Tony Ortega's Blog, page 16
August 28, 2025
FBI raids Tampa church, indicts leaders for forced labor: So why not Scientology?
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The FBI raided a church in Tampa yesterday over forced labor allegations — and it had nothing to do with Scientology. Former Scientologists have been waiting for similar news out of the Tampa/Clearwater area, but about a ‘church’ whose abuses have been laid bare for decades. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Between 1945 and 1973 I studied the endocrine system. In 1973 it seemed that minerals and trace minerals operating in the blood stream and circulated by other body fluids were a key to glandular interactions. The theory is: Every gland in the body specializes in one or more minerals and actually that is how they make themselves interact one with another. The endocrine system of the body monitors the endocrine system of the body apparently through minerals. As various drugs upset the whole endocrine system of the body you can see that the moment you start administering vitamins and sweat out and things like that you’re going to get a mineral demand in the body. Therefore, there would need to be certain mineral dosages right along with the rest of this package.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
“I’ll give you an idea. You’re coffee shopping with somebody and you say, ‘You realize that there’s a GPM devoted to homosexuality in the between-lives implants? There is one!’ And he says, ‘Oh, I don’t really think so.’ He says, ‘Well, get the idea now, just get the idea of “to be a homosexual.” Just get that idea for a moment, and you’ll see.’ Ha! That, of course, throws that GPM alive, see? Just discussing it isn’t going to do very much about it, see. You got to concentrate, somebody’s got to concentrate his attention on it! Him or somebody else, you know, has got to look right at it, you know, straight at it and bang!” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 28, 1963
——————–
“With a checksheet on this and on that, Ship Admin and Specialist actions as well as standard Pol and Tech courses, a member of Flag gets to be one of the most educated fellows you ever did see. If the society taught all these things in college it would be quite a society. A member of Flag doesn’t really realize all he’s come to know I suppose until he compares it to what others know or don’t know. Some of the actions of the world or society or other ships look pretty dim.” — The Commodore, August 28, 1970
——————–
“If you bothered to talk to your spirits instead of getting rid of them you would find out that many of them would rather be managed and be productive rather than sit around and grumping at each other. OT 7s and OT 8s still have tons of spirits (BT’s) around them and do not recognize that these beings are there since they have attested to being free of them. I give my spirits a choice after freeing them from the incidents they are stuck in. They are free to start a new life or they can join me and work on my projects. About 18 percent want to stay and help.”
——————–
1998: The Associated Press reported that the Cult Awareness Network lost its bid to have the 9th Circuit Court hear an appeal of the judgment that put it out of business. “Seven federal appellate judges said Wednesday that free speech was threatened by their court’s ruling upholding $1.09 million in damages against an anti-cult organization for its role in trying to ‘deprogram’ a Washington state teen-ager. ‘We have taken a great leap backwards in the protection of First Amendment freedoms,’ Judge Alex Kozinski, writing for the seven, said in arguing that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals should reconsider the ruling. He said the Cult Awareness Network did not employ the deprogrammer or approve his actions and was bankrupted by the ruling. But the court said the request for a rehearing had failed to gain a majority vote among the court’s 21 active judges. Under its rules, the vote total was not announced. The ruling could be appealed to the Supreme Court. In Wednesday’s dissent from the denial of a rehearing, Kozinski said CAN knew nothing about the referral to Ross or his attempt to deprogram Scott, and had no control over it. He said CAN had referred callers to people who would perform involuntary deprogramming on minor children, a legal practice as long as no violence is used. The organization opposed the involuntary deprogramming of adults. ‘CAN effectively died as a direct result of this judgment, and the mission its supporters set out to accomplish died with it,’ Kozinski wrote. ‘This result is troubling regardless of where one falls on the political spectrum.'”
