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3.19.2026 – AI Brackets, Idaho Policy, Conservative Infighting">3.19.2026 – AI Brackets, Idaho Policy, Conservative Infighting

3.19.2026 – AI Brackets, Idaho Policy, Conservative Infighting">

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Neal Larson and Julie Mason bounce between March Madness fun and a few heavy headlines, starting with the great experiment: letting multiple AIs build NCAA brackets (ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok—and maybe Claude) to see if the machines can out-pick the humans. They compare how each model handled the same prompt, note some basic “bracket logic” mistakes from ChatGPT and Gemini, and laugh about the possibility of an AI humiliating everybody in their listener bracket challenge. From there, the tone shifts to real-life tragedy with the sudden passing of Nampa Mayor Rick Hogaboam, and they share how widely respected he was across political lines, along with sympathy for Eagle Mayor Brad Pike who attempted CPR at the event.

The rest of the hour is a mix of “what are we doing here?” political culture talk and Idaho policy. Neal and Julie unpack the exhausting conservative infighting—especially the Israel-related feuds involving Megyn Kelly, Mark Levin, Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, and others—and argue it’s producing more heat than light (and maybe more clicks than clarity). They also push back on the outrage over Idaho’s proposed 60-second moment of silence in schools, calling it a wildly overblown fight. Chris Cargill from Mountain States Policy Center joins to preview their Dana Perino dinner in Boise, talk about Idaho’s policy wins (tax climate, school choice growth), reforms he’d like to see (better public notice for hearings), concerns about a proposed “unbiased AI” bill, and why he supports an Article V convention despite runaway-convention fears. The show wraps with bracket reminders, a couple of road-trip logistics laughs, and a quick riff on how high-tax states like New York practically admit why people and businesses flee.

**Highlights**
– AI bracket showdown: Grok vs. ChatGPT vs. Gemini (and possibly Claude) using identical prompts  
– Remembering Nampa Mayor Rick Sogabum and the shock of his sudden passing  
– Conservative infighting over Israel: “heat vs. light” and the role of clicks/ratings  
– Chris Cargill on school choice demand, tax competitiveness, Article V, and AI regulation in Idaho  
– Idaho’s 60-second school “moment of silence” debate gets called out as manufactured outrage  

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3.20.2026 – S4C: Rawlston Smith covers Dean Martin, Immigration Arrest Data, District 93 Levy">3.20.2026 – S4C: Rawlston Smith covers Dean Martin, Immigration Arrest Data, District 93 Levy

3.20.2026 – S4C: Rawlston Smith covers Dean Martin, Immigration Arrest Data, District 93 Levy">

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On today’s Friday show, Neal Larson and Julie Mason mixed a little “inside baseball” with a lot of local and state issues—and a fun listener perk. We set up a giveaway for two pairs of tickets to the Mountain States Policy Center dinner in Boise featuring Dana Perino, asking listeners to text a screenshot of the NewsTalk 107.9 app to enter (with the caveat: please only enter if you can truly go). From there, we dug into an Idaho House bill requiring law enforcement to record the immigration status and nationality of anyone arrested. While police and sheriff groups are pushing back publicly over “added workload,” we talked through why it may be less about paperwork and more about community trust, how the information might be used, and why immigration bills so often head to the Senate “to die in a drawer.”

We also hit the Legislature’s move to cap bill-drafting requests at 25 per lawmaker after a session producing nearly 900 draft bills, questioning whether “workload” is the real driver or whether politics and vote-avoidance are. Locally, we previewed the Bonneville School District 93 supplemental levy request—an increase large enough to create real sticker shock—and emphasized the questions voters will want answered (cuts made, administrative overhead, and whether the district has truly “DOGE’d” the budget before asking patrons for nearly double). In the middle of it all, we welcomed local performer Ralston Smith for a Studio For Cover segment—he absolutely nailed a Dean Martin-style “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime”—and later we reacted to the Taylor Frankie Paul/“Bachelorette” cancellation news and the bigger cultural appetite for spectacle. The hour also included breaking (as reported on-air) news of Chuck Norris passing at 86, plus listener calls digging into who, exactly, is responsible when bills get buried in committee.

