John McCain’s vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act was a surprise to many, but not to Al Franken.
Appearing on Tuesday’s Late Show, the Democratic senator from Minnesota explained why he saw McCain’s decision coming, and it had to do with the whereabouts of Vice President Mike Pence.
“I suspected, but I didn’t know for sure because Pence had left the room,” chuckled Franken. “So that told me that he was going to vote no.”
The thumbs down from the Republican senator sparked applause from the gallery and some staffers, but Franken explains that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer put a quick end to the celebration.
“Everyone stopped because we didn’t want to gloat,” explained Franken. “And we shouldn’t gloat; this is serious, serious stuff.”
Watch the clip above.
The Late Show airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com