Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi & Kristin Brey

Kristin and Steve are joinewd by Bill McCoshen and Joe Zepecki on today's Point Taken! The four discuss a wide range of topics, including redistricting, lessons learned from the Tennessee election, the latest Democratic candidate in Wisconsin's race for Governor, and much more! Steve and Kristin also discuss how you handle people with different opinions, and make some suggestions for paying it forward this holiday season.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey kick off the morning with Kristin’s chaotic car mishap — a parking-garage median, a cracked oil pan, and a whole lot of unsolicited listener advice. Then they shift to national headlines, including President Trump calling affordability concerns a “Democrat hoax” and the growing controversy around Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s alleged second strike on defenseless survivors. In City Stories, Urban Milwaukee’s Jeramey Jannene joins to discuss everything happening locally: Milwaukee’s stalled city flag redesign, redevelopment projects, the closure of Beans & Barley, more upcoming bridge work, and a push for a new Brewers ballpark district. They end with Pay It Forward, sharing small acts of kindness to brighten the season.

Broadcasting live from Sentry Foods in Delafield for the Kapco Kids2Kids Toy Drive, WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey blend politics, pop culture, and community for a festive, fast-moving show. They open with a look at the Tennessee special election, where a Democrat’s close loss in a deep-red district still had party members celebrating. Was it a moral victory or misplaced optimism? Then, they shift to Wisconsin’s 2026 governor’s race, continuing the conversation on Mandela Barnes entering the race and asking whether he can stand out in a crowded Democratic field — and whether he could potentially beat Republican frontrunner Tom Tiffany. At the store, Steve and Kristin chat with Sentry Foods co-owner Kerry Jeanpierre about how local grocers are navigating supply chain pressures, prices, and customer habits this holiday season — plus, the essential Wisconsin topic: pizza aisles. In the 11 a.m. hour, they’re joined by Dr. Ryan Martin, UW–Green Bay psychology professor and “The Anger Professor,” to unpack the Oxford Dictionary’s 2025 Word of the Year: “Ragebait.” They explore why outrage drives online engagement, what it says about our culture, and how to avoid getting trapped in digital anger. The show wraps with Ask Us Anything, holiday movie favorites, and a Pay It Forward segment on giving blood, starting conversations, and helping others during the season of giving. Politics, pizza, and perspective — all from the checkout lane at Sentry Foods.

A tight Democratic primary just got a frontrunner: Mandela Barnes enters the governor’s race. Plus, Wisconsin faces mounting pressure to finally pass Erin’s Law after revelations of concealed teacher misconduct. Founder Erin Merryn explains why prevention—not prosecution—should drive policy. Plus: the debate over taboo language resurfaces after high-profile podcasters resurrect slurs. Is policing vocabulary productive, or does euphemism only obscure reality? We close with Giving Tuesday by the numbers—and how Wisconsinites measure up in generosity.

After a snowy Wisconsin weekend, WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey start by catching up on the weekend snowfall before turning to a serious global story: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordering a follow-up military strike that could constitute a war crime. Steve and Kristin break down the political and moral implications. Then, they shift to a study showing teenagers’ growing distrust of news media, exploring why younger generations tune out — and how AI tools like ChatGPT may be making misinformation worse. The duo looks abroad for answers, discussing Estonia’s innovative media-literacy curriculum as a possible model for U.S. schools. In the 11 a.m. hour, Annex Wealth Management CEO Dave Spano joins for the Monday Market Preview to unpack holiday spending trends, earnings expectations, and why the current economy might just be a “vibe-cession.” Finally, ESPN Milwaukee’s Alex Strouf stops by to share his generation’s views on the media, preview the Packers vs. Bears matchup, and confess which NFL coaches have fans swooning. The show closes with Pay It Forward, as Steve and Kristin share stories — from giving away scratch-off tickets to covering a stranger’s Walmart order — about small acts of kindness that make the season brighter.

