Tony Ortega's Blog, page 21
August 3, 2025
Wolff: Epstein too afraid to expose Trump, ‘a man without any scruples’
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Another golf weekend for Trump pic.twitter.com/Jy4nRnapS6
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 3, 2025
Brown: Brad Edwards deposed Epstein’s accountant—she worked for a modeling company that Epstein owned.
It’s clear he was using that modeling company, at least in part, as a cover for the trafficking..
She gave more detail than we had heard before, including the fact that when… pic.twitter.com/0WZuBmUhsk
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 2, 2025
Michael Wolff says he urged Epstein to release information he had on Trump, but Epstein appeared worried about what Trump would do to him.
“He said, ‘I may be a pervert, but I’m not crazy.’ He then said, ‘Trump is a man without any scruples.’” pic.twitter.com/H1Ny8h0ElM
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 2, 2025
Internal Fox communications show Pirro’s executive producer describing her as a “reckless maniac” who is “nuts,” promotes “conspiracy theories,” and “should never be on live television.” https://t.co/dkTHxqOPBo
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) August 3, 2025
Will the “most transparent administration ever” be releasing the names of the donors for the Trump White House Ballroom?
It’s possible that donors could end up be repaid with taxpayer-funded political favors. pic.twitter.com/rzOTulqihd
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 2, 2025
Soon it’ll be 3 years and then 2.5 and then 2 and you’ll still be demanding everyone hold the line and that Trump will get around to finally showing us all the evidence and crushing his enemies. pic.twitter.com/FAUDhuY2MP
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 3, 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 3, 2025 at 08:00
Recruiting dentists for Scientology, and bringing L. Ron Hubbard’s shrine to life!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Last time we learned a wealthy family funding Scientology’s Vatican in Florida was also owner of a renowned Haunted House complex. This time, the church sent notice that another donor ropes in dentists for Hubbardism. Don’t like that? What, are you an anti-dentite? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Pcs are most apt to go free needle after a big cog. So don’t be so engrossed in looking at the pc during cognitions. Keep an eye on that needle. And if it goes free, don’t ask anything else. Just gently give the pc a ‘That’s it’ and without a chop of comm, ease the pc off to ‘Declare?’ in Qual. (Or if a field auditor, start the next grade.) Gently, gently. smooth TRs get you free needles.” — 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
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
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“If you ever want to see tiredness overwhelm the PC, run him into the area of the whole track called Arslycus. And there thetans were actively producing matter, you see. And they were hanging off walls, making walls and making tilework and mocking everything up and smoothing it out and you couldn’t get away….How about the fellow who ran Arslycus? How about the overt, man? Look at that level of overt. Thetans by the ton, all around, working like mad to build walls and build this and build that and finally, through some mysterious circumstance that nobody has ever been able to trace, Arslycus fell apart and everybody fell and fell and fell. It, by the way, wasn’t on a planet. It was, of course, just a construction out in space as itself. Nobody had invented planets yet and planets undoubtedly were invented to cure things happening that happened at Arslycus because they had walls and roads and courts and houses and towering buildings and everything. And of course they just ran without foundation, Uninfluenced with gravity or anything else. And one fine day it all fell apart.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 3, 1961
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“Suzette Hubbard, Ann Tidman and Terri Gillham are confined to the ship for a week for staying on liberty till after midnight without my permission, and for leaving the ship again after midnight, without my permission. QMs, please note.” — LRH Pers Comm, August 3, 1970
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“The motherland of my body is Canopus sector 9, which is located at a distance of 300 light years from the Earth. This is a green agrarian planet (the name sounds like Lania), where my ancestors spent more than 100,000 lives. These are ordinary thin people who love nature and work on agriculture. In total, there are more than 28 planets in the system. Approximately 3 million years ago, the thetan who ruled the body of my ancestor (genetic line) was adopted in the detachment of volunteers to restore the Earth after nuclear destruction 75 million years ago. He left the planet and was making preparations on a huge spacecraft for the mission, then my ancestor with a group of volunteers came to the planet. The first few lives of the genetic line in the form of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were extremely effective, highly organized and had many abilities, but gradually the struggle of creatures for the body won up. Instead of one thetan, thousands and millions appeared in the body. Intellect began to fall as the control of the body was now exerted by a huge number of contradictory, tortured and implanted beings. Save your race, nothing will be forgotten and nothing will be in vain for the present and coming generations. It is necessary to concentrate and flourish in life so that the light of truth wins over the darkness of earthly ignorance. May the sun never set on Scientology.”
