Tony Ortega's Blog, page 28
June 29, 2025
Another ‘Ideal’ grand opening for Scientology! This time, a mission in LA County
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology has quietly been adding more ‘Ideal Missions’ in recent weeks, along with David Miscavige’s other ribbon-cutting ceremonies this year. But does it represent real expansion? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“It’s the 57 human perceptions. 1. Time 2. Sight 3. Taste 4. Colour 5. Depth 6. Solidity (Barriers) 7. Relative Sizes (External) 8. Sound 9. Pitch 10. Tone 11. Volume 12. Rhythm 13. Smell (The sense of smell has four subdivisions which are categories of the type of odor.) 14. Touch a) Pressure b) Friction c) Heat or Cold d) Oiliness 15. Personal Emotion 16. Endocrine States 17. Awareness of Awareness 18. Personal Size 19. Organic Sensation (Including Hunger) 20. Heartbeat 21. Blood Circulation 22. Cellular and Bacterial Position 23. Gravitic (Self and Other Weights) 24. Motion of Self
25. Motion (Exterior) 26. Body Position 27. Joint Position 28. Internal Temperature 29. External Temperature 30. Balance 31. Muscular Tension 32. Saline Content of Self (Body) 33. Fields/Magnetic 34. Time Track Motion 35. Physical Energy (Personal Weariness etc.) 36. Self-Determinism (Relative on each dynamic) 37. Moisture (Self) 38. Sound Direction 39. Emotional State of Other Organs 40. Personal Position on the Tone Scale 41. Affinity (Self and Others) 42. Communication (Self and Others) 43. Reality (Self and Others) 44. Emotional State of Groups 45. Compass Direction 46. Level of Consciousness 47. Pain 48. Perception of Conclusions (Past and Present) 49. Perception of Computations (Past and Present) 50. Perception of Imagination (Past and Present) 51. Perception of Having Perceived (Past and Present) 52. Awareness of Not Knowing 53. Awareness of Importance, Unimportance 54. Awareness of Others 55. Awareness of Location and Placement a) Masses b) Spaces c) Location Itself 56. Perception of Appetite 57. Kinesthesia” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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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’ve had dreams of just going right straight through to Clear without ever being a Release, why, you might as well come off of it because — That’s all right, you and a lot of others will learn how to do Class VII before you’re through, so. It isn’t too hard to do. But that’s the easiest and safest way. And then you find out R6 materials, they just run like a bomb. My God! There’s nothing to it because you’re just right straight at it and everything as-ises like mad.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 29, 1965
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“A shark swam alongside today and said, ‘Who is it?’ and I said ‘Who is what?’ and he said, ‘Who is petitioning to leave out here in mid ocean?’ And I said ‘How’d you know that?’ And he said, ‘you’re not tearing up your despatches very good before you throw them over.’ He was real put out. Thought I was invalidating him by saying he couldn’t read. I ordered him to Review and get rid of the ARC Break but he hasn’t any priority — and anyway he’ll have to wait for our waterproof E-Meter. He’s out there now muttering. Do I get some Dianetic sessions today or do I put the shark on course?” — The Commodore, June 29, 1969
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“Never has there been such an opportunity to go free of unwanted conditions or just the FUN of going up the bridge. It is such a great game. I really don’t understand why people aren’t just flocking to my services. I have the rare experience of having traveled the experimental ‘bridge’ where LRH wrote a PAB (Professional Auditor’s Bulletin) and I/we went and applied the latest process to the preclear. Has the Free Zone become just another disaffected area? I know Clears, happy with being clear, not interested in taking the next step on the bridge. Is it an ARC broken field? I have such a gift to offer you at a price almost everyone can afford. While preclear + auditor are greater than the bank, c/s + solo auditor is greater that whatever is there that distracts you and I can get you through the bridge. My hat on Div 3, finances, says I charge $150 a month plus $100 programming one time, to find out what is needed and wanted by you. From my hat as a c/s, auditing is for you. If you aren’t getting auditing or giving auditing and ever wanted to, the the stops on the line are really just out rudiments. If you’re trained to solo audit you can fly your ruds, then make a plan with me to get way up the bridge with flying colors! What I’m telling you is that the bridge is so possible still. Take advantage of it.”
