  We demonstrate that a $\sim 2 \sigma$ discrepancy with the
Planck-$\Lambda$CDM cosmology in DESI Luminous Red Galaxy (LRG) data at
$z_{\textrm{eff}} = 0.51$ translates into an unexpectedly large $\Omega_m$
value, $\Omega_m = 0.668^{+0.180}_{-0.169}$. We independently confirm that this
anomaly drives the preference for $w_0 > -1$ in DESI data confronted to the
$w_0 w_a$CDM model. We show that redshift bins of DESI constraints allow
$\Omega_m$ to wiggle at the $\sim 2 \sigma$ level with increasing effective
redshift in the $\Lambda$CDM model. Given that LRG data at $z_{\textrm{eff}} =
0.51$ is at odds with Type Ia supernovae in overlapping redshifts, we expect
that this anomaly will decrease in statistical significance with future DESI
data releases leaving an increasing $\Omega_m$ trend with effective redshift at
higher redshifts. We estimate the significance of the latter in DESI data at
$\sim 1.8 \sigma$ and comment on how it dovetails with independent
observations. It is imperative to understand what makes DESI LRG data at
$z_{\textrm{eff}} = 0.51$ an outlier when it comes to $\Omega_m$
determinations.
