Tony Ortega's Blog, page 37
May 15, 2025
For a final (?) Mission, an older Tom Cruise forgets some basic film lessons
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Once again Luke Y. Thompson (AV Club) gives us an exclusive film review you’ll find only here at the Bunker. He last provided us a look at ‘M:I – Dead Reckoning Part One’ and before that what we still consider the most truthful review of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ you’ll find anywhere. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Children are usually very burdened cases and can be hard to C/S on Dianetics if it hits this life only which will leave the pc wide open to key-in and at the age of 20 be found all keyed-in ‘with all grades run.’ I find they are jammed into fiction stories, education, books and movies and run these like engrams. These children speak of “remembering” all the time. They say they can’t go backtrack ‘because they don’t remember.’ They don’t seem to take it from pictures. Contrary to psychology theories and popular belief I find children in very rough case shape, nervous, frightened, griefy, etc. They get stuck in the books and movies they see.” — 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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“As far as publicity is concerned the general public has been slammed around about Dianetics and they don’t know whether Dianetics is a cough drop or a new cult down in Arizona. Nobody really knows very much about it. Out in the general public they ask you if it is a cult, or if it is this or if it is that. I suddenly woke up to the fact that I was under-evaluating it. I was trying to tell people ‘Well, this is sort of a psychotherapy and it does this and that,’ rather apologetically. And I said to somebody bluntly the other day, ‘Why, Dianetics is the science of handling life; you know, handling life forces!’ They looked at me and blinked and I said, ‘Yes, you know, a fellow starts downhill and starts down toward death. Well, Dianetics picks him back up again.’ They went away in a trance! Actually, isn’t that what we are doing? The new theta-MEST theory makes that so apparent, and the results you get follow in so closely that, actually, we are doing just that.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 15, 1951
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“US STATS HAVE JUST GONE OVER THE MILLION MARK!!! AOSHUK IS OVER $47,000!” — The Commodore, May 15, 1971
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“The first goal when working with OMNI processing is to reach the OMNI state (to make contact with the original Statics). If there is no extension and contact, then further correct actions are impossible. We should get in contact with those 10*10^40 players who create this universe.”
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1998: The jury in the Keith Henson case decided to award Scientology $75,000 this week. The San Jose Mercury News published an article on the case. “A Palo Alto engineer will pay a stiff price for thumbing his nose at the Church of Scientology by publishing its teachings on the Internet. After less than a day of deliberations, a San Jose federal jury this week ordered Keith Henson to pay $75,000 to the Religious Technology Center, a wing of the Scientology organization, for deliberately violating copyright laws. The verdict came after a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte. Henson, who has warned that the case could have a chilling effect on free speech on the Internet, may face further penalties for putting the church’s published works on-line. Under federal copyright laws, Henson can be ordered to pay the technology center’s legal fees and costs, which could add thousands of dollars to the judgment. Henson has always maintained that he posted the material to alert the public to church positions that amounted to ‘medical and legal abuses.’ Henson and other church critics posted transcripts of the trial on various web sites the past week to highlight what was transpiring in Whyte’s courtroom. Those postings might land Henson in further hot water with the judge: The Internet postings include a substantial portion of Henson’s testimony that took place in closed session because it involved discussion of the secret church documents. Whyte ordered the transcripts sealed, but they have wound up on the Web. Henson said the material was placed online inadvertently and he apologized for the mistake. But church officials may seek further sanctions. Despite the jury’s verdict, Henson remained unapologetic Wednesday. ‘It is amazing the trouble you can get into for trying to warn the public about health hazards,’ Henson said. ‘This (trial) was about saying it’s proper to use copyright (laws) to prevent public discussion of criminal activity. This was just a loss of a battle in a larger war.'”
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“Eva Gabor was awesome in Green Acres, which was one of the most underrated, surrealist shows of all time. It’s worthy of Lynch or Buñuel.”
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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 May 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 May 12.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5.
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.
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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] First time in English: Rare interview David Miscavige gave during Germany crisis
[TWO years ago] Scientology celebrates Nancy Cartwright for upping her donations to $21 million
[THREE years ago] Letters from Scientology’s celebrities that charmed the pants off LA’s city council
[FOUR years ago] Scientology chiropractor Eric Berg called out by son in viral TikTok video
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s center specializing in auditing your infant is back open in Florida!
