What It Means to be an Independent..

Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey opened the show by unpacking what it really means to be “independent” after a Gallup poll found nearly half of Americans identify that way, pushing back on the idea that independents are non-partisan when it comes to key issues. They were then joined in studio by Hector Colon, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, for a candid conversation about the refugee resettlement system, how it has shifted under the Trump administration, and the fear surrounding increased ICE enforcement in Wisconsin. In the second hour, Urban Milwaukee president Jeramey Jannene joined the hosts for “City Stories,” breaking down Milwaukee’s move to integrate artificial intelligence into 911 calls, a new police drone pilot program, and the privacy concerns surrounding both. The discussion also covered federal funding for road safety, political dynamics in upcoming Milwaukee County supervisor races, ongoing legal trouble for the former city attorney, and multiple conflict-of-interest questions shaping local development decisions.