City Cast DC

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D.C.’s Rat Czar Explains The War On Rodents Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

If you’re scared of rats, then I’ve got bad news – D.C. is one of the most rat-infested cities in America, at least as far as complaints go. But there’s an organization at the Department of Health that’s fighting the good fight. And there’s a man at the top of that organization – Andre Pitman. Sometimes he’s known as D.C.’s rat czar.

Andre is here today to go over how the District is cutting down on rodent populations, and what you – yes you! – can do to help.

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 September 28th episode:

⁠Washington National Opera⁠

⁠Theatre Washington⁠

⁠Folger Shakespeare Library⁠

⁠The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University⁠

⁠Shakespeare Theatre Company⁠

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

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast DC Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

What’s a seemingly small project in D.C. that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahead to a sustainable future to inform what we do today.

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.

The Ripple Effects of DOGE, D.C. Council Takes Aim at the Ballot Initiative, and PorchFest Prohibition Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Two years on, the District is still reeling from devastating DOGE job cuts, according to two new reports. We also take a look at why the D.C. Council is considering restrictions to how initiatives make it to the ballot. And for listeners planning to attend Adams Morgan's Porchfest, we’ve got the latest on the new rules on sipping and strolling.

Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ve got an exclusive look at the final draft of the master plan for RFK stadium, and the neighborhood around it. We’re joined by our City Cast colleagues Ben Brasch and Jaclyn Peiser.

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 September 25th episode:

Theatre Washington

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Folger Shakespeare Library

The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

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

Metro Sign Changes Met With Backlash Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Metro is redoing its station signage to make it easier for the public to navigate — but some riders are not happy. What are they changing, and why are folks so up in arms? Bloomberg’s Kriston Capps has been covering this, and he’s here to explain.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 24th episode:

⁠Theatre Washington⁠

⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠

⁠Folger Shakespeare Library⁠

⁠The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University⁠

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

Can The Kennedy Center Survive Trump? Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Thousands of ordinary Washingtonians showed up Friday night for a protest at the Kennedy Center — the biggest one to date. They were motivated by a new fear that President Donald Trump may actually tear the place down. It was the result of a week of head-spinning action on the saga of the building. The Atlantic’s Janay Kingsberry has been covering the story and is here to bring us up to speed.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 23rd episode:

Theatre Washington

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Folger Shakespeare Library

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

The Best Cheap Eats in the DMV Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Opening a menu to find a burger costs $25 is all too familiar in D.C. As everyone looks to stretch their dollars a little further, Washingtonian’s got you covered with its annual ⁠Cheap Eats in the DC Area⁠. Executive Food Editor Ann Limpert joins us to talk about her top picks.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 22nd episode:

⁠Washington National Opera⁠

⁠Theatre Washington⁠

⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠

⁠Folger Shakespeare Library⁠

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

Why Can’t Downtown D.C. Attract New Stores? Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Walking around downtown D.C., you may notice a lot of vacant storefronts. In fact, City Cast reporter Jaclyn Peiser found that last year, one out of every four storefronts in D.C.’s Downtown Business Improvement District was empty. What’s happening? Jaclyn's here to explain.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 21st episode:

Theatre Washington

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Folger Shakespeare Library

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

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Philly Is Reducing Violence With Parks — Presented By City Cast DC Sep 20, 2026

Show notes

Would DC be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression recorded near newly transformed, “greened” neighborhood lots. But how did they do it? David talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and special guest Matt Rader, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, about how Philly prioritized revitalizing its abandoned outdoor space, the ways that having a nonprofit partner has made all the difference, and what still needs to be done.

Mentioned on the show:

Study showing 29% decrease in gun violence near transformed lots: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1718503115
Study showing 41% decrease in reported depression: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2688343

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.

Trayon White’s Alleged Brother-In-Law, D.C. Council Heads Back To Work, And Ovi Campaigns For… Putin? Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

We’ve got the latest on Councilmember Trayon White’s bribery trial. Also, D.C. City Council is back in session — we’ll take a look at what’s on their plate, and whether they can afford to pay for the meal at all. And what, exactly, is Washington Caps star and captain Alexander Ovechkin doing in a political ad for Russian President Vladimir Putin?

Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, the Kennedy Center has voted — again — to close down for two years. If Trump can’t get his name on the building after all, could he be considering tearing it down? We’re joined by my City Cast colleague Ben Brasch, as well as The Washington Post’s Paul Schwartzman.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 18th episode:

Washington National Opera

The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

Theatre Washington

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

The D.C. Postal Workers Still Affected by the Anthrax Attacks, 25 Years Later Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Weeks after 9/11, in Senator Tom Daschle’s office on Capitol Hill, an aide opened an envelope addressed to the Senator and released anthrax into the air – microscopic, deadly spores that can be deadly if inhaled or absorbed through the skin in even the smallest amounts.
As the FBI began investigating the letters, the workers at D.C.’s Brentwood mail facility continued to sort mail – while federal agents patrolled around them wearing protective gear from head to toe. Two D.C. postal workers died from anthrax exposure.
Today, we’ll speak with Dan Krauss, the director of “The Anthrax Attacks: In The Shadow of 9/11" and Dena Briscoe, one of the Brentwood D.C. postal employees who worked through the attacks and now runs an advocacy group for the postal workers affected by them.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 17th episode:

Washington National Opera

The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

Theatre Washington

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

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