
Back in the 1980s, while he was still a pro wrestler, Jesse Ventura had a lot of down-time in airports. He began sifting through books about theories questioning the official story of the JFK assassination.
He became hooked on conspiracies, feeding on his own suspicion of government and big industry.
After his time as governor of Minnesota a few years back, he remained a skeptic. This led to his current show “Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura,” which debuts Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Atlanta’s TruTV.
“I don’t scare easily,” said Ventura in a phone interview last month. “But whether you choose to believe in conspiracies or not, I guarantee you the show will frighten.”
Over seven episodes, Ventura explores topics such as global warming, secret societies and apocalyptic prophecies.
The sample episode TruTV provided to me focuses on a project in Alaska called the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program — or, more succinctly, HAARP. The government says it’s merely studying the ionosphere for communication and surveillance purposes. Conspiracy theorists see darker motivations such as high-tech weaponry, weather manipulation and even mind control.
Though Ventura said he tries to keep an open mind, he found perpetual government stonewalling infuriating and suspicious.
He said the military refused to give him an official tour of HAARP. So he flew up to Alaska and arrived uninvited. A manager refused to let him in.
“They tell us it’s an unclassified research project,” Ventura said. “Then why can’t we see it?”
The show also tried to talk to local residents. Most declined. The few who did were suspicious of the facility. “They feel like their intelligence is being insulted. Clearly, it’s something more than they’re telling us.”
The topic that jazzes Ventura the most, though, is 9/11. He wonders whether the Twin Towers really fell from fires stemming from the airplanes crashing into them.
He thinks the way they collapsed appeared deliberately controlled. Critics have jumped him for even posing the question, but he remains undeterred.
“I’ve learned in my life,” he said, “there are no dumb questions.”
He said he is not interested right now in another run at political office. He cited a Crosby, Stills & Nash song about getting your hair cut to get elected. “Well, my hair isn’t cut,” he said. “When I go back to a shaved heard, that means I may run again.”
More seriously, he said, “I’d rather do this. It’s far more fun. I like the private sector. Why? You don’t get yelled at for making money!”
He now spends part of his year on a beach home in Mexico. “It’s an adventure,” he said. “I’m in my late 50s. The window of opportunity is closing. I live in a place with no electricity or paved roads. I live with surfers. I live off the grid.” (He does have solar power and Internet access so it’s not that isolated.
ON TV
“Conspiracy Theory With Jesse Ventura,” 10 p.m. Wednesdays, TruTV
82 comments Add your comment
ugaaccountant
December 1st, 2009
3:15 pm
The voters of Minnesota actually voted for a guy who believes this garbage? Doesn’t speak very highly of the people in that state.
Okay
December 1st, 2009
3:30 pm
If you don’t want people to be suspect, be transparent. Ask away Jesse!
Rule .303
December 1st, 2009
3:32 pm
Good point, except we voted for Sonny, Casey, and a philandering, suicidal, demegogue Glenn Richardson…lol
I have family in MN. The state was actually well-run under him. The first state in recent history to mail out rebate checks to residents whenever the state budget reached a certain level of surplus. The problem with his tenure wasn’t necesarily him, it was that the Democratic and Republican parties teamed up to destroy him. A conspiracy? Not this time.
Shaun Rooker
December 1st, 2009
4:10 pm
I believe all that garbage.
Rick
December 1st, 2009
4:19 pm
I will watch it with an open mind and see what happens.its pretty hard to believe the gov wood something like that but who really noes any more
Nick Papagorgio
December 1st, 2009
4:28 pm
What a nut job! White hood not back from the cleaners?
Nick Papagorgio
December 1st, 2009
4:30 pm
Sounds like sombody’s writing a manifesto
Nick Papagorgio
December 1st, 2009
4:31 pm
Bravefan79??? John Rocker, is that you?
John
December 1st, 2009
4:52 pm
Bravesfan79, WOW!! What a nut job you are.
Don Baumgart
December 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
This led to his current show “Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura,” which debuts tonight at 10 p.m. on Atlanta’s TruTV.
Dateline on story is Dec. 1 Program debuts Dec. 2.