2001: The St. Petersburg Times reported that Dr. David Minkoff has been suspended as a doctor and fined for his treatment of Lisa McPherson, who died as a result of her care in the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1995. “Florida’s Board of Medicine has sternly sanctioned Clearwater physician David I. Minkoff, finding he improperly prescribed medicine for a patient he had never seen – Scientologist Lisa McPherson. Minkoff, also a Scientologist, prescribed Valium and the muscle relaxant chloral hydrate at the behest of unlicensed Church of Scientology staffers who were trying to nurse McPherson, 36, through a severe mental breakdown. When they failed after 17 days of isolating her, Minkoff was recruited again. This
time, he pronounced McPherson dead. For his role in the 1995 episode that Minkoff himself calls a ‘fiasco,’ the 53-year-old doctor will lose his medical license for one year and then be made to practice under probation for two more years – unless he appeals and wins a reversal. He also was fined $10,000. Ken Dandar, the Tampa lawyer who represents McPherson’s family, called the sanctions too lenient. Dandar set off the inquiry that led to Friday’s action, complaining about Minkoff to state health officials in 1997. He nevertheless credited Minkoff on Friday for the candid accounts he has given in sworn statements. It was Minkoff, a Scientologist for 20 years, who told prosecutors in 1998 that McPherson’s care at Scientology’s Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater was seriously flawed. The doctor is a ‘public’ Scientologist, not one of the uniformed members who staff the church. Though Minkoff had never seen McPherson and didn’t know her medical history, he prescribed liquid Valium. He also wrote the prescription in the name of the Scientology staffer who was sent to pick it up – not the actions of a ‘reasonably prudent physician,’ according to a stinging document written earlier this year by the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration. Nine days later, the church staffers called again. This time, Minkoff prescribed chloral hydrate, a prescription sedative, again without examining McPherson or gleaning information about her medical situation. On Dec. 5, 1995, when Scientology staffers realized McPherson was physically ill, they again called Minkoff, who says he told them to take her to the nearest hospital. But the staffers persisted, saying they feared doctors at Morton Plant Hospital, two minutes away, would put her in the psychiatric ward. Minkoff, who worked in the emergency room at a New Port Richey hospital 45 minutes away, finally agreed to see McPherson. After pronouncing McPherson dead, Minkoff told prosecutors he screamed at church staffer Janis Johnson for bringing him someone in such ‘horrific’
shape. Johnson was an unlicensed physician. An autopsy found McPherson died of a blood clot in her left lung. Once a defendant in that lawsuit, he has settled with McPherson’s family. Minkoff has said Johnson never revealed the severity of McPherson’s psychosis. Had he known more, he would have acted differently, he told prosecutors.”
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“Hubbard went after anyone like a honey badger who tried to make one thin dime off of his con. If he remotely suspected you had plagiarized his plagiarizing he would declare you and sic the GO/OSA on your ass. He did this to the crazy couple who started the Process Church and he also notoriously went after Werner Erhard, the conman who created EST. Erhard claimed that LRH had put out a contract on him.”
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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.
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?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] LA Mayor Karen Bass to have another awkward Scientology moment, thanks to Tom Cruise?
[TWO years ago] Coming Sunday: Valerie Haney talks to Aussie 60 Minutes in first TV sitdown since ‘Aftermath’
[THREE years ago] Amended complaint: Even more horror in labor trafficking lawsuit against Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology wants your money coming & going: Two new hype videos to loosen up your wallet!
[FIVE years ago] Karen Bass says she attended Scientology event because it was in her district. But it wasn’t.
[SIX years ago] Out of sight, out of MIND: How Scientology tried & failed to destroy psychiatry in the UK
[SEVEN years ago] The two-wheeled spy who loves Blighty: An action report
[EIGHT years ago] ‘Going Clear’ author Lawrence Wright celebrates a milestone with a different kind of keyboard
[NINE years ago] Scientology appeals $1 million loss to Florida supreme court, and Ken Dandar gets canny
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s Freedom magazine congratulates itself for going ‘Ideal’
[ELEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: More Scientology fliers than you can shake a stick at
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s Crumbling: Can Gerry Armstrong Begin to Think of Crossing the Border?
——————–
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 3,344 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,848 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,354 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,904 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,894 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,280 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,775 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,079 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,948 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,502 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,843 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,414 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,330 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,497 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,079 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,338 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,375 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,091 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,655 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,970 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,145 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,827 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,164 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,018 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,133 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,495 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,904 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,294 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,178 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,743 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,254 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,514 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,618 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 3, 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
August 2, 2025
Scientology loses an ‘enforcer,’ but what work did Marion Pouw actually do?
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Janis Grady and Mark Fisher recently reported that longtime Sea Org member Marion Pouw had died. Daily Mail Australia followed with a good piece about her history in Scientology. But what did this woman Ron Miscavige called a ‘henchman’ actually do? We have an interesting witness. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“It may be necessary to find whole track overruns on some pcs in rehabilitation of grades. If a lot of levels have been run past free needle it may be necessary to take apart the mess like a bundle of yarn to get the first free needle. In such a case one rehabs any grade the pc has been run on that the pc can remember. One handles this briefly until the pc is happy but not necessarily to free needle. One then finds another overrun, does the same. One goes on and on looking for moments the pc felt good about processing at one or another time. If you keep this up, suddenly you will see a free needle on the pc! Establish what grade it is free on, then quickly get the needle free on the remaining overrun grades (but not grades pc was never run on). It may be necessary to take into account a whole track overrun of a purpose or even the purpose to get Release, Clear or
OT. It is all very quick, deft auditing, very much on procedure using standard rehab tech — but no repetitive grind.” — 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.
