. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

The 11th Street Bridge connects Anacostia to Navy Yard. And a project to create a park there for everyone to share, while also not leaving out longtime residents of Anacostia, has been years in the making. The project’s start date was recently pushed back to the end of this year. 11th Street Bridge Park Director Scott Kratz and Ronald Moten of Don’t Mute DC say community buy in has been a big part of getting project off the ground. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

We’re back with another live taping at Politics and Prose Union Market! This time, City Cast DC Contributor Dan Reed and the Washington Post’s Lori Aratani join us to talk about why NFL owners are threatening (again) to vote Dan Snyder out, how D.C. is potentially backtracking on its plan to make Metrobuses free this summer, and how to take advantage of the very very early Cherry Blossom season this year. Plus, City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with Politics & Prose's Chief Adult Book Buyer Anton Bogomazov to talk about some new books you should consider checking out this Spring, almost all by women (Happy Women's History Month)! As always, our Friday roundups wouldn’t be possible without some great local journalism: From the Washington Post: Daniel Snyder’s demands anger NFL owners, renew talk of voting him out From DCist’s Jordan Pascale: Fare-Free Buses In Jeopardy As D.C. Revenue Projections Drop NPS announces peak bloom! Definitely check out our newsletter Hey DC as well. It’s the same mix of newsy and fun, with some great events options for you every day. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

The FBI Headquarters at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW is a famously ugly blot on an otherwise beautiful D.C. street. But maybe not for long (we can hope)? There’s a renewed push for the FBI to move to the suburbs, and we’re dreaming up alternate uses for that plot of land with WBJ Reporter Tristan Navera, who has been covering the FBI’s winding relocation process. For more D.C. news, sign up for our morning newsletter, and follow us at @citycast_dc. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. And we want to hear from you too! Leave us a voicemail about your neighborhood hopes and frustrations by calling 202 642 2654.

There's just no way around it — all of us are going to die. Sadly, in D.C., a lot of folks are dying alone. Laura Lyster-Mensh, Congressional Cemetery's Death Doula in Residence, is trying to change that by encouraging death positivity in the District. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Trouble Bird Bar is opening tonight in Navy Yard, in the space that used to be Maxwell Park Wine Bar. But it's got a very different vibe. Think pajamas AND glitter. Confused? We talked to the founders for some answers. Plus, here’s that Ballpark Access Pass from our D.C. life hack of the day. And, more info on our live taping at the Politics & Prose Union Market, TOMORROW, at 6:30 pm. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says she’s redoubling her efforts to reverse the council’s move to pull police who have been serving as school resource officers out of D.C. public schools. The Metropolitan Police Department’s School Safety Division was once staffed by 100 school resource officers; it’s now down to 40, with the division set to disappear altogether by July 2025. WAMU’s Martin Austermuhle spoke to students, parents, and school resource officers to find out how folks are feeling about the effort to get police out of D.C. schools. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

We’ve got a new museum that will open under the Lincoln Memorial! And the D.C. metro area is banding together to form a new fair housing plan. Mike Schaffer is joined by Julia Karron and Kaela Cote-Stemmerman to talk about that, plus fun events taking place this weekend. As always, our roundups wouldn’t be complete without the great local reporting in the city: Andrew Beaujon from Washingtonian has the new potential Lincoln Memorial museum plans on lock. Dan Brendel of Washington Business Journal explains the new regional fair housing plan. Check out our Hey DC newsletter for events happening this weekend! Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

Roller skating became all the rage during the pandemic, but for D.C., this wasn’t really a new thing. Just ask D.C. skate enthusiast, Saletta Coleman. She tells us why the District has always had a special connection to skating. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

We’ve all been there. You’re out and about when nature calls. And if you’re in D.C., this could be especially bad news because there aren’t a ton of public bathrooms in the city. But there’s new legislation that might get D.C. to what Jonathan Katz calls “potty parity.” To learn more, here are some resources Jonathan recommends: The Big Necessity, by Rose George No Place to Go, by Lezlie Lowe The American Restroom Association And for some non-potty related news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter and follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654