Need a calendar? -db
Rodney Ho
December 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
Thanks Don. I had written this for the print edition, which is why the word “tonight” popped up. I forgot to change it for the blog. It’s now fixed.
You gotta be kiddin me
December 1st, 2009
5:09 pm
Ya’ll are making fun of people in Minnesota for electing Jesse Ventura? Why not, all you did was elect a clown after you elected a delusion King (King Roy). Talk about whack jobs. Next time elect someone with 2 functioning brain cells.
Norio Hayakawa
December 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
I will fully support Jesse Ventura if he ever decides to run for presidency in 2012. He is straightforward, honest, sincere, compassionate and above all, has lots and lots of common sense. He cuts through all the BS that is prevalent among today’s so-called ‘politicians’. Run, Jesse, run in 2012!
nocheek ta turn
December 1st, 2009
5:28 pm
Watch the movie “Fall of the Republic ” And learn a thing or two on the game the elite are playing with U.S. . Go Jessse wake some sleepwalkers up bra! You ROCK !
dubya
December 1st, 2009
5:40 pm
it wasn’t me or the previous previous administration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
prootwadl
December 1st, 2009
5:56 pm
ugaaccountant, Jesse was a better choice than the two major-party candidates running at the time, at least in this former MN resident’s opinion. I voted for Jesse because I appreciated his candor and mostly agreed with his platform, I don’t regret that action one bit, I thinki he did an admirable job in office given the two-party deadlock in the MN legislature at the time, and I would MUCH rather have him down here as Governor of Georgia than the clown who is currently occupying that office.
dan
December 1st, 2009
6:15 pm
bravestfan.. is a wack job moron
Ken Stallings
December 1st, 2009
6:22 pm
He shows up unannounced — meaning uncoordinated — and he actually expected them to open up the door and show this rube all their research equipment and techniques. That’s valuable property for the contractors and federal employees, plus there’s likely a significant degree of risk to Ventura poking around stuff he doesn’t understand.
The humiliation is that the state of Minnesota voted a retired professional wrestler as their governor. His prime issue seems to be that everyone else is stupid and corrupt, but he’s intelligent and honest. Yeah! This is one program I won’t ever watch!
ugaaccountant
December 1st, 2009
6:39 pm
Prootwadl – Your opinion seems genuine, as opposed to most of the other posts. I have to believe that with as many crazy ideas as he discussed in this article, that he was simply a ticking time bomb of idiocy that your state was lucky to avoid catastrophe. He’s got a few screws lose and has lost touch with reality. I’d hate to have him in charge of a major decision.
anointed one
December 1st, 2009
9:21 pm
all of you saying that jesse is crazy are the ones who dont have the balls to question anything or anybody. you take the path of least resistance and you go with the flow. if any of you had even take a few minutes out of your ignorance filled lives to check out the evidence on these issues then MAYBE you would have something to say. too many people trust their government and let them do w/e they want for “our protection”. everybody has a right to question. “those who give up their liberty for secuirity deserve neither liberty nor secuirty.” ~ Ben Franklin
anointed one
December 1st, 2009
9:24 pm
dont EVER believe the official story that the government gives you. if you havent learned already the majority of politicians and people “in charge” have agendas that they are not willing to talk openly about. more and more people are waking up . . . i feel sorry for the ignorant ones. 9/11 was an inside job!
Question Authority. . . Or Get Duped
December 2nd, 2009
12:41 am
I feel sorry for anyone who DOESN’T question their governmedia/corporatocracy. It’s hard to imagine anything more disgusting and repugnant — other than the establishment itself — than being a blind follower OF the establishment.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out… without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.”
– H.L. Mencken
Shawn
December 2nd, 2009
1:13 pm
People forget this man was also a Navy S.E.A.L., and you don’t reach that qualification as a dummy. Mr. Ventura makes a habit of speaking straight and to the point, and I’d vote for him in a heartbeat.
Optimus Prime
December 2nd, 2009
5:44 pm
“The voters of Minnesota actually voted for a guy who believes this garbage? Doesn’t speak very highly of the people in that state.”
