City Cast DC

What will DC do when it runs out of space for trash? Madison, WI, has a plan, and it’s one that other cities could follow. What could’ve just been another county landfill, slated to open in 2027, will instead be a “sustainability campus”, where local businesses will unite to more intentionally sort incoming waste, increase recycling intake, and generally aim to slow the flow of trash. And Dane County has historically handled waste disposal in a savvy way, making big bucks off of trash collection that they then use to fund future projects like this forthcoming campus. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin breaks this all down for David, and together they uncover the quirks — and opportunities — that come with talking trash. 

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We're talking about the metro union's fight back against bus fare quotes, D.C.’s slump in condo sales, and Republicans’ efforts to repeal the motorcycle helmet requirement. Plus, in a members’ only fourth segment, we’ve got the latest on RFK Stadium and the Commanders’ chances this year.

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 14th episode:

⁠DC Sustainable Energy Utility⁠

⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠

⁠Library of Congress⁠

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

Many people don't realize that the D.C. region sits on Indigenous land. But recently, one local tribe made history by reclaiming a piece of its ancestral homeland after centuries of displacement. Washington Post reporter Dana Hedgpeth talks with us today about the Pamunkey Tribe's return to Windsor Shades in Virginia.

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 13th episode:

DC Sustainable Energy Utility

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Library of Congress

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

Ice cream is the best antidote to D.C's hot, muggy August days. Washingtonian’s Jessica Sidman serves up the scoop on the city's best ice-cold treats.

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 12th episode:

DC Sustainable Energy Utility

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Library of Congress

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

It’s been one year since President Donald Trump launched what he called a federal takeover of D.C., sending National Guard troops into the city and dramatically expanding the federal law enforcement presence on our streets. His stated goal was to make D.C. safer -- looking at the crime stats, it hasn’t necessarily worked out that way. But it has had a huge impact on the lives of D.C. residents.
Bloomberg Law reporter Keith Alexander has been reporting on the lives of those caught up in the federal crackdown. He’s here to explain what happened to them, what the National Guard is doing in D.C. a year later, and what this past year tells us about the future of the federal presence in the city.

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 11th episode:

DC Sustainable Energy Utility

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Library of Congress

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

Now that August is here, you might be feeling the stress of trying to wrap up that summer bucket list. Today we’re helping you check off that weekend camping trip you’ve been telling everyone you want to do… but haven’t actually planned! Let’s revisit our conversation from last fall with Leo Murray, founder of Kibiboyz and leader of Concrete Escapes. Leo’s been breaking down barriers around camping and helping DMV city folks reconnect with nature, one campfire at a time. Whether you're an experienced outdoorswoman or just testing out the waters with a bit of car camping, this episode’s got something for everyone.

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. 

If you enjoyed this interview with Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the Executive Director for DC Public Library, ⁠learn more here⁠.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 10th episode:

⁠DC Sustainable Energy Utility⁠

⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠

⁠Library of Congress⁠

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

As much as you love DC, city living inherently means sharing space and resources with your neighbors, and y’all certainly have complaints, questions, and quandaries. On our first call-in episode, DC’s very own Bridget Todd joins City Cast Seattle host Jane C. Hu and City Cast CEO David Plotz to respond to your dilemmas, from when it’s acceptable to intervene on a bike path to what to do about that neighbor that really lets it all hang out.

Have more city dilemmas? Send them in for our next call-in show.

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.

President Donald Trump has unveiled a $22.5 billion vision to remake Dulles International Airport, with plans to replace its iconic people movers, build a new passenger train, and totally transform one of the region's biggest transportation hubs. But how much of this is actually likely to happen? Who will pay for it? And what could it mean for the millions of people who use Dulles every year? Kriston Capps, writer for Bloomberg’s CityLab joins us to break down the proposal and what it means for DC and beyond.

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 6th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Library of Congress

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

The very likely next mayor of DC wants to make buses free for public-assistance recipients. If that sounds familiar, it should: over the last few years, there have been a bunch of proposals to make buses free for some — and sometimes all — Washingtonians. Zara Norman from NOTUS has been reporting on this, and is here to explain.

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 5th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Library of Congress

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

George Pelecanos is maybe the greatest Washington novelist — and he never writes about the Senate. Over the years, his crime stories have doubled as a kind of history of our city. And his most recent novel, The Blue Flame, drops today. I talked with Pelecanos about growing up in the city, working on The Wire, and where he finds his stories.

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 4th episode:

DC Department of Behavioral Health

Library of Congress

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