The Purple Zone

Author: Alexis Morgan

Welcome to The Purple Zone (formerly Our Kids Our Schools). Bridging the Gap between Public Policy, Practice & People.The Purple Zone explores what it really means to align how we govern, how we educate, and how we show up for our communities.Hosted by Alexis a PhD student in public policy and administration, and longtime educator and advocate for kids, communities, and the systems that shape our lives. This podcast connects the dots between policy and practice, without the politics or platitudes.Its about naming what often goes unsaid and making space for a more honest, human approach to systems that impact all of us. How systems shape our communities, from policy on paper to action in practice. Thinking Out Loud as a PhD Student
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Language: en

Genres: Education, Government

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The Assassination That Rewired American Government
Episode 53
Tuesday, 2 December, 2025

Send us a textWhat 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.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.comFind great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:https://www.thealexismorgan.com