2001: The Oklahoman reported that Narconon is moving its Oklahoma facility from Newkirk to a new location near Canadian, OK. “Narconon is closing its Newkirk branch in favor of combining the entire treatment site at Arrowhead Lodge near Canadian in Pittsburg County. The center is expected to open in the next couple of months. The Narconon Chilocco New Life Center began accepting patients in 1990 under the premise that it didn’t need state certification, since the site near Newkirk was on tribal land. Residents heard stories that the center would have 1,000 beds and that the treatment used was one developed by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Some residents helped the few clients who wandered into Newkirk wanting to leave Narconon. There were stories about what some thought was an unorthodox treatment using vitamins and saunas. Things have quieted since then in the Kay County community of 2,200 people. The fear that the drug treatment center would become a recruiting machine for Scientology seems to be gone. Although Narconon uses Hubbard’s techniques and received donations from the church, it isn’t and never was intended to be a recruiting tool for the church, said Gary Smith, executive director. ‘Here it’s 11 years later, and we’re still Narconon,’ he said. Narconon has had 2,029 clients since it opened the Chilocco site. Of those, 199 Indians have gone through a special program at no cost, Smith said. Non-Indian clients pay a flat fee of $17,000 to $20,000 for a stay of three months to a year. Last year, 352 students enrolled and 185 completed the program, Smith said. Thus far this year, 350 entered and 189 have graduated. In the last study of clients who completed the program two years ago, 70 to 74 percent were still off drugs, Smith said. The Association for Better Living and Education bought the Arrowhead Lodge for Narconon last summer. Residents of nearby Canadian and Arrowhead Estates, a housing addition less than a mile away, circulated petitions against the drug treatment facility. Mike Hall, who said he had 250 names on a petition against Narconon, said he doesn’t believe Arrowhead is the proper place for the drug treatment center. ‘I don’t feel that it’s good for our development. I don’t feel it’s good for the state,’ he said. But Narconon also submitted a petition and gathered 437 signatures of support to submit to the health department. A recent petition in favor of Narconon had 2,000 signatures, Smith said. The organization received a certificate last summer authorizing it to have 75 beds at the lodge, but Smith said he is working to increase that to 230. Canadian Mayor Danny Arterberry said some residents were concerned or curious in the beginning, but Narconon officials have proven they will benefit the community. ‘They try to get involved in the community as much as they can,’ he said. ‘They kind of put (suspicions) at ease. They’re just like the rest (of us).'”
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“I want a cheap E-meter so I can sec-check my cats and I can get to the bottom of mysteries like, why do you chew on plastic bags? Why do you eat your own hair? Why do you refuse to help me do the dishes?”
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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 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:
— 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 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.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology and ‘dropping the body’: More reactions from our readers
[TWO years ago] Jane Doe 1 attorney asks for leaked evidence in Danny Masterson case, Scientology pushes back
[THREE years ago] ‘Top Gun’ event brings Scientology huge donations from deliriously happy pilgrims
[FOUR years ago] Can someone let Tom Cruise know that his Scientology bandleader has died?
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s global virus playacting was supplied by giant California slave labor plant
[SIX years ago] David Miscavige’s pet projects result in constant fundraising pressure
[SEVEN years ago] In Scientology, going Clear is like leasing a car, and David Miscavige is Repo Man
[EIGHT years ago] HowdyCon: Aussie journalist Steve Cannane’s response to Marty Rathbun
[NINE years ago] Why Lisa Marie Presley’s custody battle likely has nothing to do with Scientology
[TEN years ago] Augustine: Taking a hard look at Scientology’s slush fund, the unlicensed and unregulated IAS
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Nancy Cartwright freak-out edition
[TWELVE years ago] When Jon Atack Declared David Miscavige a Suppressive Person
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,310 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,814 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,320 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,870 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,860 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,246 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,741 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,045 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,914 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,468 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,809 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,376 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,295 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,463 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,045 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,304 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,341 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,057 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,621 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,936 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,111 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,793 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,130 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,984 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,099 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,461 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,870 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,266 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,144 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,709 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,220 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,480 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,584 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 29, 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 is attacking the Big Beautiful Bill again as Trump golfs
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump’s golf trips cost taxpayers millions of dollars each month. Why don’t Republican cut that instead of Medicaid? pic.twitter.com/0UMpOEyRXN
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 28, 2025
🚨🚨🚨 Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” funds LETHAL AI-powered drones that can make KILL DECISIONS. The bill does NOT specifically protect Americans from being targeted.