——————–
“Hezbollah, Hamas, Black Panthers, IRA, and Hells Angels have all done more charity work than the Church of Scientology ever has or will.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology restarts ‘Celebrity,’ but spills underage confession in ‘Source’
[TWO years ago] Before Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard wanted to be thought of like one of his pulp fiction heroes
Valerie Haney names Tom Cruise for arbitrator (and Shelly Miscavige if Tom is busy)
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 5: Leaving his body with full perception
[FIVE years ago] Clearwater Councilman Mark Bunker’s radical suggestion: Embrace Scientology?
[SIX years ago] London, Scientology is coming for you!
[SEVEN years ago] It’s primary day in Florida, and here’s how Scientology will be voting
[EIGHT years ago] Tomorrow’s ‘Leah Remini’: When Scientology destroys a family, it burns it to the ground
[NINE years ago] How Scientology’s anti-psychiatry front turns a real controversy into fake outrage
[TEN years ago] California judge orders trial to determine if Scientology drugged incoming rehab patients
[ELEVEN years ago] Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest Scientology video in the history of Scientology videos
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Legal Roundup: Per Wickstrom’s Fine Whine, And More!
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,369 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,873 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,379 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,929 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,919 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,305 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,800 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,104 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,755 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,973 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,527 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,868 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,439 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,355 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,522 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,104 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,363 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,400 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,116 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,680 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,995 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,170 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,852 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,189 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,042 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,158 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,520 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,929 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,319 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,203 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,768 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,279 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,539 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,643 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 28, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Minnesota shooter idolized mass killers, antisemites of the past
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});There's a desperate attempt to portray the MN school shooter as something other than reality.
Robin Westman showed racist and antisemitic slogans and was inspired by far-right killers like Anders Breivik, Brenton Tarrant, Robert Bowers, and Tim McVeigh.https://t.co/Tz0t74Hcj7
— Devin Burghart (@dburghart) August 27, 2025
Brandon Herrera @TheAKGuy is the typical "say awful shit for attention" MAGA. He's mocked veteran suicide, reviewed guns used by mass shooters as a joke, among other things. Russia supporter also. Now he's directly inspired a mass shooting. MAGA's hatred got us here, facts: https://t.co/Sr2Vvp5d0u pic.twitter.com/rBUFE2xhyH
— John Jackson (@hissgoescobra) August 27, 2025
Trump says he is praying for all those involved in the school shooting pic.twitter.com/KnxGfT1JRu
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 27, 2025
Uh oh https://t.co/DJLzAbqXtI pic.twitter.com/Jbq2eZ3ERt
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) August 27, 2025
NEW: Ten years ago, the far right conspiracy world went bonkers over the supposed military takeover and martial law of Jade Helm 15. Turns out that they were for it the whole time, as long as Trump was doing it.https://t.co/UG2p4sxHwO
— Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky) (@rothschildmd) August 27, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 28, 2025 at 08:00
August 27, 2025
Scientology success: ‘I became at peace with being controlled by a man’
