Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi & Kristin Brey

WTMJ hosts Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey kicked off the show with Steve’s return from his trip to Sicily and Malta, sharing travel highlights before Kristin quizzed him on all the major news he missed while away. The two then turned to the ongoing federal government shutdown—now in its 17th day—discussing the political stalemate in Congress and how it’s affecting everyday Americans. Listeners joined the conversation through the talk and text line to share how the shutdown is impacting their lives. In the second hour, Steve and Kristin talked about Wisconsin’s new statewide school cell phone ban and the debate over whether those decisions should rest with local school boards. They also discussed the latest indictment tied to Donald Trump, Sam Altman’s controversial AI decisions, and how technology ties into the loneliness epidemic.

WTMJ host Kristin Brey opened the show with highlights from the News Nation Town Hall, including powerful remarks from Stephen A. Smith on the government shutdown. She was then joined by former Milwaukee Judge and Marquette’s Lubar Center director Derek Mosley to discuss upcoming events, Milwaukee’s new Office of Wellness and Safety, and the latest Marquette Law School Poll. Later, Institute for Reforming Government’s Quinton Klabon joined in-studio to break down the Department of Education layoffs amid the federal shutdown, their impact on local schools, and the ongoing debates around testing standards, and Turning Point USA’s growing presence at charter schools. Kristin then turned her attention to Milwaukee’s infrastructure and city challenges with Urban Milwaukee president Jeramey Jannene. They covered the major I-94 reconstruction project, new powers to tow reckless driving vehicles, and the city’s push to resolve issues like unpaid parking tickets and aging fire trucks. The conversation also highlighted “Tiny Homes for Veterans,” the development of a new Innovation District near Walker’s Point, and lighter moments—including a viral video of a Dodgers fan enjoying Milwaukee hospitality.

WTMJ’s Kristin Brey explores the intersection of tech, politics, and culture, starting with Meta’s efforts to protect children online and Wisconsin’s proposed school phone ban. She then dives into a leaked Telegram chat filled with racist messages from "Young Republicans", the dangers of online echo chambers, and a disturbing incident involving the Democratic Party of Winnebago County at a local farmers market. Kristin is joined by Brewers documentary filmmaker Sean Hanish to talk about his latest doc on Packers fans in Japan "No packers No Life", and shares a feature from Erik Bilstad on the upcoming Type-1 Diabetes Walk. In the second half, Kristin speaks with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin about the government shutdown’s impact on healthcare and the political gridlock in Congress. She also covers the Democratic primary challenge to Senator Susan Collins in Maine, answers listener questions on everything from Milwaukee Brewers parades to brat toppings, and reflects on toxic online politics, protest movements, and parenting in Wisconsin winters.

WTMJ’s Kristin Brey is joined by former U.S. Attorney James Santelle and retired Milwaukee County Judge Mary Kuhnmuench to break down the new U.S. Supreme Court term, starting with Louisiana v. Callais, a case challenging the Voting Rights Act,, then they dive into other major cases on the docket—including one targeting conversion therapy—and what they reveal about the Court’s priorities. The conversation also touches on the Hatch Act controversy involving Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the ongoing legal battles over redistricting. Later in the show, Kristin speaks with OBGYN Dr. Kristin Lyerly about the complex legal landscape surrounding abortion care in Wisconsin and how federal policy shifts are affecting patients and providers. The episode wraps with a look at the State of Working Wisconsin Report from UW-Madison’s High Road Strategy Center, examining how Wisconsin workers are faring in today’s turbulent economy and where the data comes from.

On this episode of Point Taken, WTMJ’s Kristin Brey sits down with WISN’s Matt Smith to unpack the Milwaukee Brewers’ NLDS win and the political fallout from the federal government shutdown. Smith shares insights from his interviews with Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald. They also discuss potentially flipping Wisconsin Senate seats in 2026 with Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein and react to Vice President J.D. Vance’s tense exchange with George Stephanopoulos. Later, Kristin is joined by Annex Wealth CEO Dave Spano to explore the shutdown’s effect on the markets and why more companies are going private. The episode wraps with political scientist Dr. Lindsey Cormack, who explains the decline of civics education and why it’s crucial to raise informed citizens.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi is joined in-studio by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who recently announced his candidacy for Wisconsin Governor. Crowley talks about why he’s running, his priorities for the state, how he plans to connect with voters statewide, his approach to working with President Donald Trump, ideas for using Wisconsin’s budget surplus, addressing childcare challenges, and what his family thinks about his run.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined in-studio by Democratic State Representative Francesca Hong of Madison, another candidate to announce a run for Wisconsin Governor. Hong discusses her campaign messaging, her background, ideas for Wisconsin’s budget surplus, and key policy priorities. She also addresses her label a socialist, how she plans to stand out in a crowded Democratic field, and her views on education in Wisconsin.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey speak with Washington County Executive and Republican candidate for Wisconsin Governor Josh Schoemann. Schoemann discusses his decision to enter the race, his focus on supporting Wisconsin retirees, bringing residents back to the state, and his plans for veterans. He also talks about uniting Republicans divided over President Donald Trump, the sale of a Universities of Wisconsin campus in Washington County, his relationship with Milwaukee County, and ideas for improving city funding.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi is joined in-studio by Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor, who recently announced her candidacy for the next State Supreme Court race. Judge Taylor discusses her background, why she’s running, and her views on judicial recusal, civility within the court system, and the significance of an all-women State Supreme Court. She also shares her thoughts on Justice Rebecca Bradley’s decision not to seek reelection for the seat she’s pursuing.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey speak with Wisconsin State Senator and Democratic candidate for Governor Kelda Roys. Roys discusses why she’s running, what distinguishes her from other Democratic candidates, what actions she would have taken if she were already governor, and why she believes Wisconsinites should support her campaign.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey speak with former Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation CEO Missy Hughes, who recently announced her candidacy for Governor as a Democrat. Hughes discusses why she’s running, her background, and what sets her apart from elected officials. She also shares her views on legalizing medicinal marijuana, key policy priorities, what she believes Wisconsin voters are looking for, what she’s most excited about in her campaign, and how her experience in western Wisconsin shapes her statewide perspective.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey speak with Milwaukee beer vendor and Democratic candidate for Wisconsin Governor Ryan Strnad. Strnad discusses why he’s running, his decision to switch from the Republican Party, and his background as a longtime beer vendor for the Milwaukee Brewers. He also outlines the key policies from his campaign platform and what he would prioritize as governor.

