Tony Ortega's Blog, page 39
May 5, 2025
VIDEO: Scientology’s plans for Dianetics 75th anniversary start to leak
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“It occasionally (rarely) happens that an HGC’s line stops and programs do not get finished and pcs go unaudited or sent to Ethics or Cramming instead of getting their programs completed. It also happens that a D of P becomes incapable of getting auditors to audit per the schedule he writes. 12 1/2 hour intensives drop out. Auditing falls back to the bit and piece game. The C/S finds all his work in programming wasted as the programs staledate or just get abandoned. Hours fall. Lines tangle. Tech Services cannot get assignments done. THE MAJOR WHY OF THIS AND MANY SUCH CONFUSIONS CAN BE TRACED TO AN ABUSE OF ‘AUDITOR’S RIGHTS’ IN PICKING AND CHOOSING PCS ON THE GROUNDS OF ‘FEELING THEY CANNOT HELP THE PC’.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1977
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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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“It’s very funny, you know: bodies have machinery laid into them from other times. It’s quite interesting. You’ll find some preclear wallowing around one time or another: ‘Well, look what I have done to this body. Look at the horrible machinery and things I have set up.’ Then he wonders why it runs much faster and gets much more solid. Well, some thetan that had the thing on the genetic line way back when has already installed a tremendous number of items. You didn’t install everything that’s wrong with your body.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 5, 1957
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“MOVIE: The top Broadway hit man, Milton Katselas, through Celebrity Centre sent me a screen play that deals with some Scientology materials. I received it as he requested, went over it. As an old screen writer I found some ways to polish it and telexed him that I would. He has just telexed back very thrilled. In one week he did Grade VI, went Clear, was taken on at Columbia Pictures to direct his Broadway hit and got my assurances I’d help work on the new screen play. To quote ‘All in One Week. Wow.’” — The Commodore, May 5, 1971
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“According to the book Science of Survival, in times of political turmoil one has to identify the subversives in covert hostility associated with politics or public office. One has to identify them and isolate them from society. I think this condition exists now in the USA and the rest of the world. A list of Scientologists and ex-Scientologists (including Sea Org and ex-Sea Org) supporting covert hostility movements (communism) would be beneficial. This in order to alert the rest of social Scientologists against the turmoil and chaos that this covert hostility individuals create in times of political unrest. A list of Scientologists and ex-scientologists, commies and supporters of Democrat commie/socialist agendas.”
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1995: Jeff Jacobsen reported a visit this week from private investigators. Here’s his description of the events. “From about 7:30am to 8:45am a private investigator sat in his car near my house. The police came by and asked them (at times it was 2 guys) what they were doing. They told the police that they were private investigators. I went and talked to them and they told me they were not private investigators. I took their license plate numbers. One guy had straggly long black hair. The other, who seemed to be in charge, had short brown hair and a long nose. They were both perhaps 35 or so. They also went through the garbage cans in the alley.” Dennis Erlich also reported that a letter from his parents had been opened before delivery.
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“No one knows what possible dirt there may be in Katie’s PC folder. Her first concern is maintaining the image of a ‘fit’ mother so Cruise doesn’t try to get custody of Suri on that accusation. If she dishes dirt I’m sure so will he.”
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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] Scientology announced protest of ‘thousands’ as APA comes to NYC, so we showed up
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: Tory Christman on visiting the Danny Masterson retrial
[THREE years ago] 1950 US Census proves Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard did indeed have a second wife
[FOUR years ago] The Scientology-QAnon connection that showed up in HBO’s ‘Q: Into the Storm’
[FIVE years ago] We’ve highlighted the parts Danny Masterson wants removed from the Scientology lawsuit
[SIX years ago] Media and authorities should focus on the real horrors of Scientology’s Freewinds
[SEVEN years ago] In the US and Australia, new Ideal Orgs are increasingly isolated and uninviting. What gives?
[EIGHT years ago] How to get yourself removed from Scientology’s legendary mailing list: A case study
[NINE years ago] How Ron Miscavige’s Scientology memoir reads to a former Scientologist
[TEN years ago] Neil Gaiman’s sister shows up in Scientology response video to Gibney film ‘Going Clear’
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology archiving magazines online? Are they nuts?
[TWELVE years ago] Cinco De Funnies: Getting Drunk on the Wisdom of Ron!
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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 3,255 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,750 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,265 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,815 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,805 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,191 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,686 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,990 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,859 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,413 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,754 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,321 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,240 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,408 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,990 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,249 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,286 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,002 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,566 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,881 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,056 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,738 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,075 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,929 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,044 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,406 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,815 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,213 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,089 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,654 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,165 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,421 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,529 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 5, 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 proposes re-opening Alcatraz, tariffing foreign movies as Q patriots cheer
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump said he will reopen Alcatraz because judges want to hold “millions of trials” for migrants.