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A new #success story has a mother of four gushing about learning to be ‘controlled by a man’ regarding processes we first learned about because Tom Cruise had gone through it himself. And meanwhile, new photos of an impending showdown in England over a giant tent. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“The manifestations niacin produces can be quite horrifying. Some of the somatics and manifestations the person may turn on are not just somatics in lots of cases, in my experience. I have seen a full blown case of skin cancer turn on and run out. So, a person can turn on skin cancer with this and if that should happen if niacin is continued the skin cancer has run out completely. Other things that may turn on are hives, flu symptoms, gastroenteritis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestine), aching bones, upset stomach or a fearful or terrified condition. There seems to be no limit to the variety of phenomena that may occur with niacin. If it is there to turn on by niacin it apparently will do so with niacin.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“I know it’s mean of me, it’s cabalist, it’s rabble-rousing for me to infer that the majesty of government is actually being used to further some foul, religious end in some way and to cause everybody to be dead. But I’m very interested in the fact that the Church of England, of all organizations, right down here in the form of a vicar (who, I think, has had to move since), this bird — I’m looking at a face or two here who were present in this — was being very censorious about our giving death lessons to young children. Story went around the world. What do you think this guy does every time he stands up there in the pulpit? He’s talking about going to heaven and all this sort of thing. He’s giving death lessons to little kids. Diana came home from school one day crying. She was going to a local school up here. She wanted to know if all this stuff about poor Christ was true. And I gave her the hot dope, and — well, as a matter of fact, I did. I was very reasonable about the whole thing. I said, ‘Native populaces have their religious beliefs, and wherever you are, you must remain tolerant of the current beliefs,’ and so forth, and she took this in. But it’s interesting that this bird down here is asserting how wrong it is, don’t you see, to give children death lessons while he himself is giving them death lessons. Only our death lessons are straight dope this is what happens with regard to death — but his are a darn lie.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 27, 1963
——————–
“Congratulations on getting rid of the civilian engineers. They signed a no-claim and a confession of mutiny before leaving. It transpires that da Silva had a criminal record arm long. They have went. Now we should check for anything damaged by them.” — The Commodore, August 27, 1969
——————–
“It is difficult for me to conceive of the possibility of harnessing spiritual teammates to always act in your best interest. As a longtime Book One and NED auditor I have run into some entities that ‘took over’ the beingness of someone in session and threatened to do very violent things to me and others. It just seems like the safer approach is to offload these entities entirely. Some may be trainable but others just seem too far gone.”
1997: Martin Hunt and Tilman Hausherr reported that Scientology is planning a large march on Berlin, to protest alleged human rights violations. “In a recent event, they said they need to ‘terminatedly handle’ the ‘situation’ in Germany by staging a mass crusade in Berlin, something like the Portland Crusade. The cult hopes to attract 25,000 people. The date is set for the day after the IAS Int Day on October 7th: October 8th, 1997. They also plan to flood the market with 6,000,000 Freedom Magazines. Ten thousand IAS members will be flying into Berlin from all over the world on October 6th to protest Germany’s suppression of Scientology. The trip package costs $5000 and each member will get a pin from DM, himself, at AOSH UK, before flying on to Berlin. Jentzsch, Travolta, Corea, Archer, the Head of NAACP, etc. will be coming.”
——————–
“The Church of Scientology is as wrong as the Kims in North Korea. Some things just need to be stopped, you don’t even have to think about it, you feel it in your gut. I remember my father telling me about how my grandfather signed up to join the Lincoln Brigade to go fight Franco. I didn’t understand at first, but later I did.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] He was in on some of Scientology’s biggest intel operations: And now he’s talking
[TWO years ago] Is this the lamest tabloid ‘Tom Cruise has left Scientology’ speculation ever?
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Examining Scientology’s new marketing juggernaut, a ‘Wider Bridge’
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 6: Resuscitating the recently deceased
[FIVE years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 19: Wally Pope
[SIX years ago] Vote for the most startling statement on the ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’ finale
[SEVEN years ago] Hey, Colombia: Here’s the video of Scientology’s David Miscavige you’ve been looking for
[EIGHT years ago] How dishonest is tabloid media about Scientology? Here’s a pretty good example.
[NINE years ago] Scientology wastes no time taking over Florida sign after ‘disconnection’ billboard expires
[TEN years ago] ¡Ay, caramba! Nancy Cartwright has a whale of a time in Mexico to raise money for Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] The Document: When Scientology canceled ‘Family Time’
[TWELVE years ago] The Dreaded “Joburg Sec Check”: Scientology Interrogations, Explained!
