Point Taken Does Festivus

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.