According to the Bureau of Prisons, the capacity of Alcatraz is only 336. https://t.co/BNNSWNXueB
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 5, 2025
QAnon is all about declaring the latest babble from the God Emperor to be the inspired word of God and then taking those words and using them to write the most bloodthirsty and sadistic thing you can imagine. pic.twitter.com/zTAYpu23al
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 5, 2025
Hollywood is a Satanic cesspool of depravity and occult trafficking, so let's get it back on its feet. https://t.co/iDXfrrf2ro
— Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky) (@rothschildmd) May 4, 2025
Schindler’s List was filmed in Kraków, Poland. Under Trump new tariff proposal, buying or streaming it could cost you double. https://t.co/D43HU3DBQq pic.twitter.com/JuH9A4PrqA
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 4, 2025
We identified the operator of an overtly racist X account, @GlomarResponder as ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden, based on an overwhelming number of biographical details matched through publicly available documents, other social media activity, and courtroom observation. pic.twitter.com/aWoT2YDMqq
— steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) February 19, 2025
SCOOP: The Signal clone used by Trump admin that Mike Waltz was seen using in a cabinet meeting in has been hacked https://t.co/Hkx96IOugD
— Jason Koebler (@jason_koebler) May 4, 2025
Trump Apologizes to Proud Boys Leader for Treatment of January 6th Rioters
Enrique Tarrio dined at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club https://t.co/98lJkSwrKzhttps://t.co/98lJkSwrKz
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 4, 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 5, 2025 at 08:00
May 4, 2025
White House post of Trump as pope blows up as the ersatz pontiff golfs
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Bone spurs is throwing himself a birthday military parade pic.twitter.com/T2GvIZkWlx
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 3, 2025
Posted by a MAGA account… pic.twitter.com/Ytudxi0pRO
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 3, 2025
Now we got people baking the Trump pope picture and using the QDrops to figure out what it all means. pic.twitter.com/tuhmy4htdZ
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 3, 2025
Trump skipped the White House on Friday so he could be in Florida for golfing and the RNC Spring Gala pic.twitter.com/AslfYqxXUr
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 3, 2025
I teach negotiation. Every negotiation rule was broken by Donald Trump in his disaster trade war.
First, you never set arbitrary deadlines against yourself.
Second, if you set arbitrary deadlines, you must meet said deadlines or you lose credibility.
Third, you want to try…
— Ben Meiselas 🎤 (@meiselasb) May 3, 2025
The new N-word lady making half a million off her GoFundMe is now a Deep State plot to spark a race war. I love when these people get upset about the results of their actions. pic.twitter.com/X1pfHMtuzI
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 3, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 4, 2025 at 08:00
Dianetics 75 countdown: New Scientology song from the original volcano ad genius!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The 80s Dianetics TV ad by Jeff Hawkins made L. Ron Hubbard’s turgid 1950 volume a bestseller again. Geoff Levin came up with the music that helped make the ad a hit. Now Geoff has sampled his iconic track for a new song to ‘celebrate’ the book’s 75th birthday. Fun! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“OUT-ETHICS: An action or situation in which an individual is involved contrary to the ideals and best interests of his group. An act or situation or relationship contrary to the ethics standards, codes or ideals of the group or other members of the group. An act of omission or commission by an individual that could or has reduced the general effectiveness of a group or its other members. An individual act of omission or commission which impedes the general well-being of a group or impedes it in achieving its goals.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1977
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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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“Every physicist, every single physicist, including Newton, and all the rest of the boys, have fallen flat on their faces by not establishing the basic conditions of what they were dealing with. They have started from an unreasonable assumption. They’ve assumed that somebody knew what space was, and have gone on from there. And they’ve decided that somebody knew what a static was, and they’ve gone on from there. And of course they’d wind us up in trouble sooner or later with a thing like an atom bomb. Naturally, they’d wind us up in trouble because they didn’t know where they were proceeding. This is not an indictment, you understand, of science at large. It’s just hoping it will perish soon. Because if this is the scientific method, to start with unreasonable assumptions and never discover what your definitions are before you proceed into a problem, then we want nothing to do with a scientific method. And you actually are then not following the scientific method, because that is the scientific method. You’re really not dealing, then, in the field of science if the field of science is what we have had in psychology and physics. Because then we are not dealing with this. Because we do this, and there are a new set of principles established here. And the only thing you could call them, I guess, would be a Scientological method, as unhandy as Scientology becomes when you start to add suffixes to it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 4, 1954
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“HARD WORK: Diana, in readying up the CS-6 post so she could leave, worked 72 hours straight through and then boarded the plane. It is not fully known that, with Franchise and Celebrity Centres, Diana handles many more orgs herself than the whole FB. Blackburn Smith is standing in as her deputy during her three week absence. Due to the jumbled state my photo gear was allowed to get into I couldn’t find a camera to give her but fixed it so she could buy one and thus bring back pictures of her travels. I think this is her first vacation in four years in the SO.” — The Commodore, May 4, 1971
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“Why am I a Scientologist? Just naturally smart. I was born very intelligent. And intelligence is the ability to resolve problems relating to survival.”