——————–
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
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“Now, what’s the matter with the planet at this particular time is ethics is out. And that is proven by the fact that you are having a hard time getting tech in. With the technology which you know at this particular moment and the results which you are delivering even at lower levels, you have a total monopoly of all mental activities, all religious activities and all social activities on this planet. That is what you are entitled to at this moment. Do you have them? Well, therefore, tech is out. Obvious. So, the only thing that puts tech out is if ethics is out. The only thing that can get tech in is ethics.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 2, 1966
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“Recruits are not the answer, not the total why to no production. Lots there already. Training and hats are needed. 2.5 hours a day study time. Part time Crew Cse Super and properly programmed crew students properly enrolled and properly mustered at suitable times will improve things faster than new recruits. Recruits are longer range.” — The Commodore, August 2, 1971
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“Give it a blind eye if you want, and people will for various mostly personal reasons. I however will not. Reverse Scientology started in 1973, the main obstacles were dealt with, handled, reversed and pushed through during 1978-82. Confronting evil, for me, is seeing things for what they are, to deal with that which can be confirmed. The stories told by people (tale telling) is surely not part of that! You don’t give matters a blind eye because of personal preference. Start to realize that David Miscavige is only the face outward! My research does not suffer from ‘bank generalities and identifications.’ If it does, you can point out exactly where I went in the wrong.”
2000: The Cincinnati Enquirer published an article in which singer Chaka Khan described her involvement in Scientology’s World Literacy Crusade. “I’m starting a foundation, the Chaka Khan Foundation,’ she explains. ‘We deal with women and children in crisis. I’ll be launching that in a couple months time. And I teach art classes twice a week in Compton to kids in the World Literacy Crusade and other kids in the neighborhood there.’ She says that she and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., are scheduled to meet with Hillary Clinton on a project to bring more arts education into public schools, ‘and get Ritalin out of our schools. And we want to build a co-op for women and children for medical care and job training and child care facilities and the whole bit,’ she gushes, finally stopping for a breath.”
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“Massholio is 4 months of winter wasteland followed by a month of sumptuous spring followed by four months of hellish heat and humidity followed by two and half months of fabulous fall weather. There’s definitely room for improvement, Sherb.”
——————–
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] New York Scientology donor David Gentile convicted in federal fraud case
[TWO years ago] Scientology wanted you to believe that the urge to leave was a failing. It wasn’t.
[THREE years ago] The Scientologists doing battle with the SEC over a $1 billion pile of cash
[FOUR years ago] Escaping for the second time: Cathy Mullins on forsaking Scientology’s Florida swamp
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO LEAK explains how to rope in the unsuspecting: ‘We don’t explain Scientology’
[SIX years ago] Scientology finds a friendly physician to help out in its attack on an effective drug
[SEVEN years ago] Colombian roast: Will Scientologists care about David Miscavige’s latest fraud?
[EIGHT years ago] Carol Nyburg is back, and she has a Scientology story that will rough you up
[NINE years ago] For Scientology’s most infamous dirty trickster, retirement has a happy ending
[TEN years ago] Garcias’ appeal rejected; now the couple faces the real possibility of Scientology arbitration
[ELEVEN years ago] Video proof that Scientology makes you a stellar communicator
[TWELVE years ago] Underground Bunker Night at The TomKat Project — Get Your Tickets Now!
——————–
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 3,343 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,847 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,353 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,903 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,893 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,279 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,774 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,078 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,947 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,501 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,842 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,413 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,329 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,496 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,078 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,337 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,374 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,090 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,654 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,969 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,144 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,826 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,163 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,017 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,132 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,494 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,903 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,293 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,177 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,742 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,253 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,513 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,617 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 2, 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
FBI caught redacting Trump’s name from the Epstein files
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});5 things Trump did this week:
1. Was caught cheating in golf
2. Threatened to arrest Obama
3. Called the Epstein files a “hoax” again
4. Upgraded child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum security Texas prison
5. Went to his New Jersey golf club for the weekend pic.twitter.com/9PsNXPM5a8
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 2, 2025
NEW FOIA Files SCOOP: The FBI redacted Trump’s name—and the names of other prominent public figures—from the Epstein files under two privacy exemptions before DOJ & FBI concluded “no further disclosure” of the files “would be appropriate or warranted.”https://t.co/P98Ho2lWgM
— Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) August 1, 2025
Question: Is clemency on the table for Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for her testimony?
Trump: I’m allowed to do it… I don’t know anything about it. pic.twitter.com/mxGdM0qdTy
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 2, 2025
The depths of depravity that the MAGA cult will go to defend Trump is vividly illustrated by this clip, where Newsmax brings the brother of convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell on in primetime to trash one of the victims who is dead and call her a liar. pic.twitter.com/KEG74qCbd6
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 2, 2025
REPORTER: Why did you fire the head of the bureau of labor statistics?