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,368 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,872 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,378 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,928 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,918 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,304 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,799 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,103 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,754 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,972 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,526 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,867 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,438 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,354 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,521 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,103 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,362 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,399 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,115 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,679 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,994 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,169 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,851 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,188 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,041 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,157 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,519 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,928 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,318 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,202 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,767 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,278 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,538 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,642 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 27, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Trump says he’s OK with the dictator label in marathon cabinet meeting
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});New @DataProgress poll: A majority of GOP voters would support Trump running for a third term. https://t.co/kdeyaFrnWR
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) August 27, 2025
American companies are now tithing to Trump https://t.co/QB6HzqNRmN
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 26, 2025
Ukraine was invaded https://t.co/D8CuKpyuWt
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 26, 2025
This isn’t a cabinet meeting. It’s a bootlicking competition. https://t.co/icetfM9iHS
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 26, 2025
Again, Chuck Todd critiqued Hillary Clinton for being overprepared for her first debate with Trump. The media demanded think tank level policy positions from Kamala Harris. Old man yells at cloud and it's crickets. https://t.co/xAXspOZZTz
— scary lawyerguy (@scarylawyerguy) August 26, 2025
There are people who still to this day beat their chests and tell us they were right to sandbag Kamala and that this outcome is totally acceptable because it kept their souls pure. https://t.co/gFwkXDpmc8
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 26, 2025
According to FEC records, Gloria Gaynor gave thousands of dollars to MAGA Republicans pic.twitter.com/2IQ9j63yjU
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 27, 2025
Ridiculous pic.twitter.com/CXd1kMDSAx
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 27, 2025
Petty Trump was up late involving himself in the labor decisions of NBC pic.twitter.com/fiRhdEJr95
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 27, 2025
What % of MAGA are flat Earthers? pic.twitter.com/9hKsmLDzBx
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 26, 2025
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 27, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 27, 2025 at 08:00
August 26, 2025
When a Scientology spy becomes a double agent — and then gets burned
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: She had done Scientology’s dirty work for years, following people the church considered its enemies, and even stealing their trash. But then she had a moment of clarity and changed her mind, and spent the next four years spying on Scientology. Until, that is, they caught her. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Niacin’s biochemical reaction is my own private, personal discovery. In the middle of the 1950s, I was doing work on radiation and I worked out that it must be niacin that operated on radiation. I was recently told by a doctor that the Dianazene formula of that time is remarkably workable today. Niacin runs out radiation. It will often cause a very hot flush and prickly, itchy skin which can last up to an hour or longer. It may also bring on chills or make a person feel tired.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
“I toured around the empty ship and it looked lonesome. The galley was kept going by deckhands. Vixie had some trouble towing the ship out to anchor but made it. (The Commodores Messenger couldn’t find the Main Engine throttles as the engineers evidently took them on liberty.) Six new X trainees came aboard and were quickly trained up and fired by Dimples the man-eating shark — at least she said they had been fired. All in all it was quiet and restful.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 26, 1971
——————–
“The Con of All Hands, the Navigator and the forward well deck fender tenders are assigned a Condition of Non Existence for approaching a dock too fast at too steep an angle and not correcting or recovering from an obvious pilot error and not buffering it with fenders. This resulted in a small dent and a crack in the hull. They may not have any liberty in this port. The area crack is to be welded and a small plate placed over it.” — The Commodore, August 26, 1969
——————–
“Prior to the writing of the American Constitution it was known that true governments can oppress true citizens along with the open and ongoing, more inclusive and integral, development and advancement of what is true, truth, and evermore truthful. KSW is part of a more Conscientiously Integral Science advancing in our society.”
——————–
1996: The Associated Press carried a story on August 28th concerning U.S. presidential candidate Bob Dole and his staff’s desire not to have him associated with Scientology. “As the vacationing Dole made his way down Santa Barbara’s main drag, heading for dinner Monday at Joe’s Cafe, he and a crush of autograph seekers drew near a building prominently labeled ‘Dianetics — Church of Scientology Center.’ Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a top policy adviser to the Dole campaign, eyed the surrounding horde of news photographers and tugged at press secretary Nelson Warfield, pointing out the Scientology center. Its storefront sign would likely land in the photographers’ frames if Dole headed in a straight line down the sidewalk. ‘You don’t want him in front of there. Cross him over there, then cross him back,’ Rumsfeld instructed while gesturing across the street.”