[SIX years ago] John Travolta’s daughter makes her own Scientology splash at awards ceremony
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology files notice of appeal in time-wasting federal court attack on forced-abortion case
[EIGHT years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: An even closer look at where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[NINE years ago] Scientology takes on the evil psychs at the APA, and more in our weekly social media review!
[TEN years ago] Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton makes it 29 lawsuits against Scientology’s drug rehab
[ELEVEN years ago] TIZIANO LUGLI: A new short film about Scientology and ‘slavery’
[TWELVE years ago] CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DENIES SCIENTOLOGY PETITION IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE
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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 3,265 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,760 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,275 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,825 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,815 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,201 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,696 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,000 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,869 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,423 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,764 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,331 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,250 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,418 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,000 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,259 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,296 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,012 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,576 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,891 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,066 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,748 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,085 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,939 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,054 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,416 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,825 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,221 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,099 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,664 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,175 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,431 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,539 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 15, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Trump effect: It’s an orange world and we just live in it
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});There’s always tweet pic.twitter.com/khqf7G9QHw
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 15, 2025
Should Republicans be forced to vote on accepting Trump’s “free” jet? pic.twitter.com/MPkLM1Uvok
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 15, 2025
This false information defending Trump’s “free” jet from Qatar got 11K retweets pic.twitter.com/RKcDyzgE6W
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 15, 2025
RFK Jr refuses to say if he would vaccinate his children today for measles, then adds, "I don't think people should take medical advice from me." pic.twitter.com/LMF6J3uJPs
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 14, 2025
Russell Vought, acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has canceled plans to more tightly regulate the sale of Americans’ sensitive personal data. https://t.co/mMObnnlj59
— WIRED (@WIRED) May 14, 2025
Trump has now amplified QAnon-promoting accounts at least 1,000 times on Truth Social since the platform launched in 2022. https://t.co/CgWhOZ2ZlI
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) May 14, 2025
Musk calls Grok “the smartest AI on Earth.” It keeps bringing up the myth of a "white genocide" in South Africa—a pet issue of Musk's—under posts about baseball, cats, pop stars, HBO Max, and even Tesla's Optimus robot. Neither Musk nor xAI responded to requests for comment.
— baby doxxer (@youwouldntpost) May 14, 2025
I talked to NPR about seeing DHS White House liaison Paul Ingrassia at a Nick Fuentes rally last year. https://t.co/diLGMCzAJ6
— amanda moore 🐢 (@noturtlesoup17) May 14, 2025
The bad guys were supposed to be sent to GITMO. Then it was Alcatraz, now it's Riker's. Truly amazing all the twists and turns The Plan takes, almost like people are making this stuff up as they go along. pic.twitter.com/jxghQ49er8
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 14, 2025
“Why Is He So Orange?— Students Put GOP Congressman on the Spot Over Trump’s Appearance
Rep. Brian Jack stammered during defense of Trump’s makeup https://t.co/IhWUGRDT76
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 14, 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 May 1, 2025 at 08:00
May 14, 2025
Scientology’s plan is in jeopardy, and this is what Clearwater should keep in mind
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re hearing from a lot of you about the surprising moment playing out in Clearwater, Florida, where the council faces an historic vote tomorrow. We have more thoughts from people who actually worked with Scientology leader David Miscavige, and also a warning from the past. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Probably the most covert and vicious crime in auditing is falsifying an auditing report. At first glance, to someone who is trying to PR himself as an auditor or to escape consequences of session goofs, this might not seem to be the huge crime that it is. When an auditing report is falsified, means of repairing the pc are denied, out tech and a need for restudy or redrilling of materials is covered up, out tech is spread about and the repute of the org and Scientology are at risk.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
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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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“You ever been on the Pacific Ocean? You look an awful long distance on the Pacific Ocean and you’ll find space, you know. The speculative horizon is like that. It’s way out, man. Boy, I mean we’ve collided with data which is highly debatable as to whether it will be popular or unpopular. And I’m afraid I have to go along with the first foundation decision I made, back in 1950 when they had that board meeting and told me I wasn’t to research on any more past lives. I don’t think they ever did get that end of the building back together again. The bricks are still cracked. And I said, well, psychology and other activities in the field of the mind have always had a large eye on popularity. And they would actually throw away materials which didn’t agree with things. They’d throw away the things which didn’t agree. And that’s why they’ve not come up with any answers. They consult this thing of the popularity of a datum, the acceptability of a datum and have therefore compromised truth. So you either accept truth or popularity.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 14, 1963
