City Cast DC

Rent is too damn high!! Urban Turf's Mark Wellborn joins us to talk about why rents are skyrocketing in D.C. this year and some tips on how to find an affordable place to live. Also, starting today, our morning newsletter features a weekly One Good Deed segment, about small moments of kindness from around the DMV. Subscribe to be inspired to be a good neighbor, and share your stories of joy with us too! You can also get in touch with us on Twitter. We’re 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.

We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the longest-standing Salvadoran restaurant in the city. Ana Reyes’s family opened El Tamarindo in Adams Morgan in the 1980s, and she’s here to tell us all about its start, its successes, and most importantly — its food! Also: Find out how to get your kids vaccinated for free across the city here. And check in on the lead pipe situation in your area via this map. Need 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.

In today’s roundup, Michael Brice-Saddler from the Washington Post joins Michael Schaffer and Julia Karron to discuss a new initiative to give D.C. residents $100 for Metro, the redevelopment at Barry Farm, and where to get food for the Jewish high holy days in the area. For more news, check out our morning newsletter! It's getting a new name and look on Monday, so you'll want to be one of the first to check that out. We’re also on Twitter at @citycast_dc. And we’re working on a project about Washingtonians helping each other. Have you received any random acts of kindness lately? Leave us a voicemail with your story (2026422654), and your good samaritan could win a $100 gift card to their local business of choice!

September is Hunger Action Month, and as it draws to a close, we’re thinking about how one in three D.C. residents is food insecure. Radha Mutiah from the Capital Area Food Bank joins us to talk about who’s going hungry in the district and how each of us can help. You can check out the Capital Area Food Bank’s report on food insecurity here. Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter to get even more D.C. news 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

Virginia's “model policies” on how schools should treat transgender students received more than 17,000 public comments in just the first two days of the open feedback period. You have just a few weeks more to submit your thoughts. We’re joined by Virginia Public Radio’s Michael Pope to make sure you‘re informed when you do it. You can also listen to Michael Pope on the podcast Pod Virginia. Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter We’re also on Twitter! Give us a follow us at @citycast_dc And we’d love to hear YOU on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654

Over the last few months, you've probably seen a 20% service charge on some of your restaurant bills. Are you supposed to tip on top of that? Why are restaurants doing this? Washingtonian Food Editor Jessica Sidman has all the answers. Be sure to also check out her Washingtonian piece on service charges. For more D.C. news and culture, sign up for our morning newsletter. Every Wednesday, we've got a fantastic 'neighborhood guide' section that's sure to wise you up to some local gems. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. And tell us your stories too! Leave us a voicemail with your D.C.-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations by calling 2026422654.

D.C.’s use of office space during the pandemic plummeted, and it hasn’t returned. What does that mean for the city at large, and for all those empty office buildings? Tristan Navera from Washington Business Journal explains that offices can’t bring all workers back, so a new downtown D.C. is on the horizon. Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter We’re also on Twitter! Give us a follow us at @citycast_dc And we’d love to hear YOU on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654

In this week’s roundup, we discuss why the new LIDL grocery store is a big deal, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s new "model policies" for Virginia’s schools, and the effectiveness of getting your message across via graffiti on a monument.

People in D.C. love trivia. And that love of trivia has reached its peak since SporcleCon, a gathering of everyone who’s into trivia, is this weekend. Nick Groves of District Trivia joins us to explain why the District is a trivia hot bed, and what residents can expect at SporcleCon. You can grab tickets to SporcleCon here, and if you wanna find more places for trivia in D.C., District Trivia provides this list. 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

D.C. United used to be at the top of Major League Soccer. Now, they’re floundering and have enlisted one-time United star and English soccer legend Wayne Rooney to turn them around. Juan Herrera from District Fútbol joins us to explain if Rooney is the man for the job, and what we should expect from the team next season under his leadership. Also, here’s more info on the pilot program for families transitioning out of homelessness. For more D.C. news, sign up for our morning newsletter, and follow us at @citycast_dc. And leave us a voicemail about any random acts of kindness you've experienced in D.C.! Your Good Samaritan could get featured on our podcast or newsletter or both! We're at 2026422654.

