Tony Ortega's Blog, page 19
August 13, 2025
We have the new 75th anniversary ‘Dianetics’ — and it contains surprises!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: At the 75th anniversary ‘Dianetics’ event In May, Scientology leader David Miscavige announced that a new edition of L. Ron Hubbard’s controversial bestseller would be released. We’ve been waiting eagerly to get a look at it, and wow, it has some interesting changes. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“A person who has been on drugs is one of the ‘seven types of resistive cases.’ (These types are found on the Scientology Green Form No. 40.) A person who has been on drugs, alcohol or medicines seldom runs on any other type of engram, seldom goes backtrack well, and is subject to somatic, emotional and perceptic shut-offs making any other type of Dianetic running a vain activity. Drugs since 1962 have been in very widespread use. Before then they were rare. A worldwide spread of drugs occurred. A large percentage of people became and are drug takers. By drugs (to mention a few) are meant—tranquilizers, opium, cocaine, marijuana, peyote, amphetamine and the psychiatrist’s gifts to Man, LSD and Angel Dust, which are the worst. Any medical drugs are included. Drugs are drugs. There are thousands of trade names and slang terms for these drugs.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
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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.
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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({});
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“Public must like to be fooled. They’re always paying con men of some kind or another. There must be some real value in having hope shot up to the moon in the stock market because those birds are very often paid off heavily. You could reevaluate the society on the basis of what I’ve given you. Yes, you could say, ‘Well, the society makes mistakes in this direction. Yes, the society is lied to.’ Well, I don’t think the society makes mistakes in this direction. That’s a new thought, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 13, 1964
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“SHERIFF SPENCE: Mitch Spence came back with a wanted poster published by 100 Substantial Citizens of Las Vegas, Mar 24, 1881. If you were there then, run it out fast!” — The Commodore, August 13, 1970
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(Person A) “I’ve heard recently that there is some nonsense going around in this group about how LRH was somehow secretly removed sometime in 1972 and replaced by a double or something like that. It’s hard to fathom how anyone could believe such crap. I personally met LRH in 1977 when I went to the secret base in La Quinta, CA. He was in the mock up of a gentleman rancher and had long red hair, a Col. Sanders goatee and big fluffy sideburns. How anyone could think that this was not LRH is beyond my comprehension.” (Person B) “In our situation of an obviously stolen church — or do you doubt that the CoS went into enemy hands? — I do not believe any witness. Only hard facts. And all hard facts speak for a takeover in 1972. I have published several books on this. Perhaps you like to take a look.”
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1997: Neil Woods reports that after weeks of assuming a hands-off policy on the Scientology folder, America Online has resumed deleting critical comments. “Critical posts have remained in the ‘Church of Scientology’ folder, where in the past they would have been deleted without comment. Dissenting views of the ‘church’ were being addressed, to a point. In some cases dialog has been occurring. And then…BAM!!!! Two new folders in the ‘Religion & Ethics’ boards are deleted in their entirety. This was done without comment. These folders were indeed very much ‘on topic’ for the area they were placed. ‘Scientology Is not a religion’ and ‘Germany Religious Persecution’ came up missing Sunday, August 10th. Both folders were enjoying a fair amount of traffic. Discussion was lively and interesting. Critic of the cult and $cieno alike participated. $cienos who swore they ignored critics posts did in a fashion reply to critic’s posts in both folders.”
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“I shook Jim Jones’ hand in the free eats line at Glide Memorial (he was serving) and I also met a man named Fred Lewis who was a friend of my dad’s. Fred lost 28 family members at Jonestown.”
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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.
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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?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology operatives and attorneys trying to end a medical industry
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini’s new judge looks like an improvement — now watch Scientology squawk
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: She did Scientology’s dirty work, and then made historic amends for it
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 11: Levitating an ashtray
[FIVE years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 23: The apologist academics
[SIX years ago] Powerful testimonies about child abuse in Scientology keep coming to light
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology is very worried about 75-year-old Efrem Logreira and his allegations
[EIGHT years ago] The island nation that is proving to be a refuge for the Church of Scientology
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s fiery ‘Guardian’ before she hooked up with Ron, and other gems from our readers
[TEN years ago] With a trial looming in 6-year forced-abortion lawsuit, Scientology cries ‘but we’re a religion!’
