

Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi & Kristin Brey
620 WTMJ
Hosted by Steve Scaffidi & Kristin Brey, Point Taken is for the politically curious and self described political junkie. Steve & Kristin explore, debate, & offer insight into the world of Wisconsin & national politics.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 17, 2025 • 1h 3min
The War on Autism
WTMJ hosts Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey were joined in-studio by Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki to announce his run for Wisconsin Democratic Chair. They asked him the “what”, the “why”, and the “how” of his run.
-They next asked Joe questions from the talk and text line including ones about party membership, “gas and groceries” and more.
Steve and Kristin reflect on their last conversation.
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Recently held a press conference on the “autism epidemic” and autistic people’s supposed inability to function in society and a clip from it was played; Steve and Kristin reacted with how wrong and insulting he was.
A clip from Dr. Alex Kolevzon, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Mt. Sinai from NBC News was played explaining what autism really is. Kristin and Steve continue to react and analyze.
Kristin and Steve played a clip from U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska where she expressed her distress with speaking up against U.S. President Donald Trump.
Steve and Kristin talked more about fear of the Trump administration by citing MMAC President Dale Kooyenga in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explaining local businesses expressing fear from the federal government and the “rock and a hard place” situation that the media found itself in during this political environment
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr was seen wearing a gold Donald Trump pin where the American Flag would typically be; Kristin and Steve speculated.
Steve and Kristin were joined in-studio by WTMJ News reporter Adam Roberts to discuss a public hearing regarding the issues Madison had during an election held by Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs and a persistent questioning from Republican commissioner Bob Spindell.
Steve and Kristin talked more about the Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador without proper cause.

Apr 16, 2025 • 6min
Wisconsin's Political Landscape After the Election w/ Keith Gilkes
Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey were joined on the phone by Keith Gilkes, Executive Chairman at Platform Communications to discuss a recent poll on Wisconsin Residents with their thoughts on the state budget and the economy.

Apr 16, 2025 • 51min
POINT TAKEN - THE INAUGURAL EPISODE
NEW SHOW! WTMJ hosts Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey introduce themselves and their new show Point Taken
10:16 – Their first start by talking about U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration refusing to release a man from Maryland who was sent to a prison in El Salvador despite protests from the man’s family and U.S. courts. They play audio from ABC Radio and discuss.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley held a town hall recently where his constituents vented their concern about the Maryland Man. Audio from the town hall was played and Kristin and Steve discussed.
Trump, Mahr and Kid Rock Walk into the White House: Real Time TV Talk Show host Bill Maher visited President Trump at the White House last week. A clip from last Friday’s show was played about his experience; Steve and Kristin weighed in and discussed talking with people one disagrees with.
Tariffs were a still big issue in the country, a clip from a Chinese expert was played on how the country was ambivalent if the United States completely backed out; Steve and Kristin discussed.
Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey were joined on the phone by Keith Gilkes, Executive Chairman at Platform Communications to discuss a recent poll on Wisconsin Residents with their thoughts on the state budget and the economy.
Steve and Kristin were joined by WTMJ program director Mike Spaulding to talk about the rejected names for Point Taken.

Apr 15, 2025 • 29min
10a: The Last PPH with Tracy Johnson and Steve Baas
Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association President & CEO Steve Baas joined Tracy Johnson in-studio, and he mentioned the good and the bad of April 15th. Then, they talk about the potential for development along the I-94 corridor in Wisconsin between Milwaukee and Madison.
They next talked about transportation funding.
Steve talked about the importance of road safety in construction zones.
Tracy and Steve talked about the “Chicken Jockey” phenomenon going on at movie showings for the “Minecraft Movie.”
Next, they talked about tariffs, the impact and who actually wanted them.
They talked about Wisconsin Democratic Chair Ben Wikler stepping down from his position, what he did that Republicans in Wisconsin struggle with.
Tracy asked Steve what he did for 414 Day and the importance.