Fentanyl is a national crisis, and the D.C. area is no exception. But the communities bearing the brunt of it here are different compared to the rest of the country. As the FDA pushes to make narcan, the life-saving antidote to opioid overdoses, available over the counter, Axios DC reporter Chelsea Cirruzzo is here to tell us what harm reduction specialists say about the problem and how we can all help. DBH offers a full range of behavioral health services. To learn more, call the 24-hour Access Helpline at 1-888-793-4357. Read the full LIVE.LONG.DC. plan here. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Congress is pushing back hard on two D.C. bills and many local leaders are … letting them? City Cast DC Contributor Dan Reed and Lead Producer Priyanka Tilve join the show to talk about this wrinkle in the fight for statehood. We’re also talking about the best apps for tracking metro and Logic’s new rap album, which is an homage to the DMV. As always, our roundups are powered by stellar local reporting: Josh Jacobson’s Twitter spat with Sen. Michael Brown. Jordan Pascale’s eulogy for MetroHero at DCist. Logic breaks down the trailer for his new album, College Park. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

If you've been in Adams Morgan recently, you’ve probably seen the aftermath of attacks on local businesses. For example, Retrobottega on 18th street had its glass doors smashed in just yesterday. It’s alarming! But business owners and local leaders aren’t taking it lying down. Today, we’re looking at what they’re doing to protect themselves and the community. Do you live or hang out in AdMo? Let us know what you think about the recent break-ins by emailing us at [email protected] or leaving us a voicemail at 202-642-2654. And as you heard, we're also starting to share daily "DC life hacks," so we'd love any tips you might have! Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter and follow us on Twitter at @citycast_dc.

Ted Lerner, the 97-year old patriarch of the family that owns the Washington Nationals, died this week. But the team has been on the market for months — meaning it’s already a moment of transition for the organization. Who’s likely to own the team? And what will it mean for the city in general? Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post is here to talk about it. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Happy Valentine’s Day! We asked all of you to share your love stories, and boy did you deliver. Here are some of the stories we received, plus love letters from our team to D.C. Also, mark your calendars for our next live taping! We’ll be recording our weekly roundup on March 1, at Politics & Prose Union Market. More details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-cast-dc-live-podcast-taping-tickets-530214785697 If you liked this episode, be sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Our editor Kaela regularly features stories from D.C. residents, plus she’s got event listings and news to liven up your D.C. experience. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

911 is no joke to Dave Statter. The longtime D.C. investigative reporter is the man behind some huge scoops on how the District’s emergency-call center has dropped the ball — and what it could mean for you. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654 [HYPERLINK AS tel:2026422654].

In today’s roundup, the Washington Post’s Marissa Lang joins us to chat about the plan to clear the McPherson Square encampments, the D.C. Council’s take on the gas stoves controversy and the best places to cry in the District. As always, our news roundups are powered by local reporting: Marissa Lang on the plans to clear McPherson Square. Jessica Ruf explains everything related to gas and electric stoves in the District. And you know you want to work with our stellar team. Apply here to be City Cast DC’s Senior Account Executive! And that wraps up our D.C. Love Kit! What did you think? And what other themed weeks do you think we should do? Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 202-642-2654 with your thoughts. And be sure to subscribe to our newsletter too!

The D.C. Love Kit — our week of episodes devoted to love in the District — would not be complete without some solid date ideas. We’re joined by Clockout DC’s Jade Womack to walk us through a ton of romantic and not-so-romantic options. One of those includes tickets to Sofar Sounds, and City Cast listeners can get a discount of 10% off with code CITYCASTDC. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

D.C. Love Kit Day 3 is all about friendship. Did you know there’s a science to making friends? Psychologist and D.C. local Marisa Franco has been researching friendship, and she shares some tips from her book “Platonic”. Let’s be real: we could all use some advice on how to build friendships in this transient city of ours. And leave us a voicemail at 2026422654 with your own D.C. love story (whether or not it worked out), and you may be featured in an episode next week! The more bizarre, the better. For more local loves and gripes, sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter at @citycast_dc.