——————–
“Hubbard was making the whole thing up as he went along, and the ‘tech’ is nothing but mumbo jumbo. Until these people realize that LRH was the flim flam man, they will never be truly free.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The Hubbard tapes: When Scientology was all about reeling you in
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: Jonny Jacobsen, our man in Paris, was on Scientology’s abuses before most
[THREE years ago] Andreas Heldal-Lund, who stared down Scientology, now faces his own mortality
[FOUR years ago] Gerry Armstrong hits back at apologist journal for questioning Hubbard ‘pinks & greys’ letter
[FIVE years ago] Ahead of next week’s hearing, Danny Masterson’s accusers blast his attacks on their lawsuit
[SIX years ago] Tonight, Leah Remini ends ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’ with a hard look at Danny Masterson
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology keeps pushing for ‘Ideal Orgs’ in places where it’s pure madness
[EIGHT years ago] DOX: The FBI’s 2008 investigation of Anonymous and its attacks on the Church of Scientology
[NINE years ago] Is the Enquirer’s ‘exclusive’ on Scientology’s ‘hooker orgy’ a David Miscavige backfire?
[TEN years ago] So much for tabloid rumors: Tom Cruise visits Scientology’s ‘Ideal Org’ while he’s in Bogotá
[ELEVEN years ago] More trouble for Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon — this time in Florida
[TWELVE years ago] What Motivated L. Ron Hubbard? Historian Jon Atack Follows the Clues
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,367 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,871 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,377 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,927 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,917 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,303 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,798 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,102 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,753 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,971 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,525 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,866 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,437 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,353 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,520 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,102 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,361 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,398 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,114 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,678 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,993 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,168 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,850 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,187 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,041 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,156 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,518 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,927 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,317 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,201 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,766 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,277 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,537 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,641 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 26, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
GOP candidate for Congress torches Koran for the clicks
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Whenever Trump does a bad thing, it's not actually what it appears to be and Trump is really playing 10D chess and the bad thing will turn out be a good thing. This is the QAnon way. pic.twitter.com/BRp4FPKAXC
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 26, 2025
— Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) August 25, 2025
Very interesting that QAnon, the people who hyper focus on any details they see on the news, are dead silent on the issue of Trump’s bruised hands. Not even a “he’s trolling them!” Attempt is being made to explain things.
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 25, 2025
Facing millions in legal bills, Candace Owens is asking Trump to save her from Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron's lawsuit over the trans Brigitte conspiracy theory.
My latest False Flag newsletter for @BulwarkOnline is here! https://t.co/Jn8VHBayYu
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) August 26, 2025
GOP House candidate Valentina Gomez burns the Quran in a new campaign video. pic.twitter.com/IIOLtLTf5Q
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 26, 2025
"You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or a Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.” – Pres. Reagan https://t.co/2C1eQeK8OH
— Jeremy Horpedahl 🥚📉 (@jmhorp) August 25, 2025
Pritzker: From my perspective, it takes one to know one on the weight question. The President is not in good shape. He knows what he is saying is actually commentary on himself pic.twitter.com/PiTLr8JqtY
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 25, 2025
Anti-fluoride, anti-Chemtrails, pro-Raw Milk. The Republican Party becomes beholden to insane conspiracy theorists every day and our media is totally silent about it. pic.twitter.com/XVJFE0OOID
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 25, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 26, 2025 at 08:00
August 25, 2025
Take the survey: How can Scientology lure you to its cruise ship for Christmas?
