Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi & Kristin Brey

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey ask listeners a fundamental political question: how much personal baggage can a candidate carry before voters walk away? The discussion stems from news involving gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong and quickly expands into the broader issue of electability versus policy.

Later, Tim Sullivan of Adams MultiMedia joins to discuss the controversy surrounding a Watertown school concert and the fallout from removing a song tied to LGBTQ history. The show also examines changes at CBS News and what they may signal for journalism before wrapping up with gardening tips and healthy aging advice from Melinda Myers and Capri Communities.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey examine the political crossroads facing both parties, discussing whether Democrats should move further left or toward the center as the 2026 midterms approach, and what the Republican Party looks like after the Trump era.

Later, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters Caitlin Looby and Tamia Fowlkes join to discuss their investigation into PCBs in Wisconsin waterways and the long-term health impacts on affected communities. The show also tackles the future of work for Gen Z, remote employment, and features Milwaukee K9 Officer Shawn Burger as part of Salute to Service.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey discuss whether Wisconsin’s failed bipartisan tax relief and education funding bill deserves a second chance after new comments from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. They also examine the latest developments in the governor’s race as candidates race to meet filing deadlines.

Later, the conversation turns to a surprising labor statistic showing one in three men are not working and what it says about work, community, and modern life. Annex Wealth Management’s Brian Jacobsen joins for a Monday Market Preview on the economy, inflation, interest rates, and the impact of the Iran conflict.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined by Joe Zepecki and Bill McCoshen to break down the early battle for control of the U.S. Senate in 2026, the state of Wisconsin’s governor’s race, and whether recent polling vindicates supporters of the failed bipartisan tax relief and education funding deal.

The panel also discusses President Trump’s shifting rhetoric on Iran, the importance of candidates reaching outside their political comfort zones, and the broader challenges facing both parties. The show wraps with Say Something Nice, Grab Bags, the Week-In-Review, and a conversation about public reactions to billionaire-led space exploration.

A Memorial Day salute, Packers running back arrested, stolen yard signs, and more...

It's the Week-In-Review brought to you by Outdoor Living Unlimited.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey preview their interview with Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany before pressing him on election integrity, affordability, healthcare costs, education reform, and his opposition to Wisconsin’s failed bipartisan tax relief package.

Later, City Stories with Urban Milwaukee’s Jeramey Jannene covers major developments in Milwaukee, including likely leadership changes at the Wisconsin Center District, controversy surrounding Flock cameras, housing projects across the city, and growing concerns around transit funding and county government.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined by former U.S. Attorney James Santelle to break down major upcoming Supreme Court cases involving birthright citizenship, redistricting, voting records, and mail-in ballots — along with what this era of the court may ultimately be remembered for.

Later, Marquette Law School Fellow and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Craig Gilbert joins to discuss new polling showing Democratic voters shifting left faster than Republicans are shifting right. The show also touches on jury duty frustrations and a closely watched Senate runoff in Texas.

Steve Scaffidi opens the show by asking listeners whether rising gas prices changed their Memorial Day travel plans before diving into new polling on Wisconsin’s failed bipartisan tax relief and education funding package with Marquette Law School Poll director Charles Franklin.

Later, Steve discusses the importance of summer jobs for teenagers, checks in on the broader economy with Annex Wealth Management CEO Dave Spano, and welcomes City Forward Collective’s Colleston Morgan to examine what the failed bipartisan deal means for education funding and Milwaukee Public Schools moving forward.

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey are joined by Joe Zepecki and Bill McCoshen to break down the latest controversies surrounding President Trump, Congress’s failure to act on war powers, and the growing questions facing both political parties heading into 2026.

The panel also discusses the newly released Democratic autopsy report from 2024, foreign policy tensions involving Cuba and Iran, and the state of Wisconsin’s governor’s race. The show wraps with Say Something Nice, Grab Bags, and the final honoree of Salute to Service Hero Week.

Volunteer firefighter, Lt. Gary Spear, works as a firefighter for the community of Mayville, and he is our final Salute to Service Honoree