You need to wake up Jack. The only Garbage around here is your Obama boy and his thugs!
Royboy
December 2nd, 2009
6:18 pm
I tend to side with Jesse and Bravesfan, AGAINST UGA Accountant. I have read about how our US legislators held classified hearings about how the US government controls the weather using the network of antennas and grid across the US . as far back as the VietNam war and USSR used it to control weather in Asia depending on how much money farmers were able/willing to pay. Follow the money trail.
normsz69
December 2nd, 2009
9:26 pm
jeeses only fault,hes too honest
RM
December 2nd, 2009
10:13 pm
Jesse is correct. No need to explain the complexity of the government, but this is way beyond the simple little minds of most Americans. Yes it was an Inside Job, and it was the catalyst for the “Patriot Act” which laid the foundation of the stripping away of our rights, and now Obama is doing his job, reading script according to the puppet masters. Only the incredulous can’t see this. Now go ba a good little boy and write Santa Claus asap..
t-in-k.c.
December 2nd, 2009
10:55 pm
i love this show already it is very intresting i will watch it every week
vote
December 2nd, 2009
11:31 pm
Ron Paul 2012
open mind
December 3rd, 2009
12:21 am
There are none as blind as those who have a closed mind. wake up America NOW!!!
open mind
December 3rd, 2009
12:31 am
Has everyone forgotten this is a GOV. of the people, by the people& for the people? start demanding answers before it’s to late. Give them hell Jesse.
1s1kne
December 3rd, 2009
2:04 am
If the HAARP system can control weather why not use it? Could you imagine the chaos if iran recieved 10′ of snow in one day, then a quick thaw to drop the snow level to about 5′ followed by a rapid snap freeze…Hell that HAARP thing could be a lot of fun to play with..
dayd3
December 3rd, 2009
5:10 am
I dont think the haarp system can control the weather, or new orleans wouldn’t have wound up in the drink. That was a cover up story to camoflage the real cover up. It’s hard tellin’ what that setup is really for, but controlling the weather,,,,missed me with that one.
VikingsGal
December 3rd, 2009
8:25 pm
I am a lifelong Minnesota gal who lived here under Jesse’s time as our fearless leader. He was always a little “out there” but we as Minnesotans were, for the most part, fine with that. He was NEVER this odd out in public and didn’t spout these theories to the media. He hated the “media jackals” (his words) because they reported on, you know….Jesse! And he did NOT like being critisized FOR ANYTHING, EVER. I hear the ads for this show and I can’t stand the sound of his voice.
Reaper
December 5th, 2009
11:59 am
About time someone started asking tough questions. Are owned and controlled media seems to have lost there b*lls.
Media jackals? You mean media puppets. Whenever someone runs or hides from a question that should raise an eyebrow from even the dumbest person.
This “unspeakable,” this hypnotic “collective denial of the obvious,” is sustained by a mass-media whose repeated message is that the truth about such significant events is beyond our grasp, that we will have to drink the waters of uncertainty forever. As for those who don’t, they are relegated to the status of conspiracy nuts.
We know the obvious………. The truth is coming! Thanks Jesse
Scott Kaiser
December 5th, 2009
5:57 pm
My name is Scott I am the son of Edwin B. Kaiser Jr. I grew up in Miami in the early 70’s my father was a long time friend of Frank Sturgis one of the convicted Watergate people, recently I have been in contact with the CIA & FBI about my father because I am in the process of having a book written tilted “The Untold Truth” in my possession I have a tape that my father gave me the day he was killed the year was 1977 and I was 13 years old the tape is a confession that Frank made to my father the day he assassinated JFK. I can remember Frank coming to our house and we would go over his house often, my father and Frank loved to drink Cuban coffee with cognac, my father and Frank loved to brag about things, if you like you may google my fathers name and Frank Sturgis and it should take you to Nodule 21 open it for yourself and read it. I also have classified documents that are not found on the internet and an 8mm film of JFK funnel, if your interested in talking to me I now live in San Antonio, TX. my number is 210-778-4309 There is alot more involved then just JFK. about my father., my father use to dress in a military officers uniform only to steal weapons at Homestead AFB he was the head of an anti Castro movement and recruited former Alpha 66 members. I know all this cause I have first hand knowledge of being there.
