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City Cast DC

City Cast
Washington, DC
Washington D.C.
Donald Trump
Washington Post
Washington DC
Public Safety
Trump Administration
Ranked Choice Voting
Kennedy Center
Washington, D.C.
Muriel Bowser
Affordable Housing
Violence Prevention
Community Engagement
Cocktails
Potomac River
Baltimore
Housing
Waymo
DC Council

City Cast DC is the daily, local audio companion you knew DC needed.. Washingtonians are deeply passionate about our city, whose story is still being written, and City Cast DC is here to tell it. Every weekday morning, our hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd will engage people from all over the eight wards in conversation about DC’s crises and its beauty, both literal and figurative. It’ll hav... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1003Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNews CommentaryNews

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Artwork for City Cast DC

Latest Episodes

Have you ever sat on the Metro and wished it could transport you anywhere you dreamed? In her new novel Retro, D.C. author Jessica Goldstein imagines the Metro not as the boring backdrop of everyday life in the DMV, but as a time machine, ferrying we... more

City Cast’s Emma Uber and contributor Marc Fisher are here to talk about the Fourth of July weekend in retrospect, the latest on the Reflecting Pool and the fate of the old Capitol Skyline Hotel. In a members-only segment, we're talking about teen gu... more

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 vio... more

YouTube

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 c... more

YouTube

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Sylvie McNamara
Staff writer at Washingtonian, classical music enthusiast
Washingtonian
Episode: The Kennedy Center's Existential Crisis
Ben Brasch
City Cast DC new city politics and government reporter
City Cast DC
Episode: We're Betting Big on D.C. News, the Underwhelming Great American State Fair, and JLG's Finance Charges Keep Spreading
Alyssa Fowers
City Cast DC new data reporter
City Cast DC
Episode: We're Betting Big on D.C. News, the Underwhelming Great American State Fair, and JLG's Finance Charges Keep Spreading
Bree Davies
Host of City Cast Denver, pedestrian advocate
City Cast Denver
Episode: 'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast DC
Emma Uber
DC politics reporter for City Cast DC
City Cast DC
Episode: D.C.'s Primary Just Opened up — Here's What That Actually Means For You
Matt Viser
Writer for The Atlantic covering national politics and policy
The Atlantic
Episode: D.C.’s Reflecting Pool is Now the Nation’s Petri Dish
Zara Norman
Reporter from Notus covering Gale Eckington saga
Notus
Episode: Why is D.C. Giving The City's Worst Landlords a Tax Break?
Lisa Rice
A leader behind DC's ranked choice voting referendum
DC elects/board of elections liaison
Episode: What You Need to Know About Ranked Choice Voting Election Delays
Ali Vallarta
Parks census organizer and Salt Lake City-based host
City Cast Salt Lake
Episode: 'Your City Could Be Better': Why Every Region Needs A Park Map Tool Like Salt Lake’s — Presented By City Cast DC

Hosts

Michael Schaffer
Host of City Cast DC; City Cast DC anchor with focus on local policy, governance, and civic life
Bridget Todd
Co-host of City Cast DC; lead on DC neighborhoods, culture, and public-facing storytelling

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 318 ratings
  • Bias problems

    I started trying out City Cast DC earlier this year and most of the coverage is great and interesting. But a pretty big issue is the local criminal justice coverage because the host seems to be pushing his own agenda rather than approaching it like a reporter. It reflects a lack of knowledge on an important issue area. It also makes for some very uncomfortable statements and is a disservice to listeners.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Maya from DC
    United States3 months ago
  • You might also like …

    I want to support this fledgling outlet for D.C. news, but my subscription is hanging by a thread. Nearly every day, I find another, totally unrelated iHeartRadio podcast downloaded onto my phone under the title “You Might Also Like …”

    I won’t, and I don’t. Some of these podcast episodes are more than 1.5 hours long. If this keeps happening, I’ll have to dump my subscription.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    YouWontAlsoLike117
    United States3 months ago
  • What the Post should be

    Good local coverage. Knowledgeable guests. One request only: reintroduce your guests at the end of the show. It’s helpful. Keep it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    abuasher
    United States7 months ago
  • My Podcast Source for DC News

    Solid coverage of DC politics, albeit a little more establishment-friendly (plus other coverage of what’s going on events- and development-wise in town). It’s definitely gotten better in the past year and topics are usually good- I’d say I find something to listen to 3-4 times a week (out of 5 episodes a week)

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JPG4285
    United States9 months ago
  • Best DC Podcast

    Love love love!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    trummy97
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise deep local coverage and clear host dynamics.
Audience values informative, data-driven DC-focused storytelling.
Some critique editorial bias on crime coverage and pacing.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#80
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#203
Finland/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#228
Chile/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast DC
Q: Who pays the sidewalk fee and how might it affect rents or commercial properties?
Renters and landlords both pay the fee, with potential trickle-down in rent; commercial properties also participate, and the city has implemented reductions for low-income households in some cases.
'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast DC
Q: Is biking on the public sidewalk acceptable, and under what conditions?
It depends on context; riding on sidewalks is sometimes necessary to get off dangerous streets, but generally it should be avoided in heavily pedestrian areas, with exceptions for children or safety needs.
D.C.'s Primary Just Opened up — Here's What That Actually Means For You
Q: Why did some council members change their minds?
Some members cited the will of the people and constituent conversations in politically sensitive jobs as factors, with examples like Zachary Parker publicly stating a change of heart after considering the broader public sentiment.
D.C.'s Primary Just Opened up — Here's What That Actually Means For You
Q: What happens in 2028 for independents at the polls?
Independents will be able to choose which party ballot to vote on and will participate in most contests, though they won't be signing petitions for Democratic nominees under the current setup; the vast majority are expected to vote Democratic in practice.
D.C.'s Primary Just Opened up — Here's What That Actually Means For You
Q: How do we get to this change?
There has been a decade-long debate with advocates like Grow Democracy pushing for independence in primaries, past ballot initiatives, and ongoing council discussions; funding a semi-open primary was the turning point that finally enabled independence to vote in 2028.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About City Cast DC

What is City Cast DC about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A daily local show focused on Washington, DC, blending policy, politics, neighborhood life, and cultural happenings with a practical, in-the-weeds approach. Episodes often pair host commentary with expert guests on governance, elections, public safety, and urban issues, then pivot to actionable takeaways like voter information, event planning, and city services. It stands out for rapid-fire interviews with policymakers, journalists, and community voices, plus a healthy mix of travel, dining, and local lifestyle content anchored in the DC area. Expect energetic, conversational hosts who push for clarity on complex topics while spotlighting under-the-radar community stories and timely civic information.

Where can I find podcast stats for City Cast DC?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for City Cast DC. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to City Cast DC and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does City Cast DC get?

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What are the audience demographics for City Cast DC?

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How many subscribers and views does City Cast DC have?

To see how many followers or subscribers City Cast DC has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to City Cast DC?

These podcasts share a similar audience with City Cast DC:

1. The Daily
2. Political Gabfest
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. What Next | Daily News and Analysis
5. Today, Explained

How many episodes of City Cast DC are there?

City Cast DC launched 4 years ago and published 1003 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact City Cast DC?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for City Cast DC?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for City Cast DC from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on City Cast DC?

Recent guests on City Cast DC include:

1. Sylvie McNamara
2. Ben Brasch
3. Alyssa Fowers
4. Bree Davies
5. Emma Uber
6. Matt Viser
7. Zara Norman
8. Lisa Rice

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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