TRUMP: Because I thought her numbers were wrong pic.twitter.com/MhLU8GRH2z
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 1, 2025
The US government sent a totally innocent man to be raped in a foreign gulag https://t.co/yFFGeKLnlf
— Andrew Kaczynski (@KFILE) August 1, 2025
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down operations after loss of federal funding: pic.twitter.com/vZ7KLPi7UK
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 1, 2025
a genuine public service shutters, only to be replaced with the dumbest people alive https://t.co/s0QLcu37tH pic.twitter.com/dSYUGQUup7
— rat king 🐀 (@MikeIsaac) August 1, 2025
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) August 2, 2025
In 2020 the Trump White House decided that engaging and mobilizing QAnon as a voter base was something they would devote a lot of time and effort towards. This never stopped and nobody in the press cares about this relationship between the President and an internet cult. pic.twitter.com/5183XKJQKS
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) August 2, 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 2, 2025 at 08:00
August 1, 2025
Scientology has your summer fun lined up: Three parties with Ron!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: You’re 76 trillion years old, and you have countless more lifetimes to come. Thetan, we know you’re out of ideas what to do these sweltering summers. When it’s this hot, it’s not easy getting your meatsack out to do anything. But that’s where Scientology has your back, pilgrim! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Free needles can be obscured only by overruns and auditor goofs in the rehab session and ARC breaks in past auditing. When a TA goes up or is up it means an overrun in life or on a process or grade of release. The only place you can’t get an overrun is at Grade VII. All grades below that are subject to overrun. Life subjects are subject to overrun before Scientology. The mechanism is this: one conceived a purpose. He or she succeeded in it, then kept on and overran it. In auditing one hits the purpose and the overrun of it and gets a free needle on it. That doesn’t mean the person was a Release then. It means that the spotting of the purpose and the overrun by auditing produces a free needle today.” — 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 was auditing a preclear one day that had a history of lesbianism and I learned this lesson but good. She was very sensitive about it and wanted to get over it. I knew this. I knew that this was a broken-up case. I mean the person was in bad shape. She was very spinny….You’ve got this individual sitting there as I had this lesbian and at the end of twenty-five minutes I suddenly realized that I was being ‘awfully nice.’ And I was getting nowhere….So I just broke out my Scientological scalpel and I said, ‘Women are nice, aren’t they? Particularly in bed.’ Dahhhhhhwwwwww! Wild needle slams and so forth. First lock of the Rock that came off of that case was being in charge, way, way back on the track, as the high priestess of the Vestal Virgins who weren’t virgin anymore, for which she was quietly and lengthily cooked over a slow fire, and which was making her avoid being a housewife because housewives have to cook. One of the innumerable computations that came off of this case.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 1, 1958
——————–
“The VIII sessions being done by Belkacem Ferradj, Connie Broadbent and Quentin Hubbard are well above the Org VIII Course standard for consistency and fast case change. As soon as a couple more auditors qualify for full time Dianetic Qual assignment, Joan Robertson can join the full time Course to get her VIII. We do not have enough VIIIs coming up for the ship and the AOSH group so somebody better find the throttle on his study and begin to fill this gap. I’m told in the field an VIII is looked on like God.” — The Commodore, August 1, 1969
——————–
“I am pro-David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology. I used to be anti-him, but since he has called in Scientologists and secretly briefed them on the Covid scam, I now believe he is a good person but just sometimes loses control of his anger problem. I think he’s a good person who means well, and I’m so proud that he is anti-Covid. He’s not a scumbag communist member of the new world order. He’s anti-communism, and good on him. And maybe the bad things he’s done is because he had so much pressure from the world socialists to corrupt and shut down Scientology, which they hate. I hope the church can survive during these tough times. Scientology opens minds, not closes them, like the effing socialist world government and its education and media system does. This is why Scientology has been attacked for many years. Go, David. I’m with you.”
1999: The Los Angeles Business Journal published a profile concerning Heber Jentzsch, President of the Church of Scientology International. “In 1967, Heber Jentzsch was singing in front of an unusually rowdy crowd in Las Vegas. In the middle of his set, a man stood up and began demanding that Jentzsch get off the stage and that the showgirls be brought in to replace him. It was at that very moment the then-32-year-old Jentzsch realized his life was heading in the wrong direction. He got in his car and headed west to Los Angeles. He went downtown to the Church of Scientology – an institution he had read about while in the Army – and turned over his life. Jentzsch, now 63, has become the president of the Church of Scientology International, which reportedly has 8 million members. As an ordained minister of the religion, he performs weddings and funerals and keeps up his study of Scientology’s tenets several hours each week. Jentzsch also helps to direct the church’s volunteer ministries and community outreach programs, a task that placed him on the front lines of the L.A. riots and Northridge earthquake. Jentzsch blames ongoing animosity toward the church on a fear of changing the status quo. He argues that nay new religion is going to be met with disapproval. ‘I guess I would have to say to the naysayers that if you have a better program and you can save people, then do it,’ he said. Spurred by the involvement of famous celebrities including John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, the church now claims 250,000 members in Southern California – more than any other region of the world. ‘Celebrities are more spiritual in nature,’ Jentzsch said. ‘L. Ron Hubbard said, ‘A culture is as great as its dreams, and dreams are dreamed by artists.'”
——————–
“Go to the Icke message board and search ‘Scientology.’ They think the Church of Scientology is either part of the NWO/Illuminati/Reptilian conspiracy or that the Scientologists are crazy. Ha!”
