Dream City Podcast

Dream City Podcast
  • 4.9 (15)
  • 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. Oct 12

    Tourists Are Skipping D.C. What Will the Next Mayor Do?

    The Dream City Podcast digs into a troubling sign for the local economy: D.C.’s tourism industry is struggling during a year that was supposed to bring a historic influx of visitors. And with Election Day just weeks away, Cuneyt and Tom look for clues about how mayor-in-waiting Janeese Lewis George could govern. 00:00 Why Tourists Are Staying Away From D.C. 05:21 National Guard Troops at D.C. Ballot Drop Boxes 09:53 JLG Wins Her Campaign Finance Fight — Now What Happens to OCF? 15:10 Is Therme’s D.C. Mega-Spa Dead? 18:28 D.C.’s New Parking Enforcement Fight The Dream City Podcast is supported by 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.

  2. Oct 5

    A Mistrial, a Mega-Garage, and D.C.’s Giant Spa

    Cuneyt and Tom dig into the fallout from Trayon White’s federal bribery trial after a hung jury resulted in a mistrial. White acknowledged taking $35,000 during the trial — raising a separate question for the D.C. Council: even without a conviction, will his colleagues censure, reprimand or even try to expel him again? Tom shares what he's hearing. Then, they turn to RFK Stadium, where residents of nearby Kingman Park are fighting plans for an enormous eight-story, 3,600-space parking garage stretching nearly 800 feet along their neighborhood. Plus: D.C.’s surprisingly serious plan for a roughly 500,000-square-foot waterfront spa at Poplar Point. Tom thinks it’s a terrible use of prime Anacostia River land. Cuneyt makes the case that every great civilization deserves its bathhouse. 00:00 Inside D.C.’s Political Boat Party 03:38 Will the Council Punish Trayon White? 10:00 RFK Stadium Has a Massive Parking Problem 17:03 Does D.C. Really Need a Giant Waterfront Spa? 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.

  3. Sep 14

    Trayon White Heads to Court as D.C.’s Finances Flash Red

    On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt and Tom preview Ward 8 Council member Trayon White’s long-awaited federal bribery trial. They also dig into a stark warning from D.C.’s chief financial officer that the city’s economic and revenue signals are “flashing red." It points to Janeese Lewis George's biggest task ahead: rebuilding D.C.'s economy. 00:00 We're back + Cuneyt's Travels 02:59 Tom vs. Bowser Over the IndyCar Race 04:41 Trayon White Heads to Trial on Bribery Charges 11:39 The Council Returns: Waymo, Taxes, Budgeting 14:41 D.C.’s Finances Are “Flashing Red” 22:54 Five Ways D.C. Could Start Acting Like a State 34:11 Commanders vs. Eagles + Closing Banter 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.

  4. Aug 17

    The Trumpification of Washington Continues

    On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt and Tom (happy 80th!) take stock of the many ways President Trump is physically reshaping Washington. They talk about the two-year Kennedy Center renovation, new blinged-out images of Trump’s White House ballroom, and plans to surround Lafayette Park with a new fence. 00:00 Trump’s Two-Year Kennedy Center Makeover 07:13 Gold, a Six-Story Bunker, and Trump’s New White House 11:32 The Fight Over Fencing Off Lafayette Park 15:38 National Guard Deployment Becomes a Long-Term Reality 18:52 Whatever Happened to Washington’s Quiet August? 21:01 Trump’s IndyCar Race Takes Over the National Mall 24:54 Vacation Talk + Tom Sietsema’s Bowser Dinner 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.

  5. Aug 3

    D.C.’s Identity Crisis

    Washington Post reporter Paul Schwartzman joins Cuneyt as Tom Sherwood celebrates his 80th birthday. They talk about President Trump’s $22.5 billion plan for Dulles Airport, in the context of Trump's desire to play the part of big city mayor. Then, they turn to why Congress’s effort to restrict D.C.’s taxation a felt like a sneak attack, the business community’s anxiety over mayor-in-waiting Janeese Lewis George, and the city's biggest question: How does Washington rebuild as the federal government shrinks? 00:00 Tom Sherwood Turns 80 + Paul Schwartzman Joins 00:55 Trump’s $22.5 Billion Dulles Airport Makeover 10:56 Trump’s Builder Mythology + Reflecting Pool Mess 14:57 Who Will Pay for the New Dulles? 17:33 Congress' Sneak Attack 23:30 Business Anxiety Over Janeese Lewis George 26:56 D.C.’s Economic Upheaval and Identity Crisis 31:37 Mendelson, Bowser, and City Hall’s New Power Structure 38:31 New York Bagels and D.C. Pizza 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.