Why is anyone supporting this bill? pic.twitter.com/cqO3l2XZoh
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 28, 2025
Elon Musk attacks the new draft of Trump’s bill:
“The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” pic.twitter.com/QilXph5ORr
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 28, 2025
Wow. The White House Rose Garden is tore up. pic.twitter.com/zmIUEd8ZVJ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 28, 2025
Laura Loomer calls Marjorie Taylor Greene, “a white trash grifter” pic.twitter.com/edj3b5t5Ll
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 28, 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 June 29, 2025 at 08:00
June 28, 2025
SCIENTOLOGY BLINKS AGAIN: Tries to withdraw before embarrassing ‘no’ vote
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: For the second time in a month, Scientology has withdrawn a petition before suffering an embarrassing no vote from a local political body. But this time, its humiliation will be even more complete as a UK council plans to go through with its denial of David Miscavige’s wishes. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“You will sometimes have trouble with a particular kind of running item. It is known as an ‘after the fact item.’ First, why do you get erasures only because you ask for earlier beginnings or earlier similars? Because the thetan’s mind where pictures are concerned parallels the time track. Late things hang up where earlier like things exist. For some reason best known to thetans, you have to get the earlier like thing before you can erase the later like thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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“In Dianetics, if you don’t think you could produce ‘therapies’ which would produce convulsions, break people out in rashes, make them walk on the ceiling and have their ears rot off, you are foolish. You definitely could. You are working here with the basic tools; you are working with what is wrong. And when you are working with what is really wrong with the human psyche, you can of course just specialize in making it more wrong. For instance, you can take a preclear down the time track and turn on a fever that won’t turn off for two or three days. That is spectacular! You can actually send him down the time track and get him into a fever engram and take his temperature or see that his skin is very hot to the touch, and he will have a fever.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 28, 1951
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“THE ENEMY: Nelson Rockefeller finances and pushes forward the Totalitarian idea of Population Control by Psychiatry and his foundations try to shove us around. In the news he and his family interests are under heavy attack in South America. Rhodesia’s anti-Ron government just gets in deeper and deeper. I wrote Smith a Constitution permitting black representation while maintaining white interests that Britain and the Rhodesian white both would have bought. The govt answer was refusal to extend my visa. That the people of Rhodesia remained on our side is attested by three orgs there now. That Smith is on the side of psychiatry is attested by a new big psychiatric clinic next door to the jail. The enemy is having a very hard time. He is going counter to a world where comm is pushing freedom into being. We are going with the flood tide of world opinion. The enemy is floundering against it. We only have to expand and endure to win.” — The Commodore, June 28, 1969
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“We have evil people (SPs) and they can be created by a cancer growing in their head or something and it made them evil, or at work they got stabbed in the head with metal, and then after that turned evil, so their whole track hasn’t changed, it’s the same person. And when they got stabbed in the head at work there was no person around talking commands. So in these situations engrams were not really involved, it’s simply more a physical reason for them being evil, not some whole track engram theory. I think our bodies are like cars, and when they are not functioning right whether it by being evil or gay, it’s due to simple physical reasons like them living in a house with a mold problem for years and this infects their body and attacks it and they end up being retarded from it or something. It’s nothing to do with memories of the past. I’ve just looked into this topic heaps and I’m telling you there’s all these physical reasons for people’s aberrations, and Hubbard’s engram or body thetan theories most of the time don’t prove to be correct. But I do agree that sometimes they are right. I think he’s done a massive exaggeration with his theory, he exaggerates a lot. I think for some people’s problems they really are caused by memories and it ain’t a physical thing, there’s evidence for this.”
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2000: Mark Bunker reported on a hearing in Clearwater on the downtown development plan. “Who should be there when we arrive but Al Buttnor sitting toward the rear of the house. When it was time for questions, one fellow said it looks like the developers are going to own Clearwater with the sweetheart deal the city is giving them. A short time later, I stood to speak and addressed that point. ‘To the gentlemen who is concerned that the developers are going to own Clearwater, you don’t have to worry. The city is already owned by Scientology.’ This got a thunderous round of applause and laughter. Later another woman brought up Scientology and her concerns that Scientology would be profiting from this plan. The developer explained that he viewed Scientology as the competition since they own so many of the empty buildings and he felt they would undercut him when he went to lease his space. I spoke from the back without benefit of a mic, ‘Yet you’ve been working closely with the Scientologists. One newspaper article wrote how pleased you were that Scientology was bending over backwards to sell their property to you to make this happen.’ He explained that he had more dealing with the Baptist Church and really dealt with Scientology’s attorneys for most of their interactions.”
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“Someone please find the e-mail they sent out telling the clams how to go to the dentist and get their gold fillings extracted for cash to donate. That is the ultimate example of what Scientology really is for me.”
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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 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?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology may deny it exists, but here’s a recent example of the ‘drop the body assist’
[TWO years ago] Jon Atack takes issue with new theory about Charles Manson that ignores Scientology
[THREE years ago] Odd coincidence: For now, Paul Haggis and Danny Masterson both have trial dates of Oct 11
[FOUR years ago] Ron Miscavige, Scientology whistleblower and father of the church leader, 1936-2021
[FIVE years ago] Scientology will see you now! Orgs are reopening in safe and not so safe places
[SIX years ago] Your brain on Scientology: ‘I am the hurricane’
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology rock ‘n’ roller goes back to his days with L. Ron Hubbard at sea
[EIGHT years ago] Federal judge tells Scientology to cool its jets, says arbitration is ‘imminent’
[NINE years ago] How Google is getting gamed in the fight both for and against the Church of Scientology
[TEN years ago] Project Normandy, 2015: Paulette Cooper has landed in Clearwater — Scientology’s ‘Mecca’
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s secret plan to take over the world — here it is!
[TWELVE years ago] Blogging Scientology’s Bible: Vance, We’ve Reached the Finish Line!
