City Cast DC

You probably had a sense that members of Congress got some special goodies at National airport. But what are they? We asked Gary Leff, the legendary travel blogger who lived in the DMV for years. Gary spilled some beans, but also talked through how us regular folks could get the same VIP treatment, the Dulles renovation, and the secret luxury room hidden inside DCA.  

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey 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 April 27th episode:

Capitol Hill Restoration Society

Nace Law Group

LIV Golf

St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth & Families

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

Are DIY urban projects the key to improving the infrastructure in cities like DC? The grassroots group To Nashville, With Love has built and installed 60 benches at bus stops around Nashville, all without government approval. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Nashville podcast host Marie Cecile Anderson about what this guerrilla campaign is doing, why it’s gotten pushback from the city, and where Nashville’s Tactical Urbanism program fits into all this. Plus, the unique challenges of Nashville tourism. 

Mentioned on the show:

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

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City Cast reporters Michael Brice-Saddler and Emma Uber join host Michael Schaffer to talk about the state of the DC mayoral election, the weird new drama over the teen curfew, and the new baby elephant at the Zoo. Cuter than the pandas? Plus in a members-only fourth segment, some absolutely devastating jobs numbers about the DMV. We’ll talk about how the city is, or should be, responding.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter Hey 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 April 24th episode:

⁠Window Nation⁠

⁠National Museum of the American Indian⁠

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠

Which region has the BEST food in the USA? Eater has tried to answer that question in ⁠their new book Eaterland⁠, and our very own Tim Ebner made his case for Mid Atlantic cuisine – and why he’ll fight anyone who dunks on the Mid Atlantic food scene.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter Hey 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 April 23rd episode:

⁠Window Nation⁠

⁠National Museum of the American Indian⁠

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

The head of DC’s Hirshhorn Museum is leaving to take over the Guggenheim in New York. Ordinarily, that’s something that might be looked at as a normal career move. But at a moment when the Smithsonian museums are in the MAGA crosshairs, everything’s a bit complicated. Journalist Kriston Capps is here to take us inside the departure of Melissa Chiu and talk through what it means for arts in our city.  

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey 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 April 22nd episode:

Window Nation

National Museum of the American Indian

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

We’re talking about the bombshell report on DC police and the case of Republican Congressman Cory Mills; we’re talking about the troubling conversation after the murder-suicide of former Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax; and, how to get your money back as part of DC’s Ticketmaster settlement. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment: Amazon is way behind on all those jobs it promised would come to its Arlington HQ2.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter Hey 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 April 21st episode:

⁠Window Nation⁠

⁠National Museum of the American Indian⁠

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠

Teen Takeovers — and what to do about them — has become one of the most divisive issues in local Washington. The mayor announced a new curfew; rivals like mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George oppose them. Georgetown University juvenile-justice scholar Eduardo Ferrer is not one of the folks who’s on the fence about the issue: He thinks curfews are a rotten idea. We talked about how to reach kids, how to avert antisocial behavior, and what Washington should expect as a long hot summer looms. 

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey 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 April 20th episode:

Window Nation

National Museum of the American Indian

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

Could public financing get D.C. more involved in local elections? For the last decade, the City of Seattle has issued $100 in vouchers to every voter to donate to the candidate of their choice in municipal elections. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Seattle podcast host Jane C. Hu about how these Democracy Vouchers work, how many people are participating, and what the impact on local elections has been. Plus, is the “Seattle Freeze” a real thing?

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.

We’re talking about OPPO-GATE, the baffling turn in the D.C. Congressional Delegate race, where candidate Brooke Pinto has inexplicably posted an entire dossier of dirt about her principal rival…. We’re looking at the plummeting numbers of new students entering DC Public Schools, and what that might say about where the city is headed… Also: There’s a state-fair-themed fair coming to the Mall as part of the America 250 celebrations. And in a member’s only fourth segment, some possibly hot takes about the state of our city. We’ll leave it to you to assess the hotness.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey 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 April 17th episode:

Alliance Française Washington DC

Window Nation

St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth & Families

KATSUMI

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

January’s massive Potomac sewage spill has led to it becoming the most endangered river in the nation. But that failure didn’t come out of nowhere. Washington Post investigative journalist Aaron Davis uncovered the red tape that stopped needed repairs for years. Davis chatted with us about what he found and who’s to blame.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey 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 April 16th episode:

Alliance Française Washington DC

Window Nation

St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth & Families

KATSUMI

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