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“Smersh operates on false data and has not changed his Situation Analysis in a whole score of years and does not vary tactics to fit new situations. That is valuable information. A general who fought that way would be busy fighting the 151st Bavarian Light Infantry as they were deployed at Niems in 1870! Since then they’ve been disbanded, forgotten, and that trench has been empty for 80 years. Yet such a general would have his whole army concentrating on it! Viewing national governments through this developed logic tech applied to their data and their idea of the situation reveals them to be crazy. And gives one the reason for both war and failing societies. No wonder they end up shooting people.” — The Commodore, May 14, 1970
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“I’m not sure if LRH agrees with the CIA and IRS running Scientology after 1982. There was a takeover. That’s a turning point. That’s not real Scientology after 1982 and I no longer ‘felt’ LRH on lines after that. Of course I could grow my own food, but why be forced to grow food just because a fucking pack of R6 zombies don’t see the poison in their diet? And more, they follow R6 commands to lynch you if you happen to ‘open their eyes’ to see. Sorry, but it’s some three years now I can’t get my body clean of this fucking R6 zombie food. Nice you have your own RPF (mest work). You won’t be running to LA to climb the barbed wire at Hemet to pound on ‘The Hole’ to meet Heber to share some rice and beans.”
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1997: Rod Proctor reported that Scientology sent a letter to his editor in response to a posting to a.r.s. “I received not long ago a three-page letter from Scientology’s Public Affairs Director, Karin Pouw, taking issue with opinions that I — acting off-duty and as a private citizen — had expressed in the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup some weeks back. It was jarring enough that Scientology had gone to the effort to discover both where I work and my specific job title. But something even more chilling was included at the end of that letter: A CC notice to the editor of my newspaper — my top boss. Their intent was quite clear: Let his boss know what he’s writing (in his off time as a private citizen) and he’ll choose to shut up. [I]t seems to me that the ongoing tactics of Scientology pose a greater threat to that free exchange than anything Congress has dreamed up. The tactics of Scientology — aimed personally and individually at our very livelihoods — can be far more effective at silencing dissent than anything government could possibly come up with.”
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“The FDA could have busted Scientology a thousand times over for medical fraud if they simply sent in undercover agents wired for sound and vision to sign up for courses. Scientology registrars will promise any and all medical cures as long as you show them the money. The government is an ass.”
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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 May 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 May 12.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5.
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.
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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] Val Ross: When you’re a Scientology OT, and you have to fight cancer
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: Kate Bornstein is plugged into our Danny Masterson retrial coverage
[FOUR years ago] Why is Scientology desperate for a tiny plot in Clearwater? Let us draw you a picture.
[FIVE years ago] A look inside a Scientology org as it prepares to reopen for the public
[SIX years ago] Why the quarantine is such a fail: Scientology ship was set up as an interrogation factory
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s reclusive ‘president,’ 82-year-old Heber Jentzsch, tells a niece he’s doing fine
[EIGHT years ago] With its Mexico City project halted, Scientology fans out across town to promote its pablum
[NINE years ago] Ron Miscavige shakes off Scientology smears, rockets to #1 in ebooks
[TEN years ago] Guest post: Five extreme examples of hypocrisy in Scientology’s ‘Freedom’ magazine
[ELEVEN years ago] Falling death of a Russian Scientologist in Clearwater: The police investigation
[TWELVE years ago] How to Confront and Shatter Suppression, Scientology Style!
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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 3,264 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,759 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,274 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,824 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,814 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,200 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,695 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,999 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,868 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,422 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,763 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,330 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,249 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,417 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,999 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,258 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,295 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,011 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,575 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,890 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,065 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,747 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,084 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,938 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,053 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,415 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,824 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,220 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,098 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,663 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,174 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,430 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,538 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 14, 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
Finally, Trump can thank those who made his building tallest on 9/11
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});🚨 HUGE FLIP: Democrat John Ewing Jr. just turned Omaha blue—defeating the longest-serving GOP mayor in the country and becoming the city’s first Black mayor in history. pic.twitter.com/icnGTX3MWp
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) May 14, 2025
Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” is a scam https://t.co/TQbSY3oEo0
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 13, 2025
This you? https://t.co/Bgl5BSrnqY pic.twitter.com/ZoGmUoZy5n
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 13, 2025
Tulsi Gabbard once called Trump, “Saudi Arabia’s bitch” pic.twitter.com/53s7Wkdr5L
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 13, 2025
Update: @DOGE removes 31 more incorrect claims — and $122M in savings — from its "Wall of Receipts" after we identified they were wrong.
