Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi & Kristin Brey

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey were joined in studio by Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki — with Republican strategist Bill McCoshen arriving mid-show — to break down escalating tension in Minneapolis and why President Trump is sending ICE agents there, raising questions about political distraction and federal overreach. The panel also tackled Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland and the fierce backlash from Denmark and European allies. Back in Wisconsin, the conversation turned to the state’s massive budget surplus and the political fight over whether it should go toward property tax relief or be held by the legislature. Joe then unveiled his deep dive into 2026 gubernatorial and Supreme Court race fundraising, sparking analysis of what the early money says about the political landscape. The show wrapped with bipartisan “Say Something Nice,” a grab bag touching on climate, public safety, and Packers frustration, and a look ahead to the weekend’s NFL playoff matchups.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey opened the show by unpacking what it really means to be “independent” after a Gallup poll found nearly half of Americans identify that way, pushing back on the idea that independents are non-partisan when it comes to key issues. They were then joined in studio by Hector Colon, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, for a candid conversation about the refugee resettlement system, how it has shifted under the Trump administration, and the fear surrounding increased ICE enforcement in Wisconsin. In the second hour, Urban Milwaukee president Jeramey Jannene joined the hosts for “City Stories,” breaking down Milwaukee’s move to integrate artificial intelligence into 911 calls, a new police drone pilot program, and the privacy concerns surrounding both. The discussion also covered federal funding for road safety, political dynamics in upcoming Milwaukee County supervisor races, ongoing legal trouble for the former city attorney, and multiple conflict-of-interest questions shaping local development decisions.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey opened the show with a mix of newsletter chatter and NFC North pettiness, reacting to Bears head coach Ben Johnson cursing out the Packers after their playoff win, before pivoting to Wisconsin politics. They unpacked backlash after the Wisconsin GOP mistakenly used a photo of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in a post attacking Mandela Barnes — an error some critics viewed as racially charged — and debated Lieutenant Governor Sarah Rodriguez’s call to bar immigration enforcement from public and private spaces, with questions about the actual power of the governor and ICE. The conversation then turned to multiple constitutional amendments expected on the 2026 ballot, with both hosts criticizing legislative dysfunction that forces voters to decide complex issues, and concerns over transparency after WisEye lost funding and Republicans revived an old law banning public recordings in the Capitol. The second hour lightened slightly with discussion of a bipartisan bill to extend school recess to 60 minutes, reflections on childhood recess and yearbooks, and a wide-ranging “Ask Us Anything” segment covering ICE, Greenland, Steve’s time as mayor of Oak Creek, parking lots, TV habits, Aldi, and America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey were joined in studio by retired Milwaukee County Judge Mary Kuhnmuench and former U.S. Attorney James Santelle to unpack the legal fallout from the Minneapolis ICE operation that resulted in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration agent, discussing whether the increased federal enforcement and use of force warranted legal accountability and how Minnesota’s leaders are responding, including a new lawsuit by the state and cities against the federal government to halt aggressive enforcement tactics. They then shifted to the U.S. Supreme Court, previewing major cases on tariffs, the Federal Reserve’s independence, and transgender athletes, with perspectives on how the justices might rule. In “Closing Arguments,” Santelle highlighted various noteworthy federal and state cases, while Kuhnmuench encouraged listeners to remain optimistic. In the second hour, Steve and Kristin discussed digesting the fast-moving Minnesota news, the risk of protests and violence tied to it, whether Milwaukee is prepared for similar demonstrations, and lighter fare including Kristin’s busy Disneyland trip and their Extra Points newsletter.

Steve Scaffidi opened the show venting frustration over the Green Bay Packers’ blown Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears, questioning his trust in head coach Matt LaFleur and reacting to Bears coach Ben Johnson’s postgame behavior, before pivoting to Minnesota’s ongoing fraud controversy and broader concerns about protests and public safety. Steve then turned to foreign policy, discussing President Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland and playing a clip of Senator Ron Johnson pushing back on using military force. In the second hour, Annex Wealth Management CEO Dave Spano joined remotely to connect the Packers loss with a turbulent economic backdrop, including a DOJ investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Trump’s proposal to cap credit card interest rates, cryptocurrency trends, and upcoming earnings, jobs, and consumer confidence reports. The show closed with ESPN Milwaukee’s Alex Strouf breaking down the playoff collapse, debating potential firings, processing another postseason disappointment, and reacting to a late-breaking report that Micah Parsons cited Matt LaFleur as a reason for coming to Green Bay, fueling speculation about the coach’s future.

