City Cast DC

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Why is D.C. Giving The City's Worst Landlords a Tax Break? Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

There’s a big apartment complex in Northeast D.C. where the landlords have let conditions get so bad that the local D.C. Councilmember wants to give them….. A tax break. Say what? Zara Norman of NOTUS has been covering the saga of the Gale Eckington and she’s here to explain.

Want some more D.C. 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 23rd episode:

Folger Shakespeare Library

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Spur Local

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Unpacking DC’s Progressive Surge Election with DC Councilmember Christina Henderson Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

The dust is settling on DC’s mayoral election, and plenty of people are trying to interpret just what message the electorate was sending. I decided to outsource that job to DC Councilmember Christina Henderson. She’s worked closely with Janeese Lewis George in her time on the Council — but she’s also pushed for a somewhat different set of priorities than the likely next mayor. I talked with her about what the progressive surge may mean for the Council, and the city, going forward.

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 22nd episode:

⁠Folger Shakespeare Library⁠

⁠Spur Local⁠

⁠Alliance Française Washington DC⁠

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠.

DC's Earthquake Election, the James Beard Awards, and What the Heck Is Up With the Reflecting Pool Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

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.

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 Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

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 Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

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 Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

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.

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 Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

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

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Council Raids Reserves to Avoid Cuts, Logan Circle Gets No Bathrooms, and McDuffie's Boozy Brunch Victory Spot Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

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.

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 Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

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.

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 Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

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.

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