Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) could have chosen to shrink the bill’s debt-ceiling increase to sway Rand Paul (R. Ky.), or adjust the Medicaid provisions to woo Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) and Collins. Instead, he gave more to Alaska—and it worked.

The Republican senator tried to explain why she advanced a far-right megabill despite serious reservations, but her reasoning doesn’t make sense.

President Trump said Tuesday he’s not sure how to get Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) vote on his “big, beautiful bill.” GOP lobbying efforts have focused on the Alaska Republican who has been holding out for hours over concerns that deep cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will hit her home state hard.