Dream City Podcast

Dream City Podcast
  • 4.9 (14)
  • Business News

A new conversation about the politics and business of hometown Washington. Longtime journalists Cuneyt Dil and Tom Sherwood bring exclusive reporting, sharp analysis and real curiosity to the forces shaping D.C.’s political and business scene. It’s the stories everyone’s talking about — and the ones they aren’t.

  1. 4d ago

    Mayoral Sprint, a 250 Mess, and D.C.'s Crazy Expensive Fire Alarm

    Will Sommer, senior reporter at the Bulwark and former Loose Lips columnist at Washington City Paper, joined the Dream City Podcast as guest co-host this week. Cuneyt and Will broke down the Kenyan McDuffie vs. Janeese Lewis George sprint to the finish — the ground game, the prediction markets, the Chipotle moment, and what ranked choice voting could mean for the outcome. Plus: DC somehow spent a million dollars on human fire alarms, Freedom 250 is a mess, and the mayoral candidates reveal their favorite DC restaurants. 00:00 Intro— Will Sommer Guest Co-Hosts 03:26 DC Spent $1 Million on Human Fire Alarms 07:09 The Mayor's Race Final Sprint 15:36 Mayoral Polls, Prediction Markets, and McDuffie's Chipotle Bump 23:18 Freedom 250 Turmoil in DC 30:50 Speed Round: Capital Weather Gang Goes Independent 32:13 Speed Round: Mayoral Candidates' Favorite DC Restaurants 34:28 Speed Round: Snake Experts Rate RFK Jr. 35:29 Speed Round: Kangaroo Boxing Club Throwback The Dream City Podcast is supported by launch partner SpotlightDC: Capital City Fund for Investigative Journalism. The Dream City Podcast will hold the powerful accountable and take you inside D.C.’s business and political worlds. Along the way: Revelatory conversations with city officials, business leaders, and the best-sourced journalists in town. Music credit: Highway 430 by Blue Dot Sessions The Dream City Podcast is a product of COSMOS Media LLC.

    37 min

  2. May 22

    Why Robert White Thinks He Should Be D.C.’s Next Delegate

    D.C. Council member Robert White joined the Dream City Podcast for a wide-ranging interview about why he’s running for Congress, how he’d take on President Trump, and what he thinks about some of the biggest stories right now — including that Chipotle brawl. Cuneyt and Tom talk with White about his D.C. roots, why he pivoted from a Bowser rematch mayoral run to the delegate race, and what sets him apart from Council member Brooke Pinto. Also discussed: Youth curfew zones, RFK Stadium, downtown redevelopment, Congress, civil rights, and what he'd actually say if Trump picked up the phone. This is part of Dream City’s interview series with candidates competing to shape Washington’s future. 00:00 Introduction 00:59 Robert White’s Five Generation D.C. Family Story 06:31 Why He Thinks He Would've Beat Bowser for Mayor 09:14 What Sets Him Apart From Brooke Pinto 10:23 How He’d Use the Delegate Seat’s 'Immense Power' 13:54 Why He Opposes D.C. Youth Curfew Zones 19:26 Building Influence in Congress Without Seniority 22:37 The Delegate Seat Is a “Civil Rights Seat" 23:49 What He’d Do First if Democrats Take Back the House 25:37 Why He Voted Against the RFK Stadium Deal 29:25 Could He Still Work With the Commanders? 31:13 Does He Want to be Delegate for the Long Haul? 33:08 Robert White’s Trump Strategy 35:05 What He’d Actually Say to Trump: Puerto Rico-Style Tax Break 40:01 Working With Business to Rebuild Downtown D.C. 41:57 Height Act, Casinos, AI, and Waymo The Dream City Podcast is supported by launch partner SpotlightDC: Capital City Fund for Investigative Journalism. The Dream City Podcast will hold the powerful accountable and take you inside D.C.’s business and political worlds. Along the way: Revelatory conversations with city officials, business leaders, and the best-sourced journalists in town. The Dream City Podcast is a product of COSMOS Media LLC.

