City Cast DC

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Historic Artifacts in Danger, Reckoning with the Viral Metro Photo, and Best World Cup Final Parties Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

We’re talking about the problems at the Lincoln Memorial undercroft, that viral July 4 photo of a woman on the Metro, and World Cup specials. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ll get into the proposed very expensive upgrades to Audi Field — that D.C. taxpayers are going to pay for

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 July 17th episode:

⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠

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

D.C. Dates Under $15 Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Dating in D.C. can get expensive fast. But romance doesn't have to come with a $300 price tag, which yes that is how much some people are paying for dates in cities! Whether you're planning a first date, trying to keep date night affordable, or just looking for something fun to do with a partner, there are plenty of ways to have a great time in this city without spending much at all. Jade Womack, aka Clockout DC, has built a following by finding the best affordable things to do around the city. Today, she joins us to share her favorite DC date ideas for around $15 or less.

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

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 16th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

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

D.C. Fights Over Whether to Allow Waymo Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Waymos—the autonomous, self-driving ride-hailing vehicles—are already cruising around D.C. with one big catch: under current D.C. law, there's still a human safety driver behind the wheel. But will D.C. ever allow Waymos to operate without a human driver? And more importantly, should it? The D.C. Council is considering a bill that could finally allow them to operate in the District, but not without a fight. Labor unions, disability advocates, tech companies, and business leaders all packed a marathon hearing to debate what the future of transportation in D.C. should look like—and who it should serve. Ben Brasch was there for many many hours. He joins me today to explain where the debate stands and what the future of AVs in D.C. could look like.

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 July 15th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

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

Inside the Controversy Tearing Apart A Prestigious D.C. Theater Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Arena Stage is one of D.C.’s most prestigious theaters, but this month its biggest drama happened offstage: The theater’s artistic director was abruptly ousted, and the fallout has been bitter, with accusations of racial bias and workplace toxicity — plus allegations about making staffers fetch groceries. Rebecca Ritzel reported on this for NOTUS and she’s here to share some dishy details.

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 14th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

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

Lonnie Bunch and the Smithsonian Take On Trump Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

A new Trump administration report says the Smithsonian institution is run by radicals who aren’t trustworthy. And while the report focused on the American history museum, a lot of people read it as a shot at the institution's leader, Lonnie Bunch. Clint Smith is the author of a recent piece in the Atlantic that profiles Bunch and ponders the future of the Smithsonian. He’s here to walk us through what all of this may portend.

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 13th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

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

'Your City Could Be Better': Does DC Have a 'Perfect' Airport? — Presented by City Cast DC Jul 12, 2026

Show notes

There’s lots to love about DC, but being able to get in and out of it easily and cheaply can be an underrated metric of its livability. Accommodating, accessible, and affordable local airports are a specific resource that many cities need. To find out which cities are leading the charge and the kinds of amenities that elevate an airport to gold status, City Cast CEO David Plotz chats with Scott Keyes, founder and Chief Flight Expert of Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) about everything he’s seen in his work and travels. How does your airport stack up?

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.

DC's Coming Wealth Tax Debate, a Controversial Makeover for Rock Creek Tennis, and Waymo's Shady Robo-Caller Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

We’re talking about new taxes for D.C. residents, the politics of our fountains, and whether Rock Creek Tennis Center is going to be the next local park that gets a controversial Trump-era glow-up. Plus in a members-only fourth segment: DC is finally about to have its debate about Waymo, and we’ll get into the contours.

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 July 10th episode:

⁠Library of Congress⁠

⁠Alliance Française Washington DC⁠

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

What Does It Take To Make Our City Safer? Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

What does it take to make a dangerous street safer? That's what we're talking about today with Dan Reed. Dan is a transportation planner and the Maryland Policy Director at Greater Greater Washington. Last year, they were walking their dog through their neighborhood in Silver Spring, Maryland when a driver struck both of them. Dan wrote about the accident—and then about the year they spent fighting to make their street safer.

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

Library of Congress

Alliance Française Washington DC

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

The Antidote to Your Humdrum Metro Rides Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever sat on the Metro and wished it could transport you anywhere you dreamed? In her new novel Retro, D.C. author Jessica Goldstein imagines the Metro not as the boring backdrop of everyday life in the DMV, but as a time machine, ferrying wealthy tourists to the Old West for bachelorette parties, Prohibition-era speakeasies, and other moments in history. Today, Jessica is here to talk about turning one of D.C.'s most recognizable landmarks into the centerpiece of a sci-fi adventure—and what her story tells us about our urge to escape the present.

Want some more D.C. news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter. 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 July 8th episode:

⁠Library of Congress⁠

⁠Alliance Française Washington DC⁠

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

Trump’s Fourth of July, Reflecting Pool Charges, and an Historic Hotel Demolished Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

City Cast’s Emma Uber and contributor Marc Fisher are here to talk about the Fourth of July weekend in retrospect, the latest on the Reflecting Pool and the fate of the old Capitol Skyline Hotel. In a members-only segment, we're talking about teen gun violence in D.C.

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 7th episode:
DC Department of Behavioral Health
Library of Congress
Alliance Française Washington DC

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