——————–
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 3,309 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,813 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,319 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,869 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,859 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,245 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,740 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,044 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,913 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,467 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,808 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,375 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,294 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,462 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,044 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,303 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,340 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,056 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,620 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,935 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,110 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,792 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,129 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,983 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,098 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,460 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,869 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,265 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,143 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,708 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,219 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,479 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,583 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 28, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Q patriots still waiting patiently for the libturd executions to begin
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});5 things Trump did this week:
1. Called for news anchors to be fired over Iran bombing assessment reporting
2. Lied about his monster spending bill
3. Started selling Trump “Daddy” shirts
4. Threatened Canada with more tariffs
5. Kept the Epstein files safe for 23rd week pic.twitter.com/HZPPqlap6z
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 28, 2025
Trump’s economy pic.twitter.com/oFq48ZcN4R
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 28, 2025
BREAKING: The Justice Department abruptly fires three prosecutors who were involved in Jan. 6 criminal cases, AP sources say. https://t.co/R3xLcrA2uQ
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 28, 2025
Justin Sun, the billionaire who had an SEC case against his company dropped after he pumped millions into the Trump crypto platform, is also prime minister of a made-up libertarian micronation and wants to get the president to formally recognize it:https://t.co/sT7Z0J0TcY
— wife noticer (@youwouldntpost) June 27, 2025
Arroyo: She’s clearly making fun of his mouth.. But she better be careful. She could get a personalized bunker buster from Daddy Trump if she is not really careful pic.twitter.com/wCvS87oVpZ
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 27, 2025
Yikes pic.twitter.com/dCFSK3Djiw
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 27, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 28, 2025 at 08:00
June 27, 2025
The Holocaust deniers and Scientology: Lingering questions about a connection
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: From time to time, we get asked about a curious historical nugget: In the middle of a wild 1990s fight between Holocaust deniers, there was a Scientologist in the middle of it. Did it indicate a bigger connection between Scientology and the deniers? We finally have some answers. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“MISSED WITHHOLD: An undisclosed contra-survival act which has been restimulated by another but not disclosed. This is a withhold which another person nearly found out about, leaving the person with the withhold in a state of wondering whether his hidden deed is known or not.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
——————–
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
——————–
“You’d feel awfully strange if a robot clanked into the room, sat down in the auditing chair and began to pump your hand. As a matter of fact, you’d feel a little queasy. And in view of the fact that this has probably happened quite often on the track, that a robot walked in and started to dismantle you or something of the sort because you’d just had your doll body revoked, you react very badly to something that doesn’t communicate. You probably wouldn’t even object to the robot dismantling your doll body if he came in and said, ‘Well, I got an order here from the general council that you, having been guilty of mopery and dopery in high space, are herewith deprived of one doll body, and we’re going to take it apart and leave it on the bench for seventy-two hours.’ No, that’s what I used to do. This is a different one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 27, 1961
——————–
“I’ve just had a grand slam across the boards on C/S. With Belkacem auditing most, some by Dusty Rhodes and one by Otto, we really swept it up 100%. Two Very Well Dones and the rest Well Dones. And not easy C/Ses to do either. Boy can we get auditing done. Rest of you students better get going. You’ve got a lot to live up to with the standard now being set.” — The Commodore, June 27, 1969
——————–
“What is OT? If it is cause over matter, energy, space, and time, then it is still vague to me. It would be good to know what is possible with one’s mind and spirit, but granted, what LRH did in one lifetime was beyond amazing! Perhaps it is up to us to discover the possibilities. My 6th sense says to me that the CIA has an entire department that have studied and used Scientology tech for advanced horrors.”
1999: The Independent published an article this week on the legal background of Bonnie Woods’ victory over Scientology in a London courtroom. “Represented by a solicitor from Chichester and specialist counsel, both acting pro bono (free of charge), Mrs Woods issued libel proceedings against Cosreci and the individuals who handed out the leaflet. Cosreci counterclaimed, based on the ‘What the Scientologists don’t tell you’ leaflet. They claimed that Mrs Woods had libelously called Scientology a ‘bogus religion’. Cosreci later issued a similar action in 1996, based on a leaflet distributed by Mrs Woods (among others) promoting a television documentary critical of Scientology. Mrs Woods’ original solicitor stopped acting in 1995. She complained of harassment by Scientologists, allegations that Cosreci vigorously deny. In 1996, she was on the point of capitulation, overwhelmed with the volume of work and the stress of court hearings. However, a friend referred her to Liberty, the human rights organisation. Liberty considered that the case raised issues of freedom of speech and, as a member of Liberty’s pro bono panel, Allen & Overy took up the baton. A single category of documents had the most dramatic impact on the case. In America, Bonnie Woods had completed a number of Scientology’s secret ‘upper level’ courses. She felt that these documents were of crucial importance and applied for a court order that Cosreci should produce them. The application was fiercely resisted. Despite this opposition, the court believed that production of the documents was necessary. However, rather than face this or a potentially lengthy appeal, Cosreci discontinued their two claims against Mrs Woods last summer. The court looked at the rarely used defamation defence of qualified privilege arising from ‘reply to attack’. Can a defamatory reply be privileged (and therefore immune from suit unless it is malicious), even if the original attack is true? Arguably yes, said the court. In claims for aggravated damages against joint tortfeasors, must the level of damages be fixed by reference to the conduct of the least blameworthy? Arguably not, said the Court of Appeal. In the end, the points of law were of secondary importance to Mrs Woods. Of more relevance to her were the damages and the public apology that she received from Cosreci to end her six-year ordeal.”