2001: The Los Angeles Times reported that Scientologist and Earthlink board member Reed Slatkin has been accused of operating a Ponzi scheme to bilk investors, including many fellow Scientologists, out of $35 million. “Slatkin – a Santa Barbara socialite and venture capitalist – also is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for his financial activities, which allegedly included a day-trading operation that promised annual returns of up to 60 percent. Investors have filed at least three lawsuits accusing Slatkin of defrauding them of more than $35 million, and the size of the potential losses could grow. Attorneys say Slatkin invested more than $300 million for a nationwide network of more than 100 friends, business partners and members of the Church of Scientology, to which Slatkin belongs. Slatkin resigned from EarthLink’s board of directors Thursday, the day a meeting of Slatkin’s East Coast creditors was held in Washington, lawyers for the investors said. More than 80 investors attended a second creditors’ meeting Monday at the Santa Monica offices of Slatkin’s securities lawyer, Gerald E. Boltz. The meeting included representatives of a group of Scientologists who had invested more than $250 million with Slatkin, attorneys said. A lawyer for the Scientology investors, Michael A. Sherman, said Tuesday that he had no comment about the case or whether his clients would sue Slatkin. Boltz confirmed that Slatkin was a member of the Church of Scientology, a religion founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and adhered to by a number of Hollywood celebrities. The plaintiff in the Santa Barbara suit, retired venture capitalist John K. Poitras, said he invested most of his life’s savings with Slatkin. Poitras is not a Scientologist and lives in the Northern California community of Woodside. In December 2000, Poitras said, Slatkin told him about a computerized day-trading program he had developed that could generate 50% to 60% annual returns. According to the lawsuit, Poitras invested $5 million with Slatkin, then an additional $10 million in February, which was to be invested in an account that Poitras was supposed to be able to tap with 48 hours’ notice. When Poitras changed his mind about the second investment, however, Slatkin didn’t return the money, the lawsuit alleges. Poitras’ attorney, Richard S. Conn, said it appeared Slatkin was using money collected from recent investors to pay returns to earlier investors – an investment fraud commonly known as a Ponzi scheme.”
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“People keep calling for the government to do something about Scientology. I just hope none of those people are the same people calling for a lot less government, because that would be kind of hypocritical, don’t you think? And I’ll leave it at that.”
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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:
— 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?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The Scientology/Christian Science mix-up will live forever, but here’s a new look at it
[TWO years ago] What Marc Headley’s ‘Blown for Good’ says about Scientology ‘expert’ Hugh Martin Whitt
[THREE years ago] Danny Masterson’s rape prosecutors tell Calif. Supremes why his Scientology argument is weak
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is back! Fundraising back on to turn the entire country ‘Ideal,’ praise Xenu!
Danny Masterson: Drop me from Scientology lawsuit if the ‘Jane Does’ won’t name themselves
[SIX years ago] Scientology measles ship back in Curaçao, which talks tough about quarantine
[SEVEN years ago] Federal judge smacks down Scientology’s shameless attempt to delay forced-abortion case
[EIGHT years ago] Forced abortions, beatings, and sleep deprivation: The FBI on Scientology’s Sea Org
[NINE years ago] Scientology confirms it won’t oppose Monique Rathbun’s plans to ditch lawsuit
[TEN years ago] More from a secretly-recorded executive griping about Scientology’s sad state of affairs
[ELEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology says, May the Fourth be with you
[TWELVE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY TO CALIFORNIA SUPREMES: State’s Priest-Penitent Law is Unconstitutional
——————–
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 3,254 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,749 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,264 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,814 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,804 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,190 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,685 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,989 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,858 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,412 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,753 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,320 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,239 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,407 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,989 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,248 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,285 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,001 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,565 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,880 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,055 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,737 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,074 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,928 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,043 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,405 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,814 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,212 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,088 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,653 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,164 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,420 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,528 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 4, 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