Apr 15, 2025 • 31min
9a: The Real, the Fake the Ugly of IDs with Jake Curtis
It's the last Political Power Hour and WTMJ fill-in host Tracy Johnson was joined by Institute for Reforming Government General Counsel jake Curtis. They discussed what to expect from the Wisconsin State Supreme Court with Susan Crawford’s victory in the race for one of its’ seats; this included a case challenging Wisconsin Act 10 that would likely go before the court with soon to be Justice Crawford.
They talked about another issue that could be put before the court including school of choice. Then they pivoted to the Voter ID amendment that passed via referenda in the April 2025 election
They briefly talked about REAL ID being required in a month.
Tracy next asked Jake about the SAVE Act which recently passed by the U.S. Congress and how it reflected U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
Businessman Bill Berrien launched an exploratory committee for a potential from for Wisconsin Governor. Jake brought up other potential people who could be running for the Republican ticket.
Jake gave a shoutout to a NCAA basketball player

Apr 14, 2025 • 33min
10a: Economic Impact Locally and Globally
Tracy Johnson was joined remotely by Annex Wealth Management Chief Economist Brian Jacobson to talk tariffs and how people and the markets were reacting.
=They next talked about what the middle class really means and what no tax on tips means for them and how much they were being helped by the federal government and the tax cuts from 2017
Tracy Johnson was joined in-studio by MMAC President Dale Kooyenga to discuss the near-universal concern of local business leaders showing regarding the economy and how they were preparing for tariffs.
-Next, they discussed the Wisconsin State Budget and the joint finance committee meeting, the new Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent and the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.

Apr 14, 2025 • 17min
How Local Businesses Are Reacting to Tariffs w/ Dale Kooyenga
Tracy Johnson was joined in-studio by MMAC President Dale Kooyenga to discuss the near-universal concern of local business leaders showing regarding the economy and how they were preparing for tariffs.
Next, they discussed the Wisconsin State Budget and the joint finance committee meeting, the new Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent and the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.

Apr 14, 2025 • 15min
What Exactly is the Middle Class with Brian Jacobson
Tracy Johnson was joined remotely by Annex Wealth Management Chief Economist Brian Jacobson to talk tariffs and how people and the markets were reacting.
They next talked about what the middle class really means and what no tax on tips means for them and how much they were being helped by the federal government and the tax cuts from 2017

Apr 14, 2025 • 33min
9a: The Future for Wisconsin Democrats w/ Matt Smith
WTMJ fill-in host Tracy Johnson was joined in-studio by WISN Channel 12 political director Matt Amith. They talked a little bit about the Masters golf tournament from the previous weekend and Wisconsin Democratic Chair stepping down from the position, his political future and his replacement.
A clip from Smith’s show UpFront with Ben Wikler’s thoughts on the Democratic Party’s future was played; Tracy and Matt discussed the future of both political parties.
Tracy briefly asked Matt about his interview with MMAC President Dale Kooyenga.
They next discussed the Wisconsin state budget getting approved in the legislature. A clip from Wisconsin State Senator Pat Testin was played about the status of passing the budget. Tracy and matt discussed more and about the state’s surplus.
They discussed the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, and more importantly, how much was spent on it.
Lastly, they discussed the NFL Draft coming to Green Bay.

Apr 11, 2025 • 32min
10a: RFK Jr at It Again
Former First Lady Michelle Obama addressed rumors that she and her husband former U.S. President Barack Obama had separated due to not appearing at Current President Donald Trump events with him by saying she was making the right choices for herself. Steve reacted by saying one should not let politics get in the way for things like this.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Claimed that he planned to “solve” autism soon. Steve dissected his statement.
Steve talked about Trump’s tariffs and their effect on the economy.
Next, he talked about Trump’s border policy.
Steve discussed the budget and if “the can would be kicked down the road”.
Steve congratulated the county clerks across Wisconsin for how they handled the election in April.