——————–
“The regs do all the fluffing in Scientology, but there are no happy endings. It’s all a tease.”
——————–
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:
— 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 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] Swiss authorities charge former Scientology donor, set trial date
[TWO years ago] Report: LAPD covered up that Shelly Miscavige’s fingerprints didn’t match in 2013
[THREE years ago] After ‘Roe,’ can Scientology continue to force Sea Org women into unwanted abortions?
[FOUR years ago] More minor Scientology celebrities making news, and not in a good way
[FIVE years ago] The private eye who started out working for Danny Masterson & now may testify against him
[SIX years ago] Tommy Davis is tying the knot in Morocco, and we didn’t get an invite
[SEVEN years ago] In the Sea Org, no one can hear you scream: Another small slice of Scientology horror
[EIGHT years ago] REPORT: David Miscavige has not been to Scientology’s secretive ‘Int Base’ in four years
[NINE years ago] Leah Remini is shooting a TV series about Scientology
[TEN years ago] Did Scientology hire the man sent to prison for hacking us? Not his job to find out, judge said
[ELEVEN years ago] Here’s a reminder of Scientology’s Cold War origins — L. Ron Hubbard on radiation!
[TWELVE years ago] Judge Whittemore Sets Evidentiary Hearing in Garcia Federal Fraud Lawsuit
——————–
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 3,308 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,812 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,318 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,868 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,858 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,244 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,739 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,043 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,912 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,466 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,807 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,374 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,293 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,461 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,043 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,302 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,339 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,055 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,619 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,934 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,109 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,791 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,128 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,982 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,097 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,459 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,868 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,264 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,142 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,707 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,218 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,478 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,582 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 27, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Q patriots love taunting libturds that their king is in the White House
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Not a serious country pic.twitter.com/VXe3wUuR16
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 27, 2025
Posted to the official White House account pic.twitter.com/GQJaG8Xg2K
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 26, 2025
Trump on his budget today:
It reduces the deficit!
(It raises the deficit by $3.4T)
No tax on social security!
(That’s not in the bill)
No cuts to Medicaid!
(Largest Medicaid cuts in history).
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 26, 2025
Daily reminder that their "worst of the worst" talking point is a lie.
They're going after legal immigrants. Farm workers. Our neighbors. Kids with cancer. https://t.co/0BhfPeQL9f
— House Homeland Security Committee Democrats (@HomelandDems) June 26, 2025
ICE Is Using a New Facial Recognition App to Identify People, Leaked Emails Show
🔗 https://t.co/C0YBczUp8uhttps://t.co/C0YBczUp8u
— 404 Media (@404mediaco) June 26, 2025
Trump tantrum pic.twitter.com/YbB4fxa4ky
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 26, 2025
New MAGA requirement: You have to say Iran’s nuclear program was totally obliterated, just like you have to say the 2020 election was stolen. pic.twitter.com/zqMvDW2WNM
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 26, 2025
NEW : Elements of MAHA are freaking out over RFK Jr. saying he wants a major investment in fitbits. They fear government having all our health care data. Some wonder whether wearables are the “mark of the beast”
via, you guessed it, @willsommer https://t.co/aeRfJwotFq
— Sam Stein (@samstein) June 26, 2025
What is the New York Times even doing? pic.twitter.com/i3tFDQWDkG
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 27, 2025
Zohran moved to the US when he was 7 years old. https://t.co/A9acaKnQA9
— amanda moore 🐢 (@noturtlesoup17) June 27, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 1, 2025 at 08:00
June 26, 2025
Scientologists behaving badly: A legal rundown
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Longtime Scientologist and Cobra Kai actor Martin Kove is in the news for some very questionable behavior. And speaking of dubious behavior by Scientologists, we thought we’d update you on some of the court cases we’ve been following which have had some interesting developments. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“An auditor should never solidify a pc’s bank by putting him through an incident TWICE, when by observation of the TA it is c/ear that the incident has gone more solid by the end of the FIRST run through. Checking for an earlier incident after the first run through (if the TA has risen) is the solution to this. If, after the second pass through, when you have asked the pc ‘Is the incident erasing or going more solid?’ and the pc doesn’t know or isn’t sure, ask for an earlier incident. Never ask erasing/solid in the middle of an incident.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“The president of a law school had been employed to obtain this warrant and the Chief Federal United States Marshal, I think they have a sort of a feeling like they’re still western marshals or something. They go around with big guns hanging on them and so forth. The only trouble is they normally pick people off Skid Row to have these jobs, and it’s rather incongruous, you see. And this fellow, he was utterly mad-dogging because he was sure that I had just beaten up two of his marshals. Actually, I hadn’t beaten up a marshal. I had taken the gun away from one and told him how to use it and put it back in his holster, because I thought he would get into trouble. I explained it to him. I said, ‘You’ll get in trouble waving that about and so forth; and this is the hammer, and this is the trigger.’ And he handed it over to me, and I said, ‘These are the butt plates, and there’s the ammunition,’ and so forth, and slid the cartridges out of the chamber and told him to put them in his pocket, and put the gun back. Nobody was picking on him, and it was all all right, and he did it. You think I’m kidding you, but he did it. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 26, 1961
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“There’s lots of good work being done — it’s in the majority. For instance the great majority of sessions today were excellent. And on changing anchorage all hands, bow and stern anchors, there wasn’t a single flub. And I had a fresh lobster dinner beautifully done. And several people handled the naval visit beautifully indeed. So I can quote an old poem: A HEALTH UNTO THE HAPPY/A FIG FOR HE WHO FRETS.” — The Commodore, June 26, 1969
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“If it were to be the case that some extraterrestrial beings do in fact eat human bodies, would it be ‘better’ if those ETs audited the humans they were going to consume? Just as we eat chickens and cows and pigs. Shall we audit the chickens, cows and pigs? So as to reduce the ‘entheta’ coming in? It is a well known fact that sheep or goat meat has toxins and tastes bad if it is not well ‘processed.’ In Mexico, the ‘processing’ starts by getting the sheep or goat drunk with alcohol, so that it does not suffer from stress. And there is also the Jewish concept of Kosher food. It is intended so that the animal does not suffer unnecessarily from the killing process. ‘The ‘entheta’ generated in the crazy ‘farm factories’ (birth, rising and killing) is enormous and needs to be dealt with.”