[ELEVEN years ago] Denise Brennan, 1952-2014: A former insider who exposed Scientology’s corporate shell game
[TWELVE years ago] In Scientology, When the Prices Kick Up, What Do You Get for the Money?
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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 3,354 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,858 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,364 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,914 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,904 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,290 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,785 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,089 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,958 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,512 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,853 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,424 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,340 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,507 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,089 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,348 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,385 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,101 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,665 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,980 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,155 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,837 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,174 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,028 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,143 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,505 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,914 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,304 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,188 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,753 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,264 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,524 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,628 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 13, 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
When your anti-vaxx conspiracies end up shooting at you
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});👀 we pulled together a visual timeline of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship starting in 1985, using photos, newspaper articles, and rare video.
With @KFILE, @emsteck, @Bob_Ortega https://t.co/nXTyOMveCF
— Alli Gordon (@alligordon_) August 12, 2025
every single line of the loomer deposition is incredible. she might be the stupidest person alive pic.twitter.com/FjxkZrFe5F
— america's stumpy lounge singer (@KrangTNelson) August 12, 2025
RFK Jr: posted fishing pics while CDC employees waited for word from their leader. Emailed a statement staff think was made with chatgpt. Visited HQ when no staff were present. And not a peep about his antivaxx rhetoric and misinfo they say made them targets. https://t.co/R51o569WzX
— Brandy Zadrozny (@BrandyZadrozny) August 12, 2025
RFK Jr, who compared health officials to Nazis, inspects damage done by a shooter targeting the CDC pic.twitter.com/6sLWNMHZ93
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 13, 2025
In response to Trump sending national guard into DC & taking over its police force, some in the QAnon community are justifying it by invoking a baseless sovereign citizens claim they previously pushed about DC being a corporation, claiming Trump's actions somehow reverse that. pic.twitter.com/3SKG1FVHoL
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) August 12, 2025
The level of cruelty on display by the Trump administration's use of memes to make fun of ICE arrests and mass deportation is horrible to watch.
Great reporting from @misstessowen https://t.co/NU1pzto4mB
— David Gilbert (@daithaigilbert) August 12, 2025
Incredibly bleak! https://t.co/llMnc7dHGP
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) August 12, 2025
This is the perfect QAnon post. Deranged, incoherent bloodthirsty gibberish written over the top of a photo taken 9 years ago that has "Soon" as a caption. pic.twitter.com/Rwb66dsCRk
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 13, 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 13, 2025 at 08:00
August 12, 2025
A new book about Scientology is coming, and we have the introduction
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Pamela Nickel Williams previously shared with us writing from a planned book about how her parents raised her in the strange world of early Scientology. Now, her book is coming out Aug 31, and she’s shared another excerpt. ALSO: An odd glimpse of Sea Org recruiting at Flag. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“When doing Quadruple Dianetics on some cases it may be found that many chains are now missing or are just copies of the original. Don’t be disturbed. Pc says they’re gone now they’re gone. Just F/N the fact and carry on with the next flow or item.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
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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.
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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({});
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“Apparently transfers from the Galley without apprenticeship or replacement and Quadruple hatting the food purchaser so he simply used the food chandler ashore are some of the obvious whys back of the sudden recent drop in food quality. The WHYs being advertised are the wrong whys — low allocation is a wrong why. The food isn’t kept to allocation and has become VERY expensive for very low quality due to using a chandler. This would not remedy the increased allocation as the allocation is already not followed. Advertising this as the why or remedying it will not restore food quality.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 12, 1971
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“SURVEY: A great job was done in the E/R, by D/Capt, Ship’s Rep and 1st Mate and others in passing the survey. Possibly we even get our Lloyd’s Yacht Class. We are a yacht by registry. A Lloyds yacht class is different and useful. But true enough, in dismantling working installations for survey and reassembly, when we tried to start up one engine just wouldn’t start. A valve had been reversed! And an injector bleed valve was leaking. Two tugs were on hand as a precaution. Our E/R guys put it right quickly. Must have been an awful shock to push the starting lever and have nothing happen. That’s how it goes when working installations get dismantled!” — The Commodore, August 12, 1970
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“I’m sure you have heard that Earth is a prison planet, and I feel that this is true since, in 40-odd years of spiritual counseling, I have never encountered a rebuttal to that story. Instead, I keep running into spirits who have been sent here as expatriated criminals from other civilizations. Most of these spirits seem to have been implanted and so reduced in awareness and capability that they are no longer capable of running a body. Instead, they seem to flock around beings who are running bodies and act as observers and occasionally as spirit guides or guardian angels. Those of you who are reading this article are among the fortunate few who still retain enough personality to run a body and behave as a human being while accompanied through life by a horde of discarnate spirits.”
