The Week Evening Review
DeSantis' waning influence in Florida, the effect of Musk's salute, and presidential impoundment

 
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION

Is DeSantis losing steam in Florida?

When 2024 started, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) seemed to have a good shot at becoming the next president of the U.S. But a year later, he's struggling to rein in his fellow Sunshine State Republicans. 

Recent developments in Florida reveal "how much clout DeSantis has lost," said Politico. On Monday, the governor called a special session of the GOP-controlled legislature to pass an anti-immigration bill. But legislators rejected DeSantis' proposal and passed a different version, saying their plan is "most in line" with President Donald Trump's vision. They also overrode DeSantis' veto of a $57 million budget for legislative support services. It's a stark pivot for a legislative branch that previously mostly followed the governor's directives. "I guess the boxing gloves are on," said State Rep. Mike Caruso (R). 

What did the commentators say?
DeSantis is "learning the price of burning bridges," said The Miami Herald. The governor spent much of his tenure "running roughshod" over legislators, using his popularity with voters to "compel lawmakers to comply with virtually all of his requests" while often ignoring the need to "foster relationships." 

The dynamic changed when DeSantis lost the GOP presidential nomination. Now he's "fighting the lame duck label" as he finishes his second term. "Building goodwill with other Florida political leaders might have served him well right about now."

There's also a lesson for national-level Republicans, said Bloomberg. Congress "should take note" of Florida legislators' willingness to buck DeSantis. Their willingness to go against his demands is a "head-spinning about-face" that's "commendable for its attempt to revive the system of checks and balances." That's an important example, especially as Trump attempts to assert his own executive authority. "Now, Congress should give it a try."

What next?
DeSantis is "ready to take his dispute with the legislature to the ballot box," said Politico. The governor is ready to put money into GOP primary races across the state and put his political and fundraising muscle to work to help anoint his successor in the Florida governor's mansion. 

Anybody who opposed him during the immigration special session is "not going to get elected governor in this state," said DeSantis. The question now is if he still has enough influence to make the threat stick.

 
 
QUOTE OF THE DAY

'Tell them I harmed national security and the sweet, soft feelings of staff. In D.C., that's what passes for the pledge of allegiance.' 

Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden sarcastically reacting to the confirmation hearing of former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice for director of national intelligence. She faced criticism for seemingly supporting Snowden and refusing to call him a traitor, even though he leaked NSA secrets and fled to Russia.

 
 
IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Extremists embrace Musk's salute as Tesla investors fret

The Anti-Defamation League called it an "awkward gesture." Social media pedants called it a "Roman salute." Elon Musk himself professed his innocence. Whatever the explanation, Musk's strong-arm salute during President Donald Trump's inauguration bore a strong enough resemblance to Nazi gesticulations to nearly overshadow the event. And no matter Musk's intention, the effect of his gesture has galvanized far-right extremists and created another crisis for electric-vehicle maker Tesla, the pillar of his wealth.

'Signature of the online right'
Regardless of whether Musk was deliberately making a 'Sieg Heil' salute, the gesture was "eagerly received that way by extremists online," said Rolling Stone. The "entire neo-Nazi movement seems to be eating it up," said extremism expert Nick Martin at Wired. 

Playing on the ambiguity between intent and effect has "become a signature of the online right in recent years," said The Forward. Accordingly, the phrase "my heart goes out to you," which Musk said as he made his gesture, has "gone from alibi to ironic right-wing catchphrase."

While Musk seems to have escaped any immediate consequences, those who have emulated him are at higher risk. In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, local elected official Laura Smith resigned from her post after she posted a video duplicating Musk's gesture, which garnered criticism, said CBS News. And former Anglican Catholic Church priest Calvin Robinson was defrocked for repeating Musk's gesture, which "many have interpreted as a pro-Nazi salute," said the organization on its website.

'Big barrier' for corporate competition
Musk's latest controversy may be detrimental to his long-term business interests. "Political boycotts" are rarely able to "kill an established company" like Tesla, said Forbes. But Musk's cars and forthcoming RoboTaxi service rely on a customer base of "big city urban dwellers" who trend to the left. "If Tesla, fairly or unfairly, gets a Nazi taint among that population," that will create a "big barrier in competing with other services."

Even those already enmeshed in Tesla's business have begun openly questioning Musk's risks to the company. "Will you apologize for the misunderstanding that occurred when you made the hand gesture thanking folks for their support?" asked one investor at the car company's online forum, said CNBC. Others questioned how the company plans to "respond to Musk's now infamous Nazi salute."

 
 

Statistic of the day

4,417: The number of retained EU laws that remain unchanged by the U.K., exactly five years after the country left the bloc during Brexit. At least 6,901 total EU laws were retained by the U.K. to avoid government disruption following the exit. Only 1,484 of these laws have been repealed while 806 have been amended.

 
 
the explainer

What is 'impoundment' and how does it work?

Congress is locked in a contentious funding battle with a president who has spent his first weeks in office working to make good on a campaign promise to "challenge the Impoundment Control Act in court, and if necessary, get Congress to overturn it," as he stated in a 2023 campaign video. Given this ongoing fight and its potential implications, impoundment is poised to remain in the spotlight in the coming months.

As its name implies, impoundment is, fundamentally, when a president chooses to "withhold or delay the spending of funds that Congress has appropriated for the federal government to disburse," said The New York Times. While holding back some funds is "routine" in cases where an objective can be achieved with less money, the practice "becomes contentious" when a president withholds money from a program "because he objects" to the program.

What are 'deferrals' and 'recessions'?
"Contentious" need not mean "impossible." The Impoundment Control Act lays out a very specific set of criteria a president must follow in order to "reduce, delay or eliminate funding in an account," said the House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus. 

