Dream City Podcast

Dream City Podcast
  • 4.9 (13)
  • 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. 3D AGO

    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

  2. MAR 23

    Bike Lane Wars, Mayor Trump, and Teen Takeovers

    On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt and Tom unpack a chaotic new chapter in the D.C. mayor’s race after a heated debate between the frontrunners — plus a surprising comeback bid by former council member Jack Evans. They also dive into a growing clash between the Trump administration and local leaders over plans to remove a key bike lane near the National Mall, and what it signals about the future of home rule. Later, they discuss renewed concerns about large youth gatherings across the city and the political fight over temporary curfews. In the speed round: looming parking garages in the Commanders’ RFK stadium plans, Congress targeting D.C.’s traffic cameras, Robert Mueller’s legacy (and style), and why Mayor Bowser’s upcoming budget could reshape the campaign. 00:00 Introduction + Gridiron Dinner 04:09 Mayoral Debate Goes Off The Rails 07:30 Jack Evans Comeback Bid vs Phil Mendelson 09:53 Trump Admin Wants to Remove 15th St Bike Lane 19:04 Teen Takeovers and Youth Curfews 23:19 Speed Round: RFK Stadium's Big Parking Garages 26:27 Speed Round: Congress Targets D.C. Traffic Cameras 28:52 Speed Round: Robert Mueller, D.C. Style Icon 30:30 Speed Round: Bowser’s Budget and April 1 Showdown 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.

    33 min

  3. MAR 12

    Kenyan McDuffie on Affordability, Speed Cameras, and How He'd Run D.C.

    D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie is running for mayor — and he joined Dream City for a wide-ranging conversation about affordability, crime, and how he’d deal with President Trump. McDuffie opened up about growing up in Stronghold during the crack epidemic, losing friends to gun violence, and the experiences that shaped his public safety agenda. He argued he's the most prepared candidate in the race, pointing to his housing record, public safety legislation, and push for “baby bonds” to address generational poverty. Cuneyt and Tom pressed him on tough questions — from police staffing levels and property tax relief to campaign strategy and criticism that he hasn’t been visible enough on the trail. They also talked about the future of Washington: redeveloping federal buildings downtown, funding Metro, robo-taxis and AI. This is part of Dream City’s interview series with candidates competing to shape the city’s next chapter. 00:00 Introduction to the Dream City Podcast 00:54 Growing Up in Stronghold + D.C.'s Crack Epidemic 07:43 Trauma, Gun Violence, and Losing Friends 10:21 Postal Service Job That Changed His Life 15:15 From Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Office to Civil Rights Lawyer 18:14 Why He’s Running for Mayor 19:06 Making D.C. the “Most Affordable City” 21:36 His Housing Record vs Bowser + Opponents 27:53 Property Taxes, Parking Tickets, and Campaign Missteps 34:52 Baby Bonds and Breaking Generational Poverty 43:35 The NEAR Act + Public Health Approach to Crime 50:46 Police Staffing, Overtime, and Public Safety Debate 55:10 Campaign Strategy + “Low Energy” Criticism 01:00:37 How He’d Handle President Trump 01:03:41 Redeveloping RFK, Union Station, and Federal Buildings 01:09:35 Metro Funding and Economic Growth Strategy 01:11:02 K Street Transitway, Bike Lanes, and Transportation Vision 01:14:15 Waymo, AI, and Height Act 01:18:53 Management Style + Staying Grounded in Politics 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.

    1h 23m

  4. MAR 9

    Brooke Pinto on Running for Congress, Trump, and D.C.'s Future

    In a wide-ranging interview, D.C. Council member Brooke Pinto shares her journey from childhood in Connecticut to her political career, why she wants to represent D.C. in Congress, and how she would deal with President Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill. Pinto is running to succeed retiring Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton in a crowded race that includes her council colleague Robert White. She explains what sets her apart — pointing to her public safety record, her role passing the Secure DC crime bill, and her strategy for building influence in Congress despite the delegate’s lack of a vote. Cuneyt and Tom cover a lot of ground, from crime trends and ICE in D.C. to the politics of the delegate race and the challenge of negotiating with a Republican-controlled Congress. They also dive into the future of the city: the Height Act, the expansion of gambling parlors in D.C., the future of Waymo, the redevelopment of federal buildings downtown, and what Pinto would tell Trump ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. This is part of Dream City’s interview series with candidates shaping the future of Washington. 00:00 Introduction to the Dream City Podcast 00:37 Growing Up in Connecticut + Early Influences 02:41 The “Saltine Crackers” School Story 05:11 The “Believe in Magic” Sign + Ikigai Philosophy 07:31 Coming to DC, Georgetown Law, and Working for Karl Racine 11:32 Why Pinto Ran for DC Council 15:02 Why Her Campaign Color Is Pink 17:10 Why She’s Running for Congress 17:54 Her Case Against Robert White 20:44 Her Secure DC Act + Reducing Crime 22:50 How Will She Represent Black Washingtonians? 29:36 How a Non-Voting Delegate Builds Influence in Congress 33:24 Negotiating With — or Confronting — Republicans 41:45 Campaign Fundraising and Momentum 43:03 What She’d Say to Donald Trump 48:40 Future of Downtown Development + Federal Buildings 52:07 The Height Act and Building More Housing 54:16 Gambling and Casinos 56:58 Waymo and Futuristic Tech 59:21 Closing Remarks 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.