——————–
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] Judge denies Valeska Paris redo: Trafficking case still stuck in arbitration
[TWO years ago] Some personal news from Tony Ortega, the Underground Bunker’s proprietor
[THREE years ago] He inscribed the night sky like no one else — and now he gets his due at Lowell Observatory
[FOUR years ago] If this video doesn’t convince you Scientology is the world’s coolest religion, nothing will
[FIVE years ago] Two years after filing their appeal, why there’s hope for the Garcias against Scientology
[SIX years ago] Scientologists in Texas neighborhood battle turn out to include Lori Hodgson’s daughter
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology TV is the best thing to happen to television — says Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Clearwater Baptist pastor reflects on his message about Scientology, stands by it
[NINE years ago] Scientology opened a new ‘Ideal Org’ in Harlem, and we weren’t made to feel very welcome
[TEN years ago] When Jesse Prince sec-checked David Miscavige: A Scientology interrogation for the ages
[ELEVEN years ago] Kirstie Alley ‘disconnects’ from not one but two men over their friendship with Leah Remini
[TWELVE years ago] Leah Remini Retaliation? Suddenly, Scientology “Fair Gaming” Of Critics Is Way Up
——————–
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 3,342 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,846 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,352 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,902 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,892 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,278 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,773 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,077 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,946 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,500 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,841 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,412 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,328 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,495 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,077 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,336 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,373 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,089 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,653 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,968 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,143 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,825 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,162 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,016 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,131 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,493 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,902 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,292 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,176 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,741 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,252 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,512 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,616 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 1, 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 impeachment info at Smithsonian was double plus ungood, had to go
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});"Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American history museum"
WaPo scoops https://t.co/SsVvihT99G
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) August 1, 2025
Wolff: Now Epstein’s explanation for why this friendship ended is as follows.
In 2004, Epstein believed himself to be the high bidder on a piece of real estate in Palm Beach—a house. His bid was $36 million.
He took his friend Trump around to see the house, to advise him on how… pic.twitter.com/5aRYqN8BNr
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 31, 2025
Virginia Giuffre’s brother: I think we were shocked by it—especially the use of the term “stolen.” Because she’s not an object. She’s a person. Someone who was recruited at Mar-a-Lago—his property… it just kind of makes us wonder… how much he knew pic.twitter.com/xKOgEpKcAc
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 31, 2025
Trump was so angry at his best friend over this. He must have thought underage Virginia Giuffre was doing a great job in his spa. https://t.co/NRAaMxYgG6
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) July 31, 2025
RFK Jr. used to warn about a takeover of our data. He said wearables and their tech were part of a government plot to surveil, enabled tyranny, caused cancer, and turned users into “permanent consumers”.
Now, in the government, he wants your data. https://t.co/3s5xwiNpWS
— Brandy Zadrozny (@BrandyZadrozny) July 31, 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 1, 2025 at 08:00
July 31, 2025
Nicole Kidman’s Scientology auditor: What Ana de Armas is in for with Tom Cruise
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The tabs are losing it now that Scientology icon Tom Cruise was spotted holding hands with actress Ana de Armas in Vermont. What is she in for? We figured the best way to answer that is go over Cruise’s previous relationships, and with help from Nicole Kidman’s former auditor! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“The primary indicator of the presence of an SP in an org is a plummeting statistic immediately after he starts handling a portion of it. Indifferent leadership, even inaction, can’t drive a statistic down. Only active suppression can. So watch the statistics and don’t get reasonable when they fall. Either outside the org suppression has been brought down on that portion of the org. making it PTS or there is an SP there. The final answer is what happened just before the statistic fell. If a new appointment was made and it fell, unappoint it fast. If nothing cures the down statistic find the SP or handle the PTS situation because one or the other is there. Completions stayed down for 15 years. Then we found auditors never noticed free needles. Now for heaven’s sakes, 15 years was enough. Don’t repeat the error! It does work you know.” — 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({});
——————–
“If you really know your E-Meters, go down to your local hometown detective bureau and ask to talk to the lie detector expert and talk to him for a few minutes and he starts giving you some wise, professional chitterchat. Why, you just tell him you’re a psychologist — he understands that, the man has a limited vocabulary, usually — and tell him you use these things all the time in your practice and so forth, and you’d just like to look over his setup. Well, these guys are all bugs and they will show you their setup with their blood pressure gauge and their respirators and the little meter with the cans, you know, except they don’t put them on properly and they don’t register quite right. Now, you can take the same rig and you can so baffle and astound this man, so he just practically blows his brains out. He says, ‘What have I been doing all this time!’ and so on. You can show him a murder reaction on every cop in the place. You don’t say, ‘Have you committed the murder?’ You say, ‘Have you ever killed anyone?’ And promptly, you get duhduh and the respirator goes bluh, the blood pressure indicator goes blah. You could be very cruel and simply say to the lie detector operator, ‘Obviously, your machine is out of order.’ That’s what he’ll think. He’ll have a letter off right away to the manufacturers.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 31, 1958
——————–
“Well we found the Anchor! In 50 feet of water, the search has been long — 60 to 70 hours of diving on the bottom. The reason we lost it was the NON FUNCTIONING of the K&H radar range ring, awaiting a part for weeks and not expedited. This made an exact range to the place impossible. A crane barge will pick up the Anchor this morning and get it aboard. Put the shackle on right way to — open end facing aft as the Chain goes across the winch. Then we sail.” — The Commodore, July 31, 1970
——————–
“For such a takeover of Scientology in 1972 to succeed there were lots of people (paid by the Deep State) who introduced false data and black PR. Instead of telling us, ‘LRH was an SP,’ they say: ‘LRH said he had been Cecil Rhodes,’ or ‘LRH punished small children by putting them into the chain locker’ or ‘LRH took handfuls of colorful psycho pills.’ Is this actually true or have you read that in the mass media?”