1998: Charlotte Kates reported her experience with Scientology’s “net nanny” software, which prevents Scientologists from accessing critical materials on the Internet. “The $cientology net nanny which Scientologists agree to use is hidden on the CD they receive in their packet of information about the Scientologist On-Line program. The CD contains three choices–the first, creating your spam page using the program CSI gives on the CD, second, creating online ‘FSM selection slips’ to email to your selectees, who will take them to the Org they go to, landing the web-page-creator 15% of his purchases there, and third, installing Netscape Communicator and setting up your web page. This third choice is, as specifically mentioned in the packet, not to be chosen until after your page has received ‘Issue Authority’ from CSI. The third button installs the net nanny, hidden in the Netscape InstallShield. It is an invisible program in My Computer or Windows Explorer and cannot be viewed by pressing control+alt+delete. It is insidious, showing up on every 32-bit Internet program on a computer. When entering mIRC channel #scientology, those on-channel tested the nanny. We found that certain nicks were invisible (such as ‘alerma’ and ‘zinjifar’) and that whatever they wrote was visible in the mIRC status bar and not on-channel. Everyone else, filter-free, clearly saw their writing in the channel screen. Certain words, when typed by myself or others, would cause me to be immediately kicked from IRC, including: Xenu, xenu.net, Wollersheim, Erlich, Grady Ward, Keith Henson, freezone and several others. Many words were invisible to me when others typed them, and invisible to others when I typed them, a long, long list including most ars’ers names, and also, ARS, A.R.S., and alt.religion.scientology, and other words such as: the unbelievable deletion of the word ‘picket’, clambake, Hemet, Gilman Hot Springs, Mark Ingber, Helena Kobrin, Kendrick Moxon, really nearly every critic and/or ex-member’s name, from Roland Rashleigh-Berry to Graham Berry, and anti-cult people like Steven Hassan and Rick Ross. On the Web, sites such as xenu.net, entheta.net, lermanet.com, xs4all and csj.org (the AFF site) were completely blocked, whole domain names which also hosted critics’ sites were blocked, dejanews.com was blocked. When reaching an unblocked search engines, all disliked domains would be listed as such: ‘home.inreach.com’, became ‘ . . ‘ Just dots with no words..Other words, contained in an unblocked or new page, would cause a page to stop loading. For example, about 1/4 of a web page would load, and the filter would then hit the word, for example, Hemet, and stop loading. One of the more interesting effects was its word chopping. For example ‘NOTs’ is a blocked word. This meant also that ‘not sure’ became ‘ure’, and that ‘not surprised’ became ‘urprised.’ Any configuration of ‘not’ and ‘s’ was deleted. Also, in honor of ARSer ‘Anima’, the word ‘animal’ became, simply, ‘l’. I hope to post a far more complete list of ‘bad words’ later. To any Scientologists reading, of course, 16-bit programs or Win98 kill it.”
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“You’re the bees knees, i-Betty. You’re the one.”
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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 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:
— 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 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] Valeska Paris cites new Supreme Court opinion, asks court to reconsider arbitration ruling
[TWO years ago] Rizza Islam defiant as his trial on Medi-Cal fraud begins today
[THREE years ago] Scientology is uniting vastly different countries to take over the world!
[FOUR years ago] Scientology to US Supreme Court: Valerie Haney predicament is not a First Amendment case
[FIVE years ago] Derek Bloch: Why is Scientology keeping a dying mother away from her son?
[SIX years ago] Scientology destroyed her family, but this former Sea Org worker has a surprise ending
[SEVEN years ago] VIDEO: ‘Chicago Fire’ star Christian Stolte’s tribute to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s sneaky strategy: Suck up to police departments through ‘Drug-Free’ campaigns
[NINE years ago] David Miscavige gets ribbon-happy in Florida: It’s the Scientology social media review!