    1h 1m

  5. MAR 2

    Mayor's Race Gets Punchy, D.C.'s Height Act, and Budget Woes

    Cuneyt and Tom talk about D.C.'s mayoral candidates throwing jabs as the election heats up. Plus, the city's finances are a mess, now made worse by Congress overturning the city's tax code. In the speed round, Cuneyt talks about a new effort to get rid of the Height Act while Tom finds a Gallup survey that says basically no one wants to go back to the office. 00:00 Introduction 02:13 Overheard at DC Restaurant: Iran Strikes 05:51 A Simmering Mayor's Race 09:08 Kenyan McDuffie Meets With Adrian Fenty 15:43 Zohran's Oval Office Stunner 20:54 DC's Financial Challenges 25:17 DC Could Use a Tabloid 26:59 "Let DC Build" Wants Height Act Nixed 28:43 Basically No One Wants To Go Back To The Office 30:48 Local Tea Success Story 31:49 In memoriam: Graylan Hagler 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.

    33 min

  6. FEB 23

    D.C. Mayoral Candidate Janeese Lewis George on Trump, ICE, and Affordability

    Council member Janeese Lewis George is running for D.C. mayor — and she joined to talk about how she'd handle President Trump, how she'd pay for a child care expansion, and her vision for the future of Washington. Cuneyt and Tom covered a lot of ground, from her stance on zero cooperation with ICE to ways JLG would try to find areas of agreement with the Trump administration (see: downtown development). This is the first in what we hope will be a 2026 mayoral race interview series. 00:00 Introduction to the Dream City Podcast 01:06 Growing up in D.C. 06:57 How Will You Fund Child Care For All? 10:55 Addressing Education and Truancy Issues 15:28 Are There Wasted Dollars In Big Education Budget? 19:04 JLG's Management Style 21:14 D.C. Police Staffing + Public Safety 26:09 D.C.'s Youth Curfew + Crime 27:46 JLG's Stance On ICE 30:12 Exploring Areas of Common Ground With Trump Admin 32:34 Vision For Downtown D.C.'s Future 36:06 Democratic Socialism 37:21 Addressing Affordability 39:29 JLG Defends Her Record 41:27 Artificial Intelligence 42:33 Robotaxis and Waymo 43:17 RFK Stadium development 45:47 Being Mayor 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.

    49 min

  7. FEB 19

    Is D.C. In a Recession?

    D.C.'s newest (interim) council member Doni Crawford joins to talk about whether D.C. is in a recession, how city hall will budget during one of the most difficult years in recent memory, and how she got to the Wilson Building. 00:00 Introduction to Council member Doni Crawford 01:28 Is DC In a Recession? 02:45 Congress Smacks Down DC Tax Changes 06:44 DC's Recession-Like Budget Year 10:27 Doni Crawford's Personal Life Story 16:02 Behind the Scenes: An Unprecedented DC Council Appointment 20:20 Council Chairman Phil Mendelson Behind the Scenes 22:40 Affordability in DC 24:33 Why Doesn't the DC Council Have an Education Committee? 25:29 Campaigning for the Seat 28:05 DC Snow Response and Accountability 31:20 Will You Endorse Mayoral Candidate? 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.

    33 min

  8. FEB 16

    D.C.'s Recession, Poo-tomac River, and Metro's Rebound

    In this President's Day Episode, Cuneyt and Tom talk about city hall bracing for a recession-like budget, after DOGE hammered D.C. jobs economy. Mayor Bowser says tough choices are ahead. Progressives warn the social safety net is is being dismantled. Plus, one of the worst sewage spills in U.S. history is happening in the Potomac River. Local leaders should speak up more about the environmental disaster, Tom says. And last but not least, Cuneyt and Tom bat around a lightning round of topics, including Metro's rebounding ridership and a DOGE'd federal worker who's now running for mayor. 00:00 Introduction and Presidents Day Fun 01:00 DC's Recession-Like Budget Challenges 02:49 Impact of Federal Tax Changes on DC Budget 04:36 Spending Grew During Pandemic 05:02 Childcare Subsidy and Budget Trade-offs 08:28 Progressives Fight Against Dismantling of Safety Net 11:11 Mamdani Effect 11:54 Environmental Disaster: Sewage Spill in Potomac 13:20 Public Health Concerns and Sewage Management 16:10 Fishing and Recreational Impact on Potomac 19:15 News Speed Round and Local Developments 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.

    23 min
See All (18)

4.9
out of 5
13 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
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Dream City Podcast

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