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1996: Martin Hunt this week posted the story of his leaving Scientology, and the reaction of his former friends. “[S]ome three weeks after I blew I went back to Vancouver to pick up my stuff. The Scientologist I was sharing an apartment with wouldn’t let me in, as she thought I had flipped and was now a dangerous suppressive person (phobia indoctrination). I knocked on the door, but she wouldn’t answer. I called out her name, told her I knew she was home, that I just wanted to pick up my stuff, and that I wasn’t a threat of any kind to her. She still wouldn’t let me in, or even acknowledge that I was at the door, but literally hid in fear from me and pretended to not be there, even though I knew she was. I walked out to the corner and phoned her. I then said that I wouldn’t call the cops if she let me have my stuff back, and to this she told me to go to the org downtown and get an OK first and go through ethics as my only terminal, so I went back to the org I hadn’t been to or communicated in any way with for about three weeks. When I showed up at reception, the receptionist immediately called in a higher-up to deal with me, and I was frostily told to go straight to the ED, where I was given a form in triplicate to route-out properly. The ED told me not to talk to anyone, and was very cold to me despite a long acquaintance that went beyond the org; I had been to her house, met her family, seen her down in the State where she was on course while I was (she was doing the FEBC). I went through the form, and had to deal with several people on it, my superior, my division executive, the ethics officer, etc. Everyone talked to me as if I was an evil piece of shit, if they talked to me at all. It was a shocking experience to say hi to someone I thought I knew very well and considered a friend only to have them literally turn their back or walk away or just sneer at me; it was more shocking to see this repeated over and over with everyone I talked to, as if they had all been given instructions on what to do and how to shun me in the best possible manner to cause the most pain.”
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“Refusal to accept one’s own mortality and a belief by humans that they are something more than just another species of animal is what drives this insanity.”
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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.
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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?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] LA Mayor Karen Bass boosts Mr. Scientology, Tom Cruise, on world’s biggest stage
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: When the ‘Brothers Broken’ lured David Miscavige to their Hollywood celeb blowout!
[THREE years ago] A shaky day handling life and death at Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre
[FOUR years ago] Scientology in England faces huge tax bills on its properties, and keeps failing to evade them
[FIVE years ago] Valerie Haney’s suit against Scientology back to square one after court setback
[SIX years ago] My brother, the Scientologist: Trying to bridge the gap when Hubbardism is in the way
[SEVEN years ago] If Scientology is hurting, have its ‘expansion’ plans slowed down? Here’s our assessment
[EIGHT years ago] Garcia case update: Has Judge Whittemore managed to fill a Scientology arbitrating panel?
[NINE years ago] Former workers file EEOC complaints saying Grant Cardone forced Scientology on them
[TEN years ago] Scenes from the increasingly desperate straits Scientology finds itself in
[ELEVEN years ago] Mark Bunker: Clearwater is being pressured to knuckle under to Scientology (again)
[TWELVE years ago] THIS IS THE SOUND OF SCIENTOLOGY’S FORCED DISCONNECTION
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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 3,353 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,857 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,363 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,913 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,903 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,289 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,784 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,088 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,957 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,511 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,852 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,423 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,339 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,506 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,088 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,347 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,384 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,100 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,664 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,979 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,154 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,836 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,173 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,027 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,142 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,504 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,913 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,303 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,187 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,752 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,263 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,523 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,627 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 12, 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 DC takeover: Q patriots say Q foretold it, and NYC, Chicago next
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});DC National Guard deployment order leaked to me. Read it here: https://t.co/DFY5SYfiWI
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) August 12, 2025
This is the kind of lie a child would tell when they’re in trouble and Loomer did it in a deposition https://t.co/mAiJ6xJB8L
— Jared Holt (@jaredlholt) August 12, 2025
At the protest against federalizing DC. pic.twitter.com/7F88xarmgo
— amanda moore 🐢 (@noturtlesoup17) August 11, 2025
If the WH would renew my press pass I would be more than happy to pay them a visit. https://t.co/rdt4J1jG0D
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 12, 2025
When do the phase 2 binders come out? pic.twitter.com/Cgb5VijRJA
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 11, 2025
This is the early QDrop mythos of the national guard being called in to prevent riots after Hillary’s arrest. This is part of the “QDrops in reverse” theory that Hillary’s arrest is actually the end of the story and not the beginning. pic.twitter.com/9APeJA97Zf
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 11, 2025
There’s a popular theory that Trump’s revived Russiagate probe is meant to distract from the Epstein files.