Steve Scaffidi was joined in studio by Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki and Republican strategist Bill McCoshen for a wide-ranging discussion centered on the U.S. invasion of Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, breaking down the military tactics, questioning the administration’s stated motives, and comparing the operation to past U.S. foreign conflicts. The panel expressed skepticism about claims that natural resources played no role and extended the conversation to global instability in Iran and Cuba, along with the Trump administration’s and Vice President J.D. Vance’s controversial interest in acquiring Greenland. Closer to home, they examined Minnesota’s political turbulence following the shooting of a woman by an ICE agent, with Kristin Brey texting in on ICE accountability and all three warning their respective parties against fueling chaos ahead of the midterms. The show’s second hour shifted to electoral realities driving congressional Republicans to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, before wrapping with bipartisan “Say Something Nice” shoutouts, quick takes on January 6th historical revisionism, and a deep dive into the high-stakes Packers-Bears playoff matchup with ESPN Milwaukee’s Kyle Wallace.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey opened the show with the tragic news out of Minneapolis, speaking with Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty attorney Rick Esenberg about the ICE agent who shot a woman in her car. The conversation unpacked the rapidly forming partisan fault lines, with responses from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, while also examining the legal questions, accountability, and what to watch as the investigation unfolds. The focus then shifted to Wisconsin’s local and long-term challenges. In the “Forward Thinking” segment, City Forward Collective executive director Colleston Morgan joined in studio to explain why property taxes are rising across multiple communities as school districts struggle to fund education, particularly special education, amid limited state support. That discussion continued into Milwaukee’s outsized role in those increases. The second hour leaned into hyperlocal reporting with Urban Milwaukee president Jeramey Jannene, who delivered updates on the city’s crackdown on habitual parking violators (the other HPV), debated speed bumps and sidewalk shoveling, and highlighted adaptive reuse projects like converting a historic church into apartments. The show wrapped with a deep dive into City Hall power struggles, police settlement costs, and Milwaukee’s push to incentivize affordable housing development.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey opened the midweek edition of Point Taken with a pointed discussion about the Trump administration rewriting references to the January 6th Capitol attack on government websites, and whether the country has reached a point of no return when it comes to facts versus opinion. They engaged directly with listener texts pushing back and reacting to the revisions before turning to criticism from the U.S. Secretary of War aimed at Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly, while Producer Jazz resurfaced a 2016 clip highlighting similar rhetoric from years earlier. The show then broadened into culture and technology, reacting to a CNN poll suggesting Americans increasingly identify more by age than race or gender — with Steve sharing frustrations about generational stereotypes. That theme of societal erosion carried into a conversation about X’s AI chatbot Grok being used to undress women and girls, regardless of age, and what it says about the decline of online community standards. In the second hour, Steve and Kristin examined the rapid expansion of prediction markets into politics and sports before welcoming ESPN Milwaukee’s Alex Strouf for an in-depth breakdown of the Packers’ high-stakes playoff matchup against the Bears. The show wrapped with a Milwaukee Boat Show giveaway and a lively “Ask Us Anything” segment that bounced from Las Vegas tourism and Venezuela to sports gambling ads, cultural quirks, and whether Milwaukee needs a Laverne & Shirley statue.

Steve Scaffidi returned alongside co-host Kristin Brey for his first Point Taken of 2026, opening the show with reflections on a recent trip to Las Vegas and a sober conversation marking the fifth anniversary of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Steve and Kristin examined the evolving legacy of the riots — including convictions, pardons, and continued efforts by some Republicans to downplay the events — before turning to breaking international news. The pair shared their initial reactions to the U.S. invasion of Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, analyzing intent, next steps, and how the press and political leaders responded. The show balanced heavy politics with lighter moments, including a Milwaukee Boat Show giveaway and a playful debate over whether Steve is a “boat guy.” Back on the global stage, they discussed reactions from Venezuelan leadership and weighed in on controversy sparked by a social media post from the wife of Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller amid renewed talk of acquiring Greenland. In the second hour, “The Anger Professor” Dr. Ryan Martin joined by phone to discuss his new book 50 Ways to Feel Better Fast, breaking down the role anger plays in everyday life and who the book is designed to help. The program wrapped with conversations about GLP-1 weight-loss drugs becoming available in pill form and a nostalgic turn to food culture, as Steve and Kristin invited listeners to weigh in on the decline of pizza delivery and the meals they’d still order instantly.

WTMJ host Kristin Brey kicked off what she called the “real start to 2026” with a fast-moving and consequential show centered on the U.S.’s stunning military action in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Joined in studio by WISN-TV political director Matt Smith, Kristin unpacked how Wisconsin politicians were reacting to the news and what former RNC Chair Reince Priebus told Smith on UpFront about President Trump’s influence on upcoming midterms and the Wisconsin governor’s race. The show then turned to state and regional political fallout, with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Mary Spicuzza breaking down former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan’s resignation following her felony conviction and the political pressure surrounding it. Kristin also covered Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s surprise decision not to seek reelection and revisited the alleged childcare fraud scandal that has rippled into Wisconsin discourse. In the second hour, Annex Wealth Management CEO Dave Spano joined Kristin to discuss market reactions to the Venezuela invasion, lessons from the 2025 economy, and Warren Buffett’s retirement. The show closed with robust listener engagement, as Kristin took calls and texts reacting to the Venezuela situation, openly debating the Trump administration’s actions while finding moments of common ground with listeners.