It is Day Two of our Spy Week, presented by the International Spy Museum! Today, former CIA agent Lindsay Moran tells us how to spot a spy in DC, whether it’s your neighbor, best friend, or that guy hitting on you at the bar. Because if you’re in D.C., where there are an estimated 10,000 spies, there’s a non-zero chance that you’re being tailed. Check out Lindsay’s book, "Blowing My Cover," for more tips. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Sign up for our morning newsl...
May 09, 2023•23 min
It is City Cast’s SPY WEEK, presented by the International Spy Museum. Which means we’re doing a week’s worth of episodes about secret agents and covert goings-on right here in D.C. We’ll kick it today with a battlefield tour of sorts — the best spy stories in the District’s long secret history. And at the end of the episode, a short bonus interview that has nothing to do with espionage — there’s been a shakeup in the city government and we’re talking to a reporter who’s been covering the fracas...
May 08, 2023•19 min
DC Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser are engaged in a battle over the free Metrobus plan versus the redesign of K Street downtown. Plus, there are a bunch of exciting new restaurant openings and DC News Now Sports Journalist Brandy Flores joins the team to chat about the one, surprising DC team that seems to be excelling right now. Check out all the amazing local coverage that powers our roundups: The Washington Post breaks down the feud over the K Street Transitway. Axios has you covered on all t...
May 05, 2023•26 min
D.C.’s Avalon Theatre was founded in 1923, back when neighborhood movie houses were everywhere. And as movies moved to suburban multiplexes, the Avalon stayed put. Locals were so upset by the idea of it going away that they kicked in to turn the place into a nonprofit. What’s their secret? 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 lo...
May 04, 2023•21 min
Downtown D.C. is known as a place to work, not live or hang out. In a new ranking of downtown vitality scores, D.C. ranks almost last. But the city is trying to change that. Tristan Navera from the Washington Biz Journal explains how. 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 tho...
May 03, 2023•16 min
It’s official: the city is moving ahead with changing the name of Good Hope Road in Southeast to Marion Barry Avenue SE, to honor D.C.’s Mayor for Life. But is this a good idea? Performative nonsense? Both? Cohosts Bridget Todd and Michael Schaffer spent some time breaking it down. 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 frus...
May 02, 2023•19 min
City officials are considering redrawing school boundaries for the first time in a decade, and it’s a big deal, even if you’re not a DCPS parent, because it could significantly improve the city’s equity. Abigail Higgins has written a ton about why the current system is so unequal (racism, real shocker) and how redistricting could change that. Definitely sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC for more local news, events, and fun facts. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info H...
May 01, 2023•16 min
D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee “shocked” many with the surprise announcement of his retirement on Wednesday. We’re talking about that, plus Metro head Randy Clarke’s push to crackdown on fare evasion on Metro, and Arlington’s battle over “missing middle” housing. As always, we’re grateful to our local news colleagues across the city for helping bolster this episode. Check out: DCist’s look at Contee’s career and what might be ahead for MPD The Washington Post’s piece about Arlington residents s...
Apr 28, 2023•23 min
Pat Collins was a staple of local TV news at a time when local TV reporters were celebrities. But after decades over covering snow days and street crime, he retired a few months ago. We sat down with him to talk about his rollicking on-camera past and local TV news’ uncertain future. 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 fr...
Apr 27, 2023•23 min
Like most things in the District, D.C.'s criminal justice system is all tied up in the federal government. That means D.C. residents convicted of committing local crimes can end up all over the country. We sat down with Rob Barton, a Washingtonian behind bars who's been campaigning for a D.C. prison, and a local researcher who's been looking into why it's so hard to make that happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 26, 2023•18 min
From arcade bars, to kickball leagues and adult mini golf, D.C. has a lot of pastimes geared toward our inner child. But does that make D.C. a city for adult kids? Mike Schaffer and Bridget Todd discuss why D.C. sometimes feels like a playground for big kids. 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! ...
