City Cast DC

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Staffing Shortages, Unanswered Calls At D.C.’s Crisis Hotline Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers has done some important reporting about problems at D.C.’s 988 suicide-prevention call line. In the spring, nearly half the calls went unanswered. What’s going on? And what does it mean for people in crisis? Alyssa is here to talk us through the numbers.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or chatting online at https://chat.988lifeline.org/. To reach the Crisis Text Line, text HOME or HOLA to 741741. D.C.’s Access Helpline is also available at 1-888-793-4357.

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 3rd episode:

Tasti

District Bridges

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

Why Is Pirro Probing DCPS? Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Last week, The Washington Post’s Perry Stein broke news that US Attorney Jeanine Pirro has convened a special grand jury in what looks like a probe of how the District does or doesn’t protect youth. One particular focus: The city’s truancy problem. It’s an unusual probe — but one that also seems to be touching on a genuine problem. Perry is here to explain.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 2nd episode:

Tasti

District Bridges

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

Your Guide to September 2026 in D.C. Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

This September – we’ve got D.C.’s middle-school-girl-pop concert lineup, another chance to eat fruit in Malcolm X Park, and the best way to see (and taste) the District by bike. As the leaves start to change, the September Guide has you covered.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 1st episode:

Tasti

District Bridges

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

Soupergirl CEO Debuts Show About The Messiest Chapter Of Her Life Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

You may know Sara Polon as the woman behind Soupergirl, the D.C. company whose soups are now in hundreds of supermarkets. But before that, she was a comedian. And after launching the company, she went through – as Sara puts it – a personal explosion. This week, her struggles are the subject of a one-woman show she’s launching in D.C. Sara’s here to explain.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 31st episode:

Tasti

District Bridges

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

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Is Pittsburgh’s Airport the Gold Standard? — Presented By City Cast DC Aug 30, 2026

Show notes

The D.C. airports definitely have a lot going for them, but they don’t have their own electrical grids, like Pittsburgh’s airport does. For the past few years, Pittsburgh International Airport has been generating on-site electricity, more than it needs even at peak operation, to fortify itself against the kind of power outages that hit airports (unsettlingly often) across the world. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris brings David into the little-known world of airport energy independence, showing how a one-time investment can bring the kind of peace of mind that both travelers and operators hope for every day.

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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A Long-Awaited D.C. Bridge, Trump Takes Aim At Think Tanks, And The Sunoco At 15th And U Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

This week, we’re talking about a Sunoco station on U Street and what it says about actually getting things built in D.C. We also look at the fate of a park that was supposed to be our version of NYC’s High Line. Finally, we discuss a lawsuit against a think tank and what it means for that crucial industry. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we talk about how the District is mourning our Earth Angel, Dolly Parton.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 28th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Tasti

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

Breaking Down The Flock Surveillance Camera Controversy Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Police say license plate reader cameras like Flock are an important tool for solving crimes. But a new Washington Post investigation found dozens of cases where officers have been accused of using license plate readers for unauthorized purposes, including tracking exes and spouses.

Today we’re joined by Washington Post technology reporter Douglas MacMillan, whose investigation uncovered some of those abuses and has already prompted police investigations and new safeguards from Flock itself.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 27th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Tasti

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

Robert White's Fight to Defend D.C. Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

A new organization plans to fight for D.C.’s rights — by going into Congressional districts to unseat Republicans. Defend D.C. was announced this week by Robert White, D.C.’s all-but-certain next Congressional delegate. Ike Allen just profiled White in Washingtonian and is here to explain the PAC and its organizer.

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 August 26th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Tasti

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

How Is D.C. The Nation’s Leader In Pre-K? Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

D.C. Public Schools is the national leader — by a lot — in at least one category: enrollment in pre-kindergarten programs. Almost every D.C. 4-year-old goes to pre-K; about 80 percent of 3-year-olds do. That’s more than twice the national average. Sara Mead recently wrote an essay for Capital Commonsense describing this as a D.C. triumph. She’s here to explain how it happened, and what it means.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 25th episode:

⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠

⁠Tasti⁠

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

Trayon White's Corruption Trial Is Going to Be a Doozy Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

In a few weeks, D.C.'s Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White will stand trial for allegations of corruption. This is embarrassing for any city, but especially so in D.C., where some say we don’t have the right to self-government. City Cast reporter Emma Uber covered White's preliminary hearing last week, and she’s here to set the scene.

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