City Cast DC

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What Trump's Failed Parade Means for Local DC Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

Despite the administration’s hype, Trump’s military parade fell short of expectations. WAMU reporter Alex Koma was on the ground covering both the parade and the protests and he’s here to break down what actually went down in the streets and how it impacts the city.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.

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How DC Wants to Spend Your Money Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

DC’s city government needs to find a way to balance the budget — and plan for a future where tens of thousands of federal jobs might never come back. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposal is to make a bunch of big cuts — but also spend more on things like stadium projects that she thinks will boost the economy. As you can imagine, not everyone agrees with this. Her budget director, Jenny Reed, sat down with us to walk us through their thinking.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. 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:

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Trump’s Military Parade, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and a Mystery Casket Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

It’s our Friday News Roundup! We’re talking about the logistics and symbolism of this weekend’s military parade, the latest twist in the Eleanor Holmes Norton story, and the mystery of the abandoned casket. Plus, in our member’s-only fourth topic, the scene at The Kennedy Center this week when Donald Trump went to see Les Mis.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. 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 13th episode:

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Gala Theatre

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Is DCPS’ Phone Ban Good for Students? Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

D.C. Public Schools announced last week that they’re instituting a cell phone ban in schools — part of a trend around the country and around the city. One early adapter was Georgetown Day School in Tenleytown. That head of school, Russell Shaw, wrote an essay in The Atlantic about why they chose to nix phones. He’s here to explain.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. 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 12th episode:

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Gala Theatre

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Your Summer Guide to Cheap Flights From DC Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

It’s officially summer travel season — but DC’s airports have had a rocky few months. Some senators called this week for independent investigations into safety failures that may have contributed to the midair collision that took place outside DCA in January.
To break down everything you need to know about traveling out of DCA, Dulles and BWI this summer, we're talking with certified airport expert Scott Keyes from Going, formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter Hey DC. 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 11th episode:

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⁠Gala Theatre⁠

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DC Jazz Is Having a Moment. Here's Where to Hear It. Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

Today our hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd sit down to talk jazz in DC. Bridget grew up being taken to jazz shows around DC by her dad, which made her the city’s littlest jazz enthusiast. She’s been thinking a lot about the subject since her dad passed away, and today we’re going to talk through the past and the present of jazz in the District — and how you can experience it like Bridget.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 10th episode:

PaintCare

Alliance Francaise

InKind - Get $25 off your next order of $50 or more!

Gala Theatre

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DC’s Most Underrated Cafes Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

If Pride has been wiping you out, DC has no shortage of cafes to bring you back to life. Digital creator Domonique Panton, aka As Told By Dom, has made it her mission to visit every single café in the city…and she’s here to tell us some of her favorites.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 9th episode:

PaintCare

Alliance Francaise

InKind - Get $25 off your next order of $50 or more!

Gala Theatre

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Dupont Pride Standoff, I-82 Override Debate, and Rebranding Dave Thomas Circle Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

We’re talking about the seeming plan to close Dupont Circle park for Pride Weekend, we’re talking about whether the DC Council should just up and overturn citizen ballot initiatives, and we’re saying so long — maybe — to Dave Thomas Circle. Plus, a members-only fourth topic: The state of the Kennedy Center.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter Hey DC. 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 6th episode:

⁠District Bridges⁠

⁠Folger Shakespeare Library⁠

⁠Nace Law Group⁠

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE

DC Sold Prime Real Estate to a Shady Mega Spa Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

A European mega-spa is coming to the banks of the Anacostia — one that the city says will become a transformative destination. But the company behind it was recently the subject of a pretty unflattering New York Times report. Is their DC project on track? We talked to the Washington Business Journal’s Daniel Sernovitz and Ben Peters.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. 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 5th episode:

District Bridges

Folger Shakespeare Library

Nace Law Group

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

The Founder of DC Pride on What's Changed Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

On Monday, the National Park Service announced plans to close the Dupont Circle park during this year’s Pride celebration. But after overwhelming backlash, they reversed course the very next day—confirming that the park at Dupont Circle would remain open for Pride festivities.

It’s just one more wrinkle in what’s already a complicated Pride season under the current administration. Few people can speak to that better than DC Pride’s founder Deacon Maccubbin. He’s here to tell us everything that’s changed and everything that’s stayed the same in the last 50 years of DC Pride.

Vote for City Cast DC in Washington City Paper's "Best of DC" roundup! Write "City Cast DC" in the "Best Local Podcaster" section in Arts & Entertainment. Thanks, neighbor!

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. 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 4th episode:

District Bridges

Folger Shakespeare Library

Nace Law Group

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