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.