——————–
1998: More details about the warning shots fired by Bob Minton to trespassing Scientologists on his property in New Hampshire became available this week. “There were 2 visits by police, the first after the firing of the warning shots and all was OK with police except they suggested that a 911 call may be a better alternative. The 2nd visit was after dark about 30 minutes later, after the original single police officer responded when said 2nd officer heard another shotgun shell fired on or near my property. Both Stacy and me told the same story to different officers at the same time 200 feet apart that we did not fire the shotgun when the officer heard it. I was handcuffed because I was belligerent; firstly over the indignation of this hands up bullshit and secondly over being manhandled by the police. The police were doing their job to maintain their safety. My belligerence was clearly not helpful to the situation and I was handcuffed for it. The OSA trespassers said ‘Hi Stacy! How is it fucking Bob?’ I found this to be sufficiently over the top to leap out of the pool, run to the house and get my keys for the barn, open the barn, open my office, grab my shotgun, some shells and fire into 200 acres of hillside, at least 200 feet away from the OSA brown pants. Today, Sunday July 26, 1998, my wife Therese receives a hand delivered 6 page letter from Rinder in England attacking Stacy as a tramp who is fucking your husband; a woman who has sucked the life and money from a long list of men; and as a woman out to manipulate your husband to spend all the family money to attack Stacy’s arch enemy Scientology. Also, the letter included attacks on everyone I have helped, including according to Scientology, wife beaters, child molesters, whores and pornography editors. 4 OSA picketers were there plus a PI named Middleton from NH. Mr. Middleton was hired by the Church of Scientology, on this occasion to video the picket. He has now twice confirmed his employment by the Church to the Sandown Police Chief. One of the OSA people asked Mr. Middleton to enter my property and video whoever and whatever was going on in the swimming pool. Mr. Middleton said he refused as he did not want any criminal trespass charge to mar his PI record in NH. Not only did he refuse to break the law, he left in his car. Only 4 OSA boys left so what do they do–they go ahead and break the law.”
——————–
“Hubbard should have just cut to the chase and told the clams that he had discovered that all money was infested with body thetans and that they needed to bring their filthy lucre in to Flag to be audited. He could have called it ‘The Wallet of Fire’.”
——————–
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 July 14.
— ‘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 July 7.
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. Oral arguments are probably next.
— 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 is due July 3.
— 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 secret plan to produce a Scientology social media star
[TWO years ago] More adventures serving legal papers on the elusive Scientology leader David Miscavige!
[THREE years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige is evading service, says the Valeska Paris team
[FOUR years ago] Court file: Brian Statler was never asked to leave Scientology org before being shot
[FIVE years ago] Scientology takes aim at Mike Rinder and Hana Whitfield in the Valerie Haney lawsuit
[SIX years ago] ‘Strange Angel’ goes there, teases Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard at season end
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology spilling the secrets of the universe on an LA street!
[EIGHT years ago] Phil and Willie Jones versus Scientology: The real story of how the billboard came to be
[NINE years ago] Harlem gets its Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ today, and David Miscavige doesn’t want you there
[TEN years ago] Fresh DOX: Police calls to the Narconon in Fort Collins, Colorado — unedited and unread!
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: Did L. Ron Hubbard want to be considered a god?
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Admits Connection to Slimy Anonymous Attack Sites — Again
——————–
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 3,341 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,845 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,351 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,901 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,891 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,277 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,772 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,076 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,945 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,499 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,840 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,411 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,327 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,494 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,076 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,335 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,372 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,088 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,652 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,967 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,142 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,824 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,161 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,015 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,130 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,492 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,901 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,291 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,175 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,740 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,251 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,511 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,615 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on July 31, 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
Elon continues to needle Trump over the Epstein mess, which won’t go away
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Virginia Giuffre’s Family Was Shocked That Trump Described Her as ‘Stolen’
The siblings of one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers wonder what the president knows https://t.co/qUGU6No1E7
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) July 31, 2025
Family of Epstein abuse survivor urges Trump not to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell: 'A monster who deserves to rot in prison' https://t.co/uyfXg1wm3E via @nbcnews
— julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) July 31, 2025
White House officials insist pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell isn't "even on Trump's radar" even as he keeps insisting he could do it, and has a history of saying inexplicably nice things about Maxwell. https://t.co/g3Cn1cBY4t pic.twitter.com/S9uLgTXItB
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) July 30, 2025
How does the Epstein scandal end? I considered some likely scenarios: https://t.co/sutWMMWJ1D
— Anna Merlan (@annamerlan)
Elon Musk Reposts Meme Blasting Epstein Cover-Up
Musk continues to spotlight Trump’s Epstein files debacle https://t.co/qMUWH6UAuHhttps://t.co/qMUWH6UAuH
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) July 30, 2025
FORD’S PROFIT WIPED OUT BY TARIFFS
Ford reports a net loss of $29 million last quarter, compared with $1.8 billion in net income a year ago, after being hit by more than $800 million from Trump’s tariffs.
