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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

President Trump is calling out Janeese Lewis George — attacking her as a "communist," but says he'd meet with her. In this week's Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt and Tom break down whether D.C.’s incoming left can find any workable ground with the White House. Plus: The next major battle at the Wilson Building will be over taxes. They dig into the pressure to raise new revenue after the city’s budget crunch, what kinds of tax hikes progressives may pursue, and how much room they really have with Congress still looming over D.C. affairs. 00:00 Trump Calls Janeese Lewis George a “Communist” 03:24 Can JLG Actually Work With Trump? 07:31 The Next Big D.C. Fight: Taxes 13:13 Will the Left Raise Taxes on the Rich? 19:39 Fourth of July Sendoff 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.

On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt and Tom are joined by veteran D.C. strategist Chuck Thies to break down Janeese Lewis George’s sweeping mayoral primary victory, why Kenyan McDuffie’s campaign never found its footing, and what the results say about the city’s political direction. Cuneyt also talked to Ward 1 D.C. Council Democratic primary winner Aparna Raj, a tenant organizer who describes why the democratic socialist platform resonated this year. 00:00 Chuck Thies’ Election Night Call Was Right 01:51 Aparna Raj on the Democratic Socialist Wave in Ward 1 04:48 How Aparna Raj Became a Tenant Organizer 06:51 Why DSA Just Won Big in D.C. 09:06 Aparna Raj’s Vision for Ward 1 12:09 Can a More Progressive D.C. Still Grow the Economy? 16:54 Janeese Lewis George’s Big Win 18:44 Why Kenyan McDuffie Lost 22:43 How JLG Ran the Table Across D.C. 26:10 The Empty McDuffie Tent That Said It All 28:24 Elissa Silverman’s Comeback 30:47 Robert White’s Huge Delegate Victory 33:51 What the Election Means for D.C.’s Budget Crisis 38:24 Tax Hikes, Unions, and City Hall's Fights Ahead 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.

On this week’s Dream City Podcast, Cuneyt and Tom break down the final days of D.C.’s mayoral race — including President Trump slamming Janeese Lewis George, Muriel Bowser’s all-but-official endorsement for Kenyan McDuffie, and the different paths each candidate has to victory. They also look at the other races on the ballot, the growing role of outside spending and dark money, and how Trump’s supersized fireworks show will make July 4 very different this year. 00:00 Trump Jumps Into D.C.’s Mayor Race 04:32 Bowser’s Unofficial Endorsement of Kenyan McDuffie 06:16 How Janeese Lewis George or Kenyan McDuffie Can Win 18:27 The Other Races to Watch 19:24 Dark Money and Outside Spending Flood the Election 20:24 Trump’s Unprecedented Freedom 250 Spectacle 22:41 July 4 Fireworks Chaos and Business Backlash 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.