**Highlights**
– Ticket giveaway: Dana Perino / Mountain States Policy Center dinner—how to enter via the app screenshot text-in  
– Idaho House immigration-status-on-arrest bill: workload vs. trust, database questions, and why the Senate shelves immigration bills  
– Bonneville SD 93 levy request: big increase, reserve drawdown, and why transparency on cuts/admin matters to voters  
– Studio For Cover: Ralston Smith brings the crooner energy with Dean Martin  
– Taylor Frankie Paul fallout: reality-TV incentives, brand implosions, and the cultural demand for extremes  

Let’s talk advertising. When you want to advertise on the radio, you call the station, right? But what about Facebook, Instagram, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, and other streaming platforms?

You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing.

Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today.

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Governor Little signs mandatory “moment of silence” bill for Idaho schools">Governor Little signs mandatory “moment of silence” bill for Idaho schools

Governor Little signs mandatory “moment of silence” bill for Idaho schools">

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little has officially signed House Bill 623 into law, mandating that all Idaho public schools begin the instructional day with a 60-second moment of silence.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa), specifies that this time is intended for students and staff to “reflect, pray, or meditate.” Supporters argue that the pause provides a necessary moment for individuals to ground themselves before the academic day begins. However, the law prohibits teachers from instructing or influencing students on how to spend those 60 seconds.

While the bill enjoyed robust support in the House, it faced a much tighter climb in the Senate, where it narrowly passed with an 18-15 vote.

Critics of the bill have expressed concern that the quiet time could be used for organized prayer in a school setting, which they say violates the concept of separation of church and state.

Supporters, however, emphasize that the bill’s language is non-specific, giving students total autonomy in how they utilize the quiet minute.

Local schools have already responded that they are prepared to implement House Bill 623 at the start of the new school year in August.

RELATED: Local schools brace themselves for new mandatory moment of silence law

Rexburg Police Warn of Safety Risks as ‘Senior Assassin’ Game Trends Among High School Seniors">Rexburg Police Warn of Safety Risks as ‘Senior Assassin’ Game Trends Among High School Seniors

Rexburg Police Warn of Safety Risks as ‘Senior Assassin’ Game Trends Among High School Seniors">

REXBURG, Idaho — The Rexburg Police Department is warning the community about potential safety concerns tied to the growing popularity of the “Senior Assassin” game among high school students.

Senior Assassin is a student-organized elimination game typically played by graduating seniors in the weeks leading up to graduation. Participants pay an entry fee that contributes to a prize pool, with the last remaining player declared the winner.

The game involves players being assigned specific targets. Once a player successfully “eliminates” their target—usually by spraying them with a water gun or hitting them with a foam dart from a Nerf-style blaster—they take over that target’s assignment. The cycle continues until only one participant remains.

While the game is meant to be lighthearted, police say it often takes place off school grounds and can lead to dangerous situations.

The use of realistic-looking toy guns can cause confusion and alarm among the public, potentially prompting emergency calls or encounters with law enforcement. In some cases, the game has led to reports of trespassing or suspicious behavior, particularly when players attempt to track targets in neighborhoods or around businesses.

Police also warn that certain tactics used in the game can cross the line.

“Don’t creep around in the shadows of a business late at night,” the Rexburg Police Department advised in a Facebook post. “Don’t be filming girls through windows as you’re creeping in the shadows of a building late at night. And don’t be carrying replica guns while hiding in the shadows of a building late at night.”

Some businesses in Rexburg have already taken steps to prevent issues, posting “No Senior Assassin” signs to deter participants from using private property as part of the game.

Police say while the game may seem harmless, the potential for misunderstandings and unsafe situations makes it important for participants to think carefully about how—and where—they play.

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