(It’s working … for now.)https://t.co/NXzDF634B0
— Brandy Zadrozny (@BrandyZadrozny) August 11, 2025
They want to go back to the 1940’s pic.twitter.com/NdyUJlo3Sb
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 11, 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 12, 2025 at 08:00
August 11, 2025
NEW: Come to Scientology ‘church service’ and win fabulous ‘prizes’!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology is about finding out where you were billions of years ago with the help of an auditor and an E-meter. But its orgs do include chapels, and they hold Sunday ‘services.’ And how desperate are they to get people to come? There’s a surprising new answer! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Joe was run on Single Flow for six months. His auditor finds a new item and suddenly decides to run it Quad. Six months worth of Flow 2, Flow 3 and Flow 0 will now restim because it is bypassing that charge. The auditor’s proper correction action is to indicate to the pc what has happened and catch up the missing flows on all the earlier items run THAT NOW READ. To C/S a case for Quad Dianetics it is best to first lay out a Scientology repair, making sure the case is flying, then list out the items already run on Single and Triple. Then get them run so that all four flows are complete on each item in sequence from first to last.” — 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
——————–
“Illiterate cultures do not survive and they are not very high. The natives of the tribe of the Bugga-Bugga Booga-Boogas down in Lower Bugga-Wugga Booga-Woog are mostly no longer with us or they are around waving red flags today and revolting against their central government. They’re having a bad time. Well, the British Tommy that went down there with his Snider or his Lee-Enfield and brought them higher education in the first place was only occasionally followed by anybody who taught them anything. And they didn’t learn fast. Their literacy was not up to absorbing culture rapidly. So, of course, they can be victimized by anybody who comes along. Once the line is open, if literacy doesn’t follow and if secondhand observation is not available to a people, they stultify, they die, they go to pieces, they degrade. They are struck by this tremendous volume of exterior culture. They’ve been very happily down amongst the bong-bong trees, you know, dancing up and down amongst the bong-bong trees and the highest level of their interest, and so forth, was their own back yard. They could tell you all about bong-bong trees and they could tell you all about you mustn’t step in bug-bug bushes, because you step on a thump-thump snake and this was their direct observation.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 11, 1964
——————–
“BREAKTHROUGH: In the last few days I’ve made about three upper level breakthroughs, two very important. One of these is comparable to the CC breakthrough. The other deals with On perception, why it’s off and how to turn it on. So my own hats have a high stat this week. About a century’s worth.” — The Commodore, August 11, 1970
——————–
“Go on watching the Olympics on a comfortable couch with a pack of beer under your comfortable Covid-free environment, while the wogs and Scienos (both at Freezone/Indie and CoS) risk their health and lives fighting the NWO tyranny and face the war that is raging mad on the Fourth Dynamic.”
1995: Ted Mayett provided the conclusion to his quest for a refund from the Las Vegas org this week. “So Fri I call the man at 3:30p and say that I’m on the way. Is there a check? He said yes. Something was off on his voice so I grabbed that weapon they fear so much, my picket sign, and took off to the Celebrity Centre. The man was not there when I arrived. His car was gone. So I looked in the storefront and someone came out and said ____ was not here. I said I would just picket till he came back, no problem. The kid said wait a minute and very quickly an older man in the black and white sea org style came out. He had the check for $500.00 and receipt book. Sat. and Sun. they close early, 6pm. My plan was to make the obligatory afternoon call and not show up at all for the check. To keep them waiting till they got bored. But I get a call from them asking would I show up early for the check. When I got there at about 3:00 pm I was handed a check for $2,209.00. The total balance due. The check for $2,209.00 cleared today. Last post on the Vegas Picket.”