For day two of the City Cast DC Love Kit, we're here with dating coach Erika Ettin to break down all your District-specific questions. Like should you date across the river? And how do you avoid having dates that feel like job interviews? Erika, a.k.a. A Little Nudge, has all the answers. Plus, we’re hiring!! We’re looking for a Senior Account Executive to join our team ASAP to work on selling sponsorships for our podcast and newsletter. If you or someone you know would be a good fit for the job, apply here. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Valentine's Day means couples trips. City Cast DC Contributor Tim Ebner is here to break down all the best deals in the area this February, plus some solid solo travel options. Plus, yes, this week is the D.C. Love Kit, but love is often coupled with heartbreak. We’ve already got the Metro down as a top spot for public crying. What else you got? Leave us a voicemail at 202-642-2654, or email us at [email protected]. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc

It’s another week where crime stories are in the headlines. Dan Reed from Greater Greater Washington joins us to talk about why this is happening and what it means for how the city operates. Plus, the Reeves Center is getting a facelift, and how do we define D.C.’s sports culture? As always, our news roundups are powered by some awesome local journalism: Katie Mettler and Justin George from the Washington Post were all over the Potomac Avenue Metro Station shooting. Tristan Navera of Washington Business Journal explains what’s going on at the Reeves Center. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

Legendary science broadcaster Bill Nye has recently moved back home to D.C, where he was born and raised. Here’s here to tell us about growing up in D.C., his favorite spots, and how it helped make him into the Science Guy we all know and love. Also, next week, we’re coming at you with a D.C. Love Kit — five episodes and five Hey DC newsletters that are all about love. Yes, we’re going to help you plan out your Valentine’s date or trip, but we’re also talking friendship, dating fails, and embracing your alone time. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a day, and get your friends to as well. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your D.C. love story with us (Met your soulmate? Went on a hilariously tragic date? Really connected with the city one day? Made a friend in an unexpected way? We want to hear it all) in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. You can also email it to us.

Washingtonian just put out its list of D.C.’s 100 Very Best Restaurants, for the first time since before the pandemic. And unsurprisingly, COVID-19 changed a lot about the D.C. food scene. Food Critic Ann Limpert is here to tell us about the best meals she’s had around town, and how to make the most of them. Plus, a reminder that we’ve got a special week of content coming up. From February 6 to 10, we’re coming at you with a D.C. Love Kit — five episodes and five Hey DC newsletters that are all about companionship, D.C. dating fails, sexy spy stories, and more. Subscribe now to both this podcast and our newsletter at dc.citycast.fm.

The horrific murder of Catherine Fuller transfixed Washington in 1984. And now, nearly 40 years later, it’s the subject of a book by former D.C. public defender Tom Dybdahl. He convincingly argues that several innocent young Black men were unfairly convicted. He’s here to tell us about what happened — and what’s still happening. On a happier note, we’ve got some BIG NEWS. Next week, both this podcast and our sister newsletter Hey DC are going all-in on Valentine’s Day prep. Get psyched for the D.C. Love Kit from February 6 to 10. We’ve got travel recs, dating advice, friendship advice, and more. And we’d love your suggestions too, so call in with what YOU want to hear. Our number is 202-642-2654. Or email us at [email protected].

Black History Month is coming up, which has a special significance in a place like D.C. Lily and Eliza Dorton, sisters and high school students, founded the DC Civil Rights Tour App, to let anyone learn more about D.C.'s Black history. Want some more D.C. news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And do you have any great tips or life hacks about living in D.C.? Tell us about them! Leave a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

The old Metro boss is now head of transportation in Maryland — what does that mean for DC commuters? Congresspeople are scheming to overrule local voters — how likely are they to succeed? And D.C. is running out of movie theaters. Axios Reporter Cuneyt Dil and Audio Producer Julia Karron join host Michael Schaffer to chat about how they feel about it all. As always, our Friday shows are powered by some excellent local reporting: Jordan Pascale of DCist got the scoop on Paul Wiedefeld nabbing the Maryland transportation secretary job. Cuneyt Dil from Axios explains the new attacks on D.C. Home Rule. Martin Austermuhle breaks down the disappearance of movie theaters in DCist. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

City Cast D.C.’s single ladies have grabbed the mic to chat about dating in D.C. Spoiler alert: it’s hard. So dating coach Erika Ettin, a.k.a. "A Little Nudge" on Instagram, is here to walk us through everything from setting up your dating profile to what you should say AFTER a date, whether it’s gone good, bad, or somewhere in between. And from the news: the American Lung Association graded D.C., Maryland, and Virginia on how they handle all aspects of tobacco. Kaela chatted with Erika for our newsletter Hey DC too. Sign up now (if you haven't already) so you don't miss out on more cool content. And do you have any "local" tips on living your best life in D.C.? Leave us a voicemail about a cool hack you've found, or navigation tips, or anything (!) by calling 202-642-2654.

