City Cast DC

VIDA Fitness, a gym in D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood, remains closed indefinitely after yesterday’s mass shooting. 46-year-old condo manager James Stuart was shot and killed there and four others injured in the area by Matt Lambert, a doctor and health executive who owned a million-dollar condo unit above the gym.

City Cast’s Emma Uber, Tristan Espinoza and Jaclyn Peiser join me to explain what we know about the shooting, the man who did it and the questions that still remain. 

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

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC

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

Mamta Kafle Bhatt was just 28 years old when she disappeared from her home in the Virginia suburbs in July 2024 — leaving behind an infant daughter. On Tuesday, a jury found her husband, 39-year-old Nuresh Bhatt, guilty of killing his wife, and of dismembering and concealing her body, which has never been found. My City Cast colleague Emma Uber joins me to explain how it all played out, and what it means for Virginia’s Nepali community.

Note: This episode contains descriptions of graphic violence.

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

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC

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

Mayor-elect Janeese Lewis George has promised to build 72,000 “homes for all” here in the District. But with the city’s fiscal crisis and developers running scared, encouraging construction won’t be easy. Journalist Matthew Yglesias thinks the key lies in reforming a policy that governs where and how homes can be built in the District. He joins me to explain how that policy has contributed to D.C.’s housing woes and why he thinks JLG should reform it. 

Read Matt’s essay: https://capitalcommonsense.com/p/end-inclusionary-zoning 

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

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC

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

D.C. leaders want newly elected Democratic governors to call their states’ national guard troops back home from the District. But the Trump administration says not so fast. Instead, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized troops to patrol our city in humvees, tactical vehicles, and even boats. POLITICO’s Leo Shane III joins me to explain why, and what it could mean.

Read the piece: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/05/hegseth-expands-d-c-national-guard-presence-01151398

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Leave us 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 November 10th episode:

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC

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

After more than 50 years at the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera begins its first full season as an independent company. The opera’s general director, Timothy O’Leary, and its artistic director Francesca Zambello, join me to discuss what the pivot means for the company and its artists, how they’re winning audiences back, and what the new season has in store.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Leave us 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 November 9th episode:

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC

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

It’s fall in D.C., but just this week, cities across the country experienced record-high heat. In Somerville, MA, the city government is realizing that rising temperatures deserve their attention and intervention year round — and they’re running a fun, generous program to help. David is joined by Elyse Belarge from the Somerville Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Environment to talk about the city’s pilot to de-pave and re-vegetate residential lots. Elyse shares the jaw-dropping impact of asphalt-free zones, as well as the joy of taking sledgehammers to driveways in your neighborhood.

Mentioned on the show:

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter

This week, the 51st’s Alex Koma and my City Cast colleague Ben Brasch join me to discuss the fight taking shape between Councilmember Christina Henderson and D.C.’s Democratic State Committee over who can fill Robert White’s vacant at-large seat, why Trayon White was invited to speak at the mayor-elect’s celebration, and what’s different about this fall’s AdMo Porchfest.

Read Alex’s reporting: https://51st.news/author/alex-koma/ 

Read Ben’s reporting: https://dc.citycast.fm/authors/ben-brasch 

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our daily 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 November 6th episode:

Washington National Opera - Use code "CITYCAST" for 20% off your ticket

Nace Law Group

Roda - Save 20% on maintenance, repairs or detailing with code POD20.

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

One day after becoming mayor-elect, Janeese Lewis George got right to work announcing the details of her transition team. My colleagues Ben Brasch and Jaclyn Peiser join me to discuss what the early details signal about where the new administration could be headed. 

Read Jackie’s reporting: https://dc.citycast.fm/authors/jaclyn-peiser 

Read Ben’s reporting: https://dc.citycast.fm/authors/ben-brasch 

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

Washington National Opera - Use code "CITYCAST" for 20% off your ticket

Nace Law Group

Roda - Save 20% on maintenance, repairs or detailing with code POD20.

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

For the first time in over a decade, D.C. residents have elected a new mayor. And a new congressional delegate. The D.C. Council is also welcoming several new council members. City Cast contributor Marc Fisher joins us to discuss what the election results mean for the city.

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

Washington National Opera - Use code "CITYCAST" for 20% off your ticket

Nace Law Group

Roda - Save 20% on maintenance, repairs or detailing with code POD20.

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

Trump's proposed 250-foot arch is currently facing legal challenges. While the courts sort that out, the Post’s Dan Diamond and Jarrett Ley join me to discuss how the arch would change the look of our city if it's built. We’ll dig into their 3D analysis mapping the shadows it could cast over D.C.

Read the piece: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2026/10/27/trumps-arch-would-cast-shadow-arlington-cemetery/ 

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Leave us 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 November 3rd episode:

Washington National Opera - Use code "CITYCAST" for 20% off your ticket

Nace Law Group

Roda - Save 20% on maintenance, repairs or detailing with code POD20.

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