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The holidays are still months away, but Scientology is already thinking about how it can get you to spend the big bucks and come to the cruise ship Freewinds for pricey services in the Caribbean over Christmas and New Year’s. Take the survey they just sent out to members! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Rate of case gain is enormously retarded by toxic substances such as drugs. The reason we can make a breakthrough with this is because of the ‘Theta-MEST theory’ covered in the text Science of Survival. Older scientific thought believed all life came from matter, a belief which goes back to the ancient Egyptian priests and remains today the dominant belief of chemists, psychologists and psychiatrists. A life form is a combination of life itself and the physical universe. Certain elements in the physical universe are highly antipathetic to life and when introduced into life forms, inhibit proper functioning and even destroy. The being (thetan) of course has potential pictures of these toxic substances and states and as long as they are in the body, these actual substances can restimulate a being. When they are gone from the body, the constant restimulation can cease. So it is actually a spiritual action that is being done.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“Anybody says to you, ‘Well, Scientology is weird because it believes in past lives,’ why, I look at them rather oddly and say, ‘Aren’t you familiar with the subject of psychotherapy?’ Be mean, you know. And they say, ‘Well, yes. Oh, yes. I’m a professor of Uptygup, you know.’ And say, ‘Well, why is it that you didn’t know that one of the primary branches of psychoanalysis and so forth — that of Professor Jung — believed implicitly in returns to druidism? See, we’re not being new at all’.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 25, 1966
——————–
“We had a rather splendid cruise. Summer sea and a water glass. The Cons did great. I had to ballast her bow down a trifle — 2 tons then 10 tons of fresh water into the deep tank. And I had to pull her nose back out of the waves once (to stop pitching you come away from the waves, not further into it). But that was very little to do. You notice its smoother when I’m up than when I’m turned in, still. The landfall and docking was excellent. If you close your window fully you can’t hear the bulldozer on the dock. Your vent gives plenty of air.” — The Commodore, August 25, 1970
——————–
“You are immortal and have lived many lives and so is the person who recently dropped their body. Why not take the time to contact them and make sure they are feeling better and have no lingering trauma from their unplanned departure? If a dear partner drops their body, you owe it to yourself and to your partner to ease them through the transition to a purely spiritual existence again. We are spiritual beings who take on human experiences for fun and sensation and we do this over and over again, hopefully getting better at the human game each time. I lost a beloved daughter who died accidentally at a very early age and was reunited with her about 25 years later when I encountered her in another body. We did not recognize each other at first and that created some problems. If I had known what I know now at the time she died, our reunion would have been much less confusing.”
1995: Scientology raided the homes of Larry Wollersheim and Bob Bingham, founders of FACTNet, this week. An excerpt from a Scientology press release: “Armed with a federal court order, United States Marshals today raided residences in Boulder and Longmont seizing computer software, hardware and other equipment and documents to halt copyright infringements of Scientology religious scriptures.” A poster summarized a report from The Rocky Mountain News: “‘Denver U.S. District Judge Lewis T. Babcock signed an order authorizing the raids.’ According to Wollersheim, ‘They took us off line’. A picture accompanying the article shows Warren McShane, ‘president of the Religious Technology Center in Los Angeles, carr[ying] documents from the apartment of … Wollersheim. At left is U.S. marshal Steve Bush.’ According to the RMN, he ‘charges that the church practices secret rituals in which officials claim they are aliens from outer space whose purpose is to take over the Earth.’ The raid started at 9a.m Tuesday morning and lasted for 8 hours, Scientology officials were present at the raid and took away material. A 7 hour raid was made in Niwot. Karin Pouw of the Co$ ‘questioned why Wollersheim’s bulletin board should have non-profit, tax-exempt status.’ Wollersheim hopes that he will be represented by the ACLU.”
——————–
“At first I thought you were funnin’ me but I hearsayed it and you’re right.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology party tents move from Clearwater to Los Angeles
[TWO years ago] Stan Lee* helps Scientology raise money from beyond the grave!
[THREE years ago] Here are Scientology’s new motions to force arbitration in the Valeska Paris case
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 7: Pulling in objects with tractor beams
[FIVE years ago] Leah Remini podcast: Scientology’s atrocious ‘Fair Game’ campaign against Mike Rinder
[SIX years ago] If Scientology’s Ideal Org grand openings are on hold, fundraising steams ahead
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s new ‘STAND’ front unleashes bot army on Twitter — and gets zapped
[NINE years ago] Steven Mango, who appears in Theroux film, calls police to Scientology facility over assault
[TEN years ago] Stop worrying about ISIS and Syria and Iraq — Scientology’s got this, people
[ELEVEN years ago] Chris Shelton explains why Scientology is in a management death spiral
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The All-Video Version!
