“This technology is real,” Newsome said emphatically. Not only that, but “All of you are going to be able to go to space in your lifetime,” Newsom said.

To the room of eager reporters, whose eyes widened at the thought of their childhood space-traveling fantasies moving one step closer to reality, Newsom was the bearer of unbelievable good news. This was a welcomed break from the usual global warming and population bomb bad news.

Although Newsom is somewhat of a tech nerd, and therefore naturally excited about techno knickknacks, he explained that technology is also having a profound impact on politics.