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

    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

  2. 6D AGO

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. FEB 9

    The Post Script: D.C. Media Plots Its Future After WaPo Turmoil

    The Washington Post laid off 300 journalists in an apocalyptic week for local media. Then embattled CEO Will Lewis also got the boot. Cuneyt and Tom discuss what's next for the Post — and reveal the media scheming underway to fill the void. Plus, it's a heated election season as fundraise reports come due in the mayoral and D.C. delegate races. And Trump world is obsessed with classical architecture — so much so that it wants the new Commanders stadium to look even more, erm, classical, thank you very much. 00:00 Turmoil at the Washington Post After Mass Layoffs 09:44 Media Companies Jockey To Enter Void 14:39 Following the Money on Campaign Fundraising 20:01 Trump Allies Want More Classical Design at Commanders Stadium 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.

    27 min

  8. FEB 2

    Bowser's No Good, Very Bad Snow Day and Trump the DMV Mayor

    Mayor Bowser caught flak last week after the city struggled to clear out snow and ice. Mayoral candidates swooped in with their own criticisms. In this episode, Tom Sherwood is out this week, and joining Cuneyt is Michael Schaffer, longtime D.C. journalist and co-host of the City Cast D.C. podcast. Mike talked about his exclusive interview with John Norton, the son of the retiring Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, about the behind-the-scenes persuading it took to get her 88-year-old mother to bow out. And we took another lap around what Trump is up to as DMV mayor. This episode was recorded before Trump made even more news — announcing late Sunday night he would close the Kennedy Center for a two-year renovation. Cuneyt and Mike talked about Trump's plans for a Grand Prix race and his gigantic 250-foot arch. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 02:44 Snowstorm Aftermath and Public Response 05:38 Mayor Bowser's Missteps 08:32 Snow Politics In Mayor's Race 15:35 Interview with John Norton, Son of Eleanor Holmes Norton 24:14 Trump the DMV Mayor: Grand Prix Race and Building Massive DC Arch 39:09 Closing Thoughts and Reflections 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.

    42 min
See All (16)

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
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Dream City Podcast

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