Despite the fact that Ford manufactures most of its vehicles in the… pic.twitter.com/aWh8JbQwC6
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) July 30, 2025
🚨 On Truth Social, Trump shared this threat to declare martial law and appoint military governors to “restore the rule of law” pic.twitter.com/bFvZCpy8ai
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) July 30, 2025
Thread: Trump this morning amplified on Truth Social at least 9 different QAnon-promoting accounts a total of 14 times, including amplifying known QAnon influencer Pepe Deluxe. Below are images showing this. pic.twitter.com/FwbIjTreLG
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) July 30, 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 July 31, 2025 at 08:00
July 30, 2025
Scientology warns Clearwater that delay of Hubbard Hall project is a ‘spiritual burden’
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: You know Scientology is gearing up for a serious fight when it pulls out the language of righteous religious indignation. It’s getting biblical in the fight between the church and the city of Clearwater over leader David Miscavige’s plans for completion of his Florida Vatican! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Rough auditing, bad TRs, ‘letting the pc itsa,’ etc., can swallow up free needles. Also a totally ARC Broke meter that won’t read at all with bad indicators all over the place won’t record a read, looks sometimes like a floating needle, the difference being the pc has total bad indicators—sour, mean, sad, etc. A free needle occurs most often after a big cognition and the unskilled auditor looks at the pc who is being bright and interesting and just doesn’t see the needle float, asks more questions and overruns. and the free needle vanishes—when a pc is cogniting, look at the meter not the pc. And the instant the TA starts up and the needle goes sticky suspect an overrun and check. As for doing something else rather than standard procedure for rehab, plain ignorance can cause it. The auditor’s desire to help the pc if unaccompanied by solid tech background leads to wild efforts, new processes and anything but cool standard procedure.” — 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({});
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“You’re going up against a problem here, if you deal with the medico, of a person who monkeys. He doesn’t have any very precise answers. When he immediately gets out of the field of the broken leg, when he gets out of the field of putting on a tourniquet or some other type of action and he gets into a field where he himself does not have very good answers and so he monkeys. And they will do some very interesting and wild things. They will get some kind of a suspicion that there might be a growth in somebody’s chest and start removing tissue. And they’ll do exploratories and they will do all kinds of wild things. They will go into a tumor and take a small slice of it and so forth, thus activating it and aggravating it so that now the person practically is dying whereas before they weren’t bad off. In other words there’s a lot of monkey business. And I say that very advisedly. I could think of much more high school words than monkey business, but I think it rather fits, so forth. Man descended from monkeys and those that didn’t descend much became doctors. Bitter, huh?” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 30, 1964
——————–
“LOCAL ARC: On arrival we were met with much local ARC here. Officials and people were offended we were only staying a week so we have extended to two. Townspeople do know of ‘the incident’ in last port and are sympathetic to us. No reason to discuss it further. Just ack and thank them. Don’t try to deny it. Recent political events have left this area untouched.” — The Commodore, July 30, 1971
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“The Church of Scientology is an MKUltra testing cage. LRH failed to crack the Circuit/3rdParty/PTS/SP Case. The ‘Bridge’ and the subject completely omits the KRCx Case and the route to OT. The public version of Scientology is a subject which has been systematically undermined into a severely reduced version throughout its history and since its inception. Unravelling the timeline is useful only as a historical analysis. Time is the primary source of untruth. What is actually required is a thorough PT technical analysis and handling with a clearly defined purpose. The reasons why the subject and organization is in such a mess reduce to a handful of omissions, inversions, reversals, sacrifices and substitutions. Each reduces to a single gross outpoint. Principles are senior to processes. When the basic principles of the subject as delineated by LRH are actually studied and applied in present time, the subject is self-correcting.”
