City Cast DC

Latest Episodes:

JLG's Campaign Fine Reversed, More Parking Tickets Ahead, and D.C.'s Most Expensive Bread Costs How Much? Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

This week, we unpack the tensions that led the Council to narrowly pass a bill letting businesses and college campuses pay extra for more parking enforcement. We also discuss why D.C.’s Board of Elections threw out a $16,000 fine against likely next mayor Janeese Lewis George. And we tackle a question that’s been rising to the top of D.C.’s debate: where can you score a great loaf of fresh bread without spending all your dough?

Plus, in a member’s only fourth segment, hockey legend Alex Ovechkin says this season will be his last with the Caps – how are fans, enemies, and ticket prices responding? We're joined by City Cast reporter Ben Brasch and Axios DC reporter Cuneyt Dil.

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 October 9th episode:

Theatre Washington

Folger Shakespeare Library

The Escape Game

Nace Law Group

Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC

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

JLG Has Big Plans for D.C. Transit Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

D.C.'s likely next mayor, Janeese Lewis George, has been dropping hints about how she'll handle one of D.C.’s most fraught issues – transit. The 51st’s Alex Koma is here to talk about her agenda, and the politics around it.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 8th episode:

Theatre Washington

The Escape Game

Nace Law Group

Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC

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

With the Kennedy Center Closed, What’s Next for D.C. Theater? Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

In partnership with Theatre Washington, City Cast DC theater critic Chris Klimek sat down for a live conversation Monday night at D.C.’s Studio Theatre to chat with some of the most prominent voices in the city’s theater scene right now.

They discuss how the closure of the Kennedy Center is rippling through local theater, the richness of the D.C. theater scene, changes in theater leadership across the region, and more.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 7th episode:

Theatre Washington

The Escape Game

Nace Law Group

Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC

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

Why Is D.C. So Lonely? Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Living in any big city has its moments of loneliness — but according to some studies, D.C. might be the loneliest city in the U.S. Washingtonian recently covered D.C.'s loneliness epidemic, and lifestyle editor Daniella Byck is here to talk about why making friends here can be so hard, and what we can do to make connections.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 6th episode:

Theatre Washington

Folger Shakespeare Library

Shakespeare Theatre Company

The Escape Game

Nace Law Group

Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC

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

The Real Status Symbols in Trump-Era D.C. Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

D.C. has always had an in-crowd with its own hangouts, habits, and status symbols. But the in-crowd of the Trump White House has different tastes than what DC is used to. Vanity Fair’s Aidan McLaughlin has been reporting on the folkways of Trump’s D.C., and he’s here to share his findings.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 5th episode:

Theatre Washington

Folger Shakespeare Library

Shakespeare Theatre Company

The Escape Game

Nace Law Group

Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC

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

‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast DC Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

When D.C. looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball court. David talks with Katy Burgio from NYCHA and Runit Chhaya of Grain Collective, one of the involved design firms, about the larger infrastructure the court is a part of and how it’s setting up NYC for climate resilience.

Mentioned on the show:

Water Square and its creative facilitators: https://www.dezeen.com/2025/11/25/grain-collective-basketball-courts-flood-prevention/
Rotterdam’s own “water square”: https://landezine.com/water-square-benthemplein-by-de-urbanisten/

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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Trump Targets Mosquitoes, D.C. Courts Can’t Keep Up, And Next Steps For Trayon White? Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

Now that Trayon White’s bribery trial ended in a hung jury, what’s next for the Ward 8 Councilman? We’ll get into it. Speaking of D.C. courts, we’ll take a look at the problems they’re having staffing up. And Trump’s latest executive order takes aim at the District’s mosquito infestation -- we've got the latest.

Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, we’ll get into the connection between Sweetgreen and RFK Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement. We're joined by City Cast reporter Emma Uber and contributor Marc Fisher.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 2nd 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.

How Lime Is Tackling E-Bike And Scooter Safety Issues In D.C. Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

Lime scooters and bikes are a fixture of D.C.’s landscape. They’re great for getting somewhere in a hurry, but safety issues persist. Lime is trying to address these concerns this year with a $17-million dollar investment in operations here in D.C. City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers has been reporting on their efforts, and she’s here to explain.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 1st 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 Guide To D.C. In October 2026 Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

We’re back with our regular monthly guide for October, but this time we tried something a little different. We answer questions submitted by readers on local and seasonal topics – then dish out the answers you asked for, and probably some you didn’t! City Cast D.C.’s Kaela Cote-Stemmermann is here to talk cozy fall lattes, where to see foliage this October without a car, and everything in between.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 30th 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.

What Comes Next for Trayon White? Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

The bribery trial of Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White ended yesterday with a hung jury and a mistrial. This will have repercussions in city politics, not to mention in the lives of Trayon White and his associates. City Cast D.C. reporter Emma Uber watched the entire trial, and she’s here to talk about how it ended.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 29th 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.