May 3, 2025
L. Ron Hubbard 2.0 hits on best scheme yet: His own Scientology Sea Org!
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Believe it or not, there are indie Scientology adherents convinced that L. Ron Hubbard has returned and is sitting in a Tennessee jail — and they send him money every month. LRH 2.0 has now hit on his most audacious scheme yet, to form his own personal navy, just as original Ron did! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“People with out-ethics withholds cannot see. This is proven by the brilliant return of perception of the environment in people audited effectively and at length on such processes. Such people also seek to place a false environment there and actually see a false environment. People whose ethics are low will enturbulate and upset a group as they are seeking to justify their harmful acts against the group. And this leads to more harmful
acts. Out-ethics people go rapidly into Treason against the group.” — 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
——————–
“Now we take eating and condense it down. That is to say, let’s make food scarce and let’s make it very hard to get — and we got a condensation, you might say, which completely escapes time itself. And you go outside of time and get sex. That is to say, the outside of present time and you get future time, which is sex. An individual goes right straight off the time track between eating and sex, and there’s nothing will float on a time track like a sexual engram. They just float all over the time track; they don’t nail down at all. They’re very mobile. Believe me.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 3, 1954
——————–
“No new crew cases should be begun until ‘parked’ ones are pushed up into Solo range. ‘Complete in HGC’ is the target. Dozens of cases are overlong in grade. L10s should be completed only after OT III anyway. So an HGC completion does not mean ‘all possible pgms we can do in HGC.’ It means just get the pc safely off into Solo. There are also some non-soloing solo auditors aboard. FEBCs who have Solo work to be done should be shoved onto it hard within 48 hours of arrival. I want to see crew ‘HGC Completes’ up through the roof and Solo w.d. hours ranging around 900 a week minimum!” — The Commodore, May 3, 1971
——————–
“This may be a little off topic here, but I am an Indie Scientologist who has been active on the governing board of a nonprofit radio network. I believe in free speech and human rights, which is what Pacifica Radio is all about. I’m sure you all agree with those principles. If you listen to any of the Pacifica Radio stations — KPFK in Los Angeles, KPFA in Berkeley, KPFT in Houston, WBAI in New York or WPFW in Washington, D.C. or any of the 200 Affiliate stations or if you just care about independent media, please sign the Pacifica Democracy Project Petition.”
2000: Rod Keller posted details of a secret Scientology plan to boost revenues for Battlefield Earth in a ticket refund scheme. “Scientologists are quietly being told when they go to the theater to see BE they are to buy extra tickets. They are then to return the unused tickets to a person who is designated in their area for a refund. Those who might seek the refund are to be asked if they would like to make that as a ‘donation,’ saving the refund costs. In some cases, some staff are being designated to go and buy a block of tickets, but not too many to be noticed, (say 6-8) and not even go but take them back to the org for the refund. This is to be done for several weeks. Scientologists are being told to do it as a ‘birthday present to Ron.’ Some already love the idea of making it #1. They are also being told they can give the tickets to friends to promote Hubbard, another idea they also like. ASI has set aside several million dollars for this that they will mark off in some ‘promotional’ manner. The heaviest is to be done in the first week as that is the first make/break point and then it will go into week #2. In fact, there is a whole BE-promo team that has been set up to coordinate this, to make sure the Scientologists go and that they buy the extra tickets. Some of the Deep Pocket boys who usually contribute large amounts are being hit up for this, to help cover costs. Some are doing it as ‘investment.’ Now it may be thought that a few million dollars is not enough to do it but that is just what they are prepared to pay back to the Scientologists. It is up to the team to see that the Scientologists ‘donate’ it. DM can’t leave it to promo and Travolta’s name to make it a hit and he knows there are not enough Scientologists in the US to make it a hit so he has to do the same routine he used back in the 80s to make the books into ‘best sellers.’ Word is out that heads will roll if BE is not the #1 hit movie in its opening week.”
——————–
“The only people who don’t adore me are the people who abhor me, and that’s just how I want it. You’re either in or you’re out.”
——————–
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] Priscilla Presley lawsuit gains a new bombshell in the fine print
[TWO years ago] Judge Olmedo nixes defense claim that door was opened to Danny Masterson’s own report
[THREE years ago] What the New Yorker left out of its story about Elisabeth Moss and Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology can’t get enough corrupt South American police generals under its wing
[FIVE years ago] Scientology boasts about members keeping up online — and once again reveals its true size
[SIX years ago] Scientology measles ship Freewinds ditches St. Lucia quarantine for Curaçao, its home port
[SEVEN years ago] How Scientology’s mental health ideas end up enabling the worst compulsions
[EIGHT years ago] Confirmation of the 2009 FBI trafficking probe of Scientology that the church denied
[TEN years ago] Whale watching: The wealthy donors keeping Scientology afloat, 2015 edition
[ELEVEN years ago] Ken Dandar gets another day in court after his $1 million Scientology judgment
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology is Staking Everything On Portland Like It Actually Matters
——————–
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 3,253 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,748 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,263 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,813 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,803 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,189 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,684 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,988 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,857 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,411 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,752 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,319 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,238 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,406 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,988 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,247 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,284 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,000 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,564 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,879 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,054 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,736 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,073 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,927 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,042 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,404 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,813 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,211 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,087 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,652 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,163 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,419 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,527 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 3, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Q patriots wonder, really is there anything our god-emperor can’t do?
