Mike Zinna is a former investigative reporter, and radio and television talk show host based in San Francisco. Born and raised in Queens, NY, Zinna’s “other side of the tracks” upbringing and affinity for mob movies makes him unusually adept at analogizing politics and organized crime.
Zinna regularly calls-out so many of our country’s most revered institutions on their obvious racketeering practices – like when he refers to the major political parties as crime families who agree to split up the waste management business between themselves, and will whack anyone who tries to muscle in on their action. Zinna believes that viable third parties like Greens and Libertarians get the equivalent of “contracts put out on them” because these third parties threaten the two crime families that control our national garbage business – The Government.
Prior to journalism, Zinna entered the military and eventually held top secret security clearances from various government agencies, where he worked on and off the books for nearly six years. These unusual escapades became useful arrows in Zinna’s quiver, when launching his seminal media torrent, www.ColoradoExposed.com, a website dedicated to revealing the corruption that infested Colorado Government. Zinna’s award-winning screed drew repeated personal visits from the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, as these were the formative days of cyberspace when bloggers were still considered domestic terrorists.
Mike Zinna is the Plaintiff in the landmark “1791 Verdict” – a First Amendment lawsuit brought by Zinna for the retaliation directed against him by the government for his investigative reporting. For more than five years, Zinna fought to get the case to trial, enduring an endless arsenal of dirty tricks by government lawyers possessing an unlimited reservoir of taxpayer-funded legal resources.
The evidence in the case overwhelmingly demonstrated that the government hired private investigators to conduct surveillance on Zinna, dig-up dirt on him, and wiretap his home. Once armed with “The Zinna File” government officials repeatedly threatened him with a smear campaign if he didn’t cease his reporting on their corrupt dealings. Zinna refused to back down, later enduring the government’s as-promised attacks on him, his friends, and his business interests. The politicians’ brazen hit-job on Zinna spawned countless news–stories, and ultimately landed the defendants in a Federal Courtroom to face a civil jury in Zinna’s First Amendment lawsuit. The government denied everything.
After 40 witnesses and nearly two weeks of testimony, the jury deliberated just three hours and then seized control of the case. In a remarkable twist, the jury foreman transmitted to the judge an unusual question… “What year was the First Amendment ratified to the U.S. Constitution?” The Judge responded in writing, “1791.” Less than one hour later the jury returned a verdict against the government, and in favor of Mike Zinna. The jury, not permitted to make a formal statement in open court, chose to send a clear and resounding message to the government defendant. The jury found the government guilty, and awarded Mike Zinna exactly “$1791″ in damages.
Wedged between his television and radio shows, and his role as ring-leader at the world’s most dangerous broadcast network (The TradioV Network – www.TradioV.com), Zinna toils away on the shifting rubble of a “1791″ screenplay. His day-job requires him to publicly skewer conniving politicos and media bobble heads – which he really does not enjoy. It’s just something he’s naturally good at, and has decided to take one for the team. Zinna would prefer to be liked by everyone.
Ideologically, Zinna most closely identifies with Libertarianism. And although Zinna believes the Libertarians possess the only intellectually defensible political platform, he regularly chides the Libertarian Party for having a serious marketing problem. Zinna has openly stated, “Running candidates whose campaign is premised on more drugs, more guns, and less laws, sounds like a really fun time on a Friday night, but makes the voters a little nervous unless you clearly explain what the hell you’re talking about.”
Notwithstanding his “carrot and stick” love for Libertarians, in 2006, The Libertarian Party of Colorado bestowed on Mike Zinna its, “Talk Show Host of the Year” Award. Zinna graciously accepted the award on-air, then immediately chastised high-ranking party officials for choosing such a dumbass as a winner.
While constantly struggling to manage his ADHD, Zinna squanders his personal time by navigating between failed relationships.