On this post-thanksgiving show, WTMJ's Steve Scaffidi is joined by Joe Zepecki. The two discuss their thanksgiving days, and how their politics played a role. PLUS, the two share thoughts on the Thanksgiving Packers game, and the state of officiating in the NFL.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi serves up a mix of politics and pie — in true Wisconsin fashion. Steve kicks off with reaction to U.S. Senator Mark Kelly and the Department of Justice investigation tied to Pete Hegseth’s criticism over a controversial ad. Steve explains why he believes Kelly’s ad was in poor taste but doesn’t warrant punishment, arguing that common sense — not party loyalty — should guide judgment. Then the show lightens up for the holiday season. After a holiday traditions feature by Debbie Lazaga, Steve opens the phone and text lines to ask listeners: -What’s your must-have Thanksgiving pie? -Will politics come up at your table this year? Callers Joe, Valerie, and Bob weigh in with their Thanksgiving philosophies — from “keep it peaceful” to “pass the pumpkin pie and the opinions.” In the 11 a.m. hour, Steve talks rising turkey prices, the surprising most popular pie in America, and more listener favorites. He closes with a few thoughts on a Dateline special filmed in Wisconsin and what’s coming up on his future shows and podcasts. Smart talk, good food, and a few laughs before the holiday — that’s Thanksgiving with Steve Scaffidi.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi sits down with two Wisconsin leaders shaping different corners of the state — Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Washington County Executive (and Republican gubernatorial candidate) Josh Schoemann — for candid, wide-ranging conversations ahead of Thanksgiving. Mayor Johnson joins first to react to the Milwaukee Common Council overriding his budget vetoes, and to discuss the city’s library hours, crime strategy, and Fire Chief Aaron Lipski’s call for more resources. Steve also asks about Milwaukee’s economic future — from potential data centers to the streetcar — and how the mayor plans to sell the city’s progress to both residents and travelers. Then, Steve talks with Josh Schoemann, who recently made headlines for his sharp remarks about the Morgan Geyser case and Governor Tony Evers’ leadership. They discuss the importance of responsible leadership, taxes, the state-city funding divide, and whether former President Donald Trump should influence Wisconsin’s next governor’s race. In the second hour, Steve turns from politics to people — asking listeners about their Thanksgiving travel plans, Friendsgiving traditions, and ideas to “pay it forward” this holiday season. Later, in a Forward Thinking segment, Colleston Morgan of City Forward Collective and Aaron Lippman of Carmen Schools discuss Milwaukee’s charter and public schools.

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi kicks off Thanksgiving week with law, travel, and a little gratitude. He’s joined by WISN-TV political director Matt Smith, who shares highlights from his interview with Interim U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel on the trial of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan — including talk of a potential plea deal and what comes next for the high-profile case. They also discuss the uncertain future of WisconsinEye, the state’s C-SPAN-style network, after losing key funding, and hear from CEO John Henkes about whether state support could save it. Next, Matt shares insights from Marquette Law School Poll director Charles Franklin on voter views of the economy, grocery prices, and inflation. Then, Steve turns to the skies: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants Americans to travel better in his new PSA, “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.” Steve asks listeners if the call for courteous flying — dressing properly, helping others, and keeping kids calm — is long overdue. In the 11 a.m. hour, Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano joins for the Monday Market Preview, breaking down holiday retail sales, the Beige Book, interest rates, and year-end investing tips. Steve also shares what he’s thankful for this season, recaps his deer-camp weekend, and relives the Packers’ big win over the Vikings before closing with ideas on how to “pay it forward” every day.

It’s been an action-packed week, and WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined in-studio by Republican strategist Bill McCoshen and Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki to unpack it all. They start with the headline lighting up Washington: President Donald Trump calling for the execution of those guilty of “sedition” after Democrats in Congress released a video telling military personnel it’s okay to disobey illegal orders. Then, the group turns to the Senate’s vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, debating what the release could mean for Trump, congressional Republicans, and anyone connected to the late financier. In the second hour, the panel dives into foreign policy and ethics as Trump hosts the Saudi crown prince at the White House, declaring the country a major non-NATO ally — despite the prince’s alleged involvement in the killing of an American journalist. Back home in Wisconsin, the focus shifts to the 2026 governor’s race and the ripple effect of Abbott Labs’ acquisition of Madison-based Exact Sciences. Could this open the door for Joel Brennan or even the CEO Kevin Conroy to run? After the heavy headlines, Bill, Joe, Steve, and Kristin keep tradition with “Say Something Nice” and “Grab Bags” — their signature bipartisan gratitude roundtable ahead of Thanksgiving. Later, author and farmer Brian Reisinger joins to talk soybeans, Wisconsin agriculture, and the deep ties between farmers and hunters as gun deer season kicks off.