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});5 things Trump did this week:
1. Blamed Biden for the stock market tanking
2. Called for a criminal investigation of pollsters over his low approval numbers
3. Claimed gas prices are under $2/gallon
4. Was a no-show at the White House Friday
5. Went golfing again in Florida pic.twitter.com/Q5nzMwT0NK
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 3, 2025
Trump posted this AI image of himself as the pope last night. pic.twitter.com/vueV8vtP0I
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 3, 2025
Trump said a recession is ok. https://t.co/20ILMSKFrG
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 3, 2025
Trump: “We are going to be taking away
Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve!” pic.twitter.com/j9oleyzNV8
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 2, 2025
9/11 truther Richard Gage on this podcast yesterday said "inside sources" told him the Senate/Ron Johnson is starting collecting info on 9/11 trutherism & Gage "will be brought into those hearings." The QAnon figure said "anons" would "light up" Congress' switchboards in support. https://t.co/JtDAqtVIak pic.twitter.com/lHzb9fyS52
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) May 2, 2025
Meanwhile at Mar-a-Lago pic.twitter.com/54oMhKc64P
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 2, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 3, 2025 at 08:00
May 2, 2025
As Dianetics nears 75th anniversary, Scientology goes for a ‘boom’
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As Dianetics nears its 75th anniversary next week the current Church of Scientology, which has struggled to maintain membership in a time of terrible publicity and endless litigation, is apparently trying to make a good show of things. We have the scoop on what they’re planning. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“When an area is downstat the executive must at once suspect an out-ethics scene with one or more of the personnel and must investigate and persuade the person to be more honest and ethical and correct the out-ethics condition found. If this does not correct and if the person or area remains downstat, the executive must declare the person or area in Danger and apply HCO PL 9 Apr 72 ‘CORRECT DANGER CONDITION HANDLING.’ The situation, if it does not correct, thereafter becomes a matter of full group justice with Courts and Comm Evs. Persons whose ethics have remained out must be replaced.” — 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
——————–
“Today I’m going to talk to you severely. Ordinarily I jolly you along, you know, and everybody looks… Well, I hate to be this severe, but you are on the edges of the great adventure. And this separates the sheep from the goats, man. And separates the children from the characters who can do it. And you are adventured upon a period of auditing which requires far more precision, auditor presence and TRs than any auditing we have ever had. There’s certain ways to do this right, and there’s certain ways to do it wrong. The number of ways to do it wrong far exceed the ways to do it right. Any time you have somebody in training, he can always invent some new ways to do it wrong, but it’s very, very funny that he never invents — almost never — some way to do it right. Because the odds are very bad. The truth of the matter is that the auditing which you are embarked upon is in actual fact simpler than you would believe and simpler than you will believe for some time. And the main thing you are doing with it is far too much complication. That’s all. Just the complexities you’re adding into it are defeating you. And you’re taking too much time to accomplish what you’re accomplishing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 2, 1963
——————–
“The UK and SA inquiry scenes look hopeful if we keep our fingers crossed and the Gdn Office keeps as active as it has been, which we’re sure it will. This is the real power house that’s in action… We now own the 174′ MY Grinnel and as soon as it’s out of dock it will be the US Station Ship. It’s very sleek, has engines only slightly less HP than Apollos. Two strong 2000 HP GMs… Flag is now a happier atmosphere. In the field thanks to the days of raw recruits and Berez and the lies of B. Green in NY we’re looked on as a violent and savage ship. It’s a lie so it will blow away. Doesn’t do any harm anyway.” — The Commodore, May 2, 1970
——————–
Posting by Freezoner #1
He reportedly was put into witness protection as Killary wanted to eliminate her competition. I pray so [praying hands emojis]
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“HEAR MY VOICE, AMERICA. I am John F. Kennedy Jr., and I have walked a treacherous path, hidden in the shadows of a nation I swore to save. The deep state thought they could bury me like they did my father, but they FAILED. For decades, I have watched their lies strangle our freedom, their hands stained with blood. No more! It’s time to come out into the light. I will be making my FIRST LIVE APPEARANCE this week. Save the date, Patriots! The cabal trembles as I rise with Trump to dismantle his empire. You have NEVER seen such a seismic comeback! God bless the warriors who kept the faith. We are taking it ALL back! Share this release with MILLIONS; the next release will reveal the time and place.
