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.