——————–
“Back in my punk days I would donate plasma twice a week for $20 a pop. It helped keep me in pizza.”
——————–
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 August 19.
— 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 staff is the best job ever: We have video to prove it!
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini asks for new judge in her lawsuit against Scientology
[THREE years ago] Lured into your own past: The seduction of an initial Scientology session
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 12: Resisting illnesses with his mind alone
[FIVE years ago] Leah Remini’s podcast: Forbes and Time writer Richard Behar on being a target of Fair Game
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s efforts to suck up to power is appearing to pay off
[SEVEN years ago] Church of Fear: When John Sweeney sat down with Anne Archer and Leah Remini
[EIGHT years ago] Leah Remini calls for federal action: Here’s the frustrating reason the IRS may not answer
[NINE years ago] Never-before-seen photo of Diana Hubbard, daughter of Scientology’s founder
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s front group that targets kids gets cover from a Swiss politician: News report
[ELEVEN years ago] Robin Williams, 1951-2014
[TWELVE years ago] Stop Picking on Scientology! Double-Fisted Wisdom from 1977
——————–
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 3,352 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,856 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,362 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,912 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,902 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,288 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,783 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,087 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,956 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,510 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,851 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,422 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,338 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,505 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,087 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,346 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,383 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,099 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,663 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,978 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,153 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,835 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,172 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,026 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,141 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,503 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,912 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,302 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,186 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,751 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,262 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,522 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,626 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 11, 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
Wolff: White House fears Maxwell can tie Trump and Epstein to getting girls for Andrew
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Wolff: This is a key issue right now in the way the WH is looking at the Epstein scandal.
The fear is that Ghislaine Maxwell can tie Trump to the details of what Trump and Epstein called the Committee.
The Committee consisted of Trump and Epstein in their efforts to get girls… pic.twitter.com/xQ5B93Wknc
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 10, 2025
TARIFFS BACKFIRE: Trump’s tariffs are having a disastrous impact on American textile exporters, raising costs for companies like Cocona Labs, deterring foreign buyers, and creating supply chain uncertainty.
Cocona’s CEO, Jeff Bowman, says the tariffs have stalled investments and… pic.twitter.com/kwr4bgZpWH
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) August 10, 2025
What’s amazing about Candace Owens is that her brand has the production values of a successful Instagram lifestyle influencer – which she uses to promote the deranged conspiracism of an 18th century Jesuit priest who has been forced into exile after fleeing the French Revolution. https://t.co/EPUXZnAbTA
— Travis View (@travis_view) August 10, 2025
World leaders have to navigate past 1 popup ad and 3 sponsored ads on Trump’s Truth Social page just to see if he’s saying something that will impact their country.
Today he posted a video of a man wrestling a shark. pic.twitter.com/KLKpMjyIxX
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 10, 2025
Just an absolute banger of a delta. As a knower of deltas I gotta say this is in the top 5 percentile of all deltas ever. Trump's straight fire with the deltas as of late. Guys what's a delta? pic.twitter.com/9oTFH22z8j
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 11, 2025
While we already have leftist talking about Newsom and Buttigieg selling out LGBTQ+ people we got Alex Jones reminding his listeners they will be hunted down and executed should the Democrats ever gain power again so vote and bring a friend to make President Vance a reality! pic.twitter.com/xgnqQlexge
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 11, 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 11, 2025 at 08:00
August 10, 2025
TX Lawyer looks at the Jane Does’ response in Danny Masterson civil case
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“In my research, I found it unreasonable that a person would be hard to audit just because he had exteriorized and had re-interiorized. For he has obviously done just that at every death and birth and must have done so hundreds of billions of times. So why should a recent exteriorization then make him hard to audit? Yet it did. My asking of that question was the first breakthrough. The rest soon followed.” — 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
——————–
“The results with psychotics at the present time are pretty fair. Of course, psychotics are definitely in the hands of psychiatry — they are actually wards of the state — and we are trying very hard to keep those psychotics in the hands of psychiatry where they belong. After all, psychiatry is organized to handle that problem. Psychiatrists have been open-minded about Dianetics for quite a while, but recently I was over at the state institution in St. Louis and the chief of the institution was running a young lady. I pitched in and gave him a hand. She had been schizophrenic for a number of years and she lay down on the couch insane; we worked on her for about two hours, hit the key engram in the case and she got off the couch sane. So the psychiatrists are no longer open-minded at Missouri State.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 10, 1950
——————–
“I don’t think anyone believed the FAO had delivered that many training and processing hours in the last few months. Over 147,600 hours of training and over 12,000 hours of Class X auditing! On FEBCs alone. 91 fired to the US. 31 to other areas. This pgm is only a few months old. Astonishing stats! We work.” — The Commodore, August 10, 1971
——————–
“There are accounts of people under the Philadelphia Experiment that went to the future to 500 and 700 years into the future of Earth. Their accounts are that the government was run by an Artificial Intelligence Computer created by a North American tribe with ET connections. So, apparently the independent field and Ron’s Orgs should be working on verifying this data and incorporate computers into management. Computers have already been incorporated into Scientology Tech anyway. The fact remains that the world government of this planet is going to have a computerized management system. Better it be run by Scientologists than wogs.”
