"The fact is, the media never gets off the interstate unless there's a major explosion"

This quote by Jim Harrison is a commentary on the media's tendency to concentrate on mind-blowing stories. He is recommending that the media will just cover stories that are shocking or severe, such as a significant surge. He suggests that the media rarely covers stories that are not marvelous, and that they are content to stay on the "interstate" of traditional news. This quote is a criticism of the media's propensity to focus on the most severe stories, instead of the stories that are more meaningful and pertinent to daily life. It suggests that the media is refraining from doing its job of notifying the general public about crucial issues, and instead is focusing on stories that are more likely to draw attention. This quote is a pointer that the media must be more responsible in its protection of news, and need to aim to offer the general public with significant and relevant information.