Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi & Kristin Brey

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.

On the first Point Taken of 2026, Kristin Brey was joined in studio by Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki and Republican strategist Bill McCoshen for a wide-ranging, bipartisan breakdown of the political landscape. The hour began with a deep dive into YouTuber Nick Shirley’s investigation into alleged childcare fraud in Minnesota, examining what the scandal could mean for a reliably blue state, its convicted figures, and potential fallout for Governor Tim Walz ahead of future elections. From there, the panel zoomed out to national and global stakes — questioning why the war in Ukraine continues despite President Trump’s pledge to quickly end it in his second term, and reacting to the House Judiciary Committee’s surprise release of closed-door testimony from former Special Counsel Jack Smith. The second hour shifted closer to home, with analysis of Wisconsin’s governor’s race, looming campaign finance disclosures, and listener frustration over the outsized role of money in politics. The show wrapped with reflections on 2025, expectations for 2026, thoughtful cross-aisle shoutouts, and a grab bag touching on foreign policy, media trust, and pop culture moments from New Year’s Eve.

It’s New Year’s Eve, and Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey ring out 2025 by revisiting Steve’s ongoing saga with a Facebook troll, then highlight some of the best things that happened in 2025, from medical breakthroughs to the rise of weight-loss drugs. Kristin questions why New Year’s falls in the dead of winter (blaming Julius Caesar), before the duo turns to New Year’s resolutions, reading listener goals for the year ahead. In the second hour, they talk about what they’re officially done with in 2026 — from endless Microsoft Teams meetings to doom-scrolling. As Kristin heads off to the ball drop at Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Steve wraps up the show solo with Ask Steve Anything, taking listener questions, ideas for 2026, and sharing thoughts on conversations he hopes to have with faith leaders about the role of faith in modern life.

With the year coming to a close, Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey reflect on time, aging, and what it means to move forward — sparked by Steve realizing it’s been almost 50 years since he graduated high school. The duo takes on a 2025 news and pop-culture quiz (courtesy of Yahoo News, Producer Jaslyn and ChatGPT), then zooms out to discuss the biggest stories and themes of the year — from political violence and natural disasters to viral moments and cultural overload. Listeners weigh in on what defined 2025 for them. They swap favorites from TV and movies, compare them to what actually topped the charts, and then turn their attention to the future. Inspired by “New Rules” lists, Steve and Kristin (and the audience) lay out personal rules and predictions for 2026 — covering politics, AI, sports, and a few truly wild guesses.

It’s the final week of 2025, and Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey break down a 60 Minutes report on a U.S.-linked detention center in El Salvador that was pulled at the last minute in the U.S. but aired in Canada, raising questions about editorial judgment, news deserts vs. news floods, and whether the word “fact” still means the same thing. A debate over music from the new Wicked movie sparks a broader conversation about how politics increasingly shows up in pop culture and storytelling. Then, the focus shifts to Minnesota, where a YouTube exposé revealed alleged childcare fraud, prompting Steve to share his own experience with COVID relief misuse. In the Monday Market Preview, Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano joins to look ahead to 2026 economic predictions, from silver prices to what businesses and consumers may be underestimating — and where optimism might be warranted. The show wraps with sports and fun: the Packers’ tough loss to the Ravens, questions around Malik Willis and Matt LaFleur, the origin of the cheese grater hat, and a lighthearted discussion about who you’d want a Cameo from to close out the year.

Happy Holidays from Steve and Kristin. We are highlighting some of our best interviews including: Stephanie Hauser - Executive Director of the WIAA Megan Greenwell - Author of "Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream” Steven Olikara - Founder of Bridge Entertainment Labs Trae Crowder - Comedian Dr. Matthew Boedy - Author of "The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize American and Destroy Democracy" Pam Jahnke - Host of the Midwest Farm Report (at the State Fair!) Paul Wilson, Expert on Sustainable Nuclear Energy, Energy Policy and Radiation Transport of Nuclear Systems at the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin Madison

It’s Christmas Eve on Point Taken — and for once, there’s no news. Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey open the phones and text line to hear listeners’ Christmas wishes, favorite gifts, and most disappointing surprises. Kristin shares the best gift she’s ever received, Steve vents about the missing eggnog latte at Milwaukee Starbucks, and the two sprinkle in a little Pay It Forward encouragement for holiday drivers. The heart of the show comes with holiday storytelling, as Kristin reads her “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” piece from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, followed by Steve’s version from 2017. They reflect on traditions, buying gifts for yourself (and mom), grandchildren, and what they hope to do better in 2026.

It’s still Christmas week, and Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey kick things off with a holiday question many people can relate to: are gift cards a thoughtful present — or a lazy one? With one in five Americans receiving a Starbucks gift card, Kristin explains why Starbucks increasingly operates like a bank, while listeners weigh in with strong opinions. Then, friend of the show Brian Reisinger joins to discuss his latest Milwaukee Journal Sentinel column on the necessity of deer hunting in Wisconsin, from population control to the reality of hitting a deer on the road. Next comes a Festivus tradition — Steve, Kristin, and listeners air their grievances, aluminum pole not included. Then, former Lieutenant Governor and 2026 gubernatorial candidate Mandela Barnes joins in-studio to explain why he’s running, how he’d tackle affordability, what he learned from his 2022 Senate race, and how he’d govern with a Democratic legislature. They wrap things up with Pay It Forward, keeping the holiday spirit alive.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined by WISN-TV political director Matt Smith to unpack his firsthand coverage of the Judge Hannah Dugan trial, including what stood out in court and what could come next on appeal. They also break down new investigations involving the Wisconsin Department of Justice, from scrutiny over a Bloomberg-funded investment to a federal DOJ request for voter information — and Attorney General Josh Kaul’s sharp pushback. Then the show lightens up. Steve and Kristin open the phones to ask listeners one essential holiday question: what’s the most overrated Christmas thing? (Steve has strong feelings about McDonald’s dropping the Eggnog shake.) In the Monday Market Preview, Annex Wealth Management weighs in on holiday spending, credit card debt, the possibility of a Santa Claus Rally, and what the economy could look like in 2026. They close with ESPN Milwaukee’s Alex Strouf, breaking down the Packers’ tough loss to the Bears, media meltdowns, and Christmas plans.

WTMJ hosts Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey welcomed Republican strategist Bill McCoshen and Democratic State Rep. Deb Andraca for a wide-ranging, spirited conversation that moved from Wisconsin politics to national headlines—and back again. The panel dug into the split verdict in the Judge Hannah Dugan trial, what it could mean for her future, and how both sides of the political aisle were poised to weaponize the outcome. They also examined Trump’s recent address to the nation, the spotlight on Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and the growing political implications of rising Wisconsin property taxes ahead of the 2026 governor’s race. The hour balanced sharp analysis with lighter moments, including the group’s weekly “Say Something Nice,” discussions on Packers-Bears fandom, women’s health breakthroughs, and whether driverless taxis could ever work in Milwaukee. From serious reflections on civic discourse to feel-good stories of everyday heroism, the conversation wrapped with a reminder of the value of paying it forward—even in divided times.