The storm is HERE!
Sincerely,
John”
Comment by Freezoner #2
Will he show? Or will we be shown something A/I generated? I’m in a dither over this.
Reply by Freezoner #1
Don’t take my word for it, I’m just reporting what I hear and it may not even come to fruition, but I hope so for justice for that family and the country.
——————–
1999: The Irish Times reported that a former Scientologist is suing for infliction of stress and brainwashing procedures. “A 33-year-old Dublin businesswoman who is suing the Church of Scientology for damages because she claims she was ‘brainwashed’ yesterday in the High Court won her application to see her ‘counseling notes.’ The church’s claim to be entitled to ‘sacerdotal privilege’ in relation to the notes was rejected by Mr Justice Geoghegan. Ms Mary Johnston said she needed the documents to prepare for her action for damages against the church and three named persons, Mr John Keane, described as ‘mission holder’, Mr Tom Cunningham and Mr Gerard Ryan, described as church members. In her statement of claim Ms Johnston alleged that while undergoing ‘treatment’ offered by the church she suffered increasingly with a ‘disassociative stress reaction’, became intolerant and rejected family and friends. She claimed she suffered a distinct personality change, would often adopt a fixed stare and simulated smile while switching off her feelings. She became increasingly confused, and her general health suffered. She alleged she was pressurised into subscribing for ‘a purification rundown and training routeing’. The church and the three named members denied Ms Johnston’s claims. It made a claim of ‘sacerdotal privilege’ in relation to a ‘counseling’ folder sought by her. Mr Justice Geoghegan, in a reserved judgment, held that as Ms Johnston had waived any privilege alleged to exist in relation to her counseling notes he could not uphold the plea by the church of sacerdotal privilege.”
——————–
“The visual image of Tom the Jumping Jackass is priceless in itself and will stay with me for a very long time.”
——————–
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] Scientology faked David Miscavige appearance at Paris opening: The smoking gun
[TWO years ago] Plaintiffs in Scientology trafficking case ask permission for appeal after getting derailed
[THREE years ago] A Balance of Nature employee wanted to prove Scientology’s influence, so they sent video
[FOUR years ago] In Scientology, ‘making it go right’ is everything, even if it wrecks lives
[FIVE years ago] Georgia anti-psychiatry legislator goes even bigger for Scientology in the pandemic
[SIX years ago] What it’s like on the Scientology measles ship right now, according to former crew
[SEVEN years ago] Fifty years later and post-Scientology, 60’s band People! aims for a comeback
[EIGHT years ago] Renovations for Scientology’s planned Mexico City ‘Advanced Org’ halted by local pols
[NINE years ago] ABC’s ’20/20′ let Scientology trash Ron Miscavige — but here’s what you didn’t get to hear
[TEN years ago] More testimony that Scientology’s celebrities know all about Sea Org deprivations
[ELEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DENIED: Federal judge finds that Garcia fraud lawsuit can continue
[TWELVE years ago] Dianetics: Super Colon Blow For Your Mind
——————–
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 3,252 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,747 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,262 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,812 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,802 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,188 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,683 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,987 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,856 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,410 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,751 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,318 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,237 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,405 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,987 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,246 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,283 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,999 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,563 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,878 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,053 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,735 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,072 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,926 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,041 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,403 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,812 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,210 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,086 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,651 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,162 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,418 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,526 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 2, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Trump swings into action as his economy hits a divot
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Trump to Skip Town Early—Again—as Crises Mount in Washington
Another long Palm Beach weekend while fallout from tariffs and DOGE cuts worsenhttps://t.co/cGwDwL3Vme https://t.co/cGwDwL3Vme
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 1, 2025
Baier: The economy shrank. First time in three years. People are pointing to the tariff policy.