The listings were wrong b/c the contracts DOGE claimed credit for killing were not dead anymore: agencies had revived them.…
— David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) May 13, 2025
Byron Donalds: “I think the issue for Democrats is their political views just differ, in my view, very greatly from what the Bible says.” pic.twitter.com/ApYIT7irx5
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 13, 2025
Last week, Dr. Phil appeared on anti-vax figure Del Bigtree's "MAHA Podcast," where Bigtree thanked Dr. Phil "for all the training that made … possible" him able to run communications for RFK Jr.'s presidential campaign. (Bigtree had been a producer on Dr. Phil's show.) pic.twitter.com/rdhlVADGz8
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) May 13, 2025
NEW: After "Phase 1" of the Epstein Files flopped, Pam Bondi diverted staff from the NatSec Division, an elite DOJ unit, to scour archives for any material to appease the far right. They found little.
Phase 2, when (or if) it happens, is likely to be a dud too, per sources.
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) May 13, 2025
QAnon has never watched a single movie. Nicky talks a lot of smack at Ace here but he is the one that ends up dead in a cornfield while Ace goes back to making bets for the mob. pic.twitter.com/XpJ8rfCvLO
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 14, 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 May 14, 2025 at 08:00
May 13, 2025
Visualizing how a surprising no vote from Clearwater affects Scientology’s plans
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re still stunned at last night’s news that Clearwater City Council member David Allbritton said yesterday that he plans to vote no to selling S. Garden Avenue to the Church of Scientology. And we wanted to make sure people understood what’s at stake with a little visual aid. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Often the pc won’t go backtrack because he’s a druggie. What has happened here is that he restimulated past lives with drugs, got into frightening pictures that he didn’t understand and now backs off from ANY bank content except drugs. That is handled with a full Drug RD, including a full battery of Objectives and all reading items run including ‘no interest’ items. The standard approach on any pc is to get full drug handling done first.” — 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
[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({});
——————–
“NEW DEVELOPMENTS: Quad Dianetics, Quad Power, Quad R6EW are all going like a bomb. Four Times the result! Opens the door to Quad Grades. Really gives a booster shot. It is the result of taking a discovery in upper level tech and applying it to the lower levels. OUR HGC: Our Flag Auditors are going truly great. The new line works very well. UPSTAT UNITS: The FB (excepting in Action which is in Danger due to necessary by-pass) is doing very well. Including Mimeo. The E/R FSO is great. The HU is doing well. HCI FAO is doing its job well. Qual FAO is picking up. Reg Dept FAO is doing Reg. Income Dept FAO is doing great. Ship’s Rep FSO is doing very well. Other divisions are cordially invited to join this upstat parade by getting organized and into full production.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 13, 1971
——————–
“GROUP CONFESSION is group confession. It is done with the whole group present. It is not done divisionally and it is not done by unit. Try this and you’ll see it work. This is a team and not individuated.” — Lt. Cmdr. Diana Hubbard, CS 1, May 13, 1969
——————–
“I tell myself if I had cancer I wouldn’t do their chemo but would try free people chemo: Chlorine DiOxide aka MMS and aka CDS. People report oxidation of cancer tumors and remission of that and many other ailments. It works fast so if you know what you are doing and do it right you could tell within days. No joke. You got nothing to lose! I know about it for years it is SAFE and is NOT bleach! Ask any chemistry student!”
——————–
1996: Mark Ebner, who briefly joined Scientology and wrote an article in Spy magazine about his experience, posted a brief description of the response following the article. “I have saved the threatening letters from Scieno lawyers that arrived prior to the publication of my Spy expose. Claiming to be me, they also called the magazine’s printer in Kentucky trying to get advance copies. My credit card was fucked with in a big way.”
——————–
“The world is disconnected because of technology, it turns people into zombies. A handful of corporations control all the the media, the arts, and what passes for popular culture these days. What happened to rock’n’roll? It’s been replaced by no talent moop thugs who can’t play an instrument and can’t write lyrics above the 4th grade. There is no more rebellion. They’ve won. It’s ‘Tittytainment’ from here on out. Detroit has gone bankrupt and the corporations are going to run the city. Didn’t they make a movie about that 20 years ago?”
