“What the f**k, Oklahoma?”: Jon Stewart tees off on fracking-obsessed state for literally causing earthquakes

Fracking is turning the Sooner State into a giant Brookstone massage chair

Published April 24, 2015 1:16PM (EDT)

    (Comedy Central)
(Comedy Central)

Prior to 2008, the state of Oklahoma experienced only an average of 1-2 earthquakes each year (with a 3.0+ magnitude). In 2015, it's not uncommon for the state to receive more than two earthquakes of that size in just one day. Surely, this phenomenon is just the lord using the state as a shake weight, right?

Jon Stewart blasted the fracking deniers of Oklahoma on Thursday night's "Daily Show," providing hard-and-fast evidence that the uptick in industrial drilling is to blame for turning the great state into a "giant Brookstone massage chair." The Sooner State has made some baby steps, though. "Oklahoma, admitting you have a problem is the first step," Stewart said of the state which finally came around to recognizing the problem earlier this week when a geological survey was released which clearly detailed that oil and gas wastewater disposal wells were triggering earthquakes.

What did the state do just 24 hours later? Approve a bill that prohibits cities and towns from regulating oil and gas drilling operations. OK, Oklahoma. OK.


By Colin Gorenstein

Colin Gorenstein is Salon's assistant editor of internet and viral content. Follow @colingorenstein or email cgorenstein@salon.com.

MORE FROM Colin Gorenstein


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Daily Show Fracking Jon Stewart Oklahoma D Video