Jenkins
December 6th, 2009
4:55 pm
Well…… woopidy doooooooooo!!!!
Big Mowma
December 6th, 2009
7:00 pm
Go Jesse! Yeah, us Minnesotans elected you, fair and square. No hanging chads, no dead people deciding to climb out of their graves to vote for the other guy, etc.
People who don’t believe 9/11 was an inside job haven’t even considered looking at the facts. Alas, we have to be patient with these people – there are none so blind as those who will not see. Jesse, do a bang up job on the 9/11 episode….the Truth Movement needs you!!
Big Mowma
December 6th, 2009
7:09 pm
And….what about Kalleefornians electing TWO movie stars for governor?? Oh, for smart, huh? And look at the ding dong Alaska gov., Sara the Quitter? The only thing that bothers this Minnesotan about living here is we are stuck with that idiot Pawlenty. Hopefully he’ll lose his run for president in 2012 and fade into obscurity and we can have our state back. Jesse rocks!!
Slaterjones
December 6th, 2009
10:35 pm
How’s this for a conspiracy theory. Jesse didn’t train to be a S.E.A.L. He was in a different group within the military which was merged with the S.E.A.L.’s, so basically he was grandfathered into it. Just pointing this out to all the idiots who think he’s so smart cause he was in the SEALS.
Big Mowma
December 7th, 2009
7:09 pm
“Naturally the common people don’t want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the
country to danger. It works the same in any country.” Hermann Goering – Nuremburg Trials
rareagle
December 7th, 2009
7:43 pm
Slaterjones- Do you have any links, citations etc. to support your post?
“He was in a different group within the military which was merged with the S.E.A.L.’s, so basically he was grandfathered into it.”
What “group” would that be, exactly?
Slater
December 10th, 2009
9:54 am
This is
Slaterjones
December 10th, 2009
9:55 am
Rareagle, this is from his book.
“While on active duty, Ventura was part of an Underwater Demolition Team 12. The UDT was merged with the Navy SEALs in 1983, after Ventura was no longer in the Navy.”
Big Mowma
December 13th, 2009
11:33 pm
So then he should know something about controlled demolition and how explosives work, right? His 9/11 show was awesome!
romanmel
December 16th, 2009
11:26 pm
I just watched the 3rd installment in the conspiracy series on Global Warming. Bravo! This was a masterpiece in presentation of the farce of Al Gore’s plan to make big bucks on the back of the New World Order crew set to take control of the world and make us all slaves to their will. He pulled no punches and most was recorded before the recent Climategate revelations. Anyone still thinking global warming is due to man made carbon dioxide emmissions, just have their heads burried in the sand. Wake up!
Dave Gayner
December 17th, 2009
1:33 pm
Jesse was right on target on global warming and the fact that Al Gore will soon be a billionare from his many Green corporations. Now Hillery wants to give away billions to smaller country’s that are now begging for money. We are heading for a ONE World Government. Wake UP!!!!!
RJL
December 17th, 2009
4:25 pm
HI MR. VENTURA. I THINK U R DOING A GREAT JOB THAT A LOT OF US MIGHT B SCARED 2 DO. ONE THING THAT I THINK IS MISSING IS U GOING TO THE VERY SOURCE. FOR INSTANCE ON THE 9/11 I THINK U SHOULD HAVE TRIED 2 CONTACT EX-PRESIDENT BUSH, RUMSFELD AND CHENEY TO C HOW MUCH THEY WOULD HAVE LIED. BUT GOOD JOB N KEEP IT UP. WE R 100 PERCENT BEHIND U
Big Mowma
December 17th, 2009
6:53 pm
If you get a chance to vote for 2009 Person of the Year, vote for David Ray Griffin. http://911review.com/articles/griffin/nyc1.html
He’s the man. I’m sure Jesse knows all about him. Support the 9/11 Truth Movement however you can.
Ryan
December 17th, 2009
7:43 pm
ugaaccountant use your brains dude, your field seems to be full of flowers and fuzzy bunnys