——————–
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 May 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 May 12.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5.
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] L. Ron Hubbard’s tallest tale? When Scientology’s founder first struck gold
[TWO years ago] Not surprisingly, Scientology opposes an appeal in the Baxter trafficking case
[THREE years ago] ‘Top Gun: Maverick’: The only movie review you need if you’re being honest about Tom Cruise
[FOUR years ago] Tom Cruise said he needed only an hour to sell Scientology: What would he do in that hour?
[FIVE years ago] Scientology trying to sell Irish reporters on the idea that interest is booming there
[SIX years ago] Scientology admits it’s selling ‘magic’ at its Florida spiritual mecca
[SEVEN years ago] We have the detailed specs for your dream job: Public Relations officer in Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s casting calls get nuttier all the time. Who would you hire to fill them?
[NINE years ago] Document leak: How Scientology freaked out over losing Lori Hodgson and her mom
[TEN years ago] Hand out L. Ron Hubbard literature and score a date with a Scientology sweetheart!
[ELEVEN years ago] DOX: The appeal to restore the class-action lawsuit against Scientology’s rehab network
[TWELVE years ago] Will Scientology’s Motion Demolish the Garcias’ 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 3,263 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,758 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,273 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,823 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,813 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,199 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,694 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,998 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,867 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,421 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,762 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,329 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,248 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,416 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,998 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,257 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,294 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,010 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,574 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,889 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,064 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,746 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,083 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,937 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,052 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,414 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,823 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,219 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,097 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,662 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,173 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,429 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,537 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 13, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Libturds still freaking out that Trump accepting gifts from evil empire
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump, who is set to accept a $400M floating palace airplane from Qatar, tweeted this about Obama in 2012: pic.twitter.com/S411RiEKjC
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 13, 2025
Wow, Babylon Bee taking jabs at Trump pic.twitter.com/agamM8rH2r
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 12, 2025
*Offer doesn’t apply to Capitol Police officers pic.twitter.com/XxJrVrYDxy
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 13, 2025
Does anyone know if this got mowed for Mother’s Day? pic.twitter.com/KUEwTmsaMf
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 12, 2025
The moment Biden dropped out of the race the questions of mental acuity and cognitive ability, which were the foundations upon which the election was to be decided, vanished and instead we talked about egg prices and Imane Khelif. https://t.co/b5dBimZYaz
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 12, 2025
Prior to heading to the Middle East, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home threw an Arabian Nights themed party pic.twitter.com/uH9lBdlthl
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 12, 2025
Ladies of Mar-a-Lago pic.twitter.com/XxIr0fvfw8
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 13, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 13, 2025 at 08:00
May 12, 2025
Leaked document: How Scientology handled a journalist’s uncomfortable questions
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We have another fascinating document that was dug up by a team of researchers which has been helping us out. This time, we get a peek inside what it’s like when Scientology deals with uncomfortable questions from a reporter, and how to spin the news as much as possible. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“There are many remedies and considerable tech developed over the years on the subject of pcs unable to go earlier than this life. There was no full coverage bulletin which gave the full story on this. The earliest was getting the pc to locate and run imaginary incidents. This is fully covered in Science of Survival, especially Book Two, Chapter Nine, ‘Imaginary Incidents.’ The auditor clears the idea of imaginary incidents and running them, then persuades the pc to run them without forcing him. Delusion tends to run off but the real incidents move into view as well. These imaginary incidents can be run R3RA Narrative Quad.” — 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
——————–
“Let’s be some distance from the body, if possible. Some distance from the body and find some places where you are not. Some more places where you are not. Now some things from which you are not exteriorizing. Some things you’re not at this moment getting out of. And now some things that aren’t pulling you into them. And some things you are not getting out of. And now some things you’re not stuck in. Some more things you’re not stuck in. Now some energy masses that aren’t wrapping themselves around you at this moment. All right. Now some energy masses you aren’t wrapping yourself around at this moment. And now some effort you are not at this moment trying to get out of. Some effort you’re not trying to keep from expending at this moment. All right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 12, 1954
——————–
“RHODESIA: The anti-Scn bill in Rhodesia hit a heavy snag due to our attorney, the legal office of the government chopping down on their parliament saying its unconstitutional. The name of a notorious anti-govt psychiatrist appeared and got the govt legal dept antagonistic. Also, I had excellent PR in Rhodesia when I was there and they’re still trying to explain their actions. The Guardian Office Africa and all concerned did a fine job there. It’s all held off indefinitely.” — The Commodore, May 12, 1971
——————–
“Back in the day there were a couple of thousand OTs auditing on OT Solo NOTs. At that same time period the world was somewhat sane (definitely as compared to now) and Church management attributed that phenomenon to the number of Solo NOTs auditors auditing. So LRH called for more and wanted 10,000 solo auditors auditing. We happen to believe that Solo NOTs being delivered in volume would tip this planet back into the direction of sanity as the theta/entheta ratio would be building back in the direction of sanity by reason of the R6 Bank getting deleted in volume. We literally are the ONLY solution to the chaos that is happening in the world. Until we get the majority of the planet clear and the SPs rounded up and handled, this planet will continue to head in the direction of destruction. So we have to shake off whatever losses we’ve had and band together and get clearing fired up again. The Church is closed down for the most part and not delivering. We need to pick up the slack.”
