Episodes

  • The National Mall’s Wild Food Truck Mafia

    The National Mall’s Wild Food Truck Mafia
    Jul 6 2026
    Washingtonian’s Jessica Sidman, who just published a wild investigation about D.C. food trucks, is here. It seems those rickety trucks that sell hot dogs to tourists down by the Mall are a front for what cops call organized crime — not to mention violence, illegal parking, and some truly gnarly food-safety violations. Jess is here to tell the whole sordid story. 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. (TRY TO CHANGE IT UP EVERY TIME) Learn more about the sponsors of this July 6th episode: Library of Congress Alliance Française Washington DC Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
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    26 mins
  • 'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast DC

    'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast DC
    Jul 3 2026
    See if your DC knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz goes head to head with journalist and historian Alexandra Petri to see who knows more about U.S. history, geography, and celebrities ahead of the country’s semiquincentennial. Sean McPherson, trivia wiz and City Cast Twin Cities host, leads four riveting rounds of questions covering everything from The Declaration of Independence to the hottest college rivalries, and all 13 City Cast cities make an appearance. See how you stack up! Mentioned on the show: Trivia Mafia website and locations Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) Milwaukee's block of Frank Lloyd Wright - Atlas Obscura 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.
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    25 mins
  • How D.C. Got Its Iconic Flag

    How D.C. Got Its Iconic Flag
    Jul 2 2026
    D.C. may not be a state, but we can all agree that it has an awesome flag. A couple years ago, we sat with a couple of the world’s top vexillologists — that’s flag experts — to talk about why the D.C. flag became so ubiquitous and why it works. 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 June 2nd episode: ⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠ ⁠Spur Local⁠ ⁠Library of Congress⁠ Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠.
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    22 mins
  • Your Guide to July 2026 in D.C.

    Your Guide to July 2026 in D.C.
    Jul 1 2026
    Happy July! What are you going to do this month? Mike Schaffer, Bridget Todd, and Kaela Cote-Stemmermann to talk about the best of eating, drinking, and exploring D.C. in July — especially the part after Independence Day. For even more tips on how to make the most of July in D.C., check out City Cast D.C.’s take on what to do this month. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 1st episode: DC Department of Behavioral Health Spur Local Library of Congress Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Reach us at DC@citycast.fm.
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    30 mins
  • The Kennedy Center's Existential Crisis

    The Kennedy Center's Existential Crisis
    Jun 30 2026
    Sylvie McNamara was in the crowd the night Donald Trump’s name was supposed to come off the Kennedy Center. But she didn’t feel quite the same exultation as everyone else. A classical music lover as well as a staff writer at Washingtonian, Sylvie has spent months reporting on the endangered state of the Kennedy Center and knows that the name on the outside is a lot less important than the endangered programming within. She’s here to explain where things stand. 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 June 30th episode: DC Department of Behavioral Health Spur Local Library of Congress Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
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    28 mins
  • We're Betting Big on D.C. News, the Underwhelming Great American State Fair, and JLG's Finance Charges Keep Spreading

    We're Betting Big on D.C. News, the Underwhelming Great American State Fair, and JLG's Finance Charges Keep Spreading
    Jun 29 2026
    We’re chatting with City Cast CEO David Plotz and Executive Producer Annie Rees about the news organization we’re building within City Cast. Then, City Cast reporters Ben Brasch and Alyssa Fowers join to talk about the Great American State Fair and Alyssa’s deep dive into mayoral campaign numbers. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment, Ben’s going to walk us through his reporting on the ongoing fallout over the campaign-finance charges against Janeese Lewis George that dropped right before election day. 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 June 29th episode: ⁠DC Department of Behavioral Health⁠ ⁠Spur Local⁠ ⁠Library of Congress⁠ Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠.
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    29 mins
  • 'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast DC

    'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast DC
    Jun 28 2026
    Just how good are the sidewalks in DC? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and pedestrian safety is just the beginning. In Denver, voters approved a new fee a few years ago to fund much-needed sidewalk repairs, and after a lot of back-and-forth, those repairs are finally underway. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Denver podcast host Bree Davies about what drove this initiative, how it’s going, and who’s paying for it. And speaking of sidewalks, do bikes, scooters, and people playing music belong on public sidewalks? 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.
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    27 mins
  • The Most Restricted Fourth Ever, Two New Museums Worth Visiting, and the Election Night Glam That Broke Instagram

    The Most Restricted Fourth Ever, Two New Museums Worth Visiting, and the Election Night Glam That Broke Instagram
    Jun 26 2026
    We’re talking about the 4th of July in D.C., the city budget, and two new D.C. museums. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment: Makeup! How did D.C.’s likely next mayor maintain her look through election day? Want some more D.C. 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 June 26th episode: Folger Shakespeare Library Spur Local Library of Congress Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
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    37 mins