Vance: This is Joe Biden’s economy. pic.twitter.com/z3RE8gImrL
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 1, 2025
Kristi Noem praying before heading off to deport more toddlers and their mothers pic.twitter.com/juSQyseSWb
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 2, 2025
So apparently Kennedy wrote a chapter in his last book about how he doesn't believe the germ theory of disease. pic.twitter.com/YGpHj4zGrQ
— Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) May 1, 2025
Mark Zuckerberg Thinks You Don't Have Enough Friends and His Chatbots Are the Answer
🔗 https://t.co/HNdLowcbQMhttps://t.co/HNdLowcbQM
— 404 Media (@404mediaco) May 1, 2025
i made it impossible for you to trust anything you see or hear on the internet. give me your biometrics and pay me to stop this https://t.co/4gqEMY9LXy
— Brendan Karet (@bad_takes) May 1, 2025
If the Devil worshipping pedophilia cult has been running the world for 9000 years at some point you have to accept the fact that your God is on their side and is happy they are running things, or He is too weak to do anything to stop them. pic.twitter.com/z8Udvp5IXb
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 1, 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 2, 2025 at 08:00
May 1, 2025
Scientology and court hearings: One we can watch today, another to be held in secret
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: There are 2 court hearings we want to tell you about that have relevance for Scientology-watchers: One hearing is happening today regarding the notorious doctor David Minkoff which the public can attend. The other is more mysterious, and it’s about John Travolta. Let us explain. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“In an area which is downstat, it is the duty of an executive to investigate and find any out-ethics situation and get it corrected. Ethics is a personal thing in relation to a group. Unethical people are those who do not have ethics in on themselves personally. It is the responsibility of the executive to see to it that persons under his control and in his area get their personal ethics in and keep them in. Dishonesty, false reports, an out-ethics personal life, should be looked for and by persuasion, should be corrected.” — 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
[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({});
——————–
“Gormley Castle used to be down here. I was riding over to a tourney one day and was half-armed in a rainstorm, I had half steel armor on in a rainstorm. The rest of it slung on the back of the horse. Brother with me and a groom and they had the rest of the armor. And so ‘elp me, lightning ‘it. And you know armor on wet ground makes the most marvelous conductor. Knocked me plumb silly, it did. Plumb silly. It’s happened to me several times….It makes you flinch, and so forth. I remember at that particular instance I rode right on to the castle and the grooms went out and got the bodies and my brother was still alive, but the groom was awful dead and laid the body on the bed. I stood there, you know and thought that was OK and went back over to Europe and walked in and I fell over the old mither who was busy scrubbing the floor and of course, wet, you know, volts were coming up me like that and I step in her scrub bucket and walked through her and she gets a ‘ell of a shock, you know. she says, ‘Coo, what’s that?’ you know or words to that effect. It was about 1495, something like that. And so I pick up my fist and I start to say, ‘Godderdammerung, bring me in some mead,’ you know. And I go bang, you know and my fist goes straight through the table. And I say, ‘Wait a minute, boy. Oh, no, I’m dead.’ Bright, moonlight night and there’s a dog howling outside, so I walk out in the moonlight and decide for the next 55 years I’ll have to be a ghost. Well, it was a very shocking experience. But you could get discombobulated and upset and not know what you were doing. I didn’t. I went and picked up a baby or two, but — Anyhow, the point is, is it takes a lot more than you’re even aware of confronting in order to pick up electronic masses and then keep mocking them up because, you see, they’re so dangerous because you have to keep them mocked up, you see, because they’re so dangerous, you see? It’s very logical.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 1, 1962
——————–
“I am waiting, not altogether patiently, for the individuals aboard to realize that they are a ships company and responsible to each other for the survival of the ship and each other. Until this company insists to one another that each do his duty and that crazy outnesses are threats to survival and must caese the ship is at risk. This ships company has not right whatever to dump on me the arduos task of catching dropped balls and single-handing this vessel over the top of wild goofs in food, fuel, security, repairs and maintenance and appearance. Until I see a distinct change of attitude and increased awareness in efficiency, 1. There will be no allowances. 2. There will not be any shore liberty. 3. There will be no leave. 4. And you will see Ethics as heavy and unpredictable as the goofs that are being handed me to handle. As long as the ships company remains this irresponsible and idle and refuses to insist on smart competence amongst themselves this ship is in grave danger of catastrophe. You better wake up before you wake up dead.”— The Commodore, May 1, 1969
——————–
“The original intention of all these Scientology groups in the Freezone was to bring together Scientologists that were no longer with the Church, a place to gather and exchange communication in order to expand across all the dynamics. That’s not possible unfortunately. The Freezone has already been infiltrated by OSA agents, paid and unpaid shills and trolls, SPs, psychopaths, and God knows what other evil entities looking to do harm. Ah well. Scientology was good while it lasted.”