1995: Grady Ward reported this week a call to his publisher, Austin Code Works, by a man identifying himself as Eugene Ingram, a well-known Scientology PI. “He spoke for ten minutes, did not identify his employer (duh!), and made statements like: ‘Grady is the president of ACW, isn’t he?’ [No] ‘Did you know the FBI investigated Grady for his involvement with the NuPrometheus League [a group claiming responsibility for stealing and distributing Apple Computer Macintosh ROM code in June, 1989].’ ‘The FBI knew he did it because Grady was the only one fired [a provable lie!] from Apple in 1989.’ Ingram then begin to pump for financial information, such as ‘Does he make more than $10,000 in royalties [per annum, presumably] from MobyCrypto? Moby Lexicons? No? How about $5,000?'”
——————–
“I wouldn’t sweat it. I’ve been doing this since 2008 and I’ve given vaLLarrr and other Scientologists more than enough clues as to who my sister is that if they wanted to dox me and come after me they could have long ago. All they got left is squirrel cams, fat sleazy P.I’s and slime sites that no one reads except other Scientologists.”
——————–
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 May 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 May 12.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5.
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 due June 3.
— 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] On Mother’s Day 2024, the moms who suffer and defy Scientology’s cruel ‘disconnection’ policy
[TWO years ago] Legal battle for the ages to unfold this morning at the Danny Masterson retrial
[THREE years ago] Trafficking lawsuit: In Scientology, the tables turn quickly on abusers and the abused
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s Chicago Ideal Org says it’s next to open. Is Second City ready for its closeup?
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s $20 million hole in the ground: The secret vault to nowhere
[SIX years ago] Scientology finds the dream solution to its recruiting woes — the QR Code!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s toxic policy of ‘disconnection’ — we check in with the people who endure it
[EIGHT years ago] One of Scientology’s most secretive temples is offering a rare look inside on Monday
[NINE years ago] Monique Rathbun formally ends her lawsuit in Texas; Ken Dandar wins again in Florida
[TEN years ago] AUDIO LEAK: Scientology leader David Miscavige ‘makes L. Ron Hubbard out to be an imbecile’
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology is determined to conquer this Internet thing
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Portland Is Now Cleared, On to the Rest of Earth!
——————–
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 3,262 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,757 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,272 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,822 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,812 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,198 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,693 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,997 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,866 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,420 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,761 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,328 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,247 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,415 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,997 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,256 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,293 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,009 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,573 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,888 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,063 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,745 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,082 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,936 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,051 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,413 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,822 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,218 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,096 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,661 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,172 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,428 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,536 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 12, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Terror in the streets: Q patriots cheer on America’s new goon forces
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});This is MAGA pic.twitter.com/fNJEUPoTfT
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 11, 2025
Does the jet send in cabin audio back to another country for analysis? pic.twitter.com/elNBeMJoOd
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 11, 2025
Trump knows his scheme to lower drug prices by executive order will likely be overturned in court again like it was in his first term.
