Ever wondered how a member of Congress can shape national policy without casting a floor vote? We sit down with Representative Kimberlyn King Hines, the delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, to explore the real power centers in Washington: committees, markups, and the relationships that decide which ideas move and which ones stall. From drafting legislation to negotiating amendments, she shows how influence is built long before a bill reaches the House floor—and why that matters for communities far from the mainland.

We also pull back the curtain on the Marianas themselves—a remote U.S. territory that many Americans can’t find on a map, yet one with deep cultural roots and strategic significance. Kimberlyn shares that her first months included a lot of educating colleagues on pronunciation and geography, then quickly shifted to policies that fit island realities. We discuss the islands’ push for long-term economic sustainability, where transportation costs and labor shortages shape every decision. When a federal shutdown hits, the shock is immediate: nutrition assistance evaporates, millions stop circulating in the local economy, and small businesses struggle, creating a cascade that threatens essential services.

What stands out most is the Marianas’ cultural compass: seeking the good and caring for one another. That ethic has carried the islands through record typhoons and the pandemic, and it guides Kimberlyn’s approach to governance, centering dignity, practicality, and community resilience. By the end, you’ll see how representation at the edges of the American map tests the strength of our promises—and how thoughtful policy design can bridge the distance between Capitol Hill and the Pacific.

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