In this episode, we sit down with Bobby Shringi—former Chief of Staff to Congressman James Moylan—for an inside look at how Guam actually operates within Congress, what leverage the island does (and doesn’t) have in Washington, and why progress often depends less on speeches and more on relationships, timing, and strategy.

Having spent over two years on Capitol Hill advocating for Guam’s interests, Bobby breaks down the realities behind common misconceptions: what it really means to be a non-voting member of Congress, where Guam quietly succeeds in securing funding and policy wins, and why some long-standing issues—like SSI, the Jones Act, and political status—are far more complicated than they appear from the outside.

Rather than theory, this conversation focuses on how the machine works: committee power, staff-level influence, coalition-building among territories, and the tactical moves that can turn “no” into “maybe”—or even a win.

We cover:

• Why Guam’s delegate can be influential without a floor vote—and where the real power actually sits

• How committees, staff relationships, and timing shape outcomes more than public rhetoric

• The hidden mechanics of federal funding: matrices, definitions, eligibility gaps, and missed opportunities

• Why SSI remains one of Guam’s biggest unresolved equity issues—and how Puerto Rico complicates the path forward

• The truth about voting rights, party responsibilities, and why some territories avoid full voting status

• How Guam leverages the NDAA, defense funding, and military infrastructure for island-wide benefits

• Why the Jones Act problem isn’t just about Guam—but Hawaii, shipping routes, and entrenched industry interests

• The role of CODELs, staff visits, and why “educating Congress about Guam” still matters

• How public-private partnerships could unlock housing solutions for service members and locals alike

• What self-determination realistically looks like inside Congress—and why status quo persists by default

• Why education, not ideology, is the missing ingredient in Guam’s political future

If you’ve ever wondered why Guam struggles to move the needle federally, what actually happens behind closed doors in Washington, or how future leaders could be more effective navigating Congress, this episode offers a rare, candid perspective from someone who lived inside the system—and is now free to speak openly about it.

Data Points is presented by Pinpoint, Guam’s leading real estate data company. Our mission is to help you make informed decisions on real property purchases through detailed market analysis and insights.

In this episode, we sit down with Lee Webber—President/Owner of MDA, and former President & Publisher of the Pacific Daily News—for one of the clearest, most unfiltered breakdowns yet of why Guam’s political system is structurally incapable of delivering progress under its current design.

Drawing from five decades on island—from his medevac arrival in 1968 to running USA Today’s Asia operations and leading major newspapers across the region—Lee explains why Guam’s governance problems are not about personalities, but about systems: diffuse accountability, misaligned incentives, entrenched bureaucratic interests, and a legislative structure that rewards avoidance over action.

Lee makes the case that districting senators and moving to a part-time legislature is not just a reform—but the foundational change Guam needs before anything else can improve. From procurement failures and stalled infrastructure to declining public trust, he walks us through how centralized power, no clear constituency, and a culture of apathy prevent solutions from ever taking hold.

We cover:

• Why Guam’s legislature is structurally unaccountable—and why districting would immediately change that

• How the island inherited oversized, Washington-modeled government systems that were never built for a population of 170,000

• Why leaders “shift five times” depending on where the pressure and money are—not where the responsibility lies

• The real reasons DOE deteriorated and why DoDEA finally walked away

• How corruption, weak enforcement, and opaque procurement stall projects like Simon Sanchez for a decade

• Why Guam’s mindset of “it’s always been this way” is more damaging than any single policy

• The collapse of voter turnout and why so few people now choose the island’s leaders

• How small businesses can thrive when government shrinks—and why less government interference, not more, unlocks growth

• What Lee would do if handed “benevolent supreme authority” to restructure leadership, enforcement, public health, policing, and education

• Why tourism and military remain the island’s only real economic legs—and what must happen for diversification to be possible

If you want to understand why Guam keeps repeating the same failures, why reform efforts stall, and what structural shifts could actually change the trajectory of the island, this conversation offers a rare, experienced, and brutally honest viewpoint from someone who has watched Guam evolve over 50 years—both from the inside and from abroad.

Data Points is presented by Pinpoint, Guam’s leading real estate data company. Our mission is to help you make informed decisions on real property purchases through detailed market analysis and insights.

In this episode, we sit down with Tae Oh—Vice President of Vantage Advertising and PSI Holdings LLC, and outgoing Chairman of the Guam Chamber of Commerce—for his most candid breakdown yet of the economic pressures shaping Guam in 2024 and the hard-won policy battles that defined his term.

Tae walks us through the inside story of the BPT/GRT reduction: how the Chamber mobilized its membership, why the issue became so politically charged, and what the numbers actually mean for GovGuam’s budget versus the health of the private sector. He explains why businesses are struggling in the aftermath of a 22% government wage increase, how talent is being pulled into the public sector, and why retaining workers has become a survival issue for many employers.

From there, we dive into the future of tourism, the realities of a strong U.S. dollar, and why Guam’s visitor profile must evolve beyond the wholesale tour model. Tae shares a powerful vision for experiential, culture-driven tourism—and what it will take to compete with Southeast Asia’s booming destinations.

We cover:

Why the Chamber pushed for a BPT reduction—and why the “$40 million shortfall” narrative is misleading How government wage hikes and labor competition are squeezing private-sector employers Why Guam’s tourism recovery hinges on currency dynamics beyond the island’s control How Japan and Korea’s weakened currencies are reshaping traveler behavior Why Guam must shift toward immersive, culturally rooted visitor experiences What destination management really means—clean streets, safe areas, and a unified visitor product How beautification, infrastructure, and enforcing property upkeep affect economic growth Why homelessness and at-risk populations must be addressed for tourism to rebound The looming housing imbalance: military demand, GURA projects, LIHTC developments, and the disappearing middle class Why Guam needs a real housing strategy rooted in public-private partnership How CLTC land, 99-year leases, and infrastructure gaps stall homeownership What banks, developers, and private industry could do—if policy aligns Tae’s reflections on leadership, the role of the Chamber, and what’s needed for Guam’s next decade

If you want to understand the forces driving Guam’s economy, the policy wins and losses behind the scenes, and the structural challenges that will define the island’s future, this episode offers a clear, grounded, insider perspective from someone who has spent the year at the center of it all.

Data Points is presented by Pinpoint, Guam’s leading real estate data company. Our mission is to help you make informed decisions on real property purchases through detailed market analysis and insights.