Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi & Kristin Brey

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined in-studio by Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki and Institute for Reforming Government’s Jake Curtis to examine the progress of immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. They break down ICE leadership changes, President Trump’s border strategy, and how recent events are reshaping public trust and political priorities. The conversation shifts to Wisconsin politics, including Trump’s endorsements, a shake-up in the governor’s race, and implications for upcoming primaries. The show also touches on election-fraud investigations, the possible release of additional Epstein files, and wraps with Say Something Nice, Grab Bag, and the Week-In-Review.

An ICE leadership change in Minneapolis, a key to the city, the Greek Freak Wants a Trade and more… It's the Week-In-Review brought to you by Outdoor Living Unlimited.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey break down leadership changes in federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and react to new footage shared by Donald Trump Jr. involving Alex Pretti. The show then shifts to the science behind GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, with Marquette University professor Dr. Bek Altas explaining how they work, their benefits and risks, and where the research is headed. In City Stories, Urban Milwaukee’s Jeramey Jannene joins to unpack a landlord fined for heating violations, Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s real estate purchases, a proposed pothole database, police training abroad, expanding train service, and major Milwaukee road closures that could reshape traffic and transit across the city.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey open the show with listener reactions to falling consumer confidence and dive into a conversation with Dr. Joanna Massey on hate speech, social media division, and the limits of free expression. Later, WCCO’s Jason DeRusha joins by phone to share his observations from Minneapolis amid ongoing protests and federal immigration enforcement. The episode wraps with Ask Us Anything, covering pronunciation debates, political endorsements, and even sports card collecting.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined in-studio by former U.S. Attorney James Santelle to examine the legal fallout from ICE’s violent actions in Minneapolis, including the killing of Alex Pretti and what accountability for federal agents actually looks like under the law. The conversation expands to major court challenges to President Trump’s executive orders, the legality of masked ICE officers, and warning signs of a broader constitutional crisis. Later, Steve and Kristin revisit developments in Minnesota, react to comments from Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany, and urge calm amid ongoing protests. The show wraps with Podcamp Media founder Dusty Weis on his award nomination, artificial intelligence, and whether AI is a tool for creators — or a threat to them.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey unpack the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and the rising national unease it’s sparked, including listener reactions and breaking developments. They discuss claims about voter data extortion, play audio from Minneapolis officials, and take a call from a listener on the ground. In the second hour, they’re joined by Dave Spano for a Monday Market Preview on how politics and unrest might be affecting markets and inflation, revisit breaking news from Minnesota, and close with listener texts.

In this Week's lookback: WISN-TV Political Director Matt Smith – Gubernatorial Candidates react to Minnesota, ICE and protests. Democratic Candidate for Wisconsin Governor Missy Hughes Author Brian Reisinger– What's impacting Wisconsin farmers right now. Urban Milwaukee President Jeramey Jannene – Milwaukee's growing food desert problem. Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski – Wisconsin data center regulation.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined in-studio by Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski for an in-depth conversation on election integrity, data centers and their impact on local communities, and the state of Wisconsin’s governor’s race. They also discuss ICE raids and protests in Minnesota, reproductive freedom, and priorities facing the state legislature. In the second hour, Steve and Kristin break down Jack Smith’s congressional testimony related to January 6, misinformation surrounding protests, the future of artificial intelligence, and wrap up with The Week-In-Review.

A celebration for a Milwaukee staple, the president pushes for Greenland, extreme cold hits Wisconsin and more… It's the Week-In-Review brought to you by Outdoor Living Unlimited.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey break down Wisconsin’s political and economic flashpoints, from the Democratic governor’s race and an in-studio conversation with candidate Missy Hughes to the real-world impact of trade wars on Wisconsin farmers with Brian Reisinger. Plus, Urban Milwaukee’s Jeramey Jannene joins for City Stories, tackling MPS leadership conflicts, housing challenges, food deserts, and public transit issues shaping Milwaukee’s future.

Momentum matters — and this week on Point Taken, Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey ask where it goes when the spotlight moves on. They start with the Jeffrey Epstein files and why the push for full transparency and accountability seems to be fading in 2026, reacting to a heated exchange between Scott Jennings and Leigh McGowan on the seriousness of what’s still unresolved. The conversation then shifts to ICE protests in Minnesota, including troubling reports of off-duty police officers and civilians being racially profiled by federal agents — and what that means for trust, law enforcement, and civil liberties. Later, Steve and Kristin break down Wisconsin’s newly passed data center regulation bill as construction begins on a massive data center in Port Washington, followed by a reaction to actor Ben Affleck’s comments on Joe Rogan about artificial intelligence, creativity, and the real-world costs of powering AI. The show wraps with a wide-ranging Ask Us Anything, covering non-verbal communication between the hosts, personality tests, books, the NFL playoffs, late-night TV, religion, politics, and whether Point Taken could ever broadcast live from Washington, D.C. Smart, curious, and unafraid to sit with uncomfortable questions — even when the news cycle doesn’t.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey opened the show marking one full year of President Donald Trump’s second term, inviting listeners to grade his performance and reacting to texts that touched on immigration, healthcare, and everyday impacts in Wisconsin. The conversation shifted to a major healthcare bill that passed Congress with bipartisan support during the show, with Kristin breaking down key provisions and listener concerns. Lighter but culturally revealing topics followed, including a debate over “stay-at-home sons,” Wisconsin’s relationship with alcohol during “Super Wet January,” and the social role of drinking. In the second hour, City Forward Collective executive director Colleston Morgan joined for “Forward Thinking” to unpack National School Choice Week, challenge misconceptions about school choice, and explain how families navigate Milwaukee’s complex education landscape. The show wrapped with listener engagement and community chatter, including talk of a possible Point Taken meet-and-greet at Wolski’s Tavern.

Steve Scaffidi was joined in studio by WISN-TV political director Matt Smith to break down how Wisconsin politicians are responding to the ICE protests unfolding in Minnesota, featuring clips from UpFront interviews with gubernatorial candidates Sarah Rodriguez and Tom Tiffany. The conversation highlighted sharp contrasts in how Democrats and Republicans are framing federal immigration enforcement and public unrest. Steve and Matt also discussed Congressman Bryan Steil’s bipartisan bill aimed at limiting stock trading by members of Congress and what momentum it may have. The show then pivoted to sports and geopolitics, with Steve reacting to the Chicago Bears’ overtime loss, weighing in on the Packers’ decision to extend Matt LaFleur, and analyzing President Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland and the growing strain it’s placing on U.S.–European trust. In the second hour, Annex Wealth Management’s Brian Jacobsen joined for the Monday Market Preview, examining tariffs, Trump’s Greenland-linked trade threats, and what lies ahead for interest rates and mortgages.

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.