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 Joins00:55 Trump’s $22.5 Billion Dulles Airport Makeover10:56 Trump’s Builder Mythology + Reflecting Pool Mess14:57 Who Will Pay for the New Dulles?17:33 Congress' Sneak Attack23:30 Business Anxiety Over Janeese Lewis George26:56 D.C.’s Economic Upheaval and Identity Crisis31:37 Mendelson, Bowser, and City Hall’s New Power Structure38:31 New York Bagels and D.C. PizzaThe 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 SessionsThe 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 Returns02:14 Why D.C. Activists Are Boycotting DoorDash09:04 Is Robert White Doing Enough With Republicans?11:11 Southwest’s Once-in-a-Century Redevelopment Opportunity22:42 Speed Round: Former DOGE Staffers Become Federal Contractors25:15 Speed Round: Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner27:42 Speed Round: Could White’s Ferry Finally Reopen?29:49 Speed Round: What Went Wrong With MPD’s Crime StatsThe 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 SessionsThe 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 Podcast01:14 Getting Over the Fear of a Driverless Car05:08 Is D.C. Falling Behind Other Cities?05:49 Charles Allen’s Robotaxi Bill, Vehicle Caps, and New Fees09:15 Why D.C.’s Robotaxi Report Is Years Late11:52 Waymo, Tesla, Uber, and the Robotaxi Competition13:28 How Many Driving Jobs Could Be Lost?16:22 Waymo Responds to Labor’s “Steamrolling” Charge21:30 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 Motorcades30:50 Are Waymos Learning to Drive Like New York Cabbies?33:19 The Cameras, Lidar, and Radar Behind a Waymo35:05 No, Waymo Cannot See Through Your Clothes35:35 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 SessionsThe 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 Estate10:05 Waymo and D.C.’s Coming Robotaxi Fight17:17 Robotaxis, Union Opposition, and the Future of Driving Jobs21:11 Commanders Stadium Naming Rights and Seat Licenses24:08 The Local Roots Behind “Country Roads" + Its World Cup Fame29:54 How “Country Roads” Became a Royalty Goldmine33:50 Mark Segraves’ After Dark FundThe 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 SessionsThe 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: Taxes13:13 Will the Left Raise Taxes on the Rich?19:39 Fourth of July SendoffThe 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 SessionsThe 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 Right01:51 Aparna Raj on the Democratic Socialist Wave in Ward 104:48 How Aparna Raj Became a Tenant Organizer06:51 Why DSA Just Won Big in D.C.09:06 Aparna Raj’s Vision for Ward 112:09 Can a More Progressive D.C. Still Grow the Economy?16:54 Janeese Lewis George’s Big Win18:44 Why Kenyan McDuffie Lost22:43 How JLG Ran the Table Across D.C.26:10 The Empty McDuffie Tent That Said It All28:24 Elissa Silverman’s Comeback30:47 Robert White’s Huge Delegate Victory33:51 What the Election Means for D.C.’s Budget Crisis38:24 Tax Hikes, Unions, and City Hall's Fights AheadThe 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 SessionsThe 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 Race04:32 Bowser’s Unofficial Endorsement of Kenyan McDuffie06:16 How Janeese Lewis George or Kenyan McDuffie Can Win18:27 The Other Races to Watch19:24 Dark Money and Outside Spending Flood the Election20:24 Trump’s Unprecedented Freedom 250 Spectacle22:41 July 4 Fireworks Chaos and Business BacklashThe 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 SessionsThe 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 DC30:50 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 ThrowbackThe 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 SessionsThe 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 Introduction00:59 Robert White’s Five Generation D.C. Family Story06:31 Why He Thinks He Would've Beat Bowser for Mayor09:14 What Sets Him Apart From Brooke Pinto10:23 How He’d Use the Delegate Seat’s 'Immense Power'13:54 Why He Opposes D.C. Youth Curfew Zones19:26 Building Influence in Congress Without Seniority22:37 The Delegate Seat Is a “Civil Rights Seat"23:49 What He’d Do First if Democrats Take Back the House25:37 Why He Voted Against the RFK Stadium Deal29:25 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 Strategy35:05 What He’d Actually Say to Trump: Puerto Rico-Style Tax Break40:01 Working With Business to Rebuild Downtown D.C.41:57 Height Act, Casinos, AI, and WaymoThe 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 Introduction01:00 Randy Clarke's LA Visit04:39 The Man Behind the Local Celebrity12:56 Fixing Metro16:27 What America Gets Wrong About Transit20:30 Why Big Transit Projects Take So Long in America22:13 Automation, Unions, and the Fight Over Metro Staffing28:18 Randy Clarke vs. the Washington Post Editorial Board30:52 Fare Evasion, Free Buses, and Who Should Pay for Transit33:19 Why Metro Funding Is So Fragmented36:08 The Bus Network Redesign and the Push for Dedicated Bus Lanes41:19 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 Administration56:08 Randy Clarke’s Message to TrumpThe 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.