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What do a disappointed office-seeker, a presidential assassination, a reform act from the 1880s, and an academic essay from Woodrow Wilson have to do with your life today?
More than you think.

In this episode, Alexis traces the surprising story of how the U.S. moved from a full-blown spoils system—“to the victor belong the spoils”—to a modern merit-based civil service. You’ll hear how President James Garfield’s assassination jolted the country into passing the Pendleton Act, how Woodrow Wilson helped launch public administration as its own field, and why all of this matters right now as Schedule F (now Schedule Policy/Career) reopens the debate over loyalty vs. expertise in federal jobs.

This isn’t about which party is “right.” It’s about the kind of government we want:
One run by professionals?
One run by political loyalists?
Or something in between?

If you’ve ever wondered how civil servants actually got here—and whether we’re drifting back toward a modern spoils system—this episode is your roadmap.

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Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.
email@thealexismorgan.com

Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
https://www.thealexismorgan.com

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Alexis sits down with Will Goodman, Chief Technology Officer for the Boise School District and a central voice in Idaho’s statewide conversations on AI in K–12 education. Will and Alexis serve together on an AI in K-12 Education Workgroup in Idaho, and in this episode, they dig into the real questions Idaho is navigating right now.

Together they explore:

• With 94% of Idaho students in public schools, what does “getting AI right” actually mean for an entire system?
• How schools can maintain academic integrity while using AI as a learning partner.
• What “Human → AI → Human” looks like in a real classroom?
• How to communicate clearly with parents about what AI is, and isn’t, doing in Idaho classrooms.
• What conversations parents should be having at home?
• How AI fits alongside Digital Literacy and digital citizenship.
• How Idaho’s approach compares to states like Colorado, Utah, and Georgia.
• How we’ll measure success: learning outcomes, efficiency, and equity.
• The cultural challenge of moving from fear to curiosity.
• Safeguarding human dignity and agency in an AI-driven world.
• What responsible AI in Idaho education could look like in 3–5 years.

If this conversation sparks a thought, concern, or idea—reach out. Idaho’s framework is a living document, and community voices matter.

Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/

JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.
email@thealexismorgan.com

Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
https://www.thealexismorgan.com

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Most people can name the President—but not their local city council members. In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis sits down with Matt Todd, host of The Ranch Podcast, to unpack what local government actually does and why it matters. From who really decides where roads go (hint: it’s not your Eagle City Council members) to how citizens can get involved at every level, this episode gets you started with Local Gov 101.

Matt shares insights from his conversations with elected officials, candidates, and civic leaders—offering real Idaho examples that bring policy to life. Along the way, a parallel to that unforgettable Schitt’s Creek scene: when Moira tells David to “fold in the cheese,” but never explains how. That’s how local government can feel...knowing it's there, but not knowing how to describe who does what and how.

Whether you’re a newcomer or a lifelong Idahoan, this conversation breaks down structures, responsibilities, and the small steps we can all take to keep democracy strong from the bottom up.

Because nothing changes unless we change it.

🎙️ A must-listen for every citizen who believes their vote...and their voice...matters.

Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/

JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.
email@thealexismorgan.com

Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:
https://www.thealexismorgan.com