Last week New York City backed down from a plan to cap the explosive growth of Uber’s vehicle fleet. The mayor’s office declared the deal it reached to be a win-win for both sides, and warned Uber that an eventual cap is still a possibility if it doesn’t comply. But that threat seemed hollow given how abruptly the city had caved. Rather than highlighting a corporation brought to heel, the ending seemed to affirm Uber’s enormous ability to shape the political process.