——————–
1998: An agreement which Scientologists must sign to become part of Scientologist On-Line was posted this week. The idea is to flood search engines with thousands of near-identical web pages, crowding out pages from Scientology critics. The agreement requires that Scientologists use a web filter to prevent access to critic’s web sites. “Church of Scientology International has been authorized to grant you, as a Scientologist in good standing, the non-exclusive, royalty-free right to reproduce and display on your personal Web site the collective membership mark ‘SCIENTOLOGIST’ and the Scientology symbol, upon certain terms and conditions. If you agree to abide by these terms and conditions, this letter will be your authorization, as long as you remain a Scientologist in good standing and comply with all standards, specifications and guidelines on such use of the Marks. CSI also has the authority to include in this grant the right to reproduce and display on your Web site certain copyrighted photographs of L. Ron Hubbard and certain quotations from the copyrighted works. If you wish to use this authorization regarding the Marks and the Works, you must: submit a copy of your proposed use of the Marks or any quotations from the Works of L. Ron Hubbard to CSI and receive prior written approval on any of these from CSI before putting up or adding to your Web site, and also for any subsequent changes that you wish to make in your Web site; not use the Marks or copyrighted materials in any way or in conjunction with any activities or materials that may be deemed improper or a discredit to the Scientology religion; comply immediately and completely with any and all changes that CSI may require in the Web site, including termination of use of the Marks and the Works if required by CSI; agree to use the specific Internet Filter Program that CSI has provided to you which allows you freedom to view other sites on Dianetics, Scientology or its principals without threat of accessing sites deemed to be using the Marks or Works in an unauthorized fashion or deemed to be improper or discreditable to the Scientology religion. Sincerely, Church of Scientology
International, Lynn Farny, Secretary”
——————–
“Penguins and leopard seals are difficult to audit. LRH exteriorized and attempted to do this, but found it too daunting. The penguins had too many withholds, and the leopard seals had too many overts.”
——————–
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] Jane Doe 1 appealing David Miscavige’s stunt that removed judge and ruling
[TWO years ago] Some winners have emerged from Scientology’s most recent pilgrim shearing!
[THREE years ago] Yo baby! Turning over your hard-earned cash to Scientology never felt so good
[FOUR years ago] IN HER OWN WORDS: Danny Masterson accuser rips LAPD miscues in 2017 letter
[FIVE years ago] Apologist journal smacked down by best ever Scientology prof — and with Bunker assist
[SIX years ago] CONFIRMED: Scientology’s ‘Freewinds’ is the ship quarantined for measles in St. Lucia
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology tries to get a Christian minister in trouble for helping Dee Findlay burn her past
[EIGHT years ago] Professor Hugh Urban takes us to task for our review of his Scientology OT 8 investigation
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s champion endorses ‘Ruthless,’ and more in our weekly social media review!
[TEN years ago] Leaving Scientology: ‘I think this recovery is something I’ll be doing the rest of my life’
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s E-meter police, and the horse doctor of LaBelle, Florida
[TWELVE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DENIED: CA Appeals Court Won’t Help Church in Forced-Abortion 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 3,251 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,746 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,261 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,811 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,801 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,187 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,682 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,986 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,855 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,409 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,750 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,317 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,236 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,404 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,986 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,245 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,282 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,998 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,562 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,877 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,052 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,734 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,071 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,925 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,040 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,402 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,811 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,209 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,085 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,650 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,161 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,417 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,525 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 1, 2025 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
Libturds might hate it, but never has the White House been so lucrative
Some links to Q-related items today
Advertisement(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Maybe he should get better cabinet members pic.twitter.com/F11WIULPHs
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 30, 2025
Trump administration defends deporting 2-year-old US citizen pic.twitter.com/7aIJzDcAxv
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 30, 2025
Trump fundraising email:
“Were you at my rally last night?
If you were — I FELT your energy. If you couldn't make it — I STILL FELT YOUR LOVE.” pic.twitter.com/sC3Tpar1QD
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 30, 2025
Belief in the chemtrails conspiracy theory was once confined to the fringe corners of the internet.
But now, thanks to conspiracy influencers like this user, more people are being misled into thinking toxic chemicals are being sprayed over them on an almost daily basis. pic.twitter.com/4q61VK5I9y
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) April 30, 2025
Online influencer Dom Lucre was invited to ask questions at the White House press briefing today.
A conspiracy theorist and one of the most community noted users on X, he was temporarily suspended from this platform in 2023 for what Elon Musk described as "posting child… https://t.co/lbhVAflmGb pic.twitter.com/QdncpEfheQ
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) April 30, 2025
There has been an odd turn in my crazy person monitoring account and the Neo-Nazis are now losing attention to the Flat Earthers. I have no idea if this is a good thing but it is a thing. pic.twitter.com/67AQ0z80w4
— Poker and Politics (@PokerPolitics) May 1, 2025
MAGA product placement pic.twitter.com/i8IPPFmv9P
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 30, 2025
Looking for some background on the QAnon movement? We recommend Travis View’s excellent article at New York magazine as a place to start.
THE LOWDOWN is our blog for news, the QAnon phenomenon, and other subjects not related to our coverage of the Church of Scientology. If it’s our Scientology coverage you re looking for, please use this bookmark for our latest stories.
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 1, 2025 at 08:00
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