Did you know that D.C. is one of the worst cities for odometer fraud? Emilie Voss from Carfax says it’s making buying a car more expensive AND making all of us less safe out on the roads. Head to Carfax to get a report on your used car. Need even more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature YOU on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Mayor Bowser’s office has an ambitious plan to revitalize DC’s downtown, and a big part of it is getting remote workers back in physical offices. There’s even a bill at the federal level that would give agencies 30 days to get people back to working in-person. But the bill’s controversial, as are some other parts of Bowser’s so-called “Comeback Plan.” John Falcicchio, D.C.’s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, is here to break it all down. We've been covering the Comeback Plan in our morning newsletter too. Subscribe now to be in-the-know early.

Like a lot of people, we love cats! But if you’re a bird or a squirrel, our purring four-legged friends are also furry little killing machines that are wreaking havoc in the District. So some enterprising scientists in D.C. decided the solution starts with counting all the cats, and Jacob Fenston, environmental reporter at WAMU, is here to tell us what they found. Need even more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc And we wanna hear YOU on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

It’s been yet another rough week for Metro and its safety commission, and this time it seems like they want to go for some couples counseling. Lead Producer Priyanka Tilve and City Cast DC Contributor Dan Reed join host Mike Schaffer to talk about that, plus the new, ambitious Maryland Governor and how D.C. might subsidize e-bikes for residents. As always, our roundups are powered by some of the excellent local reporting D.C. has: Justin George from the Washington Post explains WMATA’s mediation with its regulator. Gillian Brockell of the Washington Post on what Moore being elected means for Maryland. Cuneyt Dil of Axios explains the possible e-bike rebate D.C. residents could get. Sign up for our morning newsletter to stay on top of news updates like these. And we're also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc so you never miss an episode. If you like what you're hearing, let us know via email or leave us a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. We're always open to your story ideas too!

This will be a surprise to no one: airports are loud. Which maybe means you’re not that sympathetic to someone who bought a house next door to one and realized they didn’t like the sound. But Dan Brendel from the Washington Business Journal has been reporting on the situation around Dulles Airport and it turns out to be a bit more complicated. He’s here to tell us about the science of noise mapping and what it means for those unfortunate neighbors. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

In an effort to increase public safety, D.C. police launched what they’re calling the Nightlife Task Force. Axios DC’s Chelsea Cirruzzo is here to explain what it is and how it affects D.C.'s nightlife culture. Also, we need your help! We're interviewing Bill Nye (yep, Bill Nye The Science Guy) about growing up in D.C.! Send us your questions! You'll probably hear them in a future pod AND see them in our newsletter segment. Subscribe now so you don't miss it. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc

Here in D.C., cannabis is mostly established — folks know how to use it and where to buy it. But what about psilocybin mushrooms? People use mushrooms for all kinds of reasons and Melissa Lavasani, CEO of the Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, explains how to safely get started exploring mushrooms in D.C. Also, BIG NEWS: We’re interviewing Bill Nye — yep Bill Nye The Science Guy — very soon and would love your input! Did you know he grew up in DC? What else would you like to know about him? Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654. For more D.C. news, definitely sign up for our morning newsletter, and follow us at @citycast_dc.

2023 is off to a grim start on the crime front, most recently with the shooting of 13-year-old Karon Blake on Saturday morning. We cover that, the mayor’s new economic plan, and our dream versions of the Nats’ Racing Presidents mascots. As always, our Friday News Roundups are powered by stellar local reporting: Mitch Ryals of Washington City Paper has everything you need to know about the Karon Blake shooting. Karina Elwood of the Washington Post breaks down Mayor Bowser’s five-year economic plan. You can check out the application to be a racing president here. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.