2001: Bob Minton posted a letter he wrote to the Salvation Army in Clearwater, which administers his parole program. Bob was placed on probation after being found in violation of an anti-protesting restraining order. Scientology is complaining to the Salvation Army about firearms Bob owned earlier this year. “On the first day that I walked into the Salvation Army Correctional Services and met with my probation supervisor, I informed her that I owned several firearms that were kept at my home in New Hampshire. Ms. Muniz indicated to me that this was ‘no problem’ with regard to the general probation condition of ‘you will neither carry nor own weapons without first securing the consent of the probation supervisor,’ since the infraction for which I was on probation did not involve firearms and the firearms were over 1,500 miles away from Florida. On June 26, Connie Dugan informed me through Sharon Young that I was required to register my firearms in New Hampshire with the chief of police in Sandown, my hometown. I called Connie Dugan directly and informed her that there was no provision in the state of New Hampshire for the registration of firearms unless one is applying for a license to carry a concealed weapon. Ms. Dugan subsequently informed me that I was now required to register my firearms with SACS. In response to Ms. Dugan’s demand on June 26, which amounts to changing the terms of my probation, I told her that I no longer owned the firearms and had transferred ownership of them to Stacy S. Brooks. Therefore, I ‘neither carry nor own weapons,’ and consequently I am under no further obligation to provide anything concerning previous firearms ownership to SACS. My attorney has tried to deal with this matter by attempting to have the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit mediate in this matter. The result of that attempt is unsatisfactory to me and I am instructing my attorney NOT to submit any list of weapons that I owned prior to June 26, 2001, that being the date I informed Connie Dugan I do not own any weapons, to SACS. I trust that my position is clear enough on this matter that SACS can act intelligently despite how much pressure is brought to bear on your office by the Scientology misfits.”
——————–
“People spend years, decades, stuck on OT 7. It drives them insane, like George Baillie or poor Biggi Reichert.”
——————–
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 was due July 3, extension granted.
— 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] French and English voices decry Tom Cruise stunt planned for Olympics
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini’s lawsuit: Why Scientology will always smear and stalk its ‘enemies’
[THREE years ago] Special series starting today: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[FOUR years ago] Judge in Danny Masterson case quashes ‘fishing expedition’ done for Scientology’s benefit
[FIVE years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
[SIX years ago] Scientology in a nutshell: The lights are on, but nobody’s home
[SEVEN years ago] Colombian senator asks defense minister to investigate Scientology over medal scandal
[EIGHT years ago] Bogus court documents, compliant search engines, and Scientology-style rehabs
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s richest couple buys ‘Holy City,’ a California ghost town and former cult site
[TEN years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Tom Cruise Scientology video shows the actor praising the church — in Spanish!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Sea Org full regalia edition!
