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.