  6. Jul 27

    D.C.’s DoorDash Revolt and Southwest’s Once-in-a-Century Rebuild

    On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Tom returns to break down why D.C. activists are calling for a DoorDash boycott after the company supported congressional legislation restricting the District’s ability to change local taxes and fees. Cuneyt and Tom also explore the once-in-a-century opportunity to remake Southwest Washington’s sprawling federal enclave, including the possible demolition of the hulking Forrestal Building and plans for new housing, offices, schools and cultural attractions. Plus: former DOGE staffers become government contractors, Trump addresses the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, a possible revival for White’s Ferry, and a new report detailing how MPD’s crime-statistics safeguards broke down. 00:00 Tom Returns 02:14 Why D.C. Activists Are Boycotting DoorDash 09:04 Is Robert White Doing Enough With Republicans? 11:11 Southwest’s Once-in-a-Century Redevelopment Opportunity 22:42 Speed Round: Former DOGE Staffers Become Federal Contractors 25:15 Speed Round: Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner 27:42 Speed Round: Could White’s Ferry Finally Reopen? 29:49 Speed Round: What Went Wrong With MPD’s Crime Stats 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.

  7. Jul 20

    Waymo vs. Labor: Does D.C. Want Robotaxis?

    Waymo’s head of policy for the east, Matt Walsh, joined Dream City to make the company’s case for operating in D.C., right as council members debate one of the country’s most ambitious robotaxi bills. Cuneyt presses Walsh on labor’s warnings about lost driving jobs, the company’s safety record, and whether a multibillion-dollar technology company is prepared to make a significant investment in D.C. They also get into Waymo’s response to labor's accusations that it is trying to “steamroll” the city, the possibility of a deal with unions and Janeese Lewis George, and when riders might finally be able to take a driverless car to DCA or Dulles. 00:00 Introduction to the Dream City Podcast 01:14 Getting Over the Fear of a Driverless Car 05:08 Is D.C. Falling Behind Other Cities? 05:49 Charles Allen’s Robotaxi Bill, Vehicle Caps, and New Fees 09:15 Why D.C.’s Robotaxi Report Is Years Late 11:52 Waymo, Tesla, Uber, and the Robotaxi Competition 13:28 How Many Driving Jobs Could Be Lost? 16:22 Waymo Responds to Labor’s “Steamrolling” Charge 21:30 Waymo’s Investment and Job Plans for D.C. 24:26 Are Robotaxis Really Safer Than Human Drivers? 27:31 Waymo’s Collision Record in D.C. 28:12 Robotaxis, First Responders, and Motorcades 30:50 Are Waymos Learning to Drive Like New York Cabbies? 33:19 The Cameras, Lidar, and Radar Behind a Waymo 35:05 No, Waymo Cannot See Through Your Clothes 35:35 When Could Waymo Reach DCA and Dulles? 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.

  8. Jul 13

    D.C.'s Next Big Fight: Robotaxis

    On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt and Mark Segraves of NBC4 break down Vice President JD Vance’s plans to rent a sprawling estate in Middleburg — including questions about the property’s owner, the lease, and what the Veep's arrival could mean for the quiet Virginia town. They then dig into the coming fight over legalizing Waymo and other robotaxis in D.C., as labor unions raise concerns about jobs and City Hall prepares for a marathon hearing. Plus: the valuable naming rights and seat licenses included in the Commanders stadium deal, and the surprising local history behind “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as the song enjoys another World Cup-fueled revival. 00:00 Introduction + JD Vance Eyes a Middleburg Estate 10:05 Waymo and D.C.’s Coming Robotaxi Fight 17:17 Robotaxis, Union Opposition, and the Future of Driving Jobs 21:11 Commanders Stadium Naming Rights and Seat Licenses 24:08 The Local Roots Behind “Country Roads" + Its World Cup Fame 29:54 How “Country Roads” Became a Royalty Goldmine 33:50 Mark Segraves’ After Dark Fund 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.

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4.9
out of 5
15 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
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dream City Podcast

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