[TWELVE years ago] Jon Atack and a Special Guest Wrestle with Gerry Armstrong’s Legal Scientology Nightmare
——————–
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 3,351 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,855 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,361 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,911 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,901 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,287 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,782 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,086 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,955 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,509 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,850 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,421 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,337 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,504 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,086 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,345 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,382 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,098 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,662 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,977 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,152 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,834 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,171 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,025 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,140 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,502 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,911 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,301 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,185 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,750 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,261 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,521 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,625 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 10, 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 shows off White House nook dedicated to his 2028 run for 3rd term
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});5 things Trump did this week:
1. Threatened to take over DC
2. Ordered unconstitutional census
3. Called his Epstein files scandal “bullshit”
4. Got roasted by South Park again
5. Went on another taxpayer-funded golf trip pic.twitter.com/Fi786knOHh
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 10, 2025
Trump was hanging out with Lindsay Graham at his golf club today pic.twitter.com/U2W7P7HaPD
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 9, 2025
Trump shows off to the Azerbaijan dictator a section in the White House dedicated to Trump 2028 merch, as they discuss Trump unlawfully pursuing another term pic.twitter.com/nK8tQEACWI
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) August 9, 2025
There are sick MAGA supporters who believe the Epstein victims are the real criminals and that Epstein’s clients were innocent, but framed for blackmail. They regularly attack Epstein’s victims.
They want Trump to pardon Maxwell and prosecute the victims. Pretty twisted stuff.
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 9, 2025
I wrote about why we need to fight age verification, fight surveillance tech, and protect our civil liberties online for The Guardian https://t.co/h4eHZN4IpM
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) August 9, 2025
Nation in decline pic.twitter.com/Th3noipNtT
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 10, 2025
QAnon is as predictable as the tides. pic.twitter.com/CfTh2P8EXz
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 10, 2025
And when Trump rug pulls these people on his mortgage scam they’ll blame the Deep State for it. pic.twitter.com/fXcyHCIBRY
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 9, 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 10, 2025 at 08:00
August 9, 2025
Scientology sees illness as a weakness, offers space-age faith healing
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: While most view illness as something that happens to everyone sooner or later, Scientologists live in an environment where catching a cold or getting the flu can carry stigma, blame, and often financial consequences. Once again, we have Phil Jones on another Scientology fear! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Exteriorization is defined as the act of moving out of the body with or without full perception. It is the fact of this act which proves that the individual is not a body but an individual. This discovery in 1952 proved beyond any question the existence of a thetan, that the individual was a thetan, not a body, and disproved that Man was an animal and that he was a spiritual being timeless and deathless. Techniques have existed since 1952 that exteriorize a person. These are not now used because (a) the person, still being aberrated and not Clear, soon returns to his body and (b) when audited thereafter has trouble. This is a major problem a thetan sometimes has at death. How to exteriorize? He makes it eventually of course but he should be able to do so at once.” — 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
——————–
“Ninth of August? What planet? Nine August, AD 12….You are Scientologists. You are scientists. You are people who can do things with the human mind. You practically — this small confine here — practically all the people on Earth who are experts on the subject are confined at this moment in this very small area. See? All right. The trick is from my viewpoint, to get somebody who can clear somebody else while being cleared, see, that’s the stunt. Otherwise nothing else works. Not on this planet, you see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 9, 1962
——————–
“The UK ban is about to come off we hear by rumour. The Adelaide Aust ban bill is cancelled. The GPO lets us mail at bulk rates again in the US. I think we’ve even found the bug in the TR Course length! So here on Flag the few of us, on long, long lines, are working like mad, short-handed but rolling it out. We ARE very upstat. When you feel critical, just realize it’s a wish to do more better faster. For these 3 small orgs to handle what they’re handling is itself an epic. The thing legends are made of. The lowest downstat amongst us would be a king in any other culture than Flag.” — The Commodore, August 9, 1971
——————–
“There were already human beings and advanced civilization at the same time as the T-Rex and other dinosaurs. And there were then – just like today – corrupt politicians who wanted to establish a dictatorship and who would kill in the process. They wanted to reduce ‘overpopulation’ and committed genocide. The iridium layer found worldwide in 1978 is evidence of the catastrophe that Hubbard described in detail as early as 1967. Memories of it can also be found in the Vedas. The film series ‘Star Wars’ describes the same event from a different perspective. Had George Lukas been commissioned by Hubbard to make it? The similarity is too striking.”