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,366 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,870 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,376 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,926 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,916 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,302 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,797 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,101 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,752 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,970 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,524 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,865 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,436 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,352 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,519 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,101 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,360 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,397 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,113 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,677 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,992 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,167 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,849 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,186 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,040 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,155 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,517 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,926 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,316 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,200 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,765 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,276 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,536 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,640 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 25, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
For Q patriots, Trump’s obsession with retribution is the best part
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});This is what dictators sound like pic.twitter.com/yjv16Yx7RJ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 25, 2025
If you thought Nancy Mace was going to apologize after spending her day falsely accusing a kid with an umbrella of being a school shooter, you thought wrong. pic.twitter.com/ZsUZrBBxi8
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 25, 2025
Governor Wes Moore hurt Trump’s feelings so now Trump is threatening to take away money to fix the bridge pic.twitter.com/PsLuCyPE9P
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 24, 2025
"You're not wrong, you're ahead of the curve and everyone will see your right soon enough and they'll all marvel at how smart and brave you were." QAnon loves telling their followers how special they are. pic.twitter.com/1CNJgsJ6yq
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 24, 2025
The people who are triggered by the back of the one dollar bill think non-Christians are triggered by the calendar. pic.twitter.com/mIDfTuCbL1
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 25, 2025
Jacob openly admitting he wishes he could jail/murder all his enemies, as a totally rational, normal person would. pic.twitter.com/0PRw68JAKP
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 25, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 25, 2025 at 08:00
August 24, 2025
Scientology critic obtains documents of church plot against him
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Character assassination is how Scientology reacts to questions about its abuses, and for Alex Barnes-Ross it’s coming at him from all sides. He let us into the details of just one operation the ‘church’ threw at him recently, and how he’s managed to turn the tables on them. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Medicinal drugs such as diet pills, codeine. novocaine, and others have gone into ‘restim’ years after they were taken and had supposedly been eliminated from the body. Thus it seems that any or all of these hostile biochemical substances can get caught up in the tissues and their accumulation probably disarranges the biochemistry and fluid balance of the body. These substances must be eliminated if the person is to get the most possible gains from mental and spiritual processing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
——————–
“Instead of running him on CCHs or something like this, or trying to straighten up something, nah! let’s go for broke; let’s clear him! Not take too many hours at it, either. All right. Now, that’s possible. That can be done. But, let me call this to your attention, it is — this is the controverting fact. It is not being done. Now, you can’t argue with that, can you? Now, I could get down and scream and howl and beat the floor, and Hitlerize the room. But let me tell you something, that isn’t going to do any good. That isn’t going to do any good at all. That’s in the line of reason, or something like this mounts up. If you looked at it very broadly you could say, ‘Well, nobody can audit.’ I mean, that’s the first thing you’d say. ‘Nobody can run a session in the whole world, except just this little handful or maybe five,’ you know. Something like that. But that’s an unacceptable datum that isn’t true, see. So it must be that there were some great big broad bugs on this, and the biggest bug — and I finally located what it was, a very simple bug — it’s just the fact that the goal and the terminal easily disappear in the face of an out-rudiment.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 24, 1961
——————–
“Any real emergency is chaotic. The drilling of sequences of actions is a stable series of data that prevents the chaos from overwhelming one. Interesting bit of history here. I developed the theory and practice of ‘Battle Conditioning’ used in WW II. I did a paper on it for the Navy before the war and was sent over to the Army G2 with it and Army G2 got it in practice, training by crawling under machine fire and all that. Must have saved a few hundred thousand lives! Nobody even ever said thank you but that’s all right.” — The Commodore, August 24, 1970
——————–
“This Present Time problem has always been present through Earth’s time. They only become apparent when some elite runs a scheme. Just the idea that there have been people believing as if L. Ron Hubbard would be coming back in a new body to this planet with its silly inhabitants… There even has been this bloke claiming he had received a letter from L. Ron Hubbard about that. We have this situation as original tech is not applied for some time now! Consider that for a moment. Reflect on the technology and how things were ongoing prior to the late 70s. Everything has gone down ever since! The problem today is people claiming that they have original technology and not the Church of Scientology, when they both have not! In fact they present the SAME status quo of the technology. There are David Mayo and David Miscavige clones all about tricking you to believe something that is not.”
