In the dizzying world of U.S. politics, nothing says efficiency like passing a bill in the wee hours of the morning, especially when it involves clawing back billions of dollars in government spending. The House and Senate recently united to squeeze the funds out of public broadcasting and USAID, albeit by the skin of their teeth, with a 216-214 vote. In true Washington fashion, a special rule allowed the bill to get a nod without the messy ordeal of direct voting. So, while most of America was asleep, Congress was busy shaking up things, ready to hand the baton over to President Trump for his signature.

This maneuver is a bit of a historical rarity, similar to spotting a unicorn on Capitol Hill. The last time Congress did something like this was three decades ago. They called it a “rescissions plan,” a fancy term for taking back money already promised earlier in the year. While it may sound groundbreaking, it’s more like taking a toddler’s ice cream cone and offering them a lollipop instead. Nonetheless, it’s a start, and a rather small one at that, in the grand scheme of a federal budget that jumps over $7 trillion.

Now, there’s no denying that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a thorn in some Republicans’ sides, yet cutting it off financially can be a slippery slope. Public broadcasting is wading in rather complicated financial waters. They aren’t reliant entirely on taxpayer money, but enough to cause a minor hiccup if the funds dry up. The money flows like an old-school Rube Goldberg machine: Congress funds CPB, which doles out cash to individual stations, which then spend it on programs from NPR. Extraordinary, right? Not exactly direct, but potentially disastrous for the stations hovering on the brink without federal aid.

Some conservatives could barely contain their delight at the thought of Big Bird flapping away from a federal feeding trough. Since back in Newt Gingrich’s day, Republicans have banged the drum for cutting ties with publicly funded broadcasting – despite friendly Muppets storming Capitol Hill in protest years ago. Yet here we are, witnessing long-held dreams of some GOP members finally being realized.

In an unexpected plot twist that makes politics the peculiar beast that it is, the bill signing was cloaked in a cloak-and-dagger mystery: the notorious Epstein files. This surprise dance partner took the stage alongside Public Broadcasting and USAID discussions, dragging the proceedings to a crawl. As some Republicans pushed for these files to see the light of day, it became evident that the wheels of Congress turn in their own complicated way. Even amidst contrasting issues, the intrigue and surprises are alive and well in the political theater of Capitol Hill.