85-year-old artist Lou Stovall has made an indelible mark on the D.C. art scene — from his protest artwork in the 1960s, to his founding of the Dupont Center as a gathering place for artists. Bridget chats with him and his son Will at the Phillips Collection’s Lou Stovall exhibit to talk through what his work means for the city. You can plan your visit to the Phillips to see Lou's work 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 2026422654

The D.C. Council is set to debate legislation that would allow the Idaho Stop for bikers and discontinue Right on Red for cars. But would this help mitigate accidents with pedestrians? Or would it just make D.C.’s already heinous traffic worse? WAMU’s Jordan Pascale walks us through 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 2026422654

In today’s news roundup, we’re covering D.C.’s potential new housing voucher rules, the feud between Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chairman Phil Mendelson, and what the deal is with renaming Metro stations. Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. You can also find us on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc. Wanna hear yourself on the show? Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

Throughout the pandemic, ghost kitchens — restaurants without seating — thrived. But where can you find them and how do they work? City Cast Contributor Cornelia Poku of Black Girls Explore D.C. is back to tell us all about them. Want even more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Check us out 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

D.C. residents have the chance to vote again on a new minimum wage for restaurant and bar workers on this year's ballot, thanks to Initiative 82. If you’re getting whiplash from Initiative 77, The Washington Post’s Michael Brice-Saddler explains why this similar measure is back on the ballot, who’s fighting for and against it, and why the way we pay restaurant workers in the District is up for debate. 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.

The fight for statehood has been a longstanding wish for residents of the District. Will D.C. get it? Who is against it? And what would it look like if the District got it? D.C. broadcast legend Kojo Nnamdi, formerly of the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU 88.5, gives us his perspective on what D.C. statehood could look like if it’s granted. Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Give us a follow on Twitter! You can find us at @citycast_dc And we’d love to hear your voice on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

The battle for AdMo Plaza is being heard right now in the D.C. courts to decide if the land can be developed. Why so much hubbub over a scrappy concrete corner? WAMU reporter Martin Austermuhle walks us through it. While you’re here, check out our morning newsletter. Then, tell us what you think. We’re at @citycast_dcon Twitter, or leave us a voicemail at 2026422654.

So it turns out it's not just PG County enforcing its youth curfew ban. D.C. quietly restarted enforcement weeks ago. But do policies like this actually help cut down crime? Plus, the City Cast DC team chats about the Landon kids singing the N word on the Metro, and celebrate Frances Tiafoe's ongoing run at the U.S. Open. Want some more DC news? Our morning newsletter's got everything you need. We'd also love to hear your thoughts, on our show and D.C. generally. Get at us on Twitter, email, or via voicemail.

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. Grab tickets to the DC Shorts International Film Festival here. For more D.C. news, sign up for our morning newsletter, and follow us at @citycast_dc. And we want to hear from you too! Leave us a voicemail about your neighborhood hopes and frustrations by calling 202 642 2654

It’s been a brutal month for D.C. area restaurants, with a bunch of favorite eateries going out of business. What’s going on? Why now? We’re talking to the man behind the Eat DC Twitter account to get the lay of the land. 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

Did you know there’s a science to making friends? Psychologist and D.C. local Marisa G. Franco has been researching friendship, and she shares some tips with us. Let’s be real: we could all use some advice on how to build friendships in this transient city of ours. Dr. Franco’s book “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends" comes out today. Get it now for more friendship advice. Read more about the Takoma Park sidewalk mural story, if you want to get involved. And leave us a voicemail at 2026422654 with your opinions on the best and worst fast casual restaurants in D.C.! For more local loves and gripes, sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter at @citycast_dc.

The shooting of Commanders’ running back Brian Robinson Jr. was a huge talking point all week long, especially in light of the most recent carjacking stats. Hint: they’re high. Plus, we chat about Marc Elrich’s hold on Montgomery County, and this DC Neighborhood Tik Tok you know you need to watch. Also! Sign up for our morning newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter 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.

