Array pop only works when not assigning to variable?

let channels_history = [0, 0, 1, 0];
let channel = 0;

// wrapped in some button click event handler >>>>>

channel = channels_history.pop();
console.log(channels_history);

\<<<<<

which outputs

[0, 0, 1, 0]

However, if I do

console.log(channels_history.pop());

it works, and I get the desired values.