——————–
2001: The Field Staff Member statistics through August, 2001 were posted to a.r.s this week. FSMs receive a percentage of the money they arrange to be paid to Scientology. 1. Marilyn Beck; 2. Timothy Corbo; 3. Floyd R. Sloat; 4. Frederich Golin; 5. Mike Hoy; 6. Nancy Dunham; 7. Tom Soracco; 8. Randy Weber; 9. Cindy Bamforth; 10. Wendy Ettricks. Missions: 1. Burbank; 2. Inglewood; 3. Beverly Hills; 4. Capitol; 5. Buenaventura. Class V Orgs. 1. CC Int.; 2. Las Vegas Foundation; 3. Los Angeles Foundation; 4. Orange County; 5. Mountain View. Groups: 1. Howson FSM Group; 2. Way to Happiness Int; 3. Narconon Int; 4. Narconon N.B.; 5. Oh Tee Productions, Inc.”
——————–
“I’m the Dennis Hopper of the ‘Down with Scientology’ club.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology school loses crucial ability to host foreign students after inspection
[TWO years ago] ‘Harass and discourage’: The role of lawyers and journalists in Scientology’s attack plans
[THREE years ago] The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see, Episode 3: Carol Nyburg
[FOUR years ago] Leah Remini podcast: Ian Rafalko talks about his father, chiropractor Eric Berg
[FIVE years ago] Danny Masterson changes his tune about criminal case in new civil brief
[SIX years ago] Paging Graham Berry: Another Scientology horror story of credit fraud targeting retirees
[SEVEN years ago] The Scientology pamphlet that has finally convinced us this planet is theirs
[EIGHT years ago] What’s at stake in Tuesday’s San Antonio court hearing with Scientology’s former enforcer
[NINE years ago] Ken Dandar’s courtroom nightmare is finally over (unless Scientology starts it over from scratch)
[TEN years ago] Tonight, it’s Boston! And that has us thinking about Beantown’s connections to ‘Miss Lovely’
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology claims credit for solving the crisis in Ferguson, Missouri
[TWELVE years ago] LA Sheriff Lee Baca to Grace Scientology Gala, Days after Celebrity Centre Employee Arrested for Planning to Kill a Cop
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,365 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,869 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,375 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,925 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,915 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,301 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,796 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,100 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,751 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,969 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,523 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,864 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,435 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,351 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,518 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,100 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,359 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,396 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,112 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,676 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,991 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,166 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,848 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,185 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,039 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,154 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,516 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,925 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,315 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,199 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,764 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,275 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,535 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,639 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 24, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Another fabulous week in the books for the golfer-in-chief
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});5 things Trump did this week:
1. Threatened to take over more cities
2. Announced tariffs to raise furniture prices
3. Continued covering-up the Epstein files
4. Got roasted by South Park again
5. Went on another taxpayer-funded golf trip pic.twitter.com/XEvcYFGrE1
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 23, 2025
Trump to skip work on Friday pic.twitter.com/iILRHkulGQ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 24, 2025
According to a social media post, Trump is golfing with controversial former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens pic.twitter.com/ZAEQkIpdDn
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 23, 2025
Thus, by a continuous shift in rhetorical focus, the enemies are the same time too strong and too weak. https://t.co/eQJ7Ywt4Cg
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 24, 2025
“Stop asking me when things will happen. They will happen when God decided they will.” The endless excuse making is what QAnon is all about. pic.twitter.com/ZDVedAkGGg
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 23, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 23, 2025 at 08:00
Tony Ortega's Blog
- Tony Ortega's profile
- 19 followers