Broadly, this happens in two ways: "Deferrals" create a "temporary delay in spending certain funds with the intent to spend them before their expiration," said the Bipartisan Policy Center. "Recessions," on the other hand, are a "formal request" from the White House to Congress to "cancel certain budget authority." 

Why does it matter for the future?
While the Impoundment Control Act is a powerful governmental rule, it would be "contrary to legal precedent and to the Constitution" to say that it's what prevents presidents from impounding congressional funds, said the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Rather, the constitutionally prescribed "power of the purse" afforded to Congress "precludes the president from unilaterally deciding not to spend money that Congress has provided."

The fight over impoundment ultimately raises a "fundamental question about the structure of our government," said Steve Vladeck, a Georgetown University law professor, at his One First newsletter. If a president has free reign to impound funds without limit or reason, then there's "not much point to having a legislature."

 
 

Good day 🌋

… for Maori culture. New Zealand has legally recognized Mount Taranaki as a person, granting it the same rights, duties and protections as a human. Known by its Maori name, Taranaki Maunga, the "sleeping" active volcano is the third natural feature to be granted the rights of a person in the country. The government will cease ownership of the mountain and jointly manage it with local Maori tribes, who consider the mountain among their living ancestors.

 
 

Bad day 🎒

… for American education. Students had record-low reading comprehension scores last year, according to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the Nation's Report Card. Not only did "most students not recover from pandemic-related learning loss," but students who were the "most behind and needed the most support have fallen even further behind," said the Department of Education in a statement.

 
 
Picture of the day

Rocking to rebuild

Joan Jett joins Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear of Nirvana for a performance at the FireAid benefit concert in Inglewood, California. Some of the music industry's biggest stars performed, and wildfire survivors told their personal stories, all to raise money for the neighborhoods impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires. 
Chris Pizzello / AP

 
 
Puzzles

Test your general knowledge with The Week's daily crossword, part of our puzzles section, which also includes sudoku and codewords

 
 
The Week recommends

Actively immersing yourself in foreign customs and becoming a participant instead of an observer is a powerful way to travel. If that feels daunting, use these hotels as a helping hand. They offer authentic experiences sure to leave a lasting impression.

Learn Maasai beading at Mara Bushtops in Kenya
Intricate beadwork is a fundamental part of Maasai culture in Kenya. This vibrant jewelry represents "beauty, tradition, strength and sometimes even social status," said WE. The pastime has also turned into an income source. As part of its Bushcraft Challenge, Mara Bushtops on the Maasai Mara brings in local beading experts who share the history of their craft and teach guests how to make their own creations. 

Practice Chinese calligraphy at Amanfayun in Hangzhou
The art of calligraphy goes back thousands of years in China. Guests at Amanfayun learn about Chinese calligraphy in Fayun Place, the resort's cultural center. Amanfayun is a "conversion of an entire village whose inhabitants once harvested tea," said Condé Nast Traveler, with rooms offering the "breathtaking sight of 13th-century bodhisattvas and Buddhas carved into the nearby cliff." 

Waltz the night away with Almanac Palais Vienna
Ball season in Vienna is a dazzling spectacle of "live orchestras, waltzing and, of course, tiaras," said Marie Claire Australia. At Almanac Palais Vienna, guests have access to these traditions through the Night at the Ball experience. In preparation for the renowned Opera Ball, visitors receive dance lessons, select an ensemble to wear from Juergen Christian Hoerl atelier and ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

 
 

Poll watch

Almost half of Danish people (46%) consider the U.S. to be either a "very big" or "fairly big" threat, according to a YouGov/Guardian survey. The poll of 1,000 Danes found this to be higher than those who considered North Korea (44%) and Iran (40%) major threats.

 
 
INSTANT OPINION

Today's best commentary

'"Meritocracy" is the right's smokescreen for white mediocracy'
Charles Coleman Jr. at Newsweek
DEI criticism "presents a paradox that reveals not only dangerous ironies but a bigger issue around the myth of American exceptionalism," says Charles Coleman Jr. In the "same breath that proponents of meritocracy cry foul at DEI-related programs, there's an unabashed desire to reward white mediocrity" even when the "potential candidate is nearly void of any relevant merit." The "idea isn't about taking away unfair advantages — it's quite the opposite." 

'Social media without fact-checking will destabilize the Global South'
Ashfaq Zaman at The Hill
Social media is "perfectly happy to profit off the masses of data they accumulate from users across the world" but "far less interested in investing in the systems and processes that ensure some semblance of accuracy or protection," says Ashfaq Zaman. Both "misinformation and disinformation pose unique threats to the Global South," and "lower levels of digital literacy, combined with rapid mobile phone adoption, can leave falsehoods harder to distinguish from information gained from credible sources."

'Eat ice cream for breakfast this weekend' 
Hannah Docter-Loeb at Slate
The "first Saturday in February" is the "best holiday known to humankind: Ice Cream for Breakfast Day," says Hannah Docter-Loeb. The "prospect of eating food that is even colder than the weather outside is pretty absurd. But I promise it's fun and legit!" As an adult, the "day has become less about what's on the actual menu and more about the experience." There's "something special about gathering all the people you know to celebrate something so silly."

 
 
WORD OF THE DAY

alexinomia

Greek for "no words for names," this phobia paralyzes a person from using personal names in conversation, often "under any circumstance," said The Atlantic.

 
 

Evening Review was written and edited by Theara Coleman, Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Joel Mathis, Summer Meza, Rafi Schwartz and Anahi Valenzuela, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images; Ying Tang / NurPhoto via Getty Images; Andrew Harnik / Getty Images; Wolfgang Kaehler / Light Rocket / Getty Images