D.C. has a housing problem. But how can we fix it? ANC slush funds? Parking for life? Matt Yglesias, the author of the Substack Slow Boring, joins City Cast CEO David Plotz to tell us his bold plan to shake it up.

Drizzy the pit bull is sweet, playful, and loves children, he isn't allowed to live in PG County. We talked to his dad Dan Reed about why an antiquated pit bull ban is still on the books there, even though it’s not being enforced, and what’s being done to change it. Want to help overturn the ban? Look into volunteering with PB Proud. Grab tickets to the DC Jazz Festival here. And for more D.C. news, sign up for our morning newsletter, follow us at @citycast_dc, and check out our Instagram. We’d also love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654

Union Station is about to undergo a massive renovation. WAMU’s Jordan Pascale walks us through what the transit hub will look like inside and out, and how it's going to transform the neighborhood around it. Check out our morning newsletter for even more news. Find us on Twitter (@citycast_dc). And voice your opinion on the show! Leave us a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

There are so many iconic Washingtonians. If you had to whittle it down to just four — your Mount Rushmore — who would be on it? Briana Thomas, the author of "Black Broadway in Washington, D.C.," joined us to discuss who makes D.C.’s list. Spoiler alert: it gets heated. Want some more DC news? 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.

It’s a new school year, and there’s a new problem facing D.C. Schools. A staggering amount of kids aren’t vaccinated. And we’re not just talking about COVID, we mean routine ones like MMR and polio. DCist’s Colleen Grablick walks us through why this happened and how schools are responding. D.C. Health has a map of locations broken down by ward for where to get your child vaccinated. 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

What happens when neighbors band together and transform a section of asphalt in their own backyard? Bridget Todd meets up with Tyrone Goodwyn, who explains the history of Crispus Attucks Park in Northeast D.C. and how it became Bloomingdale’s secret urban oasis. 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

Street Sense vendor Chris Cole was unhoused for a chunk of the pandemic, and she says it’s the summers, not the winters, that are the hardest to handle. In this episode, she told us how she survived two summers living outside, and what she thinks of the government’s heat plan. Call 311 if you need help or information on heat exposure and resources to deal with it. Here are some ways you can help D.C.’s unhoused communities. And be sure to check out Street Sense’s comprehensive reporting on this issue. As promised, we’ve also got info on how to get your own trash super can, for all your rat control needs. And for more D.C. news, check out our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter at @citycast_dc, and you can leave us a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Call us!!

Sure, D.C. is blistering and sauna-like right now. But you don’t have to go far for a blissful, affordable vacation. Travel writer Tim Ebner’s got so many suggestions, your head will spin. That said, if you’re staying in the city, check out our Summer Bucket List, and sign up for our morning newsletter to find out how you can win some summer swag. If you’ve got any questions for us, or gripes, thoughts, hopes, and frustrations about D.C., leave us a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

Composting can seem like a smelly, messy, complicated affair. But City Cast DC Contributor Abi Newhouse tells us that in D.C., it’s easier than it seems and could make a whole world of difference to both local farmers and consumers. Also: Here’s Jack Fitzpatrick’s story on the Capitol Stones. A Silver Spring Airbnb host stands accused of spying on guests The feds confiscated 165,707 fake diabetic socks that were headed to the DMV D.C.'s female sommeliers are making their presence known 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.

D.C.’s rats are out of control this summer. Or at least it feels that way. Gerard Brown runs DC Health’s Rodent Control Program, and he gave us the inside scoop on the extent of our ratty problem, and what each of us needs to do about it. Also, check us out on Twitter and sign up for our morning newsletter for more D.C. news and culture. And if you've got thoughts on the rats (or anything else!), leave us a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

The Juan Soto era is done in D.C. So where do the Washington Nationals go from here? The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty gives fans some reasons for hope, and explains why the Nationals thought now was the time to deal their superstar. You can grab tickets for the African Diaspora Film Festival 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 2026422654

