If there were any doubts about Elon Musk’s political influence in the contemporary Republican Party, they were largely erased last week. After all, the world’s wealthiest individual managed to play a leading role in derailing a bipartisan spending bill negotiated by the GOP’s own elected congressional leaders.

Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) was criticized after he suggested on Sunday that Elon Musk is the country’s unelected “prime minister” — and not in a bad way. “It’s kind of interesting,” Gonzales said during an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.