[TEN years ago] Jefferson Hawkins on how Scientology closes minds — a new podcast
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology has a new recruitment video to get you to sign up for a billion years!
[TWELVE years ago] JUSTICE KENNEDY DENIES SCIENTOLOGY REQUEST FOR STAY IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE
——————–
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 3,307 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,811 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,317 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,867 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,857 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,243 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,738 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,042 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,911 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,465 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,806 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,373 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,292 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,460 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,042 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,301 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,338 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,054 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,618 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,933 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,108 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,790 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,127 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,981 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,096 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,458 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,867 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,263 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,141 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,706 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,217 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,477 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,581 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 26, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
‘CNN is scum,’ Trump says, and CNN in its gimp suit begs for more
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Reporter: The NATO chief called you daddy. Do you regard your NATO allies as children?
Trump: He did it very affectionately. Daddy, you’re my daddy pic.twitter.com/XnJgOiFpZA
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 25, 2025
George W. Bush employed the same strategy that Trump is using here — try to turn any criticism of an unpopular war into an attack on our military.
Trump has fully embraced the neocon Bush Iraq War playbook! pic.twitter.com/S7cyUPvWN9
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) June 25, 2025
Trump Targets Zohran Mamdani and AOC in Unhinged Rants
Trump criticized Zohran’s appearance and voicehttps://t.co/7Y518WuQALhttps://t.co/7Y518WuQAL
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 26, 2025
Trump begins attacking Zohran Mamdani pic.twitter.com/SGuiSHiEvK
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 25, 2025
Dem candidate: “We should prioritize policies that actually help people over billionaires”
MAGA: “That’s socialism!”
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 25, 2025
The thing you have to remember is that CNN and the New York Times greatly prefer this to Joe Biden https://t.co/QQbPlZACht
— Global Empanadas (@CentristMadness) June 26, 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 June 26, 2025 at 08:00
June 25, 2025
After ditching Scientology: Joy Villa on hanging with the Cruise and Travolta kids
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: On May 14, Joy Villa announced publicly that she’d left Scientology and was turning her attention to exposing the organization’s abuses. She also had access to the church’s celebrities, particularly the younger ones, and has some very interesting things to tell us about them. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Given a knowledge of the composition and behavior of the time track, engram running by chains is so simple that any auditor begins by overcomplication. You almost can’t get uncomplicated enough in engram running. In teaching people to run engrams in 1949, my chief despair was summed up in one sentence to the group I was instructing: ‘All auditors talk too much.’ And that’s the first lesson. The second lesson is: ‘All auditors acknowledge too little.’ Instead of cheerily acking what the pc said and saying ‘Continue,’ auditors are always asking for more data and usually for more data than the pc could ever give. Example: Pc: ‘I see a house here.’ Auditor: ‘OK. How big is it?’ That’s not engram running, that’s just lousy ‘Q and A.’ The proper action is: Pc: ‘I see a house here.’ Auditor: ‘OK. Continue.’ The exceptions to this rule are non-existent. This isn’t a special brand of engram running. It is modern engram running. It was the first engram running and is the latest and you can put aside any complications in between.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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“How would you like to go into the archives of some space opera society, all of which is delivered to your hand. And these, by the way, are quite interesting as archives. Operated one about 612 million years ago, something like that, which was quite interesting. Card-file systems were all stored in a basement. And I think the basement of that computer room was about the size of Chicago. And the machines which read that occupied an area — just the machines which read it — that’s, you know, the final results appeared on and so forth, looked like seven or eight Grand Central Stations. You know, just the banks of machines. And the reanalysis machines on that were all composed in a little hut that was about a thousand feet long by about four hundred feet wide. And everything was all done on automatic card shuttles, and pneumatic tubes and comparisons. And these IBM machines down here look something like a child’s hurdy-gurdy or something, compared to one of these other machines. These machines could get the finest, tiniest difference between a umph and a umph. And then they could get all things that had the tiniest association with umph and umph. You talk about your smallest and your largest magnitude of comparison — tremendous, see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 25, 1963
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“SOUTH AFRICANS: Ever since SA refused me a visa South Africans aren’t allowed to enter this country and many others. This of course is pure coincidence? Anyway, we’re routing them now to EULO which has orders to start an OEC. Why doesn’t somebody tell people we’re trying to better SA? That country needs friends, man. And so does its populace. Did you know that only in those countries where Nazis infiltrated have we had any trouble. Yes. You read that right.” — The Commodore June 25, 1971
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“The original definition of the word ‘Free Zone’ was given by Capt. Bill Robertson (CBR) in the mid 1980s. It is based on two decrees received by CBR and said to be originated by LRH, after he (LRH) had discarded his body and assumed the identity of Galactic Patrol commander Lron Lray. Many people freak out on the idea of LRH assuming the identity of a Galactic Patrol commander and communicating telepathically with CBR. But LRH himself describes how many people on Earth have in fact other identities or ‘selves’ in other parts of the universe. And those alternate identities can be contacted by a process on the e-meter.”