Apr 25, 2023•16 min
On Saturday, the Anacostia Community Museum opened a new Center for Environmental Justice. It draws on the neighborhood’s long legacy of fighting for change along the Anacostia River, sets up impressive programming for both kids and adults, and spotlights marginalized voices who are often left out of conversations about the environment. 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...
Apr 24, 2023•16 min
In today's roundup, friend of City Cast Hannah Denham, from the Washington Business Journal, is here to talk about everyone’s favorite subject: How screwed is Metro? Their funding is running out, and they know it. How do they fix it? Plus we talk about how many cops D.C. needs, and a summer of bountiful music festivals. Our Friday roundups wouldn’t be possible without all the great local reporting going on: Read Hannah Denham’s piece on Metro’s lack of funding. Peter Hermann from the Washington ...
Apr 21, 2023•20 min
The D.C. rats are already scurrying around this spring, and it’s only going to get worse as this warm year gets warmer. We sat down with Gerard Brown, who runs D.C. Health’s Rodent Control Department, and Bomani Mtume, whose dog hunts rats in Adams Morgan, about how to stop the rats before they get out of control. For more information on getting rid of rats in your neighborhood, check out DC Health’s rodent control page. And our morning newsletter Hey DC is all over this too, with tips from list...
Apr 20, 2023•22 min
Today, we’ve got another classic co-host debate: Which season is best in D.C.? Spring’s got deadly allergies. Summer, its mugginess. Fall, shortening days, and winter, dreariness. Mike and Bridget make the case that their favorites’ pros outweigh the cons. What season do you love - or hate - in DC? Let us know after you listen by leaving us a voicemail at 202-642-2654. For more fun debates like this, plus news and events, sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Interested in advertising with ...
Apr 19, 2023•17 min
It’s the week of 4/20 and days before the National Cannabis Festival, and we’re talking with its founder about the city’s ever-shifting, complicated relationship with pot. There’s been stigma, criminalization, standoffs with Congress, and now, the D.C. government just changed the rules again around how residents can buy and sell cannabis. 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 ...
Apr 18, 2023•18 min
If you drive in D.C., you probably know all about the city’s red light cameras. But did you know D.C. will soon use cameras to ticket drivers who cruise in bus lanes? This is just one piece of Mayor Bowser’s Transportation Safety and Mobility budget. But is this plan really about improving safety or more about generating revenue from ticket fines, which, let’s face it, nobody likes to pay. Jordan Pascale, transportation Reporter at WAMU, breaks it down. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to ...
Apr 17, 2023•18 min
After months of hand wringing, Dan Snyder has picked a buyer for the Washington Commanders! Audio Producer Julia Karron is here to celebrate but also caution us all against getting TOO excited yet. Then, we’ve got City Cast contributor Dan Reed and WAMU reporter Martin Austermuhle here to talk new Metro bus routes, legal cannabis rules in Maryland, and a very strange dispute over Transformer statues — yes, those Transformers — in Georgetown. Our roundups wouldn’t be possible without all the loca...
Apr 14, 2023•28 min
D.C.’s mosquitos are about to be back. And, after a warm winter, this year could be especially bad. Reporter Jacob Fenston, who covers the environment for WAMU, is here to talk about these confounding Washington swamp creatures — and share some secrets on how to beat them. Got questions about Mayor Bowser's hearing on the hill? Email us. And sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC to follow along our coverage there as well. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re a...
Apr 13, 2023•16 min
D.C. lost an icon this year. Born in 1937, artist Lou Stovall studied printmaking at Howard and his posters and prints are a reminder of the spirit and struggles of the Civil Rights Movement, and D.C.’s fight for Home Rule. He died at the age of 86 in March. Before his death, we joined Lou and his son Will at his collection at the Phillips Collection to find out more about his arts legacy and what it says about D.C.’s past and present. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our mo...