——————–
1997: Scientology’s Poole, England location was again the site of street protests. Martin Poulter, Dave Bird and Jens Tingleff provided reports on the action. “Six people staged a peaceful protest in Poole High Street about the aggressive and deceptive recruiting used by the Scientology/Dianetics organisation. Unlike previous such protests, the two sides mostly kept apart from each other and the protesters were able to make their point to the public without being harassed or abused by the scientologists. The public response was very enthusiastic and supportive as always. The most unpleasant scientologists from last time were not around, and those that were on the street mostly avoided us. A couple of scientologists’ reactions are worth reporting. One bloke with short hair and sunglasses walked by in a Dianetics t-shirt, slowing to a stunned halt as he saw us. He eventually came up to us and asked ‘WHAT are you DOING???’ ‘We’re protesting against Scientology.’ ‘What have you got against freedom?’ As I tried to reply, he shouted ‘You people are CRIMINALS!’ and stormed off, obviously upset. The star protester of the day was our senior friend, who asked passers-by for signatures on a petition, collecting 139 signatures in less than three hours. Smart, polite and approachable, she had more success with the public than the rest of us could have. People were keen to sign the petition, and gave us enthusiastic encouragement ” The clams did try to keep up body routing despite opposition. I was amazed that they managed to get someone to go with them despite a heckler–me–nearby saying ‘this is Scientology, they want your money, they are trying to sign you up for a #1500 course,’ etc, and trying to hand the punters XEMU leaflets. The clams are very good at manipulating social conventions, making it appear they own the street and are in private conversation ‘ignore him’. With one couple, she wanted to go up to the shop but he had the XEMU leaflet; curly tried to get him to hand it over, I suggested he should keep it and he did. In another, they got this truck driver to go along, but I followed them right to the door of the precinct and hit the right button: ‘they want your money, fifteen hundred quid, mate!’ ‘Money? they’ll get no money out of me’. Ten minutes later he came back past the protest: ‘that didn’t last long’ he said. With balloons in hand, Duke in tow and Xemu costume in place, we arrived at the usual body-routing hot-spot. When the clams finally started showing up en masse, they were pretty mellow. Also, they didn’t try to mount an extensive ‘counter-protest’ like they had the two last times in Poole. Some clams passed by our demo and went into the shop next to the body-routing plaza, but quite a few wouldn’t ack our presence. As Roland was otherwise occupied, I wore the Xemu outfit, complete with the rubber mask looking like the very image of a Roswell-incident type alien. One group of kids thought I was trying to look like Batman, and found that the outfit was cool. A Xemu leaflet was duly handed out, and they should be giggling all the way to the bank when they do not get entrapped by the $cieno sales pitch. All in all, like with the Brighton protest, either the clams have a ready supply of high-level people with brilliant TRs, or there are some normal people who can hold a conversation and to some extend exchange information. They have to put new people on us every time (they spent two of their guys, this time).”
——————–
“Scientology is in the same category as Christian Science and the Jehovah’s Witnesses as far as being a ‘spiritual’ practice that has caused the deaths of its adherents in the past through the denial of legitimate medical treatment. These crimes need to be stopped.”
——————–
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 July 14.
— ‘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 July 7.
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. Oral arguments are probably next.
— 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 is due July 3.
— 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] Tom Cruise: The politics behind the Scientology celeb’s French knighthood
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s Austin grand opening finally set for sizzling August afternoon
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Pete Griffiths, the SP who ran a Scientology mission
[FOUR years ago] What kind of technical perfection can you expect at Scientology’s mecca, space pilgrim?
[FIVE years ago] The Church of Scientology wants feedback about starting a podcast. Oh, pretty please?
[SIX years ago] Miscavige changes course: All remaining Scientology orgs to go ‘Ideal’ at the same time
[SEVEN years ago] Here it is, your passport to Scientology godhood: Next stop, infinity!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology ‘dead agents’ our own Rod Keller as it pursues more illegal activity in Mexico City
[NINE years ago] L. Ron Hubbard as sad, oversexed schlub: The very personal writings his admirers never discuss
[TEN years ago] The Church of Scientology’s forgotten president: Karen de la Carriere on Heber Jentzsch
[ELEVEN years ago] Arlene Cordova needs your help: Where is Scientology keeping her daughter Barbara?
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s Needle Exchange: When David Miscavige Got Technical
——————–
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 3,340 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,844 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,350 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,900 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,890 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,276 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,771 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,075 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,944 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,498 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,839 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,410 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,326 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,493 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,075 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,334 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,371 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,087 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,651 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,966 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,141 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,823 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,160 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,014 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,129 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,491 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,900 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,290 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,174 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,739 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,250 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,510 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,614 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on July 30, 2025 at 07:00
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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 digs himself in deeper with Epstein/Mar-a-Lago/Giuffre story
Some links to Q-related items today
Trump: People were taken out of the spa, hired by Epstein… I told him we don’t want you taking our people, whether it’s spa or not spa. He did it again, I said out of here.
Reporter: Was one of the stolen people Virginia Giuffre?
Trump: I think so. He stole her. pic.twitter.com/sLoDdKNasn
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 29, 2025
Trump claimed that he fell out with Epstein because Epstein "stole" Mar-a-Lago employees, including Virginia Giuffre.
The problem: Giuffre worked at MAL in 2000. Trump fell out with Epstein in 2004.
From Giuffre's deposition. My latest. https://t.co/MfGsJiKEIJ pic.twitter.com/Lca1gZKnHf
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) July 30, 2025
anyone poaches any of my teenage masseuses, they're off the christmas card list
— rich traditions (@allahliker) July 29, 2025
Shocker: new study finds that MAGA and QAnon-adjacent influencers seem to have stopped pushing a misinformed panic over human trafficking, largely abandoning an issue that no longer drives the online engagement it once did. pic.twitter.com/SJ1WqcN5Is
— Madame Bovary Summer (@youwouldntpost) July 29, 2025
Door County Republican Chair Stephanie Soucek said she “don't know what is going on” with Trump’s handling of the Epstein files, but will “trust Trump.”
Her husband Scott was just charged after having over 300 images of child porn. pic.twitter.com/2McO9aBhiw
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) July 29, 2025
Trump supporters Stephanie and Scott Soucek have deleted their social media accounts after news broke that Scott was arrested and charged with having over 300 images of child porn.
Stephanie was a Trump delegate and is the Republican Party of Door County chair. pic.twitter.com/OOIp5K4jWj
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) July 30, 2025
Psycho pic.twitter.com/H4jGhPx9tu
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) July 29, 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 July 30, 2025 at 08:00
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