WTMJ’s Kristin Brey speaks with Democratic candidate Governor, Wisconsin Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez. Rodriguez discusses her decision to run, her background, the challenges of reaching voters in a purple state, her thoughts on outgoing Governor Tony Evers, the upcoming primary, and why she believes Wisconsinites should vote for her.

WTMJ host Kristin Brey was joined in-studio by Republican strategist Bill McCoshen and Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki for a wide-ranging political discussion. They began with U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace deal between Israel and Hamas, shared thoughts on the ongoing federal government shutdown and its effect on healthcare, and debated the National Guard’s deployment controversies in Chicago and Portland. They also touched on Venezuela’s Nobel Peace Prize news and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul’s decision to run for re-election rather than for governor. In “Say Something Nice,” the trio found common ground, with each offering praise across the political aisle, before diving into their “Grab Bags” of global stories. Joe stayed on to discuss the growing scrutiny of data centers in southeastern Wisconsin, the local environmental impact, and how the issue could shape upcoming elections. The episode closed with national political headlines — from Katie Porter’s struggling gubernatorial campaign to the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James.

WTMJ host Kristin Brey opened the show diving into Wisconsin’s evolving hemp and cannabis landscape — unpacking the differences between hemp, marijuana, and CBD, and how each is regulated. She was joined by Beau Whitney, chief economist at Whitney Economics, to discuss the fast-changing Delta-8 market and what’s at stake for hemp producers nationwide as shifting laws threaten the industry’s stability. Later, Kristin spoke with Dr. Matthew Boedy, a professor of rhetoric and author examining the rise of Christian nationalism in America, to reflect on the ideology’s spread and the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The show closed with Urban Milwaukee’s Jeramey Jannene in-studio to talk about Milwaukee’s top local issues — from police pursuits and ICE’s new city office to budget challenges, the potential wheel tax hike, and updates on major infrastructure projects like the I-94 reconstruction and the city’s long-delayed timber high-rise.

Kristin Brey was joined in-studio by retired Milwaukee County Judge Mary Kuhnmuench and former U.S. Attorney James Santelle for a deep dive into presidential power and the limits of federal authority. The trio discussed President Trump’s decision to send the Texas National Guard to Chicago and Portland under the potential justification of the Insurrection Act, tracing historical parallels and public backlash. They also examined the reach of ICE, including reports of them using AI to track critics, and debated the balance between national security and free speech. Later, Kristin spoke with Pam Jahnke from the Midwest Farm Report about how tariffs and trade tensions are affecting Wisconsin farmers, and Trump’s proposed bailout to ease the strain. The show wrapped with listener questions about weekend getaways, the Affordable Care Act, and favorite Halloween candy.

Kristin Brey opened the show celebrating the Milwaukee Brewers’ big win and breaking down the latest from Washington, where President Trump may be making progress on ending the government shutdown. She spoke with Alex Jacquez from the Groundwork Collaborative about how the shutdown could raise health insurance premiums for Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act. Kristin also reacted to Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul’s announcement that he won’t run for governor, speculated on whether Mandela Barnes might enter the race, and discussed campaign transparency after Tom Tiffany removed his issues page from his website. Later, Kristin examined the peace talks between Israel and Hamas two years after the original attacks, then spoke with Dr. Markus Brauer from UW–Madison’s Institute for Diversity Science about the changing landscape of DEI programs in workplaces and universities. To close, Wisconsin Representative Amaad Rivera-Wagner joined her to discuss a bipartisan bill aimed at tackling rising housing prices across the state.

Kristin Brey was joined by WISN Channel 12’s Matt Smith to unpack Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’s influence, his re-election prospects, and who could replace him. They also discussed new polling in the governor’s race, and how campaign demands affect candidates’ day jobs. Later, Kristin explored a new dining trend—restaurants offering smaller portions as customers tighten budgets—and shared listener reactions. In the second hour, Kristin talked with Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano about the early economic effects of the federal government shutdown, Trump’s tariff policies heading to the Supreme Court, and OpenAI’s market dominance. She also spoke with Hudson Munoz of Guns Down America on how small businesses can help curb gun violence, wrapped up with the Milwaukee Brewers’ playoff push, and previewed her appearance at the "Roast of Milwaukee".

Kristin Brey was joined by strategists Joe Zepecki and Bill McCoshen to break down the ongoing government shutdown, the partisan budget stalemate in Congress, and President Trump and Pete Hegseth’s military “rally.” They also tackled Trump’s new “war on drugs” and wrapped the first hour with thoughts on the federal government’s gridlock. In the second hour, the group turned local, digging into Wisconsin’s governor’s race with Missy Hughes entering, Bill Berrien dropping out, and Tom Tiffany gaining momentum. They shared their “Say Something Nice” shoutouts, Grab Bag highlights from baseball to Oktoberfest, and Kristin and Joe closed with a discussion on how Democrats can broaden their base—ending with a thoughtful quote from the late Dr. Jane Goodall.