    47 min

  3. May 18

    Metro Boss Randy Clarke Has a Message for Trump

    WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke joined Dream City for a wide-ranging conversation about how he helped turn D.C.'s Metro system around, what America gets wrong about transit, and why the future of Washington depends on getting transportation right. Randy talked with Cuneyt and Tom about everything from fare evasion, permitting, and union tensions to the politics of building faster, the challenge of funding transit in a fragmented region, and what D.C. can learn from other cities around the world. They also get into RFK Stadium, the Gold Line, federal layoffs, and whether Clarke has any interest in a future Secretary of Transportation job. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Randy Clarke's LA Visit 04:39 The Man Behind the Local Celebrity 12:56 Fixing Metro 16:27 What America Gets Wrong About Transit 20:30 Why Big Transit Projects Take So Long in America 22:13 Automation, Unions, and the Fight Over Metro Staffing 28:18 Randy Clarke vs. the Washington Post Editorial Board 30:52 Fare Evasion, Free Buses, and Who Should Pay for Transit 33:19 Why Metro Funding Is So Fragmented 36:08 The Bus Network Redesign and the Push for Dedicated Bus Lanes 41:19 RFK Stadium, the Gold Line, and Metro’s Future in D.C. 47:53 “You Either Hate the Way Things Are, or You Hate Change” 48:14 Does He Want To Be Secretary of Transportation? 53:40 Trump, Federal Layoffs, and Metro’s Future Under the New Administration 56:08 Randy Clarke’s Message to Trump The Dream City Podcast is supported by launch partner https://spotlightdc.org/. The Dream City Podcast will hold the powerful accountable and take you inside D.C.’s business and political worlds. Along the way: Revelatory conversations with city officials, business leaders, and the best-sourced journalists in town. The Dream City Podcast is a product of COSMOS Media LLC.

    1h 1m

  4. May 11

    The Scandal Behind D.C.’s Crime Numbers

    On this week’s Dream City roundup, Cuneyt is joined by Mark Segraves to break down the fallout from MPD’s crime stats scandal, what it means for Mayor Bowser’s legacy, and how it could affect trust in the police department. They also talk about growing White House pressure on D.C. ahead of this summer’s America 250 celebrations, new courtroom drama tied to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect, and the latest on Trump’s plans for East Potomac Golf. And yes, they close on a lighter note: Gary Goodweather’s campaign dance moves. 00:00 Introduction + Mark Segraves Joins the Show 02:14 MPD Crime Stats Scandal and Bowser’s Legacy 21:25 America 250, White House Pressure, and D.C. Security Planning 26:12 Speed Round: White House Correspondents’ Dinner Suspect Back in Court 28:40 Speed Round: Trump’s East Potomac Golf Takeover Moves Ahead 30:46 Speed Round: DC Water Sewage Spill Cleanup and Cost Fight 33:04 Speed Round: Gary Goodweather’s Viral Dance Campaign The Dream City Podcast is supported by launch partner https://spotlightdc.org/. The Dream City Podcast will hold the powerful accountable and take you inside D.C.’s business and political worlds. Along the way: Revelatory conversations with city officials, business leaders, and the best-sourced journalists in town. The Dream City Podcast is a product of COSMOS Media LLC.

    36 min

  5. May 4

    Trump's Golf Grab, D.C.’s Mayor Race Is Getting Real, and Metro's Future

    On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt and Tom break down a packed stretch in D.C. politics: the mayor’s race entering a sharper new phase, new questions around labor and Janeese Lewis George’s campaign, and who Kenyan McDuffie hopes turns out to vote this year. They also dig into President Trump’s move to take over East Potomac Golf, plus a speed round on Metro’s funding problem, D.C.’s online casino push, a chilly spring forecast, and Ben’s Chili Bowl reopening. 00:00 Intro + Labor’s Power Dinner 03:26 Inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Scare 09:28 D.C.’s Mayor Race Hits Crunch Time 10:20 Union Power and Janeese Lewis George's Campaign Questions 19:00 Trump Moves to Take Over East Potomac Golf 23:37 Cuneyt’s Golf Swing 24:36 Commanders x Langston Golf Course? 26:02 Speed Round: Metro’s Budget Debate 27:32 Speed Round: A New Online Casino Fight in D.C. 29:10 Speed Round: Why May Might Feel Like April 29:52 Speed Round: Ben’s Chili Bowl Is Back The Dream City Podcast is supported by launch partner https://spotlightdc.org/. The Dream City Podcast will hold the powerful accountable and take you inside D.C.’s business and political worlds. Along the way: Revelatory conversations with city officials, business leaders, and the best-sourced journalists in town. The Dream City Podcast is a product of COSMOS Media LLC.