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1997: Reuters reported that tennis star Boris Becker has threatened legal action against Scientology for using his picture and comments on the Internet to criticize Germany’s tolerance of minorities. “The organisation, which Germany views as anti-democratic and has put under intelligence surveillance, has a picture of Becker and his black wife Barbara at the top of an article headed ‘The Trouble with Intolerance.’ A Scientology spokesman said it had not reported anything more than Becker himself said in an interview last year when he said he planned to move to the United States when his son reached school age. The article, with the sub-heading ‘For many minorities, living in Germany means living in fear,’ cited Becker as an example of someone who had suffered ‘years of intolerance and abuse, apparently owing to the fact that his wife is black.’ Becker’s Munich-based lawyers demanded Scientology withdraw all reference to the former Wimbledon champion and pledge not to use his picture again. ‘Boris Becker is in no way prepared to promote the aims of your organisation in any manner,’ the lawyers said in a letter addressed to the Church of Scientology International in London. Scientology spokesman Georg Stoffel said it had used the reference to Becker because it wanted to draw attention to examples of alleged discrimination in Germany — both against its own members and other people. ‘We campaign for the rights of all minorities,’ he said. ‘This was just one example.’ Becker’s lawyers said they hoped their letter to Scientology would have a positive outcome. ‘We would note now, however, that we reserve the right to take the necessary legal steps if this case is repeated,’ they said. Stoffel said he had not yet been informed about the letter and could not speculate whether Scientology would cooperate with Becker’s request. He said he thought the story had been blown out of proportion, adding: ‘It’s been raining for days in Wimbledon and I think the journalists are desperately looking for something to write about.'”
——————–
“I understand where you’re coming from, but the bottom line is that Scientology is a con, and conning people is illegal regardless of whether the victims are dupes and suckers.”
——————–
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 June 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 June 16.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Sentenced to 7 years in prison.
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 Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology’s latest price list: How much will it cost you to fly, space cadet?
[TWO years ago] Secrets of Scientology’s most secretive branch: CST and its strange vaults
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s own publication shows how much David Miscavige worship is growing
[FOUR years ago] Scientology 50 & 21 years ago today: The strange deaths of Susan Meister & Stacy Moxon
[FIVE years ago] Danny Masterson finds himself in a changed era, but his victims came forward before #MeToo
[SIX years ago] Scientology is desperate to get its clutches on your children. Here’s proof.
[SEVEN years ago] Did a little sunlight send Scientologists scattering for cover? An international update.
[EIGHT years ago] Claire Headley on growing up in Scientology, and other HowdyCon highlights
[NINE years ago] Megan Shields, the physician Scientology used to vouch for its drug rehabs, dies of cancer
[TEN years ago] MIKE RINDER AND REPORTER: MAN CONVICTED OF HACKING WAS WORKING FOR SCIENTOLOGY
[ELEVEN years ago] Mike Rinder takes on Scientology’s uneven ‘Disconnection’ rules
[TWELVE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY ASKS U.S. SUPREME COURT FOR EMERGENCY STAY IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE
——————–
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 3,306 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,810 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,316 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,866 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,856 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,242 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,737 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,041 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,910 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,464 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,805 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,372 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,291 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,459 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,041 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,300 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,337 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,053 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,617 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,932 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,107 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,789 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,126 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,980 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,095 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,457 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,866 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,262 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,140 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,705 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,216 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,476 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,580 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 25, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Libturds crying over Trump’s posting of catchy ‘Bomb Iran’ song
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});This is utterly deranged https://t.co/fpZgYQ0KLy
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) June 24, 2025
Turner: We have this headline: U.S. Bombs did not destroy Iran's nuclear sites early Intel suggests. It's not news because the administration did not say that the bombs destroyed Iran's nuclear sites. pic.twitter.com/2Gtaat5q4Z
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 24, 2025
Fox on Trump using the f word: Salty language
Fox on Crockett using the f word: foul mouth for someone who went to catholic school pic.twitter.com/vjTnSVyYVw
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 24, 2025
Ruiz: Why did the report include citations that don’t exist?
RFK JR: All of the foundational assertions in that report are accurate
Ruiz: How can they be accurate if they did not exist? pic.twitter.com/UTyXNWf3ar
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 24, 2025
The Trump administration's move to end protections for 58 million acres of national forests will open up the federal lands to immense destruction, according to environmental advocates. https://t.co/iI6eSvZ9WP
— ABC News (@ABC) June 24, 2025
Glad to do this type of reporting in @guardian: how ICE agents have become a kind of domestic stormtrooper for MAGA and the Trump administration. Please read. https://t.co/dwVj5SoiiH
— Ben Makuch (@BMakuch) June 24, 2025
Lauren Boebert says ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic has reached out to her while he has been in prison, he is a “fantastic unifier,” and Trump should consider pardoning him. pic.twitter.com/VfoYjayQKX
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 25, 2025
Big Balls down.https://t.co/a2jQZTbPr9
— Jacob Silverman (@SilvermanJacob) June 25, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 25, 2025 at 08:00
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