Especially since the time Rep Hank Johnson made a complete ass of himself when he, with a straight face expressed concerns about Guam tipping over into the Pacific because he thought we had too many military personnel there.
That wasn't the first time Johnson said something like that.
However, his staff always claims "he was joking".
The "tell" would be how other members of Congress reacted. If they were laughing, it was perceived as a joke. But, if they all sat stone-faced or looking down, you know what they really think of him.