    31 min

  6. Apr 20

    D.C.'s Elections Get Ugly

    On this week’s Dream City roundup, Cuneyt and Tom break down the fallout from "Oppo-gate" — Brooke Pinto’s dossier release, the return of youth curfew politics at the D.C. Council, and new signs that the mayor’s race is getting more negative. 00:00 Introduction + On The Road 01:21 Brooke Pinto’s Oppo-gate Fallout 07:24 D.C. Curfew Politics Return to the Council 10:01 Robert White’s Money Problem 13:00 Why the Mayoral Race Is Getting Ugly 17:48 Kenyan McDuffie Says He Was Threatened 20:53 Jack Evans Is Out, but Mendelson Isn’t Clear 23:24 Closing Banter The Dream City Podcast is supported by launch partner https://spotlightdc.org/. The Dream City Podcast will hold the powerful accountable and take you inside D.C.’s business and political worlds. Along the way: Revelatory conversations with city officials, business leaders, and the best-sourced journalists in town. The Dream City Podcast is a product of COSMOS Media LLC.

    25 min

  7. Apr 13

    Bowser’s Budget Squeeze, White House Pressure, and Tysons Casino Saga

    On this week’s Dream City roundup, Cuneyt and Tom break down D.C.’s worsening budget squeeze, Mayor Bowser’s push to spur redevelopment of empty federal buildings, and the political fight over teen curfews as White House pressure grows. They also dig into Cuneyt's reporting on how a proposed Tysons casino collapsed in Virginia — and what it means for the rest of the DMV. Plus, what the first cleanup work at the RFK site says about the future of the Commanders project. 00:00 Introduction 02:46 Bowser’s Shrinking Budget and D.C.’s Fiscal Squeeze 13:06 Tax Breaks for Federal Building Redevelopment 16:41 Teen Curfews Expire as White House Pressure Builds 21:57 Reporter’s Field Trip: Why Fairfax Rejected a Tysons Casino 29:46 RFK Cleanup Begins + Commanders Jersey Talk The Dream City Podcast is supported by launch partner SpotlightDC: Capital City Fund for Investigative Journalism. The Dream City Podcast will hold the powerful accountable and take you inside D.C.’s business and political worlds. Along the way: Revelatory conversations with city officials, business leaders, and the best-sourced journalists in town. The Dream City Podcast is a product of COSMOS Media LLC.

    32 min

  8. Apr 6

    Teen Curfew Reaches White House, City Hall's Ethics Probe, and New Nats Deal

    On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Tom breaks some news about growing White House pressure on D.C. over youth curfews and teen takeovers. There's also a new ethics investigation involving Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, and Cuneyt and Tom talk about the deal to keep the Nationals in Washington through 2058. Plus: campaign season weirdness, including sign wars and what it all says about the mood of local politics right now. 00:00 Introduction 04:29 Teen Takeovers, Youth Curfews, and White House Pressure 11:27 Phil Mendelson Ethics Investigation Explained 24:19 D.C. Locks In the Nationals Through 2058 29:20 Campaign Sign Wars and Election Season Warnings 31:01 Closing Banter The Dream City Podcast is supported by launch partner SpotlightDC: Capital City Fund for Investigative Journalism. The Dream City Podcast will hold the powerful accountable and take you inside D.C.’s business and political worlds. Along the way: Revelatory conversations with city officials, business leaders, and the best-sourced journalists in town. The Dream City Podcast is a product of COSMOS Media LLC.

    32 min
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4.9
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

A new conversation about the politics and business of hometown Washington. Longtime journalists Cuneyt Dil and Tom Sherwood bring exclusive reporting, sharp analysis and real curiosity to the forces shaping D.C.’s political and business scene. It’s the stories everyone’s talking about — and the ones they aren’t.

Information

  • Creator
    Dream City Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Dream City Podcast

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