The Whittle School was lauded as a revolutionary global campus. But after three years and multiple lawsuits, the campus abruptly shut down. Now, parents and students are scrambling to find new schools for the year, while teachers are waiting for paychecks. Washington Business Journal’s Hannah Denham has been covering the school's closure, and walks us through its rise and fall. 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 haven’t yet been to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, there’s no better time than now. It’s a free national park, within city limits, and its lily and lotus festival is in peak bloom until the end of the month. Cornelia Poku from Black Girls Explore DC just explored the park, and says it’s got something for everyone. More details about KAG’s Lily and Lotus Festival here. Plus, sign up for our morning newsletter for more D.C. news, and follow our Twitter at @citycast_dc. We’d also love to feature you on the show! Share your D.C.-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

Over the past three months, more than 5,000 migrants and asylum seekers have been bused to D.C. from Texas and Arizona. The Governors there are doing this as a way of protesting the Biden administration’s border policy. But when the migrants get here, it’s not the federal government that’s receiving them. This is falling on D.C. to handle. DCist reporter Amanda Gomez joins us to explain what happens after the bus arrives. If you’re looking to volunteer to assist the asylum seekers coming to D.C., Sanctuary DMV is a good place to start. Plus, you can adopt one of the newly rescued beagles mentioned in our newscast, at Homeward Trails 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 2026422654.

It’s Washington Mystics season here in the District. They’ve got a fancy new stadium, the tickets are cheap, and they’re near the top of the league (unlike most of our other local teams). Kate Yanchulis from Just Women’s Sports joins us to give us tips on the best seats in the house, the players we should love, and the opponents we should hate. Plus, the MLK Library is hosting a smart home exhibit. Check it out! Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Follow us on Twitter 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.

You’ve probably seen the headlines about protestors interrupting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse. But that's not the only "creative" protest around town. Hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd explain how local activism has evolved with the times and if that evolution translates into real action. Also, Greater Greater Washington is hosting an ANC training, you can register and find out more 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 2026422654

Until July 31, more than 20 D.C. restaurants are participating in a friendly competition called War of the Rosés. The premise is simple: whoever sells the most rosé chooses the charity of their choice that the proceeds go to. We sat down with founder Ralph Brabham to discuss how D.C. residents can do their part. You can find more information on the War of the Rosés here, and you can follow the competition through their Instagram. 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

You’ve probably seen the ugly headlines about Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder. Most recently, he’s been … negotiating … with Congress about when and how to testify about the toxic work culture he allegedly created on the team. But Snyder’s been an unpopular figure in D.C. for years now. In this episode, sports columnist Mike Wise shares some strong opinions about the guy and how he’s run D.C.’s once-most-beloved sports team. Want more Snyder background? Check out this Politico piece by our host Michael Schaffer. And to stay up-to-date on the latest, subscribe to our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter at @citycast_dc. You can also share your D.C.-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654.

Go-Go has been THE sound of D.C. since the late 1970’s. In 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser designated it the official music of the District. But what happens when an art form that's intended to be subversive is embraced by those in power? Hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd discuss what Go-Go means to both of them, how it's influenced their perspective on the city, and if Go-Go could go national. 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 we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your D.C.-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654

D.C.’s metro system was built for getting in and out of the city. Traveling across it, east to west, is not so easy. The Purple Line was supposed to help with that by connecting Bethesda, Silver Spring, University of Maryland, and New Carrolton. But it’s been in the works for decades and has cost taxpayers millions more than it was supposed to. Investigative Reporter Eric Cortellessa covered the drama behind the delays. He tells us why the project is taking so long, and who is to blame. 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

D.C.’s a champ when it comes to great public spaces, but public restrooms, not so much. Thankfully, the D.C. Council has proposed a plan to inch towards potty parity, and Jonathan Katz knows all about it. 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 2026422654

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, saying abortion rights should be left to the states. But what happens when the place you live isn’t a state? Kaela Roeder from Street Sense joins us to explain what D.C. can expect in the future because of this decision. And as promised from our newscast, here's more info on the CPD Action protest happening on Thursday. Need more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. 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

Introducing City Cast DC — the fun, connected, and slightly wacky row house neighbor you wish you had.