2000: Der Spiegel published an article describing the behavior of Scientologists towards Ursula Caberta during her recent trip to
Clearwater. “Ursula Caberta, Director of the Work Group on Scientology in the Hamburg Interior Agency, had to leave the USA in a hurry. Caberta met with Scientology opponents Stacy Brooks and Bob Minton and took part in a press conference on the practices of the psycho-concern. Then she unexpectedly left the country one day earlier than planned. Caberta had no sooner landed at the airport in Tampa than she was received by Scientologists screaming ‘Nazi go home’; she was subsequently followed at every turn. Then German software businessman Hubert Heller, who lives in the USA, sued Caberta for 75,000 dollars in damages. Allegedly a major contract from German company POS Partner Gmbh had slipped through his fingers after the company had presented him with a so-called ‘sect filter’ – a ‘security statement’ in which the signer asserts that he does not operate according to the ‘technology’ of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The German Consul General in Florida urged that she leave: Caberta had had a summons to a deposition by Scientology attorneys shoved under her hotel room door. It said she would have to sit through a five-hour hearing in the business’s center in Clearwater. It had to do with the case of Lisa McPherson, who died under unexplained circumstances in the USA. She left the country in secret ‘before anything worse happened.’ Caberta lost her belief in the American legal system. She had never experienced anything like that before. ‘One hears about that only in dictatorships.'”
——————–
“The ultimate goal of becoming an Operating Thetan is that you would no longer need a MEST body and you could return to being an all powerful, immortal non-corporeal being. OT 8 is actually the first ‘real’ Operating Thetan level. Hubbard croaked, so everybody’s screwed. Thetans are immortal. Mesty meat bodies, no.”
——————–
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.
— 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 was due July 3, extension granted.
— 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 ecstasy: When your space cooties finally get sober
[TWO years ago] Oh, now they’ve done it: Scientology gets in trouble with the Smurfs
[THREE years ago] Rizza Islam’s sisters plead no contest, leaving him last facing trial in Medi-Cal fraud case
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 13: Communicating with anyone on any subject
[FIVE years ago] Leaked Video: Scientology’s anti-psychiatry front talks strategy with psych professor
[SIX years ago] TOM CRUISE CAUGHT ON TAPE: Saving face after a Scientology disaster
[SEVEN years ago] Why Scientology is a haven for sexual abusers — it’s the way L. Ron Hubbard designed it
[EIGHT years ago] Hey, moneybags, Scientology has a bridge to sell you. Here’s the new price list!
[NINE years ago] The dapper CEO’s detailed response: Scientology wasn’t forced on disgruntled employee
[TEN years ago] Why no one should ever believe anything said by Scientology Sea Org or staff members
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: Escaping the trap Scientology sets for the mind
[TWELVE years ago] PZ Myers Helps Us Plunder the Riches of L. Ron Hubbard’s Book of Scientology Evolution!
——————–
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 3,350 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,854 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,360 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,910 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,900 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,286 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,781 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,085 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,954 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,508 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,849 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,420 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,336 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,503 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,085 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,344 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,381 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,097 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,661 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,976 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,151 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,833 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,170 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,024 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,139 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,501 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,910 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,300 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,184 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,749 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,260 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,520 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,624 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 9, 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
When anti-vaxxers kill: Gunman convinced Covid vaccine made him sick
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump preemptively blames judges for potential economic collapse pic.twitter.com/ei24e5BwbC
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 8, 2025
Disinformation kills. Conspiracy theories kill. We are all less safe when the truth is attacked. https://t.co/3lwl02cez3
— Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky) (@rothschildmd) August 8, 2025
A 24-year-old from Ottawa, Saihajpreet Singh, has developed a network of bots including DOGEai to influence U.S. elections to support Donald Trump and the Republican Party. He says he has received interest from political campaigns regarding his bots. These bots post thousands of… pic.twitter.com/tpm5ozSq2k
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) August 8, 2025
GOP Oversight Member Suggests Smithsonian Hiding Bones of Giants
Rep. Eric Burlison: “I do believe [giants] were real”https://t.co/weRod3U8qohttps://t.co/weRod3U8qo
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 8, 2025
Ad on Trump’s Truth Social page: “God & Jesus & Trump & Vance.” pic.twitter.com/cYBEx8xuU4
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 9, 2025
The owner of “Trump Burger” in Houston is now facing deportation pic.twitter.com/CLhunbVAcn
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 8, 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 9, 2025 at 08:00
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