Why doesn’t he make it a legislative priority? pic.twitter.com/CDYiuDZpyQ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 12, 2025
Does this mean children can now have 3 dolls and maybe 6 pencils? pic.twitter.com/WmIF6lFRyZ
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 12, 2025
MAGA says businesses closing due to Trump’s tariffs “chose to panic” and made “a poor business decision.” pic.twitter.com/zXeRG6tslH
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 12, 2025
MAGA is “glad” inflation is “triggering the libs” pic.twitter.com/DAM8KxmOHe
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 11, 2025
Instead of reporting to prison, Matt Gaetz is reporting from prison pic.twitter.com/qSdwfRKOvA
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 12, 2025
Republican Rep. Tim Moore reveals he likes to take small tour groups into a secret tunnel in the Capitol building.
The GOP lawmaker says kids like it. pic.twitter.com/QdUTFy6Ugo
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 11, 2025
MAGA rapper reveals his secret for success with the ladies pic.twitter.com/qWeGMweExM
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 11, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 12, 2025 at 08:00
May 11, 2025
On Mother’s Day 2025, the moms who defy Scientology’s cruel ‘disconnection’ policy
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Is any holiday more anathema to Scientology than Mother’s Day? In L. Ron Hubbard’s scheme the family unit is a fiction, a temporary assembly of ‘thetans,’ and the church enforces discipline by cruelly ripping families apart. Again we’re honoring the moms who defy this madness. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“In a normal group of 400, the actual percentage of R/Sers is low. It’s about 8 in 400, or 2 – 2 1/2%. Those figures should seem familiar. They are the same percentage for SPs. And that gives you a clue to the identification of an R/Ser. Where requirements for Scn or SO orgs have been established for R/Ses they apply to the 2 – 2 1/2% of real R/Sers as these are high risks for staff purposes. These people can of course be salvaged as pcs using Expanded Dianetics. Letting them on staff could be disastrous, however.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1977
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
——————–
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
——————–
“I might as well tell you why the foundation at 211 West Douglas just went out of the processing business entirely and is teaching as few students as possible and at this late date is going into research. I’m not quite sure what they’re going to research, but they’re just going into research and so I, this leaves as official entities in the field the HDAs in the field, the affiliates, that is to say the college associates, a professional school in Wichita, and whatever unit is here as far as the lineups are concerned, and of course this foundation. OK? This by the way is a big load off my mind because I’ve been wondering which way those people were going to jump, and sometimes suicides jump the wrong way. And all they seem to have gotten me for so far is to tell the income tax people that I’m vastly out of order on my income tax, so the income tax people are coming down. Do we have anybody around town who’s awfully good on income tax? Well, they wouldn’t let me look at any of the ’51 books, so I don’t know what income they’ve got written down. And they wiped out all my income just before income tax time, so I don’t know, I mean, I wrote the collector of internal revenue about a year ago and I said, ‘God, I’m confused.’ And he never replied, so I guess he is too….What do you know? Well we’ve got to make a couple of theta clears quick and wreck these income tax people right quick.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 11, 1952
——————–
“Dir I&R and MAA are to conduct a full investigation of insecurity of materials of confidential materials on board. They are to steal any they can and lock them up. List to the D/CO. Beginning at 1200 hrs today. Offenders are to be listed and handled appropriately.” — A. Jessup, C/O FAO, May 11, 1971
——————–
“Capt. Bill Robertson describes the New Civilization Game and its goals. He describes the basic data behind its creation, what goals will be carried out by the general population, why some goals are ethics points to be carried out by Operating Thetans. In the tape, Capt. Robertson explains why some people keep voting for fascist and suppressive regimes and governments, and what the solution to this is. Want to know why your Democratic Scieno and ex-Scieno friends voted for the fascist Biden regime? They have assumed the suppressive valence of their SPs and that is why they keep voting for them! What to do with the Dem Scienos and ex-Scienos in your Facebook friend’s list that voted for Biden, voted for Obama or are going to vote for Michelle? Assign them a PTS condition and make them stop voting for the SPs. OTs can use remote command.”