Apr 12, 2023•24 min
On March 18th, Park Police shot and killed 17 year old Dalaneo Martin as they tried to apprehend him in a car they say was stolen. And last week, the FBI and federal prosecutors opened a civil rights investigation into what happened. Mitch Ryals, Managing Editor for the Washington City Paper, has been following the story and what it means for D.C. 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...
Apr 11, 2023•17 min
The city’s bike lane plan for Connecticut Avenue NW is so controversial that there are petitions floating around with thousands of signatures, and the city has delayed finalizing the design concept yet again. So we’ve brought in two community members who STRONGLY disagree on the bike lanes to lay out their cases. Plus, watch DDOT Director Everett Lott testify on the project in front of DC Council today at 9 am. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. And be sure to sign up...
Apr 10, 2023•26 min
The Yellow Line is coming back! But its route is not quite the same. Plus, D.C.’s proposed budget sets aside a small fortune for building out new pickleball courts, and there’s good news for fans of the old 9:30 Club. As always, our news roundup couldn’t happen without the great local reporting in the area: Greater Greater Washington helps us rationalize the Yellow Line changes The Washington Post breaks down the pickleball budget Check out Bowser playing pickleball while making the budget annou...
Apr 07, 2023•22 min
Austin Graff has made a living off of exploring D.C., and with a kid in tow, no less. He’s here to share why D.C. is uniquely suited for cultivating kids’ curiosity, and also some tips about how to do it. 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 u...
Apr 06, 2023•19 min
D.C. burned for days in April 1968, after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, and Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street was one of the only places in town whose doors were kept open by the city. Bridget Todd and Michael Schaffer visited Founder Virginia Ali at her restaurant to reflect on what D.C., and Ben’s, were like during that time. Check out part one of our series about 1968 — our interview with Vann Newkirk, the host of The Atlantic podcast “Holy Week.” Want some more DC news? Then make sure ...
Apr 05, 2023•17 min
More than 900 D.C. businesses were damaged, and nearly 700 homes destroyed during the unrest in April 1968 after Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. But what’s even more striking is to hear about that part of D.C.’s history through the words of its residents: how they processed the grief and anger for a fallen icon. Vann Newkirk, the host of the Atlantic’s podcast Holy Week, spoke to several Washingtonians who were there, and he relays those stories to us today, in part one of our 1968 series. B...
Apr 04, 2023•29 min
We’ve all heard the misconception about young people being apathetic when it comes to government and politics. But here in D.C., at just 18 years old, Quentin Colon Roosevelt is the youngest ANC rep in city history, a position he holds while also attending high school. Quentin tells us how he juggles being a full-time student and an elected official. 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....
Apr 03, 2023•16 min
The House Oversight Committee voted Wednesday to block D.C.'s police discipline and accountability bill. It was part of a larger hearing they SAY was all about stopping crime in D.C. But… it didn’t quite feel that way. Audio Producer Julia Karron and City Cast DC Contributor Dan Reed join Bridget Todd to chat about that, plus the recent boom in traffic congestion and why D.C. smelled like smoke earlier this week. Our roundups wouldn’t be possible without all the local reporting going on: Cuneyt ...
Mar 31, 2023•23 min
The Walmart on H Street Corridor closes for good tomorrow, and it’s pissed off city officials more than you’d expect. Many felt like D.C. made a deal with the devil by allowing Walmart into the city in the first place ten years ago, and now the retail giant is leaving H Street NE in a lurch. Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak is here to explain the whole sordid story. Check out Petula’s spicy column on this. Plus, here’s Clockout DC’s list of public restrooms in D.C. And sign up for our mor...
Mar 30, 2023•18 min
LGBTQ spaces are under attack nationally, and that means D.C.’s queer bars and clubs have even more importance. D.C. actually has a rich history of gay bars but not necessarily when it comes to clubs. Ed Bailey, the founder of D.C.’s iconic gay nightclub Town, explains why and what clubs mean for D.C.’s LGBTQ culture 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 ...
Mar 29, 2023•22 min