2001: Mark Bunker spoke out at a recent town meeting about a new downtown development plan for Clearwater. “I attended the first of four meetings in Clearwater about the new downtown development proposal. There were about sixty people in attendance. More than half of them were city officials from the mayor to city council members to people from various development offices. Also in attendance were Scientologists Pat Jones and Mary Story and a handful of public Scientologists, leaving perhaps a dozen or so unbiased civilians. I kept pondering as I watched the presentation. Where would people park? Last year, they had discussed specific places where parking would be added. This year they didn’t. I told them that I worked downtown and the parking structure next to our building has a waiting list for people to buy monthly passes. As long as I had the handheld wireless mic in my possession I followed up with another parking question. I asked if the city was going ahead with their proposed partnership with Scientology in constructing a parking structure next to the Super Power building? I added that I was troubled by the quote Bill Horne gave to the St. Pete Times where he said the joint venture was a good idea and ‘it’s time to forget the past.’ ‘To forget the past is never a good idea,’ I said. ‘Especially when it comes to Scientology. But let’s not talk about the past. Let’s talk about the present. Right now, Scientology’s president, Heber Jentzsch, is a fugitive from justice in Spain. France this past week passed a landmark law on ‘Mental Manipulation’ largely to help the victims of Scientology, and in Germany, Scientology is still considered a dangerous paramilitary organization.’ One man behind me shouted ‘German laws have nothing to do with Clearwater. Take the mic away from him!’ Bill Horne leapt to his feet and went over to the man conducting the presentation and put his arm around the man’s shoulder. ‘Let me give you a hug. This is not about politics. We can’t get anywhere fighting with one another. We all have to work together to make this work,’ Horne said. After the meeting I went up to Bill Horne and shook his hand and told him I was largely in favor of the plan but they needed to seriously consider issues like parking and traffic. He said that quote was taken out of context ‘as newspaper reporters do.’ He then said that they can’t worry about what happened 30 years ago.”
——————–
“The sixties counterculture turned a lot of people into Baba Dumbasses and Shirley MacLaines. People use to be a lot tougher and more levelheaded back in the day.”
——————–
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 May 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 May 12.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5.
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 due June 3.
— 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] Val Ross: Stopping Scientology’s plans for a vault in Wyoming, and the future
[TWO years ago] When it was revealed that Scientology has the DA’s documents in the Masterson trial
[THREE years ago] Tom Cruise pal Simon Pegg set to make film with rising star Scientologist director
[FOUR years ago] Don’t congratulate Tom Cruise until he gives back the award that really matters
[FIVE years ago] Scientology ekes out small victories as the world goes to coronavirus hell
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s mental whammy is like taking one too many pucks to the head
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s bizarre international base and its near-prison life: A Marc Headley classic
[EIGHT years ago] On probation and his house of horrors shut down, Tennessee Scientologist talks up Mexico
[NINE years ago] ‘Freedom’ magazine is back after a six-month absence, and it arrived with a surprise!
[TEN years ago] As seen in the Daily Beast: ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ is on sale and ready to startle you
[ELEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: What part of ‘rebel’ doesn’t Scientology understand?
[TWELVE years ago] PORTLAND LIVE: Mark Bunker at Scientology’s “Ideal Org” Event
——————–
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 3,261 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,756 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,271 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,821 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,811 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,197 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,692 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,996 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,865 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,419 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,760 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,327 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,246 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,414 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,996 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,255 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,292 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,008 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,572 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,887 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,062 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,744 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,081 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,935 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,050 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,412 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,821 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,217 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,095 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,660 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,171 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,427 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,535 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 11, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Pokemon leads libturds against ICE in the battle of our times!
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});JD Vance shook https://t.co/psOX6P8DP2
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 10, 2025
Community Note Corrects Trump’s Misuse of Marine Corps Memorial
Trump’s Truth Social post commemorating WWII Victory Day in used an image from the Pacific Theater https://t.co/zAdcFOMykxhttps://t.co/zAdcFOMykx
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 10, 2025
In light of alleged FSB ties to the Base, my piece in the @guardian on how Russian security services are co-opting the far-right for sabotage and “long game” cells against the west, as @ColinPClarke tells me. https://t.co/LlXCVqAfrG
— Ben Makuch (@BMakuch) May 10, 2025
Why does the Deep State never actually finish off America? I mean Obama came into office during the Great Recession, couldn't he have just let that continue, let the banks fail, let Detroit go bankrupt, the whole thing? Seems like he was really bad at destroying America. pic.twitter.com/sLaiVUpmfr
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 11, 2025
Trump is the ultimate Pokémon constantly evolving into new and exciting forms to defeat the Deep State. This is such intense gibberish. pic.twitter.com/DRJGlPtepk
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 10, 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 May 11, 2025 at 08:00
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